I have rediscovered Clifford Brown (via Joy Spring). There are lots of issues out there. If there are any particular recommendations on sound quality (or ones to avoid ) on CD (or selective vinyl) then please let me know.
These are the classics with Max Roach - I prefer the early CD pressings, not the remasters: Clifford Brown and Max Roach • EmArcy; 1954-1955 recordings Brown and Roach, Inc. • EmArcy; 1954 recordings More Study in Brown • EmArcy; 1954-1955 recordings Study in Brown • EmArcy; 1955 recordings Clifford Brown and Max Roach at Basin Street • EmArcy; 1956 recordings
Listened on repeat to 'Brown and Roach, Inc.' and 'Study in Brown' - they are amazingly good. The joy certainly springs out of the speakers!
If you really become interested in Brownie, I’d recommend the Complete Clifford Brown on EmArcy, 10 cds. There is also The Complete Blue Note and Pacific Jazz Recordings which you should be able to find. Acoustic Sounds is coming out with A Study in Brown on vinyl so you may want to look into that.
While I'm sure that many wouldn't be pleased by the audio quality, Live at the Beehive (Brown/Roach on Columbia/CBS) is one of my favorites. So are the radio checks/spots and so forth that have surfaced in recent years on RLR.
I have that one, from 1989 I think. It does include the Sarah Vaughan album as well which is one of the best Jazz vocal albums of all time and also an essential part of the Brownie discography.
CD wise get the Brownie box, complete Emarcy and the complete Blue Note box...more great music that humans deserve.
This is available as a Music Matters 2x45 rpm set mastered by our host and Kevin Gray. Before this set came out, the best mastering of the material was on the original Lou Donaldson 78 rpm records. This record set sounds better.
I can't just listen to one Clifford Brown song or album. As soon as I hear one I want to hear them all...
Agreed, but don't forget (originally from the Prestige label) Sonny Rollins Plus 4. A great album with the same great quintet with Roach, Brown and Rollins. MFSL did a fine SACD but the old OJC CD will be just fine as well. EDIT: Listen2jazz beat me to it.
My favorite quote from any jazz musician from Lester Bowie: “If Clifford Brown had not died I would be working in the Post Office and Miles Davis would be my supervisor”. Any and all Brownie is worth a listen, most of it is ‘beyond category’.
It's included in the Complete Blue Note and Pacific Jazz Recordings mentioned above, but it hasn't been mentioned on its own yet: The Art Blakey Quintet A Night at Birdland Vols. 1 & 2 is essential. 50's covers for Vol. 1 Unless the Mosaic box on CD uses different mastering than the 80's CD or the inferior remaster, I'd go for vinyl.
For Mercury recordings, which represent the pinnacle of his genius, get the Mercury box set (available individually, too). And you're done. Clifford Brown – Brownie: The Complete EmArcy Recordings Of Clifford Brown (1989, CD)
Reminds me of once reading a comment by Lester, numerous decades back, about the differences in how he and Herbie Hancock 'learned to play the blues,' contrasting colleges and 'gut-bucket types of joints.'
I have the reissue vinyl.... the playing absolutely smokes!! SQ is good, don't have anything to compare it against.... Cliff is on fire the whole band is on fire.... Both vol 1 and 2 are MUST OWNS!
Mosaic released two limited-edition (now long OOP) Clifford Brown sets, one with his Blue Note and Pacific Jazz recordings and the other with his EmArcy recordings, and both were LP-only, no CDs.
