Customer Reviews

The West Coast Jazz Box, an Anthology of California Jazz

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Don't be put off by the title AN ANTHOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA JAZZ which may conjure up some bland, ice-cream type, hair bleached, shallow feel-good music. This boxed set has excerpts from some of the very best jazz of the fifties, period, and includes work by Mr Miles Davis, Mr Sonny Rollins, Mr Ornette Coleman,Mr Clifford Brown, Mr Ben Webster and Mr Art Tatum. It includes, for me, some of my all time favourite tracks from some all time favourite albums including: BERNIE'S TUNE and MY FUNNY VALENTINE by the ORIGINAL Mulligan Quartet;ETUDE DE CONCERT by Shelley Manne and his Men; DAAHOUD by the Clifford Brown Ensemble; BLUE SANDS by the Chico Hamilton Quintet which has one of Mr Jim Hall's greatest solos ; KATANGA by Curtis Amy Sextet featuring the work of underrated unknown trumpet player Mr Dupree Bolton; YOU'D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO by the Art Pepper Quartet featuring the rhythm section of Mr Miles Davis; THE FOX by the Harold Land Quintet again featuring Mr Dupree Bolton on trumpet;and finally, 2 DEGREES EAST, 3 DEGREES WEST which is a truly beautiful track from a great album by Mr John Lewis called GRAND ENCOUNTERS (Bill Perkins, John Lewis, Jim Hall, Percy Heath, Chico Hamilton). Because there is so much good music on this anthology, it's best to take it a little at a time so rich are its benefits. Once you put on Track One of CD one and hear the palpable excitement of Mr Wardell Gray and Mr Dexter Gordon live, there may, however, be no turning back! GO FOR IT! One of my best buys of 1999.

This collection along with the enclosed notes will help any jazz listener, new or old, to savor a little taste of the era. It may also whet your appetite, as it did mine, for more music from some of the featured artists.

Getz, Mulligan, John Lewis, Eric Dolphy, Woody Hermans Herd, Chet Baker (at his best), Cal Tjader - The truly greats of the era play some of the best tunes, like Bernies Tune, and My Funny Valentine, and others of the West Coast phenom! I truly enjoyed the mix and the variety of this monumental package. I consider it a milestone in what may become a revival of really cool sound. Thanks.

This 4 CD, 62 song set is a must have for jazz fans! What a great range of artists!
It covers the California Jazz Scene on the Contemporary Records label from 1950-1964.
Some of the most influential artists of all time recorded for Contemporary Records during these years, and this box set is truly awesome!
A 70 page booklet comes with the set with all kinds of great essays and trivia about the California Jazz Scene in the 50's and 60's, as well as complete track-by-track info. about every song.

Hey, if you're just a casual jazz fan and don't know that much about this music, this is a great primer for you!

GET THIS BOX SET!

This is a fantastic set. When can we expect another collection