Buddy Tate & Claude Hopkins - "Buddy and Claude" (1999)

Former big band players gather here for two easygoing but still swinging sessions held in 1960. Anchored by saxophonist Buddy Tate and pianist Claude Hopkins, the seasoned group of musicians run though standards and gems pulled from various jazz forms of their time. Originally released as two separate albums on the Swingville label, the long out of print records were unearthed by Prestige and combined for this 1999 release. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Is It So?" (4:18)
2. "Yes, Indeed" (6:57)
3. "What's Your Story Morning Glory" (3:23)
4. "Willow Wee for Me" (7:17)
5. "Empty Bed Blues" (6:23)
6. "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (5:30)
7. "What Is This Thing Called Love?" (4:24)
8. "Buddy's Tate-A-Tate" (4:09)
9. "Groun' Hog" (8:11)
10. "All Too Soon" (4:12)
11. "Snatchin' It Back" (5:34)
12. "# 20 Ladbroke Square" (6:15)
13. "Take the 'A' Train" (7:02)

Nouvelle Vague - "Bande à Part" (2006)

French band Nouvelle Vague might not write their own material, but their unique take on songs puts them above the simple label of cover band. Digging through New Wave and Post Punk songs from the 80's, they reinterpret them as swanky 60's-style bossa nova numbers that drop you into a café sipping coffee in their native land. One trick in making the songs they select uniquely theirs is to only cover numbers the two female leads have not heard before, further distancing the cover from the original. Here on their second album Bande à Part, they put a fun spin on some gems from acts like Blondie, Billy Idol, U2, and The Smiths. -- Chris Baginski

1. "The Killing Moon" (Echo & The Bunnymen)
2. "Ever Fallen In Love?"(Buzzcocks)
3. "Dance With Me" (Lords of the New Church)
4. "Don't Go" (Yahzo)
5. "Dancing With Myself" (Billy Idol)
6. "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (U2)
7. "O Pamela" (The Wake)
8. "Heart of Glass" (Blondie)
9. "Confusion" (New Order)
10. "Human Fly" (The Cramps)
11. "Bela Lugosi's Dead" (Bauhaus)
12. "Shack Up" (A Certain Ratio)
13. "Let Me Go" (Heaven 17)
14. "Fade To Grey" (Visage)

Dave Brubeck - "Instant Brubeck" (1954)

If you ever find yourself around the Quartier Latin in Montreal be sure to check out Beatnick Music. This cavern like record store offers a great selection of music that's spaciously organized for easy browsing. The owners are always aquiring new records and will point you in the right direction if you're up for a conversation. I came across this Dave Brubeck album, took a chance based on the cover art and discovered it works perfectly for the music inside. Too bad the re-release of this record uses a different cover and changes the title to Brubeck Time. But the music remains the same offering the sunnyside up jazz that Brubeck's Quartet is known for. This is the first studio outing for the band and it showcases Brubeck's unique compositional style and his equally important saxophonist, Paul Desmond. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Audrey" 3:33
2. "Jeepers Creepers" 4:56
3. "Pennies From Heaven" 6:27
4. "Why Do I Love You" 5:41
5. "Stompin' For Mili" 5:26
6. "Keppin' Out Of Mischief Now" 5:05
7. "A Fine Romance" 3:48
8. "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?" 5:17

Vince Guaraldi Trio - "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965)

One of the greatest Christmas albums of all time. I don't know how Charles Schulz came up with the idea to pair his Peanuts Gang with a piano jazz score but it was a brilliant move. The music of Vince Guaraldi perfectly represents the humor, innocents, and charm of the comic strip, and on this album, immediately puts you in the Winter season and the holiday spirit. -- Chris Baginski

1. "O Tannenbaum" 5:08
2. "What Child Is This?" 2:25
3. "My Little Drum" 3:12
4. "Linus and Lucy" 3:06
5. "Christmas Time Is Here" (Instrumental) 6:05
6. "Christmas Time Is Here" (Vocal Version) 2:47
7. "Skating" 2:27
8. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" 1:55
9. "Christmas Is Coming" 3:25
10. "Für Elise" 1:06
11. "The Christmas Song" 3:17
12. "Greensleeves" 5:26

Skafish - "Tidings of Comfort and Joy" (2005)

Don't let their band name throw you off, these are lounge lizard jazz instrumentals of Christmas classics. Skafish is actually the surname of bandleader Jimmy Skafish, a Chicago pioneer of the American punk and new wave sound. Here he shows off his classical and jazz training with cool and melodic runs that's a must for this year's Christmas parties. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Joy to the World" (4:07)
2. "Deck the Hall" (3:33)
3. "The First Noel" (3:39)
4. "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" (5:14)
5. "Silent Night" (5:09)
6. "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" (4:54)
7. "O Come O Come Emmanuel" (5:37)
8. "What Child Is This?" (4:27)
9. "Angels We Have Heard On High" (4:58)
10. "Away in a Manger" (4:54)
11. "We Three Kings Fusion" (10:27)
12. "God Rest Ye Merry Gents" (5:57)
13. "Jingle Bells" (5:02)

Tito Puente - "Puente Goes Jazz" (1956)

Born in New York City's Spanish Harlem in 1923, Tito Peunte was impressing the neighborhood with his ferocious percussion skills by age 10. Recording over 100 albums in his career, Puente fused Afro-Cuban beats with everything from Big Band compositions and Mambos, to Bossa Nova and Jazz. Here on Puente Goes Jazz, every listener is transformed by the swinging rhythms into a sharp dressed cat from the 1950's. -- Chris Baginski

1. "What Is This Thing Called Love" (3:22)
2. "Tiny-Not Ghengis" (2:49)
3. "What Are You Doin' Honey" (2:45)
4. "Lotus Land" (4:52)
5. "Lucky Dog" (3:21)
6. "Birdland After Dark" (4:36)
7. "That's A Puente" (2:32)
8. "Yesterdays" (4:35)
9. "Terry Cloth" (4:56)
10. "Tito 'In" (2:56)

Tito Puente on Sesame Street

Miles Davis - "In A Silent Way" (1969)

In A Silent Way is an epic journey through seemingly disconnected music that pulls you in immediately and gradually reveals a hidden story and cohesion. In the late 1960's Jazz and Rock began inching their paths towards each other to create Jazz Fusion. Miles Davis, who helped develop the genre on two previous albums, released the masterpiece In A Silent Way as his first full on Jazz Fusion record. As Thom Jurek put it, "There is no melody, not even a melodic frame. There are only vamps and solos, grooves layered on top of other grooves spiraling toward space but ending in silence." I first listened to this album lying in bed one night with the sounds of a rainstorm outside my window. I suggest you do the same! -- Chris Baginski

1. "Shhh/Peaceful" - 18:16

2. "In a Silent Way/It's About That Time" - 19:52

Brother Jack McDuff "Live!" (1963)

Master of the Hammond B3 Organ, Brother Jack McDuff helped make the blues infused "soul jazz" the bridge between the hard-bop of the 50's and the jazz funk of the 70's. If some of the grooves sound familiar, it's because McDuff's style beacame a major influence on the B3 players that followed him. Look no further than the tribute album "Boogaloo To Jack McDuff" where modern day players pay homage to the man himself. But "Live!" brings you back to the beginning of all it with some of Jack's earliest material being preformed in a club setting. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Rock Candy" (6:39)
2. "It Ain't Necessarily So" (6:37)
3. "Sanctified Samba" (4:48)
4. "Whistle While You Work" (5:11)
5. "A Real Goodun'" (7:42)
6. "Undecided" (8:15)
7. "Blues 1 And 8" (7:06)
8. "Passing Through" (2:39)
9. "Dink's Blues" (6:19)
10. "Grease Monkey" (2:31)
11. "Vas Dis" (8:09)
12. "Somewhere In The Night" (3:55)
13. "Jive Samba" (6:50)

Grooveshark Stream

John Scofield w/ MMW - "A Go Go" (1998)

Some albums pull you right back to where you listened to them over and over. This one forever floats me to the basement of Townhouse 13 in Fairfield, CT. On A Go Go, four of the coolest cats in modern jazz get together for the first of two collaborative albums and the chemistry immediately sizzles. Jazz guitar master John Scofield teams with acid jam trio Medeski, Martin & Wood for a funky new take on retro jazz jive that's super cool and super styling. -- Chris Baginski

1. "A Go Go" (6:36)
2. "Chank" (6:46)
3. "Boozer" (5:27)
4. "Southern Pacific" (5:13)
5. "Jeep on 35" (4:31)
6. "Kubrick" (2:13)
7. "Green Tea" (5:11)
8. "Hottentot" (6:46)
9. "Chicken Dog" (6:22)
10. "Deadzy" (2:41)

See John Scofield on Tour

See Medeski, Martin & Wood on Tour

Meirelles e Os Copa 5 - "O Som" (1964)

A landmark album in Brazilian Jazz, O Som marked the shift from the fast paced bossa nova period of the late 50's and early 60's to a cool jazz style while still staying true to Brazil's samba roots. Lead by Tenor Saxophonist J.T. Meirelles, this album will drop you in a Rio de Janeiro café complete with a cerveja in no time. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Quintessência" 4:14
2. "Solitude" 5:36
3. "Blue Bottle's" 5:03
4. "Nordeste" 3:41
5. "Contemplação" 6:02
6. "Tânia" 6:45
7. "O Novo Som" 1:55
8. "Solo" 6:21
9. "Serelepe" 1:37

"Bossa Nova Breakfast" Radio Stream

Charlie Hunter Quintet - "Right Now Move" (2003)

Here's a summertime jazz album I'd like to thank Rob Adamski for turning me on to. Its breezy and boppy flavors perfectly garnish your patio party and the mediterranean salad you'll be serving. Following a summer tour in 2002, eight-string guitar master Charlie Hunter took his touring band into the studio to lay down the tracks they perfected in the previous months. The quintet was in such top form it only took one evening, and in most cases one take, to record the whole album. With a break in there for dinner of course. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Mestre Tata" (4:36)
2. "Oakland" (6:10)
3. "Changui" (3:46)
4. "Try" (7:12)
5. "Whoop-Ass" (4:23)
6. "Interlude 1" (0:55)
7. "Wade in the Water" (5:02)
8. "20th Century" (5:46)
9. "Interlude 5" (0:53)
10. "Winky" (6:02)
11. "Freak Fest" (4:40)
12. "Mali" (6:58)
13. "Le Bateau Lvre" (5:50)

Charlie Hunter Tour Dates

Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby "The Original Jam Sessions 1969" (2004)

I'm pretty sure the Cos just smokes cigars on this album aside from his mumbling scat contribution to one of the "Hikky Burr" takes. These loose jam sessions were put together to create the music for Bill Cosby's first sitcom and were only recently unearthed from Quincy Jones' recording archives. The relaxed yet lively tracks run the range of funky and bluesy hard bop to cocktail lounge soul-jazz. Lounging around on a Sunday? Then pick this one up. --Chris Baginski

1. Hikky-Burr 5:56
2. Groovy Gravy 8:10
3. Oh Happy Day 4:18
4. Jimmy Cookin' On Top 1:42
5. Toe Jam 7:49
6. Jive Den 3:13
7. Eubie Walkin' 7:00
8. Monty, Is That You? 6:42
9. The Drawing Room 0:59
10. Hikky-Burr (Feat. Bill Cosby) 3:35
11. Hikky-Burr (Mix Master Mike Remix) 3:01

Wes Montgomery - "Smokin' At the Half Note" (1965)

Smokin' at the Half Note is essential listening for anyone who wants to hear why Montgomery's dynamic live shows were considered the pinnacle of his brilliant and incredibly influential guitar playing. Pat Metheny calls this "the absolute greatest jazz guitar album ever made," and with performances of this caliber ("Unit 7" boasts one of the greatest guitar solos ever recorded) his statement is easily validated. Montgomery never played with more drive and confidence, and he's supported every step of the way by a genuinely smokin' Wynton Kelly Trio. -- Jim Smith

1. "No Blues" 13:00
2. "If You Could See Me Now" 6:45
3. "Unit 7" 7:30
4. "Four on Six" 6:45
5. "What's New" 6:00

Miles Davis - "Bags' Groove" (1954)

Ok I may be alittle biased towards this album but even the pros admit it's a cornerstone of post bop jazz. Recorded on Christmas Eve in 1954, most of the tracks laid down that winter night went on to become jazz standards. And while Miles Davis receives top billing, most tracks are compositions by the other members of this session. The title track is the creation of Milt 'Bags' Johnson, while tracks 3, 4, and 6 are all originals by the young Sonny Rollins. Never hurts having Thelonious Monk on piano too. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Bags' Groove" (take 1) 11:12
2. "Bags' Groove" (take 2) 9:20
3. "Airegin" 4:57
4. "Oleo" 5:10
5. "But Not for Me" (take 2) 4:34
6. "Doxy" 4:51
7. "But Not for Me" (take 1) 5:42

Cannonball Adderley - "Somethin' Else" (1958)

When alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley culled together this quartet, he grabbed three champions from seemingly disparate schools to complement his flinty solos: Miles Davis, the king of cool; Art Blakey, the thundering force of hard bop; Hank Jones, a veteran of swing; and Sam Jones, a versatile bassist adaptable to nearly any setting. The results are one of Blue Note's most beloved albums. The open-ended beauty of "Autumn Leaves," which features Davis beautifully stating the melody on muted trumpet, sounds like it could easily be an outtake from Kind of Blue. The midtempo title track provides the centerpiece of this classic as Adderley echoes Miles's swaggering melody before both unravel wonderful solos. A must-have Blue Note album. -- John Murph

1. "Autumn Leaves" 11:01
2. "Love for Sale" 7:06
3. "Somethin' Else" 8:15
4. "One for Daddy-O" 8:26
5. "Dancing in the Dark" 4:07
6. "Bangoon (Alison's Uncle)" 5:05