Saxophone Colossus is supposed be his best recording, and is certainly the most popular, but if you want to hear him really stretch out, listen to his 'A night at the Village Vanguard' (a BlueNote 2-disk live session).
Both recordings are rated 5***** at AllMusic.com and The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD
But 'best ever'... I don't know. What about Charlie Parker?
I notice the great virtuoso jazz musicans usally are also great composers. And no wonder since they are composing as they play...all the time! So, even then, their compositions are a drop in the bucket of what they actually create musically.
No doubt, he is up there. But again, so many guys have superlative chops that it leaves the popularity issue up for question.
Notice how the icons of jazz typially changed the sound of the music, as with Louis Armstrong, and Bird, or the sound of the instrument, Miles.
Leaving their contributions more significant than even the music they made. The mark of a true genius, I think, having to do with originality, coupled with talent,and virtuosity.
+Sinatra, Ray Charles, Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Gershwin, and let me close a much longer list with.... Duke Ellington.
Thank God for for them, and music in general.
Both recordings are rated 5***** at AllMusic.com and The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD
But 'best ever'... I don't know. What about Charlie Parker?
I notice the great virtuoso jazz musicans usally are also great composers. And no wonder since they are composing as they play...all the time! So, even then, their compositions are a drop in the bucket of what they actually create musically.
No doubt, he is up there. But again, so many guys have superlative chops that it leaves the popularity issue up for question.
Notice how the icons of jazz typially changed the sound of the music, as with Louis Armstrong, and Bird, or the sound of the instrument, Miles.
Leaving their contributions more significant than even the music they made. The mark of a true genius, I think, having to do with originality, coupled with talent,and virtuosity.
+Sinatra, Ray Charles, Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Gershwin, and let me close a much longer list with.... Duke Ellington.
Thank God for for them, and music in general.