MILES DAVIS, '58 FEATURING STELLA BY STARLIGHT, 1958 - Buy Now
"This record has my favorite version of Love For Sale. The way Miles plays the melody, and the way the group supports him...it's something you've got to experience. John Coltrane plays on this album, and here you see a more reserved Coltrane than his later work. Bill Evans is on there, too, and to hear them all together -- it's like an all-star band. Cannonball Adderley's sax solo in Love For Sale is incredible. The first time I heard it, I just kept playing it over and over again."
FRANK SINATRA, ONLY THE LONELY, 1958 - Buy Now
"That's one of the greatest records ever, and probably my favorite Sinatra record. It's so dark and compelling. Sinatra himself called the songs on this record 'suicide songs.' He was the king of interpreting this kind of music. The arrangements, the orchestration, and just the way he sings songs like Only the Lonely, Angel Eyes, I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry...it's indescribable. He's almost crying when he's singing. It'll bring you to tears."
SHIRLEY HORN, HERE'S TO LIFE, 1992 - Buy Now
"I love listening to Shirley Horn take her time and interpret each song to the fullest -- Where Do You Start? is one of my favorites. Shirley is one of the great singer/piano players. For what I do, she's someone to idolize. She's sparse with her words, and they match up perfectly with the music. That's an art form in itself. A lot of her records are trio records, but this has a beautiful arrangement with strings. Johnny Mandel, the arranger and producer, is a legend. You can't really get better than him."
RAY CHARLES, THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES, 1959 - Buy Now
"I've got a few favorite Ray Charles records -- Genius + Soul = Jazz is another one I love. But this has some great songs on it, like Let the Good Times Roll and It Had To Be You. Ray's another singer/piano player who's incredible at what he does -- not only the piano playing and singing, but the way he combines them both. The soul that he pours out into each one of his tracks is great. He's immensely talented. You could put this on in the shower, in the car, while you're getting ready for a date...whatever your mood, it'll mesh with it."
BILL EVANS, ALONE, 1968 - Buy Now
"It's hard to believe that Bill Evans is alone on this record. Even without his trio, he makes the piano sound like an orchestra. There aren't even vocals -- just a man and his piano. It's a masterpiece of keyboard harmony. His trio albums are great, too, but that's a whole different thing than playing solo piano. Bill has mastered both. Alone doesn't showcase his virtuosity -- genius is a better word. You don't hear him flying around the piano. It's much deeper than that."
ANY NAT "KING" COLE TRIO RECORD - Buy Now
"Nat 'King' Cole is my idol. I am constantly amazed at how he was able to unify the art of piano playing and the art of singing in such an effortless way. As a result, he created a third art which was truly his own. To be a commercial success but have the respect of so many jazz musicians is an admirable thing. Everyone knows his hits, but he's got some great lesser known songs, too, like Frim Fram Sauce, and a lot of standards. Pick up any of his trio records, and I guarantee you'll have plenty to listen to."
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