In the middle of August, almost a hundred kids (and more than a few adults) immersed themselves in the techniques and philosophy of jazz at the 17th annual U of M Summer Jazz Camp. This year, faculty member Quincy Davis distributed a list of critical recordings for all serious jazz students. Here are his recommends:

Cannonball Adderley (saxophone) &
Nancy Wilson (vocalist)
Cannonball Adderley/Nancy Wilson (Capitol, 1961)

Count Basie (piano, orchestra)
The Atomic Mr Basie (Roulette, 1957)

Art Blakey (drummer)
Moanin’ (Blue Note, 1958)

John Coltrane (saxophone)
Blue Train (Blue Note, 1957)
Giant Steps (Atlantic, 1960)
A Love Supreme (Impulse, 1964)

Miles Davis (trumpet)
Milestones (Columbia, 1958)
Kind of Blue (Columbia, 1959)
Nefertiti (Columbia, 1968)

Duke Ellington (piano/orchestra)
Ellington at Newport (Columbia, 1956)

Ella Fitzgerald (vocalist) &
Louis Armstrong (vocalist, trumpet)
Ella and Louis (Verve, 1956)

Erroll Garner (piano)
Concert by the Sea (Columbia, 1955)

Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet)
Sonny Side Up (Verve, 1957)

Billie Holiday (vocalist)
Lady Sings the Blues (Clef, 1956)

Ahmad Jamal (piano)
Live at the Pershing (Argo 1958)

Hank Mobley (saxophone)
Soul Station (Blue Note, 1960)

Charlie Parker (saxophone) & Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet)
Live at Massey Hall (1953)

Oscar Peterson (piano)
Night Train (Verve, 1962)
We Gets Requests (Verve, 1964)

Wayne Shorter (saxophone)
Speak No Evil (Blue Note, 1965)