It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago

(Edited 12/7/06 to add Coon Bid'ness and Dixon's November 1981)

The hivemind has spoken, and The Bad Plus has dutifully put it all out there. Ethan's list, and the subsequent web chatter has resulted in a tremendous outpouring of lists, opinions, commentary and (for me, at least) eye-opening musical revelations and reminders. It's a great (if vast) jumping off point for the overcriticized, underappreciated recent history of jazz and improvisation.

Since the list over there is a little unwieldy (I'm amazed Ethan & co. got it up so quickly as it is), and since I have way too much time on my hands temping this week, below is the cliff notes version of the combined lists on TBP site, plus everyone else (that I know of) who has chimed in. (It was either this or obsess over the football games this weekend, and I think this is a trifle more useful.) It lacks the passion that goes along with so many of the individual lists, but I think it's interesting, and handy, to have everything just splayed out in one place

First a disclaimer: this was just an elaborate cut and paste job; I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information here, and I'll correct, amend and revise it it as best I can, if the need arises. Appearance on the list does not necessarily mean a record is endorsed, by me, TBP, or anybody else for that matter. (Well, it was endorsed by at least one person, that's why it's there.) I did knock a few off the list because they fell outside the '73-'90 parameters Ethan set.

To be as democratic as possible, and to keep myself from throwing the monitor out the window, the list is alphabetical according to first name . A (*) indicates a record that was mentioned more than once (always a good sign), and a link is to particularly interesting commentary about that record. Also, I know the spacing and caps is a little erratic; I couldn't fix everything , and the spacing is only to make it a little more legible.

So, here 'tis:

Abdul Wadud - By Myself (1977, Bisharra)
Abdullah Ibrahim, Johnny Dyani, Echoes from Africa (Enja, 1979) (also see Dollar Brand for Abdullah)
Air – Air Time (Nessa), 80º Below ’82 (Antilles), Open Air Suit (Arista), Air Lore
al cohn-jimmy rowles, heavy love, 1977, xanadu.
Al Di Meola, John Mclaughlin,Paco De Lucia, Land of the Midnight Sun 1976, Gypsy 1977, Splendido Hotel 1978
Alex Schlippenbach Quartet- The Hidden Peak (FMP) *
Allan Holdsworth- Metal Fatigue 1985 Enigma, 1989 Intima
Alterations – Up Your Sleeve (!Quartz)
Alvin Queen-Jammin’ Uptown (Nilva)
Andrew Hill- Shades (Soul Note), HOMAGE 1975, EAST WIND.
Andrew Cyrille- Nuba (1979)
Anthony Braxton - Dortmund (Quartet) 1976 (Hat Art) *, For Trio (Arista), Montreux/Berlin Concerts (Arista), Quartet 1989 (Leo), Creative Orchestra Music 1976 (Arista) *, Montreux/Berlin Concerts (Arista), Alto Saxophone Improvisations 1979 (Arista), Five Pieces 1975 (Arista) *

Anthony Braxton/Derek Bailey Duo – Wigmore Hall Concert (Emanem)
Archie Shepp and Horace Parlan - Trouble in Mind (Steeplechase), goin' home 1977, steeplechase.
archie shepp trio, steam 1976, enja.
Area Crac (Cramps)
Area Maledetti (Cramps)
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers- Blue Night (Timeless)
Art Ensemble of Chicago - Fanfare for the Warriors (Atlantic, reissued by Koch Jazz and 4 Men with Beards), Full Force (ECM), Live in Berlin (West Wind), Nice Guys (ECM) *, The Third Decade (ECM).

Art Farmer - Something to Live For (Contemporary) TO DUKE WITH LOVE, 1975, EAST WIND
art pepper quartet, landscape; 1979, galaxy, thursday, friday, saturday live at the village vanguard; 1977, contemporary,living legend1975, los angeles, contemporary records.

Arthur Blythe - Basic Blythe (Columbia), Illusions (Columbia, reissued by Koch Jazz) *, Stones, Bush Baby

Barry Altschul group, you can't name your own tune; 1977, muse.
Barry Harris- Plays Tadd Dameron, Live in Tokyo
BEAVER HARRIS 360 DEGREE EXPERIENCE, BEAUTIFUL AFRICA; 1979, SOUL NOTE.
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones 1989 Warner
Bennie Maupin – Jewel in the Lotus (ECM) 1974 *
Bill Bruford Feels Good to Me (EG)
Bill Dixon – Considerations I, November 1981
Bill Evans - I Will Say Goodbye (1977), Will Meet Again (Warner Brothers) *, THE FINAL VILLAGE VANGUARD SESSIONS 1980, MOSAIC.
TONY BENNETT-BILL EVANS ALBUM, 1975, FANTASY.
Bill Frisell Band, Lookout For Hope (ECM).
Billy Bang; Butch Morris – Dust to Dust;
Billy Cobham- Spectrum (1973) *
Billy Harper Black Saint (Black Saint), Capra Black (Strata East)
Billy Hart – Enhance (A&M) *, Oshumare (Gramavision).
Blue Notes in Concert Vol 1 (Ogun)
Bob Brookmeyer - Mel Lewis Orchestra - Live at the Village Vanguard (1980), Make Me Smile (1982)
Bob Brookmeyer / Stockholm Jazz Orchestra - Dreams (1988)
Bob Brookmeyer- Back Again (Sonet).
Bob James – 3 (Tappan Zee)
Bob Moses- When Elephants Dream of Music (Gramavision)
Bobby Bradford- Love’s Dream (Emanem), LOST IN LA 1983, SOUL NOTE.
Bobby Hutcherson- Cirrus (Blue Note), Knucklebean (Blue Note)
Bobby Naughton – The Haunt (Otic)
Bobby Previte - Empty Suits (Gramavision)
Branford Marsalis, Royal Garden Blues (Columbia).
Brecker Brothers – Heavy Metal Bebop (Arista) *
BUCK HILL QUARTET- SCOPE-1979, STEEPLECHASE.
Burt Bacharach and the Houston Symphony "Woman", 1979.

Carla Bley, Social Studies (1980)
Carmen McCrae- Fine and Mellow: Live at Birdland West (1986)
Cassandra Wilson - Point of View (JMT)
Cecil Taylor - 3 Phasis (New World), Berlin '88 (FMP), Looking (Berlin Version) (FMP), Silent Tongues (Freedom), Cecil Taylor Live in The Black Forest (MPS), Cecli Taylor Unit Live in Bologna (Leo), For Olim (Soul Note), Spring of Two Blue Js (Unit Core/J-for-Jazz), Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! (1980, MPS), The Garden (1981, hatART)

Cedar Walton "Eastern Rebellion" (Timeless) 1975 *, Naima (Savoy)
charles brackeen quartet- worshippers come nigh; 1987, silkheart.
Charles Gayle – Touching on Trane
Charles Mingus - Changes One (1974), Changes Two (1974)
Charles Tolliver Impact (Strata East) 1975 *, Live in Tokyo (Strata East)
Charlie Haden – Quartet West (Verve), Golden Number (A&M) *
Charlie Haden/Carla Bley, The Ballad of the Fallen (ECM).
Charlie Haden/Paul Motian featuring Geri Allen, Etudes (Soul Note).
Chet Baker and Paul Bley, Diane (Steeplechase).
chet baker- peace; 1982, enja, blues for a reason; 1984, criss cross, Symphonically (Soul Note)
Chick Corea - "Mirror, Mirror" 1980, Three Quartets 1981 *
Chick Corea/Dave Holland/Barry Atschul- The Quest (Palo Alto)
chico freeman- the outside within 1978, Tradition in Transition (Electra Musician), Chico Hamilton & the Players (Blue Note)
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath Live at Willisau (Ogun)
clifford jordan- glass beads vol2; 1973, strata east *, repetition; 1984, soul note.
Collin Walcott, Don Cherry, Nana Vasconcelos, Codona 3 (ECM).

Dave Holland – Triplicate (ECM)*, Seeds of Time (ECM, 1984), Jumpin’ In (ECM) *, The Razor’s Edge (ECM) *

Dave Liebman/Richie Beirach- The Duo Live (Advance Music).
David Murray Octet - Ming (Black Saint) *, Murray’s Steps (Black Saint).
David Sanborn– Straight to the Heart (Warner Brothers)
David Sancious and Tone Transformation (Epic)
Derek Bailey- Notes (1985, Incus)
Derek Bailey- Aida (Incus, reissued by Dexter's Cigar), New Sights, Old Sounds (Morgue) and Time (Incus)
Derek Bailey and Evan Parker- Compatibles (1985)
Derek Bailey and Tony Oxley - Soho Suites (Incus)
Derek Bailey, George Lewis and John Zorn - Yankees (Celluloid, reissued by Charly) –
Dewey Redman and Ed Blackwell- In Willisau (Black Saint).
Dewey Redman- The Ear of the Behearer (Impulse), Struggle Continues (ECM)

Dexter Gordon Generation (Prestige), Homecoming (Columbia) *, Sophisticated Giant (Columbia), The Other Side of Round Midnight (Blue Note).
dizzy gillespie sextet- the giant; 1973, accord.
Dollar Brand Duo (w Johnny Dyani)
Dolo Coker Dolo! (Xanadu)
Don Byron - Tuskegee Experiments (1990-1991)
don cherry- art deco1988, a&m, BROWN RICE1975, A&M, Relativity Suite
Don Pullen- New Beginnings (Blue Note), CAPRICORN RISING 1975, BLACK SAINT.
Don Pullen/George Adams Quartet - Breakthrough (Blue Note), Live at the Village Vanguard (Soul Note)
Donald Brown, "Sources of Inspiration" Check out Progress Report. 1989.
duke jordan quintet, duke's delight; 1975, steeplechase

Ebenhard Weber- Later That Evening (1982, ECM)
Eddie Harris – That is Why Your Overweight (Atlantic)
Eddie Henderson Realization (Capricorn), Sunburst (Blue Note), Inside Out (Capricorn)
Egberto Gismonte/Charlie Haden/ Jan Garbarek, Magico, Folk Songs
Elton Dean- Boundaries (Japo)
Elvin Jones- Earth Jones (Palo Alto) *
Enrico Rava Quartet (1978, ECM)
Evan Parker - Saxophone Solos (Incus, reissued by Chronoscope,) Atlanta (Impetus)

Frank Lowe - Black Beings (1973, ESP)
Frank Zappa “Jazz from Hell” (1986), The Grand Wazoo 1973 Ryko
Fred Anderson - The Missing Link (1979, Nessa)
Fred Hersch, Sarabande (Sunnyside).
Freddie Hubbard Keep Your Soul Together (CTI), Red Clay, Straight Life, Sky Dive, Super Blue (Columbia), Outpost (ENJA)*, The Griffith Park Collection (Electra Musician)

Gary Bartz –Music Is My Sanctuary (Capitol)
Gary Burton- New Quartet (1973), Matchbook (1974), Dreams So Real (1976), Passengers
Gary Peacock- Guamba (ECM).
Gary Thomas – By Any Means Necessary (JMT)
Gateway - Gateway (1975), Gateway 2 (1977)
GEORGE LEWIS- HOMAGE TO CHARLES PARKER 1979, BLACK SAINT.
George Russell: Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved By Nature (1980)
Geri Allen – In The Year of the Dragon (JMT)
Gil Evans - Svengali (1973), Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix (1974), Priestess.
Globe Unity Orchestra - Hamburg '74 (1974, FMP reiss. Atavistic/UMS); Improvisations (1977, Japo), Compositions (1979, Japo), Special Evidence (FMP)
Graham Collier Portraits (Saydisc)
Grover Washington – Feels So Good (Kudu)
Günter Christmann / Paul Lovens / Maarten Altena - Weavers (1979-80, Po Torch)
Günter Christmann & Torsten Müller - Carte Blance (1985, FMP)


Hampton Hawes and Charlie Haden. As long As there's Music
Hampton Hawes, At The Piano (Contemporary) Survival of the Fittest (Arista).
Henry Threadgill – You Know The Number (RCA Novus) *, Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket (About Time), When Was That? (About Time), Rag Bush and All

Herbie Hancock - Man-Child (1975), Sextant (Columbia), "The Piano" (1979?), Thrust (Columbia), Headhunters (Columbia), V.S.O.P. (Columbia).

Horace Silver Silver ‘n Brass (Blue Note)
horace tapscott quartet, The Dark Tree, vol1&2*; 1989, hatart, live at lobero, vol1&2; 1981, nimbus

Irene Schweizer & Rudiger Carl - The Very Centre of Middle Europe (1978, Hat Hut)
Jack DeJohnette - New Directions (ECM), Edition (ECM), New Directions In Europe (ECM), Timeless 1974 ECM

Jaco Pastorius (self titled), Word of Mouth (Warner Bros) *
Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Jukebox (Gramavision 1988); cheesy in the best way.
James Blood Ulmer - Odyssey (Columbia) *
James Newton- Suite for Frida Kahlo
James Newton, Anthony Davis and Abdul Wadud - I've Known Rivers (Gramavision) -
Jan Garbarek-Bobo Stenson Quartet: *Witchi-Tai-To* (ECM, 1974).
Jane Ira Bloom - Slalom (Columbia, reissued by Koch Jazz)
Jeff Beck- Blow By Blow 1975 Epic
Jim Hall "Live", 1975, "Jazz Impressions of Japan"
Jim McNeely - East Coast Blow Out (1989)
JIMMY LYONS-ANDREW CYRILLE DUO, BURNT OFFERINGS;, BLACK SAINT.
jimmy raney trio, live in tokyo; xanadu.
Joanne Brackeen Fi-Fi Goes to Heaven (Concord)
Joe Henderson – The State of the Tenor Vol 1 & 2 (Blue Note) *, "Relaxin at Camarillo", Mirror (MPS), An Evening with Joe Henderson, Charlie Haden, and Al Foster (Red).
Joe McPhee - Tenor (1976, Hat Hut)

John Carter- Dauwhe, Castles of Ghana, ** Dance of the Love Ghosts, Fields, Shadows on the Wall, A Suite of Early American Folk Pieces for Solo Clarinet (1979, Moers)

John McLaughlin- Apocalypse (1974 Columbia), Shakti (1976, Columbia?)
John McNeil: Embarkation
John Scofield – Loud Jazz (Grammavision), "Time on my Hands"
John Zorn, George Lewis and Bill Frisell - News for Lulu, More News for Lulu (Hat Hut)
John Zorn, Naked City (Nonesuch), The Classic Guide to Strategy (1983-85, Lumina/Tzadik)
JOHNNY DYANI QUARTET, SONG FOR BIKO;1978, STEEPLECHASE.
Joint Venture - Ways (Enja)
Joni Mitchell- Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter, Mingus, Shadows and Light
jr montrose-tommy flanagan duo, a little pleasure; 1981, uptown.
julian priester ensemble, love love; 1973, ecm*
Julius Hemphill and the JAH Band - Georgia Blue (Minor Music) -
Julius Hemphill, Blue Boyé (Screwgun), Coon Bid'ness

Keith Jarrett American Quartet- Fort Yawuh (1973, MCA-Impulse) Backhand (1974, MCA-Impulse) Treasure Island (1974, MCA-Impulse) Death and the Flower (1974, MCA-Impulse) Shades (1975, MCA-Impulse) Mysteries (1975, MCA-Impulse) Eyes of the Heart (1976, ECM) The Survivor's Suite (1976, ECM) Byablue (1976, MCA-Impulse) Bop-Be (1977, MCA-Impulse) *
Keith Jarrett European Quartet - Belonging (1974), Personal Mountains
Keith Jarrett- Shades (Impulse) *
Keith Jarrett Standards Trio, Standards Live (ECM), Standards, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (ECM). Changes (ECM, 1983)

Keith Tippett’s Ark Frames (Ogun)
ken mcintyre quartet- hindsight; 1974, steeplechase.
Kenny Garrett- Introducing Kenny Garrett Criss-Cross feat. Woody Shaw--1985
Kenny Werner- Introducing the Trio (Sunnyside).
Kenny Wheeler - Deer Wan (1977), Around 6 (1979), Double, Double You (1983), Flutter By, Butterfly (1987), The Widow In The Window (1990), Music for Large & Small Ensembles (1990) Gnu High *

khan jamal quartet- dark warrior; 1984, steeplechase
Kip Hanrahan - Desires Develops An Edge *, Conjure I and II, Days and Nights of Blue Luck Inverted, Music for the Text of Ishmael Reed
Kirk Lightsey Temptation (Timeless)

Larry Young – Lawrence of Newark
Last Exit - Cassette Recordings '87 (Celluloid)
Lee Konitz and Red Mitchell- I Concentrate on You 1974, satori; 1974, milestone.
Lester Bowie The 5th Power (Black Saint)
Louis Moholo Octet – Spirits Rejoice (Ogun).
Lounge Lizards - Voice of Chunk (Lagarto, reissued by Strange and Beautiful)

Mahavishnu Orchestra Between Nothingness & Eternity (Columbia), Birds of Fire (Columbia)
Mal Waldron The Git Go-Live at the Village Vanguard (Soul Note), What It Is (ENJA), You and the Night and the Music (ProJazz).
Mal Waldron/Steve Lacy, Sempre Amore (Soul Note), One Upmanship (Enja)
Marc Johnson’s Bass Desires, Second Sight (ECM). *
Marilyn Crispell- "Concert in Berlin" (1983, FMP/SAJ)
Michelle Rosewoman - Quintessence
Mark Helias, The Current Set (ENJA).
Marty Ehrlich Quartet - The Traveller's Tale (Enja)
Marvin “Smitty” Smith Keeper of the Drums (Concord)
mary lou williams trio, free spirits; 1975, steeplechase.
Max Roach and MBOOM ENSEMBLE, RE.PERCUSSION1979, COLUMBIA.
max roach quartet, scott free; 1984, soul note.
max roach-abdullah ibrahim duo, streams of consciousness;, baystate.
max roach-archie shepp duo, the long march part 1&2; 1979, hathut.
McCoy Tyner – Song of the New World (Milestone), "Trident" 1975, Fly With The Wind (Milestone), 4 x 4 (Milestone), Supertrios (Milestone), Atlantis (1974)
Michael Brecker – Michael Brecker (Impulse) *
Mike Mantler – Hapless Child (Watt)
Mike Stern – Time in Place (Atlantic)

Miles Davis - Agharta (Sony Japan), Amandla (Warner Brothers) *, Aura (Columbia), Big Fun (Columbia), Black Beauty (Columbia), Get Up With It (Columbia), Live Around The World. * Tutu (Warner Brothers)*, We Want Miles (1982), Decoy, Star People
Milford Graves – Babi Music (IPS)
milt jackson quartet, ain't but a few of us left; 1981, pablo.
Misha Mengelberg/Han Bennink same time. Einepartietischtennis (FMP)
Muhal Richard Abrams Orchestra Rejoicing With The Light (Black Saint), Blues Forever, (1982)
Mulgrew Miller The Countdown (Landmark) *, Trio Transition (1987)

National Health Of Queues and Cures (Charley)

Old and New Dreams Playing (ECM) *, Old and New Dreams (Black Saint).
Oliver Lake, Gallery, (Gramavision), Heavy Spirits (Arista-Freedom).
Ornette Coleman – Opening the Caravan of Dreams (Caravan of Dreams), In All Languages (Caravan of Dreams), Of Human Feelings (Antilles),
Ornette Coleman and Prime Time, Dancing In Your Head (A&M/Horizon) * and Body Meta (Artists House), Virgin Beauty (Portrait/Columbia).
Ornette Coleman & Charlie Haden- The Golden Number, Soapsuds

Pat Martino Joyous Lake (Warner Brothers)
Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life (1975) *, Rejoicing (ECM), 80/81 (ECM)
Pat Metheny Group - Pat Metheny Group (ECM) *, The First Circle (ECM), Offramp (ECM). *
Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Roy Haynes, Question & Answer (Geffen, 1990);
Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman – Song X (Geffen)*

Paul Bley, The Nearness of You (Steeplechase).
Paul Bley/John Surman/Bill Frisell/Paul Motian – Fragments (ECM)
Paul Motian/Joe Lovano/Bill Frisell - It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago (1984), One Time Out (Soul Note).
Paul Motian – On Broadway Vol 1 (JMT) *, On Broadway vol 2 (JMT 1990), The Story of Maryam (Soul Note)

Paul Rutherford - The Gentle Harm of the Bourgeoisie (1974, Emanem)
PEPPER ADAMS QUARTET, THE MASTER1980, MUSE.
Peter Brötzmann - 14 Love Poems (FMP)
Peter Kowald - Duos: Europa - America - Japan (1984-90, FMP)
Pharoah Sanders - Journey to the One (Theresa, reissued by Evidence), Deaf, Dumb, Blind (1970) and Journey to the One (1980
Phil Woods- Live at the Showboat- 1977
Phillip Wilson/Olu Dara (Hat)
Philly Joe Jones Advance (Galaxy), Dameronia (Uptown), Stop and listen; 1983, uptown, tadd with love, 1982, uptown.
Polly Bradfield - Solo Violin Improvisations (1979, Parachute)
Power Tools - Strange Meeting (Antilles)

Ralph Peterson V (Blue Note)
Ran Blake - Film Noir (1980)
randy weston orchestra, tanjah; 1973, verve.
Rasaan Roland Kirk Bright Moments 1973 Rhino, The Case of the 3 Sided Dream (1975)
Rashied Ali/Leroy Jenkins – Swift Are Wings of Life (Survival)
Return to Forever- Light as Feather 1972, of the Seventh Galaxy 1973, Where Have I Known You Before 1974, No Mystery 1975, The Romantic Warrior 1976 *

Revolutionary Ensemble - The People's Republic (1975, A&M)
Richie Bierach, George Mraz and Joe LaBarbera. "Live" with 1977
Ron Carter with Herbie and Tony Williams "Third Plane" 1977.
Ron Carter, Etudes (Elektra/Musician), PICCOLO;1977, MILESTONE
Ronald Shannon Jackson and the Decoding Society - Barbeque Dog (Antilles) *
Roscoe Mitchell and the Sound Ensemble - Snurdy McGurdy and Her Dancin' Shoes (Nessa), Nonaah (Nessa)

Sam Jones Changes and Things (Xanadu), Something in Common (Muse)
Sam Rivers – Streams (Impulse) *, The Quest (Red), Crystals and Hues (Impulse), contrasts; 1979, ecm, Colours (Black Saint), Trio Sessions (Impulse).
Santana – Lotus (Columbia).
Shamek Farrah – First Impressions (Strata East).
Sir Roland Hanna- Swing Me No Waltzes (Storyville).
Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet - Voodoo (Black Saint)
Sonny Rollins’ Milestone albums- "Milestone Jazzstars in Concert" (1974?)
Spontaneous Music Ensemble- Face to Face (Emanem) Trevor Watts/John Stevens.
stan getz quartet, serenity/anniversary; 1987, emarcy, The Master (Columbia).
Stan Tracey Quartet –Captain Adventure (Steam).
Steve Coleman, Black Science (Novus).
Steve Gadd and Steve Khan- Tightrope (Columbia)
Steve Grossman Some Shapes to Come (PM), Way Out East (Red)
Steve Kuhn, Life’s Magic (Black-Hawk).
Steve Kuhn/Sheila Jordan Quartet - Playground (ECM)
Steve Lacy – Clinkers (Hat), Momentum (RCA Novus), The Crust (Emanem), Morning Joy (Hat Hut), The Window (Soul Note, 1987), Axieme (Red), The Way (Hat Hut) and NY Capers (Hat Art).
Steve Lacy, Roswell Rudd, Beaver Harris, Kent Carter, Trickles (Black Saint).

Strata Institute – Cipher Syntax (JMT) (Steve Coleman, greg Osby et al)
Sun Ra- Of Mythic Worlds (Philly Jazz) *, Lanquidity (1978) Nuclear War, 1982, Lanquidity, St. Louis Blues, Disco 3000, Sun Ra - Voice of the Eternal Tomorrow (1980, Saturn)

Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison New York Second Line (Concord)
Thad Jones/Mel Lewis -- New Life (1976)
The Great Jazz Trio, Kindness, Joy, Love, and Happiness (Inner City)
Tommy Flanagan, Thelonica (ENJA), JAZZ POET; “TOMMY FLANAGAN 1989”, TIMELESS.
Tim Berne Mutant Variations (Soul Note), Fractured Fairy Tales (JMT) *, Sanctified Dreams (Columbia) *, Songs and Rituals in Real Time (Empire).

Wallace Roney "The Standard Bearer" 1990, “Verses” (Muse)
walt dickerson trio, steeplechase, 1978.
Warne Marsh, Star Highs (Criss-Cross).
Wayne Horvitz - This New Generation (Nonesuch) -
Wayne Shorter Atlantis (Columbia), Joy Ryder (Columbia), Native Dancer (Columbia) *
Weather Report- Phantom Navigator (Columbia), Black Market (Columbia), Mysterious Traveler (Columbia) *,Heavy Weather (Columbia).
Willem Breuker Kollektief - In Holland (BVHaast)
Woody Shaw- Lenox Avenue Breakdown *, Rosewood (Columbia), *Setting Standards (Muse), Steppin’ Stones (Columbia), United (Columbia) *, Little Red’s Fantasy (Muse).

World Saxophone Quartet Live in Zurich (Black Saint), Revue (Black Saint), Steppin’ (Black Saint), Rhythm and Blues (1989, Nonesuch)
Wynton Marsalis Black Codes (from the Underground)(Columbia),* Live At Blues Alley (Columbia).

Yellowjackets'- Self titled,1981 Four Corners 1987
Zentralquartett - Zentralquartett (Zong, reissued by Intakt)
zoot sims quartet, if i'm lucky (Pablo)

Random thoughts- records that made the most blognoise- Keith Jarrett, Belonging, John Carter- Castles of Ghana et. al. In general, there was a lot of noise for the Pat Metheny Group stuff (more than I, at least, expected), the various Braxton and Lacy stuff (there’s so much, and it’s so diverse, that it’s hard to settle on one album).

And I’m sure every fan who reads the list will think about at least two of the following, so:

Records on the list I most want to run out and by tomorrow: Air- Air Time, the Konitz/Mitchell duo album, Castles of Ghana
Record on the list I own but never, never listen to: World Sax Quartet Live in Zurich. (I much prefer Rhythm and Blues, so I added it)
Records on the list I listen to most: Later that Evening, Brookmeyer/Lewis- Live at the Vanguard, Jaco- Word of Mouth
Who the hell is THAT- Johnny Dyani, Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath Big Band (mentioned twice, which makes me very interested. Can anyone help here, maybe, say, Destination Out?)
Oh, yeah, I forgot about that one. It kicks ASS!: Power Tools, Don Cherry’s Art Deco,

First record I’d strike from the list: Wallace Roney, Standard Bearer

Ethan's wrapup is here I point out this comment (italics mine):

"I told Lewis Porter about this list. Lewis knows jazz like few others do (he’s the author of an excellent, musician-friendly biography of John Coltrane), so I asked him about great “mainstream” records of the 1970’s by a few key artists like Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sonny Rollins. Without researching it, nothing leapt to his mind. He brought up how many commercially-oriented albums were made by older jazz musicians in that decade. Most of them are pretty unlistenable today. (Even Dizzy made below-par electric records.) Some decry rock music as an influence in jazz, which is obviously silly. As Reid likes to say, “It doesn’t matter what you love, as long as you really love it.” The problem is that a lot of great jazz musicians made rock-influenced records without really loving rock. Some jazz fans, musicians, and critics still haven’t recovered from those 70’s blunders. They keep on blaming the backbeat for something that was strictly the fault of jazz players (and their producers)."

That, to me, sounds like a nice way of saying "selling out". And I think it's what distinguishes more recent albums that incorporate rock influences, from TBP to the zillions of artists covering Radiohead and other current pop and indie bands (my current favorite is Jeremy Udden covering the Bangles "Eternal Flame". It should be either awful or soupy, and it isn't either) But I think it's another good explanation for why the 70s is perceived as a dirth time. Other thoughts here and here)

TBC...