Carlos Jiménez – 5 Desert Island Album Picks

1) Kenny Burrell – Soul Call: This is one of Kenny Burrell’s albums that I always come back to. His playing is fantastic, the band is super solid and the tunes are great! Kenny’s sound and tone are full and rich.

2) Pat Martino – East!: Pat Is one of my absolute heroes! His rhythmic authority and his sense direction, especially on fast tempos are very inspiring. I’ve always loved his early recordings and this one is definitely one I come back for inspiration. I also love to use this album to introduce Pat to my students.

3) Ralph Towner and Gary Peacock – Oracle: I’m a huge Ralph Towner fan. I could bring any of his albums on an island. This duo album with Gary Peacock is a perfect match. Their interaction and connection is quite beautiful and powerful.

4) Jim Hall – It’s Nice To Be With You (Jim Hall in Berlin): I think every Jim Hall album could be on this list. This one is not as well known but is a beautiful example of Jim’s mastery at trio playing. His compositions and tone are beautiful. His conversational style is spectacular throughout the whole album.

5) Tom Warrington Trio – Corduroy Road (with Larry Koonse): The first time I heard Larry was on this album and became a fan instantly! This trio has a few albums out and it’s really top shelf playing! I love everything about Larry’s playing. His flow, his sound and his sensibility are just perfect.