All great suggestions, though with Miles I'd say you can't mention Bitches Brew as Miles' essential contribution to fusion without mentioning In a Silent Way in the same breath.  I'd also put Jaco Pastorius' eponymous album on that list, as well as Zappa's Hot Rats. I'm definitely in the minority here, but I also enjoy The New Tony Williams Lifetime more than The Tony Williams Lifetime, particularly the album Believe It. 


LFF- that would also be a great Ella suggestion, perhaps easier on a beginner's digestion as well come to think about it.

Agree as to In a Silent Way.  As far as Jaco is concerned, I think he was less self-indulgent as a band member than as a leader.  My favorite "Jaco records" are probably Bright Size Life and the live Joni Mitchell record, Shadows and Light.

love me some ECM...a favorite album.



RD, try some ECM label.

I love Baertch's work. A friend of mine got me the Illyria vinyl record for Christmas last year.

For a time I also got really hooked on the Bad Plus but somehow lately I got tired of them.

After the recent post of this:




I decided to give it a spin.

What a fuck-up of a remaster/recording preservation! 

The RVG is loud, noisy and nearly mono in presentation. Looking at the catalog number, I know this was an original stereo recording but WHY fuck it up so bad?!?!!?

Now...I know the first track has severe tape damage but the rest of the tracks are fine and yet they still sound like shit. 


I'm going to have to spend a few hours fixing this crap.

Here is a before:


The real trick is going to be getting the 10 track version...