After 2009, the year of shrinking budgets, it has been decided to cut my iTunes extravaganzas. I have been given a budget, or quota rather, of one album per month.

With a figure of roughly R160.00 in mind I visited my local Musica last night. It is interesting to see how one’s perception of money changes ‘when you ain’t no longer got none’. That passion buy of the latest Dave Matthews or Ben Harper album, without even listening to it first, now becomes a serious matter to consider.

After scouring the shelves and finding plenty of desirable options, I stepped back to consider what genre of music I really felt like. Jazz, the answer came to me. Melody Gardot type jazz. As I have both her albums I went for second best, Louis Armstrong’s early recordings.

After noticing ‘Original Columbia Jazz Classics’ and the meagre sum of R39.99 twice, my bargain hunting brain noticed a pattern. Because I already own a Satchmo ‘Original Columbia Jazz Classics’ album I know the quality is crystal clear. I rummaged around, and for the all out bargain of my initial R160.00 budget I found FOUR ‘Original Columbia Jazz Classics’. And the winners are…

AHMAD JAMAL · The Legendary Okeh & Epic Recordings

DUKE ELLINGTON – Blues in Orbit 

LOUIS ARMSTRONG – Satch Plays Fats

MILES DAVIS – Milestones