Annie Ross: Billie Holiday, Lady in Satin
“She was my hero, she was my mentor, she was my idol. I got to know her very very well and I was very proud that I did, because she was a real buddy of mine. “I think there's a whole life in this voice for her to sing the songs that she sings; I mean, ...
Al Jarreau: Les Double Six, Les Double Six
“Double Six--when I was in college in my first year, I formed a singing group patterned along the lines of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross--and Double Six. “Double Six changed my life; I listened to them instead of going to class--I think they almost sent me home! “Very important music to me, I became friends with [pianist/composer] ...
Marcus Miller: Miles Davis, Milestones
“Miles at his height in the '50s before jazz took another turn, Milestones (Columbia, 1958) was--along with the other Miles records of this period--really at the height of the elegant era of jazz. Then it went somewhere else that was equally amazing. “But I really love the combination of soulfulness and intelligence with which these guys ...
Christian Scott: Clifford Brown, The Beginning of the End
"I choose a Clifford Brown album called The Beginning and the End (Columbia, 1973). It chronicles this guy's experience from the beginning of his musical career until a recording the day before he actually died. “It's strange, because when I first got the record I didn't really know what the record was about or why they ...
Terence Blanchard: Miles Davis, Four & More
"It's Miles Davis Four and More and the reason why it's so special for me [is] because I remember the first time I heard it as a kid. Listening to that live performance blew me way because you know I had been listening to a very different style of trumpet playing and improvisation. Those guys just ...
Robert Glasper: Slum Village, Fantastic Vol. 2
[ Editor's note: This is the first installment of our new One LP column. Learn more about William's column here. ] The reason this album is special to me is because the producer of the album--J Dilla is my favorite hip hop producer and I got the privilege to actually work with him before ...
