As
a specialist jazz retailer, working at the front end of where
music industry hype meets customer gratification, it is fascinating
to see what actually sells.
At the time of writing I checked our ten top selling CDs at
Ray's over the past couple of months and was reassured to
see a good balance between the music's recent past and the
sounds of today. They were as follows: |
| 1.
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (the Deluxe edition)
- a handsome white double CD package containing alternate
takes and a previously unissued live performance from the
musical giant with disciple Archie Shepp. |
|
| 2.
Wayne Shorter - Alegria - A fresh sounding album
from a contemporary master. |
|
| 3.
Impressed - Gilles Peterson featuring rare cuts
from out of print classic British albums of the sixties by
the likes of Mike Garrick, Norma Winstone and Kenny Wheeler. |
|
| 4.
Ibrahim Ferrer - Buenos Hernandos - A 'Buena Vista
Social Club' guarantee of 'rootsy' Cuban soulfulness. |
|
| 5.
Guy Barker - Soundtrack - A well crafted album with
an international cast of musicians riding on the current fascination
for 'cinematic jazz'. |
|
| 6.
Mariza - Fado Em Mim - Charismatic Portuguese vocalist
who has captured the heart of many a concertgoer since last
year's debut at Womad. |
|
| 7.
Rosario Giuliani - Mr Dodo - Italian firebrand alto
saxophonist as featured on Barker's 'Soundtrack' proving to
be a player of great presence. |
|
| 8.
Orchestra Baobab - Specialist in all Styles - The
new album from the reformed 70s Senegalese Afro-beat jazz
band selling well on the heels of several UK visits and much
media attention. |
|
| 9.
Miles Davis - Birth of the Cool - A jazz watershed
classic. |
|
| 10.
Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus - Sonny's 1956
masterpiece. |
|
|
Miles'
seminal Kind of Blue has been nudged out of the top ten
to eleventh position though it deserves to be grouped as
essential to any serious collection along with the previous
two classics. I suspect many homes, jazz or non-jazz have
a copy by now.
Concentrating on the jazz titles - the Coltrane benefited
from consistent marketing and interest prior to its release
stimulated by the Ken Burns TV documentary on the history
of jazz which covered the making of the recording superbly
with poignant commentary and evocative photography, as did
the recent book by Ashley Khan. Wayne Shorter's 'Alegria'
was again eagerly awaited - his first studio recording for
a number of years - as were his well attended UK concerts.
'Impressed' was again a much sought after item prior to
its release, due to a fair amount of marketing hype but
also due to rarity of the material. Like the previous two
titles the packaging sported a minimalist white cover, very
chic! - Jazz CD as fashion accessory?
Good to see two European contemporary jazzers at positions
5. and 7. Guy Barker who has ploughing a steady but satisfyingly
musical path since his NYJO days and whose star has been
in the ascendant particularly since his Mercury Prize nomination
of a few years ago, and received a major boost to his career
with his involvement with the first 'Mr Ripley' film. Similarly
Rosario Guiliani, a member of Barker's 'Soundtrack' ensemble,
has won through by sheer musical merit .It is good news
for specialist music retailers, the listening public and
the jazz scene generally that contemporary jazz of high
quality sells alongside the music's revered back catalogue.
By
PAUL PACE , Contributing Editor to Jazz at Ronnie Scott's
Magazine and Head of Ray's Jazz at Foyles.
|
