Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, legendary UCLA and Lakers center, six-time NBA MVP and Bruce Lee foe, has had a passion for jazz his entire life. Raised in New York, Abdul-Jabbar had the opportunity to soak up the center of the jazz world at one of its most vital periods. He regularly crammed himself into the tiny tables at the Village Vanguard as a teenager and nowadays manages to take in shows at the equally tight quarters at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
To supplement our recent interview, Abdul-Jabbar also offered up his list of essential jazz albums. It is a solid list of classics, in no particular order, that belong in anyone’s collection.
Herbie Hancock
Empyrean Isles (1964)
Sam Rivers
Fuchsia Swing Song (1965)
Read more: LA Weekly
