Artist’s Choice: John Mayall’s Timeless Jazz Influences

John Mayall: "Talk About Me"

Lionel Hampton in 1946 (William P. Gottlieb/courtesy of the Library of Congress)

This list could go on forever, as there are so many special pieces of music in my life, but here are 11 jazz or jazz-influenced tracks that had a big impact on me when I was coming up in England and still hold a lot of personal meaning.

Spirits of Rhythm
“My Old Man” (Brunswick, 1933)
My father had all the 78s by this great group that featured guitarist Teddy Bunn, and as a kid I loved the unusual [string-band] combination and this track in particular. I even played it in my first band.