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Maman-r veve symbol Suggested Listening James Armstrong

*** NOTICE: this page is currently under construction and being updated ***

I am a firm believer that listening is a vital part of music study in any discipline. And to think, we have the greatest teachers available to us at the click of a button or turn of a dial! Quite often students of mine ask what recordings they should be listening to when studying a particular style of music. I'm also asked what recordings have inspired me and what I am currently listening to. Below is an abbreviated list that will hopefully turn you on to something new and get you started in building your own collection. Remember, this list does come from a drummers point of view.

Enjoy and happy listening!


My Discography:

click on artist to be directed to their website if available

CANTINERO: Better for the Metaphor

MARASSA DUO: Marassa Duo (2005)


PIONEROS del RITMO: Crossing Borders vol 1: Live from the Carriage House (2005)

PASO FINO : Into the Cactus Plain (I-Town Records, 2004)

I-Town Records Compilation Volume 3 - Paso Fino (I-Town Records, 2004)

FIVE HORSE JOHNSON: Double Down (Small Stone Records, 1997)

Full Blast Soundtrack - Five Horse Johnson (Small Stone Records, 1997)

FIVE HORSE JOHNSON: Blues For Henry (Sin Klub Records, 1996)

ROBERT HOHNER PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE: World Music Tour (DMP Records, 1996)

Central Michigan University Percussion Ensemble : The Percussion Music of David Maslanka (Albany Records, 1996)

ROBERT HOHNER PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE: Different Strokes (DMP Records, 1991)

plus countless other demos and live concert recordings

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DISCLOSURE: The compiled lists below are from my own collection, are no way comprehensive, or in any order of preference. The intent of this listing is to provide representative recordings of the style and/or artist in hopes that you the reader will pursue further searches for the music. Enjoy, happy listening and feel free to email me if you have specific suggestions.

 

Selected Discography: Music of Haiti

Sacred ~

• Angels in the Mirror: Vodou Music of Haiti (Ellipsis Arts, CD 4120)
Rhythms of Rapture: Sacred Musics of Haitian Vodou (Smithsonian Folkways, SFCD 40464)
Haitian Voodoo (Sounds of the World, SOW 90171)

Mizik Tradisyonél Ayiti Volim 1: Soukri (Crowing Rooster Arts, CRA 7CD)
Mizik Tradisyonél Ayiti Volim 2: Grandra (Crowing Rooster Arts, CRA 8 CD)
Ceremonie Gran'n (Geronimo Records, GR00168)
Ceremonie Ogou (Geronimo Records, GR00169)
Wawa and Racine Kanga, The Haitian Roots Vol 1-5 (Geronimo Records)
Wawa and Racine Kanga, Roots of Haiti Vol 1 & 2 (Mini Records)
Frisner Augustin and La Troupe Makandal, A Trip to Vodou (Ountò Music 001)
Frisner Augustin and La Troupe Makandal,The Drums of Vodou (White Cliffs Media Company 9338)
• Frisner
Augustin and La Troupe Makandal, Prepare (Ountò Music 003)

Secular ~

Ti-Coca and Toto Bissainthe, Haiti (World MusicNetwork, WDR 43, 32.373)
Beethova Obas, Planet La (CH-Obas Production, 500014-2)
Les Gypsies de Petion-Ville, Loa Baron (Antilles Mizik, PA/AM 9091)
Tabou Combo, 360 degrees (Crossover Records, TC-CRI-007)
Boukman Eksperyans, Vodou Adjae (Mango Records, 16253 9899-2)
RAM, Aïbobo (Ciné Disc, CD12191)
Bouyan Racine: First International Haitian Roots Music Festival (Tropical Music, 68.988)
The Rough Guide to the Music of Haiti (World Music Network, RGNET 1067 CD)

Selected Discography: Music of Cuba

Sacred ~

• John Amira, The Music of Santeriá: The Oru del Igbodu (White Cliffs Media, WCM 9346)
Afro Tambores Batá, Lucumi with Hiraldo Rodrigez
Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba, Música Yuroba
(Bembé Records, CD 2010-2)

Grupo AfroCuba de Matanzas, Rituales AfroCubanos (Egrem, CD 0058)
Grupo Oba-Ilu, Santeriá: Songs for the Orishas (Soul Jazz, LP38)
Lázaro Ros, Olorún (Xenophile, GLCD 4022)
Abbilona, Tambor Yoruba - 8 CD set (O.K. Records)

Secular ~

Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Live in New York (Qbadisc, QB 9026)
Mongo Santamaria, Our Man in Havana (Fantasy, FCD 24729-2)

MARACA, Tremenda Rumba! (Ahi-Nama, AHI 1034)
Eliades Ochoa, Tribute to the Cuarteto Patria (Higher Octave World/ Virgin)
Compay Segundo, Lo Mejor de la Vida
Celia Cruz, La Tierna,Conmovedora, Bamboleadora (Seeco, LP 9246)
Son 14 with Alberto Álvarez, Tumi Cuba Classics Vol 4: Son, The Big Sound (Tumi, CD053)
Los VanVan, Songo (Island, 102-35178)
Sintesis, Ancestros (Qbadisc, QB9001)
Tito Puente, Top Percussion (BMG, BL2 3264)
Willie Rosario , The Salsa Machine (Universal, B0002735-02)


* highly recommended Cuban music compilations

CUBA: I Am Time (Blue Jackel, BJAC 5010-2)
AFRO-CUBA: A Musical Anthology (Rounder, CD 1088)

GUAGUANCO: Conjunto Guaguanco Matancero & Papin Y Sus Rumberos (Antilla, CD-565)

RHYTHM & SMOKE: The Cuba Sessions (intersound, 9542)
CUBA Fully Charged (Earthworks, Carol 2429-2)
SALSA CUBANA: The Gold Collection (Fine Tune, 2213-2)


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Selected Discography: Other World Music
Traditional West African ~

Duro Ladipo National Theatre, Oba Koso (Kaleidophone Records, KS 2201)
Ayanagalu, Sacred Yoruba Batá Music (Rakumi Arts, 2001)
Drums of the Yoruba of Nigeria (Ethnic Folkways, FE4441)
Mamady Keita , Mögöbalu (TamTam, fmd 205)
Les Tambours De Gorée Sénégal, The Drums of Gorée (Playa Sound, PS 65104)

African pop/ high life/ afro-jazz ~

King Sunny Ade, Odú (Atlantic, 92796-2)
Ali Farka Toure, The River (Mango, 162 539 897-2)
CK Mann & His Carousel 7, Funky Highlife (Essiebons Records)
Mzikayifani Buthelezi, Fashion Maswedi
Manu Dibango , The Very Best of Manu Dibango
Orchestra Baobab , Pirates Choice
Afrika Underground: Jazz, Funk, and Fusion Under Apartheid (Counter Point, crcd015)
Afro-Rock: A Collection of Rare and Unreleased Afro-Beat... (Kona, CD001)

Traditional Brazilian ~

• Conjunto Folklorico da Bahia, Viva Bahia! vol 1&2 (Philips Records, P 632.923 L)
Luciano Perrone e Seus Ritmistas Brasileiros, Batucada Fantastica (Parnaso Records, PLPS1194)
Escola De Samba Da Cidade, Batucada No. 3 (Philips Records, 6482 002)
Afro-Brazilian Religious Songs: Cantigas de Candomblé/ Candomblé Songs (Lyrichord,LLST7315)
Black Orpheus: Original Soundtrack (Verve, 830 783-2)

Traditional Puerto Rican~

BOMBA!:Music of the Caribbean (Monitor, MCD 61355)

other recommended "World" music (pop & traditional)~

Drums of Defiance:Maroon Music from Jamaica (Smithsonian Folkways,SFCD 40412)
The Spirit of Traditional African Gospel (EUCD 1422)
Zimbabwe: The Soul of Mbira (Nonesuch, H-72054)
Traditional Music of the Incas: Flute and Indian Music from Ecuador, Peru, & Bolivia (Legacy, CD 416)
Cajun Dance Party: Fais Do-Do
(Legacy, CK 46784)
Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys: Trace of Time (Rounder, 6053)
Fourth World : Fourth World (B&W Music, BW030)

Rabih Abou-Khalil: Al-Jadida (Enja, 6090-2)
YIM HOK-MAN: Master of Chinese Percussion II (Marco Polo, 8.225950)
Muzik Tarian Melayu Tradisional: Traditional Malay Dance Music (Muzika, ME 786-8CD)
Music of India: Three Ragas (Angel Records, 35468)
Mano Negro, Casa Babylon (EMI International)
Kaizers Orchestra, Ompa Til Du Dor
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Vasos Vacios (Sony International)
Kinky, Kinky (Netwerk)

Selected Discography: Percussion Ensemble, chamber percussion and solo percussion

• Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble, Different Strokes (DMP Records, CD-485)
Central Michigan University Percussion Ensemble : The Percussion Music of David Maslanka (Albany Records, Troy 190)
Kroumata, Kroumata Percussion Ensemble
Equilibrium, Border Crossing
Nexus, Ragtime Concert

 

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Selected Discography: JAZZ
(note: the following lists are merely suggestions from a drummer/vibraphonist
perspective and no where near comprehensive. Only a few select recordings are listed that represent the artist at their best and should be viewed as a starting point for building your personal collection.)


New to jazz? here is a short list to get you started~

Miles Davis, Kind of Blue (Columbia, CK 40579)
Dave Brubeck Quartet, Time Out (Columbia, CK 40585)
Chick Corea, Three Quartets (Stretch, SCD 9002-2)
Bill Evans Trio, Montreux II 1970 (CTI 6004)

Chucho Valdés, Briyumba Palo Congo (Blue Note)
Steps Ahead, Steps Ahead (Elektra, 7559-60168-2)
• McCoy Tyner, The Real McCoy (Blue Note, 7243 4 97807 2 9)
Oliver Nelson, Blues and the Abstract Truth (MCA/ Impulse, MCAD-5659)
Pat Metheny, Trio 99-00 (Warner Bros, 9 47632-2)


Selected Discography: Jazz Vibraphone

Cal Tjader

Black Orchid (Fantasy, FCD-24730-2)
Soul Burst (Verve, 314 557 446-2)

Los Ritmos Calientes (CD re-issue of "ritmo coliente!" & "Mas Ritmo Caliente") (Fantasy, FCD-24712-2 )
The Cal Tjader Quintet Plugs In (Vampi CD 028)
Cal Tjader at Grace Church (LP, Fantasy F 9521)
In a Latin Bag (LP, Verve V8419)

Cal Tjader myspace fan site
Cal Tjader on wikipedia

Bobby Hutcherson

Stick Up (Blue Note, 59378)
Solo/ Quartet (Original Jazz Classics, 425-2)

The Kicker (Blue Note, 21437)
with Eric Dolphy: Out To Lunch (Blue Note, 98793)
with McCoy Tyner: Sama Layuca (Original Jazz Classics, 1071)
with Jackie McLean: ACTION! (Blue Note, 96499)
with Andrew Hill: Judgment (Blue Note, 63841)

Bobby Hutcherson myspace fan site
Bobby Hutcherson website

Milt Jackson

Wizard of the Vibes (Blue Note, 32140)
Bags Meets Wes - with Wes Montgomery (Riverside, 9407-2)

Bags and Trane - with John Coltrane (Atlantic, 1368)
Ain't But A Few of Us Left (Pablo, 2310-873)
with Miles Davis: Bags Groove (Prestige, P-7109)

Milt Jackson myspace fan site
Milt Jackson on wikipedia

Gary Burton

Alone at Last (Collectables/ Atlantic)
Gary Burton Quartet: Passengers (ECM, 1092)

For Hamp, Red, Bag's, and Cal (Concord, 4941)
Times Square (ECM, 521982)
with Chick Corea: In Concert, Zürich, October 28, 1979 (ECM, 5206)
with Chick Corea: Native Sense (Stretch Records,, 9014)
with Makoto Ozone: Face To Face (GRP)

Gary Burton Website
Gary Burton on Wikipedia


Walt Dickerson

This is Walt Dickerson (Prestige/New Jazz, 8254)
A Sense of Direction (Prestige/New Jazz, 8268)
Relativity (Prestig/ New Jazz, 8275)
Vibes in Motion (Audio Fidelity, 6217)

Walt Dickerson myspace fan site
Walt Dickerson page (by Damon Short)

Joe Locke

Joe Locke Trio: Very Early (Steeple Chase,)
Joe Locke & Geoffrey Keezer Group: Live in Seattle (Origin, 82464)
Re.elation: The Music of Milt Jackson (Sharp Nine/ 1033)
Force of Four (Origin, 82511)

Joe Locke website
Joe Locke on Wikipedia

Ed Saindon

David Freidman

Others great vibists worth checking out:


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Selected Discography: Jazz Drummers

Elvin Jones

Very Rare (Evidence, 22053-2)
Dear John C. (Impulse, GRD-126)
The Truth (Elvin Jones Jazz machine at the Blue Note) (Halfnote)
with John Coltrane: A Love Supreme (Impulse, GRD-155)
with John Coltrane: Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings (Impulse, IMPD4-232)
with McCoy Tyner: The Real McCoy (Blue Note, 97807)
with Wayne Shorter: Speak No Evil (Blue Note, 46509)
with Larry Young: Unity (Blue Note, 97808)

Elvin Jones myspace tribute site
Elvin Jones on Drummerworld

Tony Williams

Tony Williams Lifetime: Believe It (Columbia, 512898)
The Story of Neptune (Blue Note, 98169)

with John McLaughlin & Jaco Pastorius: Trio of Doom (Legacy, 96450)
with Miles Davis: Four & More (Columbia/ Legacy, 93595)
with Miles Davis: Nefertiti (Columbia/ Legacy,46113)
with Jackie McLean: ACTION! (Blue Note, 96499)
with Andrew Hill: Judgment (Blue Note, 63841)

Tony Williams on Wikipedia
Tony Williams on Drummerworld

 

Billy Higgins

Roy Haynes

Joe Morello

Max Roach

Mel Lewis

Antonio Sanchez


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Selected Discography: Latin Jazz and Latin Percussion

Mongo Santamaria

Mongo Santamaria, Our Man In Havana (Fantasy,FCD-24729-2)
Mongo Santamaria, AfroRoots (Prestige, PRCD-24018)

Tito Puente

•Tito Puente , Top Percussion (RCA, BL2 3264)


Pancho Sanchez

Poncho Sanchez, Baila Mi Gente (Concord Picante CCD-4701)


Select Other "guilty pleasures":

POP ~

Steely Dan, Aja (MCA)
Gino Vannelli , Brother to Brother (A&M)
Peter Gabriel, So (Geffen)
Missing Persons, Spring Session M (Capitol)
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Radio One (Warner Brothers)
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends (Manticore)
The Who , Join Together (MCA)

ZZ Top, First Album (Warner Brothers)
Santana, Sacred Fire: Live in South America (Polydor)
Deep Purple, The Very Best Of (Rhino)
King Crimson, Discipline (Warner Brothers)

A bit heavier ~

Tool, Aenema, Lateralus & 10,000 Days (Zoo)
Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf (LooseGroove)
SoundGarden, Bad Motor Finger (A&M)
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (Warner Bros)

Janes Addiction, Nothing's Shocking (Warner Brothers)
Primus, Sailing the Seas of Cheese (Interscope)
Van Halen, Fair Warning (Warner Brothers)
Mr. Bungle , Mr. Bungle (Warner Brothers)
AC/DC, Let There Be Rock & Back In Black (Atlantic, Sony)
Nirvana, Nevermind (Geffen)

Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz (Epic)
Iron Maiden, Killers (Capitol)

Clutch, Robot Hive/ Exodus (Columbia)
KYUSS, Welcome to Sky Valley (Warner Brothers)
Raging Slab, Dynamite Monster Boogie Concert (Def Jam)

 

 

 

 

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