Dr. Brad Currey's vocation is working as an associate professor of mathematics. But Currey's avocation is his love of jazz music. (He plays the drums.) This month Currey offers readers "My Ten Favorite Jazz Albums (oops, I mean CD's)."

By Dr. Brad Currey

1. Louis Armstrong: Hot Fives and Hot Sevens - Vol. 2 (Columbia Jazz Masterpieces). Personnel: Louis Armstrong - trumpet and vocals; Kid Ory - trombone; Johnny Dodds - clarinet; Johnny St. Cyr - banjo. The first prominent virtuoso jazz artist, Louis Armstrong transformed jazz into an art form where technique, as well as expressive content, is valued. In Armstrong's recordings we also are reminded of the primary source for jazz music - the blues.

2. Duke Ellington: Duke Ellington Carnegie Hall Concerts - January 1943 (Prestige). Personnel: Rex Stewart, Harold Baker, Wallace Jones, Ray Nance - trumpets; Tricky Sam Nanton, Juan Tizol, Lawrence Brown - trombones; Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Otto Hardwicke, Chauncy Haughton - reeds; Fred Guy - guitar; Junior Rasglin - bass; Sonny Greer - drums; Betty Roche - vocal; Billy Strayhorn - assistant arranger. One of the most important American composers of the 20th century, Duke Ellington brought the complexity and structural values of classical music into jazz music (in contrast with George Gershwin, who brought aspects of jazz music into classical music). One of the best eras for his band was the '40s. Here they are giving only the second jazz performance at Carnegie Hall (the first was Benny Goodman's band in 1938). This is a really cookin' record.

3. Dizzy Gillespie: The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (RCA - Bluebird). Because this is a collection spanning the '40s, I'm too lazy to list all the players on the various recordings; suffice it to say that players such as Coleman Hawkins, Milt Jackson and the incomparable Charlie Parker are featured. Two things about Dizzy: He brought jazz into the era called "be-bop" and popularized the use of Latin grooves as an alternative foundation for certain jazz compositions.

4. Ella Fitzgerald: Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert (Verve). Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald - vocals; Lou Levy - Piano; Max Bennet - bass; Gus Johnson - drums. Ella is my favorite jazz vocalist because of her tone: It's so clear and light and powerful - all at the same time. This recording features her on her 40th birthday (April 25, 1958), when she was at her peak technically, scat-singing like a demon. (Mel Torme learned scat-singing from Ella.) I also like to think that on that night she was feeling that little extra sense of urgency we all feel when we hit the big four-oh!

5. Miles Davis: Kind of Blue (Columbia). Personnel: Miles Davis - trumpet; John Coltrane - tenor saxophone; Lulian "Cannonbal" Adderly - alto saxophone; Bill Evans - piano; Paul Chambers - bass; James Cobb - drums. It was a tough choice between this one and 'Round About Midnight, but I chose Kind of Blue because it may be the most influential recording in the history of jazz: It was the beginning of the process of exploring alternatives to the be-bop style of Gillespie/Parker. It seems as if every jazz band in history has played the tune "So What." (This is deservedly the case.)

6. John Coltrane: Blue Train (Blue Note). Personnel: John Coltrane - tenor saxophone; Lee Morgan - trumpet; Curtis Fuller - trombone; Kenny Drew - piano; Paul Chambers - bass; "Philly" Joe Jones - drums. One of Coltrane's first recordings as a "leader" after many successful sideman appearances, Blue Train has one classic tune after another. The restrained (compared with later Coltrane) quality of the compositions makes most clear the unique searching quality of Coltrane's playing. 'Trane's solo on "Lazy Bird" is a masterpiece.

7. Miles Davis: ESP (Columbia). Personnel: Miles Davis - trumpet; Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone; Herbie Hancock - piano; Ron Carter - bass; Tony Williams - drums. Perhaps the greatest jazz quintet ever (a highly debatable statement). This is my favorite of several groundbreaking albums by this group; very controlled and yet very free and innovative. Tony Williams' solo on "Aggression" is incredibly powerful and subtle. The title cut is absolutely burning!

8. John Coltrane: Live at Birdland (Impulse). Personnel: John Coltrane - tenor saxophone; McCoy Tyner - piano; Jimmy Garrison - bass; Elvin Jones - drums. This is the group that many have called the greatest jazz quartet ever. There are many deep, intense and spiritually charged recordings by this group; this one is my favorite because the emotional content (e.g. in "Afro Blue" or "Alabama") is almost overwhelming.

9. Weather Report: Heavy Weather (Columbia). Personnel: Joe Zawinul - Oberheim Polyphonic, Arp 2600, piano, melodica; Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone; Jaco Pastorius - electric bass; Alex Acuna - drums; Manolo Badrena - percussion. Despite the numerous changes in bass and drum personnel over the years, the original, eclectic and extremely focused vision of Zawinul and Shorter made Weather Report the premier electric jazz group of all time. (Another sweeping statement.) This is the most melodic of Weather Report's albums, but also one of the most intense. Jaco shows why his playing influenced a whole generation of electric bass players coming up in the '70s and '80s.

10. Branford Marsalis: Crazy People Music (Columbia). Personnel: Branford Marsalis - tenor and alto saxophones; Kenny Kirkland - piano; Robert Hurst - bass; Jeff "Tain" Watts - drums. Though his brother Wynton has done more than anyone to spread the gospel of jazz to a new generation of players and listeners, for me this CD best demonstrates the successful attainment of original artistry by a contemporary player. Branford Marsalis is at his creative best here while showing influences of both Coltrane and Ornette Coleman. Jeff Watts swings unbelievably hard on "Mr. Steepee."

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