Weather Report - A Remark You Made (1977)

This LP is a gateway drug for those who have their doubts about fusion.

For more in this vein, may I suggest Joe Zawinul’s Cannon Ball, a beautiful dedication to his old bandleader, the great Cannonball Adderley.

Thelonious Monk - Liza (All The Clouds’ll Roll Away) (1964)

To this humble listener’s ears, Monk’s standard interpretations are an ongoing education in music and mood, light and life.

Close your eyes; all the clouds’ll roll away.

Thelonious Monk - Don’t Blame Me (1963)

From Jazz Standards:

“Don’t Blame Me” has long been a favorite of musicians and music fans, jazz or otherwise. Paul McCartney says of fellow Beatle John Lennon,

One of John’s favorite songs was “Don’t Blame Me.” People think of John Lennon as a peacenik, or a crazy man, or a great man, but they never associate him with the kinds of songs his mum taught him. His mum was a musical lady. She taught him banjo chords. I had to change him to guitar chords. We used to love “Little White Lies” and “Don’t Blame Me.”

I wonder if Lennon ever heard Monk’s version. Perhaps they perform this as a duet nightly in some musical Five Spot Cafe in the sky.

Herbie Hancock - Sly (1973)

Happy birthday Herbie!

This number—dedicated to Sly Stone—really has it all. Bennie Maupin’s soprano sax is fiery, but it is Harvey Mason’s revolutionary drumming that steals the show.

Thelonious Monk - Just A Gigolo (1962)

This is perhaps his most beloved and personal interpretation; once you hear him play this song, it never sounds the same.

Thelonious Monk - Memories of You (1964)

In this tumblr’s humblr opinion, Monk will forever be the world’s greatest interpreter of jazz standards.

Miles Davis - Four (1964)

This quintet reaches the outer limits of group interplay and blistering pace on this LP, limits beyond which only immortals can hope to journey.

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Ecaroh (1957)

This one gets under your skin. My dad’s band played it last night and I couldn’t get it out of my head. 

Backwards or forwards, Horace Silver’s compositions swing mightily; in this particular example, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better cast of musicians to deliver his goods.