#6



Clifford Brown and Max Roach
Brown and Roach Incorporated

This is the sh*t. Hard bop time. Fast tempos. Fast fingers. Crashing cymbals. Great songs on this taking notes from Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, Cole Porter, and even Bing Crosby. Brown and Roach are obvious focuses of the record and they show themselves off quite well, especially Roach, but you also have Richie Powell on the piano doing fantastic work. Uptempo tracks obviously showcase Roach and his frenetic drumming. Brown, who was 25 during recording, showcases a beautiful sound on the trumpet but really highlights the downtempo stuff. Lots of soul in there.

"Mildama" is probably the highlight here.



#5



Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz
Diz and Getz

This was tough to put ahead of Brown and Roach but I did it because the entire band on this thing was just miles better than the former. Here you have EVERYBODY playing stellar. Oscar Peterson on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and f*cking Max Roach again on drums.

Stellar.

Every track swings. You have a Duke Ellington number to open with that might be one of my favorite renditions of the song. When Herb Ellis joins in with the Peterson solo...birds sing.

Getz proves he has serious chops after doing many "cool" jazz gigs like at the top of the list. Plays great with Diz's trumpet. Last two tracks are spicy.

Norman Grantz was the man for getting these guys in the same studio and letting them go.