Thelonious Monk plays Duke Ellington [Full Album]

I'm a fan of Thelonius Monk, he wrote some rather unusual sounding songs in the 50s and 60s which have now become jazz standards ("Well you needn't", "Straight, no chaser", etc). His music sounds really angular, funky and unexpected by comparison to some of his contemporaries like Ahmad Jamal or McCoy Tyner for example. His sense of time is unique as well and is a big part of his composition and playing style.

On this early album, he covers Duke Ellington songs. Duke at that point was the elder statesman of jazz [along with Louis Armstrong] and one of the most respected composers and bandleaders. Because this isn't exactly the Monk songbook, its a little more reserved and "respectful" than the rest of his catalog. Excellent "Night in Tunisia (track 8)"

Herbie Hancock - Sextant [FULL ALBUM] [HQ]

very very out there Herbie Hancock album from 1972 with electronic and old school fusion writing ...

3 songs, of lengths 9, 10 and 19 minutes. 2nd song is in a crazy time signature (19/4) ?

The story of how the whole HEADHUNTERS band and hit album came about was that Herbie went to a party and they asked him to put on his latest LP, which was this one, and it totally killed the party.

After that he decided to make more accessible and profitable music.

Weather Report 1972 *Live in Tokyo*

This isn't the Jaco Pastorious Weather Report. This is the extremely abstract, improvising, noodling, atmospheric, weather report of the EARLY seventies with Miroslav Vitous on bass.

This is an extremely, er..., CHALLENGING album to listen to, because you need to really concentrate to hear the interplay when it happens, and the songs are not songs as such but more like frameworks for jamming. But give it a listen, there are some moments of magic. And keep in mind that this is the full concert, with no overdubs, edits or tinkering after the fact.

for diehards only.