Recommended Listening

Jazzmando Simple Selection Criteria:
1.) CD has to be jazz-mandolin relevant. (Must have jazz; must have prominent mandolin)
2.) CD has to be commercially available. (Nothing against out-of-print recordings, but what's the point if you can't find them easily?)

Indicates a "Must Have"

UNSEASONABLY COOL | Don Stiernberg
Release Date: Jun 5, 2001; Genre: Jazz, Horn Jazz
Take the phrasing and emotional delivery of Chet Baker, throw in a little "Jethro" chord vocabulary, some 30's & 40's innocence and charm, and you get one of the sweetest jazz recordings ever played on the mandolin. Sophistication that smiles, calculated composition that laughs, all brought to you by one of the nicest guys on the planet, "The Don."

ABOUT TIME | Don Stiernberg
Release Date: Jan 1, 1999; Genre: Hip Swing, Horn Jazz
Demonstrating both his love for the Swing Era Standard as well as his chronic condition as Cub Fan (his cover, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"), Stiernberg takes the Jethro vocabulary to a new level, and develops his own unique language. With a recipe of delicate tremolo, understated yet intricate soloing, Don cooks up a four course "love" feast along side his "Horn" brethren. GGDDAAEE...

THE SWING SESSIONS | John Parrott & Don Stiernberg
Release Date: Dec 1, 2000; Genre: Acoustic, Swing/Jazz
More "Horn Jazz" than the other listings, Rhythm Guitar "god" Parrot and Stiernberg join some of Chicago's best instrumentalists for warm but stimulating interpretations of classic Standards. Parrot puts the "R" in Rhythm Guitar, nicely complementing the veteran soloists. Jethroesque... with horns.

THE PURITAN SESSIONS WITH KEITH COLEMAN | Jethro Burns
Release Date: Aug 1, 1997; Genre: Acoustic, Swing/jazz
Gentle Swing Giants gather in an informal recording setting and administrate some of acoustic swing's most mature art. Hidden in a recording vault for nearly a decade, we glimpse into the humor and warmth of the grace of Burns and violin master Keith Coleman. What a treasure discovered here!


SWING LOW SWEET MANDOLIN | Jethro Burns
Release Date: Jan 1, 1995; Genre: Acoustic, Swing/jazz
Literally recorded in the last days of this giant innovator, these tunes are a virtual documentary of Swing Mandolin. If Bill Monroe was the Father of Bluegrass, Jethro is certainly the Father of Swing Mandolin. Accompanied by protégé, Don Stiernberg in an unusually understated (and tastefully) supporting role, this recording is all Jethro...

ONE MORE NIGHT | Paul Glasse
Release Date: Oct 1, 1995; Genre: Acoustic, Jazz, swing, Brazilian, blues
I'll confess my bias towards Standards right now. But when I listen to Glasse's original music, I convince myself I'm listening to Standards. The pentultimate Tunesmith, he makes the mandolin tell stories, tastefully complemented with harmonica, acoustic guitar, bass and drums, and a sweet gypsy violin. Djangoesque one minute, Brazilian the next, and then you're bushwhacked with a little Texas swing. Ahead of its time, this is a glimpse where jazz mandolin the next several decades.

I'M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT | The Taylor - Grisman Jazz Quartet
Release Date: Jun 22, 1999; Genre: Acoustic, Dawg, jazz
In the ultimate jazz string quartet setting Grisman hooks up with guitarist extraordinaire Martin Taylor, and reels off some of the tastiest renditions of jazz standards. Flashy without the self-indulgence, they explore these favorites and breathe an acoustic flavor all its own.

NEW RIVER | David Grisman & Denny Zeitlin
Release Date: Jun 26, 2001; Genre: Acoustic, Jazz
Psychiatrist by day, jazz piano virtuoso by night, Zeitlin joins 'Dawg' Grisman for acoustic fun and games. So many notes, and all of them appropriate, the duo improvise, frolic, and evolve into a virtual orchestra of jazz harmonic exploration in one of the most diverse and colorful timbre palates two instruments could produce.

JACARANDA | Michael Lampert
Release Date: Mar 1, 2001; Genre: Jazz, Bebop, Blues
Lampert truly forges new territory with Jacaranda. A Herb Ellis fluidity, an Ellington familiarity, he pushes the boundaries of what should be expected of traditional mandolin (even Swing Mandolin...). "Hornlike" in his delivery and phrasing, his four-string electric axe concocts solos that breathe life within the framework of of his original compositions. Gentle, easy to listen to, but whatever you do, don't label this "Easy Listening." It's much too engaging!

BLUE GARDENIA | Michael Lampert
Release Date: Apr 26, 2005 Genre: Jazz
Lampert returns to the studio with an offering of Standards this time. Adding a fresh voice to his ensemble, the piano, his improvisation tackles the music with a bolder dynamic, blending with the ensemble differently than his previous release, Jacaranda. More opportunity for textural variety, his playing offers a more granular contrast. Read review

MR. NATURAL | Don Julin & Ron Getz
Release Date: Jan 1, 2000; Genre: Acoustic, jazz
Teaming up with acoustic guitarist Ron Getz and joined by bass and drums, Julin favors us with a potluck of jazz standards, contemporary pop, and some atmospheric original music. More traditional jazz than his subsequent, more experimental solo ventures, this well-rounded project is his first venture into the limelight, "graduating" from his engineering to his European and domestic touring.


WALKING ON THE MOON | The Matt Flinner Quartet
Release Date: Feb 11, 2003; Genre: Progressive Jazz
Compositionally mature, this project is the fusion (pun intended) of acoustic mandolin and sophisticated electric guitar. Backed by electric bass and drums, Flinner struts his stuff and evokes tight ensemble comradery in this edgy environment. Bluegrass it ain't. Tasty... it is.

SUNNY | The Gruber-Ruesz Quartet
Release Date: Sep 10, 1999; Genre: Progressive Jazz, Gypsy Jazz
This fresh entry from across the Atlantic by Gruber-Ruesz is an innovative combination of Modal Jazz, a healthy dose of Gypsy Jazz, seasoned with a zest of Eastern European folk. I never thought I'd hear a mandolin cover of "Naima," but this is both convincing and stirring.


TONE POEMS II | David Grisman & Martin Taylor
Release Date: Oct 31, 1995; Genre: Acoustic Jazz
For the artwork alone, this CD is worth owning. A tribute to the many fine Gibson acoustic instruments (mandolins, mandolas, guitars, etc.) the duo showcases vintage jazz and the masterpiece axes that produce them. Artfully executed, tastefully composed, takes you from 19th Century "Swanee" to mid 20th Century "Out of Nowhere" and delightful classics in between.


THE GAME'S AFOOT! | John Carlini Quartet
Release Date: Jul 1, 2003: Genre: New Acoustic, Jazz
Edgier than most "string" bands without losing its compositional discipline, the John Carlini Quartet sticks its toe into the waters of polytonality and splashes the listener with an invigorating wash of texture and harmony. In a strong "supporting role," mandolinist Don Stiernberg demonstrates his own musical diversity as he ventures outside of more traditional "Standards" jazz terrain into fresh harmonic exploration.

ANGEL EYES | Don Stiernberg/John Carlini
Release Date: Jun 1, 2004 Genre: Acoustic Jazz
Jazz Mandolin's "Standards(s) Bearer" Don Stiernberg teams again with New Jersey guitarist, John Carlini concocting a fresh acoustic taste of popular Jazz favorites. With two of Chicago's best rhythm players. Read review

BY GEORGE | Don Stiernberg/John Carlini
Release Date: Jul 19, 2005 Genre: Acoustic Jazz
A reincarnation of the popular Stiernberg/Carlini duo, this time in a collection devoted to the music of George Gershwin. Tuneful, stirring, and clever, their quartet has advanced yet another step as masters of acoustic jazz. Read review

BACK TO BACK | Jethro Burns/Tiny Moore Release Date: Feb 8, 2005 Genre: Jazz
An Incredible opportunity to document two of the greatest masters of mandolin swing, Jethro Burns and electric mandolinist Tiny Moore mark their place in history as 20th Century patriarchs of this rich genre. As much a music history lesson as it is good listening.

JAY GEILS, GERRY BEAUDOIN AND THE KING OF STRINGS | Featuring Aaron Weinstein
Release Date: 2006 Genre: Acoustic Swing
A "pleasant, imminently listenable mixture of swing, mainstream and blues" (JazzReview.com), promising jazz violinist Aaron Weintstein teams up with veteran swing artist Jerry Beaudoin and rockstar turned Gypsy enthusiast Jay Geils. An excellent study in Standards and the acoustic ensemble, this is Weinstein's first mandolin recording. Aaron wields the charm and delivery of former teacher, Don Stiernberg.

Also available:

Additional recordings that are more on the "periphery" of jazz and recordings with a Gypsy/Choro twist.