Curated Jazz Vinyl | Independent UK Specialist | Record Label
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Why It Belongs in Your Collection
Giant Steps is one of those records that earns its place on the shelf. It is an important John Coltrane album, but it is also one that is still very enjoyable to put on and listen to.
The title track is famous for good reason, but the album is not just about technical playing. There is warmth here too, especially on Naima, which shows a much more tender side of Coltrane’s writing and playing.
The Sound and the Story
This is Coltrane moving forward. The playing is fast, focused and full of ideas, but the record still swings and has plenty of feeling.
Tracks like Giant Steps and Countdown have that restless energy, while Cousin Mary and Mr. P.C. feel more blues-based and direct. Then there is Naima, which gives the album a beautiful change of pace.
It is a record with a big reputation, but it does not need to feel intimidating. It is simply a great jazz album, and one that rewards repeated listening.
Pressing, Condition and Care
New / sealed vinyl copy.
This is a 2014 EU repress of Coltrane’s classic Atlantic album, with WEA International copyright noted on the sleeve. All records are packed carefully for dispatch using proper vinyl mailers, with added care taken to protect corners and sleeves in transit.
John Coltrane at 100
Born in North Carolina on 23rd September 1926, John Coltrane’s musical journey was one of transformation.
From his years collaborating with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk to the increasingly adventurous music he made under his own name, Coltrane continually pushed the boundaries of jazz, harmonically, technically and eventually, spiritually.
His development happened at remarkable speed. By the late 1950s, the densely packed improvisations that became known as his “sheets of sound” by Downbeat, were already marking him out as a singular voice. What followed was a succession of landmark recordings — Giant Steps, My Favourite Things, A Love Supreme and beyond — each seeming to become something more significant.
“I know that there are bad forces, forces that bring suffering to others and misery to the world. I want to be the opposite force. I want to be the force which is truly for good.” John Coltrane
Why It Belongs in Your Collection
Few jazz vocal albums carry the warmth, charm and lasting appeal of Ella & Louis. Originally recorded for Verve in 1956, it brings together two of the most recognisable voices in jazz, supported by a first-class rhythm section led by Oscar Peterson. This limited edition picture disc gives a classic, endlessly listenable album a collectable visual edge, making it ideal for both new jazz listeners and established collectors.
The Sound and the Story
This is conversational jazz at its finest. Ella Fitzgerald’s effortless elegance meets Louis Armstrong’s gravel-toned warmth, humour and unmistakable trumpet phrasing. The performances feel relaxed, intimate and natural, with standards such as “Can’t We Be Friends”, “Moonlight in Vermont”, “Cheek to Cheek” and “The Nearness of You” delivered with real ease and chemistry.
Behind them, Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich provide tasteful, swinging support without ever overpowering the two voices at the centre of the record. It is romantic, unforced and beautifully paced — the kind of album that works just as well as focused listening as it does late in the evening.
Pressing, Condition and Care
Limited edition colour picture disc LP on 180-gram vinyl. This edition contains the complete original Ella & Louis LP and is presented as a collectable picture disc release.
Carefully packed and dispatched with protective vinyl mailer packaging.
About This Release
Produced by Norman Granz for Verve Records, Ella & Louis was recorded in Hollywood on 16 August 1956 and originally released the same year. The album pairs Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong with the Oscar Peterson Quartet, creating one of the most enduring vocal jazz collaborations of the 1950s. This limited picture disc edition presents the original 11-track album on a collectable vinyl pressing.
LOUIS AT 125.
ELLA & LOUIS AT 70.
Two anniversaries. One timeless record.
This August marks 125 years since the birth of Louis Armstrong, one of the most important and unmistakable voices in jazz.
It also marks 70 years since Armstrong stepped into the studio with Ella Fitzgerald to record Ella and Louis, one of the great vocal jazz albums.
Recorded in Los Angeles in August 1956 with Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich, the album paired two utterly distinctive voices with some of the finest songs in the American Songbook.
“Cheek to Cheek”, “Moonlight in Vermont”, “The Nearness of You”, “They Can’t Take That Away from Me”…
Seventy years on, none of it feels old.
Celebrate Louis at 125 with a record that still sounds effortless.
Why It Belongs in Your Collection
Sunday At The Village Vanguard is one of the essential Bill Evans Trio recordings, captured live in New York in 1961.
The album has become an important part of jazz history because of the way the trio plays together — less like piano with accompaniment, and more like three musicians in constant conversation. It is also a significant Scott LaFaro recording, with his bass playing central to the sound and feel of the album.
This is a record that suits quiet, focused listening and shows why the Bill Evans Trio remains such an important reference point for modern piano trios.
The Sound and the Story
This is intimate, thoughtful live jazz with real depth. Bill Evans plays with space, lyricism and restraint, while Scott LaFaro brings a melodic, searching quality to the bass. Paul Motian’s drumming is light, responsive and full of detail.
The recording has the atmosphere of a small club performance, but the playing is never loose or casual. Tracks such as “Gloria’s Step”, “My Man’s Gone Now” and “Alice in Wonderland” show the trio’s ability to stretch time and mood while still keeping the music beautifully connected.
Pressing, Condition and Care
New / sealed vinyl LP reissue from Jazz Images, part of the William Claxton Collection.
This edition is presented in a gatefold sleeve and pairs the classic recording with photography associated with the William Claxton series. It also includes two bonus tracks from the same performance that were not included on the original LP.
All records are packed carefully and securely for dispatch.
About This Release
Originally released on Riverside in 1961, Sunday At The Village Vanguard was recorded live at the Village Vanguard in New York on 25 June 1961.
This Jazz Images William Claxton Collection edition presents the album in a gatefold sleeve, pairing the music with classic jazz photography. It also includes two bonus tracks from the same performance: “Some Other Time” and “My Foolish Heart”.
a sunday at the vanguard
65 years since Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian captured a landmark moment in jazz.
Recorded live on 25th June 1961, Sunday at the Village Vanguard remains one of the great piano trio albums: intimate and spacious. Featuring Bill Evans (p), Scott LaFaro (b) and Paul Motian (d), it is also a lasting tribute to LaFaro, who died just days after this recording.
New & sealed • Bonus tracks • Limited stock
Why It Belongs in Your Collection
Kind of Blue is one of those records that almost speaks for itself. It is often the first jazz album people are told to buy, but it is also one that stays with you long after the “essential jazz record” tag has worn off.
Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb are all here, and the result is a record that feels calm, spacious and completely assured. This limited blue vinyl edition makes a classic title feel just that little bit more special on the shelf.
The Sound and the Story
Recorded in 1959, Kind of Blue helped define the sound of modal jazz. Rather than feeling busy or overly arranged, the music has room to breathe. The solos unfold naturally, with each player bringing something distinct without ever crowding the record.
From the opening bass figure of “So What” to the gentle reflection of “Blue in Green” and the relaxed flow of “All Blues”, this is a record that works just as well as a focused listen as it does late in the evening with the lights low.
Pressing, Condition and Care
Limited blue vinyl edition of Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, released on Columbia / Sony Music.
This copy is new and sealed. It will be packed carefully and posted in proper vinyl mailer packaging to help it arrive safely.
About This Release
Originally released in 1959, Kind of Blue remains one of Miles Davis’ most celebrated recordings and a landmark album in jazz. Its use of modal structures gave the musicians more space to explore melody and mood, creating a sound that still feels fresh and inviting decades later.
Miles Davis at 100
Kind of Blue remains one of the most essential albums in jazz; cool and timeless.
To mark 100 years since the birth of Miles Davis, we’re placing this seminal record at the centre of the TJR homepage!
Available now as a limited edition blue vinyl pressing.
Why Buy From Taras Jazz Records?
Independent UK Jazz Specialist
Curated jazz vinyl for listeners and collectors
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