#795 Nellie McKay – Get Away From Me

Witty, literate, and talented, Ms McKay was 21 years old when she released this in 2004, her debut album. A double album. And if issuing a double album for your debut doesn’t ooze enough confidence already, then you should hear what she has to offer. The title is a piss take on Norah Jones’ worldwide …

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#957 Oscar Peterson – My Fair Lady & West Side Story

Two discs for the price of one! Not only that, but a Very Special Price. Only 36 shillings and 6 pence, which is about £1.80 in today’s money. Although I doubt my grandfather paid that much when he bought it. This record is another one from his collection and features a sticker in his handwriting …

#553 George Gershwin – Rhapsody In Blue & An American In Paris

Rhapsody in Blue has already popped up on the Randometer, with Stefano Bollani’s recording of the original version for jazz band; this is the more commonly performed fuller orchestral version. And it is s'wonderful. I won’t repeat what I attempted to write about it last time, but will focus briefly on the other Gershwin classic …

#165 Stefano Bollani Trio – Stone In The Water

I’ve written a little about Bollani already and, in particular, my wife’s infatuation with him. Purely on the basis of his musical genius of course. This is technically her album, one that I bought her as a present when browsing in the much-missed Concerto record shop in Amsterdam. It’s the only other Bollani record we …

#153 Art Blakey – The Jazz Messengers

The second Blakey album to pop up in little over a month. I first came across Art Blakey about 10 years ago when I started learning to play the drums. I can’t say I’ve developed much since then, as either a Blakey connoisseur or a drummer. The music on this record however is superb and …

#566 George Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue (Chailly & Bollani)

Rhapsody in Blue is without doubt one of the defining classical works of the 20th century, and possibly the defining work of American classical music. It was as ground-breaking as the Rite of Spring, albeit in different ways, and although it caused no riots at its premiere there were plenty of detractors from this self-proclaimed …

#154 Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – The Big Beat

Arthur ‘Art’ Blakey is one bad-ass drummer, arguably the best jazz drummer of all time, and this is one of his definitive albums. It’s one of the 76 albums he recorded as a leader of the Jazz Messengers, and in common with many of them, it shows off the raw rhythmic sensibilities of Blakey along …