The Vinyl District is delighted to have been designated as media partners for the 3rd Annual International Jazz Day which is today—April 30!
Streaming live from Osaka, Japan is the International Jazz Day Global Concert featuring Herbie Hancock in tandem with a world class assemblage of musicians to celebrate the jazz idiom in all its hues and colors. If you miss the live, international broadcast, we encourage you to catch it on demand from home, in your office cubicle, or in classrooms across the world.
Over the course of the past month, we turned our own editorial eye to a wide breadth of jazz releases with a spotlight on some favorites from our own shelves, and in the spirit of Dave Brubeck’s seminal “Take Five,” we’ve asked International Jazz Day’s musical director, John Beasley and the one and only Mr. Wayne Shorter to compile 5 LPs that initially inspired their passion for all things jazz—and which still inform their thinking to this day.
“When IJD was voted for by 135 countries, championed by Herbie Hancock and the Monk Institute, I felt a very personal feeling of appreciation that the world is recognizing ‘jazz,’ this music I play every day of my life, as this significant art form.
I have the fortune to be the music director for the annual concert which brings together over 30 international artists to perform, talk about, and celebrate jazz. The annual concert is streamed live so whether you live in Australia or Zimbabwe, jazz lovers everywhere can listen collectively—swinging, tapping at the same time…imagine that.
This is a mind-blowing thought. This reminds us that music, jazz, can bring beauty in our lives for a moment, break down barriers, and give us a chance to stop and go outside of ourselves.
Listen up for year 3 and a lively show streaming from Osaka.
—John Beasley, International Jazz Day Musical Director
Herbie Hancock, Maiden Voyage | My dad bought me this record when I was about 13 years old. It took me a while to digest this progressive jazz, since I was listening to standard jazz and blues. Fast forward 30 years, I found a way to put my own voice to Herbie’s music by doing a mash up of “Maiden Voyage” and “Tell Me A Bedtime Story” for a tribute album Letter to Herbie. I called the song “Bedtime Voyage.” Herbie’s music courses through my veins every day.
Bobby Timmons, Soul Time | I fell in love with jazz music when I heard Bobby Timmons’ Soul Time. It was a great bridge from popular music. Timmons’ music had so much groove and had this terrific gospel influence. Art Blakely, Sam Jones, and Blue Mitchell mesmerized me.
Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life | Wow! Really, this album contains all of life’s lessons that guided my musical journey. The synchronicity of the lyrics, chords, and grooves were astounding. Enough said.
Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Central Park North | The genius of Thad Jones’ big band arranging with such swagger, creativity and soul all wrapped into one. He inspired me to be an arranger since age 12. I followed my dream of forming a big band like Jones and Lewis had. It is called MONK’estra.
Miles Davis, Neffertti | In my imagination, this record takes me to a chilly, fall evening setting, late night in a studio surrounded by music. The combination of Wayne Shorter’s compositions, Miles’ genius way of orchestrating a small group, and the thoughtfulness of everyone’s playing, cancels the exterior environment.
“Performing at IJD may allow myself, and much of the world to experience an interaction among performers who are of diverse origins, and countries, uniting in ways which transcends the limitations and barriers which many countries have yet to dismantle.”
—Wayne Shorter
Charlie Parker, Charlie Parker With Strings | Charlie Parker with Strings represents the challenge to break through the limited meaning of the word Jazz.
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue | Miles’s Kind of Blue is a stellar example of challenging the status quo of the business of marketing easily accessible music.
Bud Powell, Glass Enclosure | Bud Powell’s Glass Enclosures demonstrates Bud Powell’s undaunted efforts to take the path less travelled in the music world.
Dizzy Gillespie, Things to Come | Dizzy Gillespie’s Things to Come painted a broad brush across the canvas of entertainment by heralding through music the “news” of coming changes in all aspects of life.
Thelonious Monk, Thelonious Monk Trio | This album is a force which transcends the academic rules of exclusivity and intelligence.
