Artist Features
My Top 10 Influential Jazz Albums – Bill Farrish
Jazz Guitar Today continues to reach out to players to ask the question, “What albums influenced you and your playing style?”
I was asked by Bob Bakert to submit a list of what I consider my personal top 10 most influential jazz recordings. My first thought after reading his email was “Impossible!”, I can’t do it. There are too many recordings I love and I know as soon as it’s published I will feel foolish for leaving something out. Anyway, since this list changes for me to week, I’ve decided to keep it strictly to jazz recordings I find myself constantly coming back to.
1. Miles Smiles– Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams.
This entire recording, the interplay, the approach to time, the adventurousness of the improvisations. This album changed the world and completely redefined jazz. No way around it. A complete education in how it’s done for anyone willing to do the legwork.
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2. These Rooms – Jim Hall Trio with Tom Harrell, Steve LaSpina and Joey Baron. Very overlooked recording and one of Hall’s best. If you haven’t heard this recording you’re seriously missing something special. Absolute desert island recording.
3. Smokin’ at the Half Note – Wes Montgomery, Winston Kelly, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb. Wes changed guitar forever and here’s the proof, a live recording and every note Wes plays is pure magic. The timing, the feel, the note choices it’s all there.
4. Where Legends Dwell – JoAnne Brackeen, Eddie Gomez, Jack DeJohnette. I had already heard “Aft” and “FiFi Goes to Heaven” but it was because of this recording I actually sought out and studied with JoAnne for a while. I had to learn where those sounds were coming from.
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5. John Abercrombie Featuring John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson Peter Erskine. 1st heard this one in college. Mind-blowing, it taught me about the freedom a guitar trio can have and still keep it all together with this one. I feel lucky to have studied with John and to have actually become friends with him later in life. I honestly feel if I hadn’t heard this recording my musical life would have taken a different turn.
6. Lookout for Hope – Bill Frisell, Hank Roberts, Kermit Driscoll and Joey Baron. I love everything about this recording. Pure genius. It still blows my mind how economical the playing is on this one and how complete everything about it is.
7. Classic Ballads – Dave Liebman, Vic Juris, Steve Gilmore. I think this recording is somewhat overlooked but the playing by everyone is absolutely stunning. Every note Vic played on this is absolute gold.
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8. You Must Believe in Spring – Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Eliot Zigmund. This was the recording by Evans that I bought after hearing Undercurrent. The playing by everyone on this recording is great. For me this is what a trio should sound like. Eliot Zigmund’s brush work is amazing on this recording.
9. Live at Maybeck Recital Hall – Richie Bierach. Stunning solo piano concert by Bierach. The creativity and approach are off the charts.
10. More Than Friends – Joe Diorio, Steve LaSpina and Steve Bagby. After I picked my chin up the floor, wow. This album was my introduction to Joe’s playing. Possibly one the most overlooked guitarists on earth. Joe is mostly known as a teacher but everything about his playing is impeccable.
Others I would like to add, The Bridge – Sonny Rollins, Sketches of Spain – Miles Davis and Gil Evans, Virtuoso – Joe Pass, My Goals Beyond – John McLaughlin, Bill Frisell – Disfarmer- Bill Frisell, anything Ornette, Coltrane or Monk recorded. Many others also that I’m leaving out but unfortunately I don’t think I have room to list everything I would like to. I’m like a kid in a candy shop when it comes to this stuff.
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