My brother, Danny, is a musician. So I know first hand that New Year's Eve is the best-paying gig of the year. Which means most jazz musicians aren't available on December 31 for anything more than a live club date, leaving most recording studios dark.
Except in a handful of cases. Over the years, some jazz artists have recorded on the last day of the year—or they've been recorded while out earning a living.
After a bit of research yesterday, I found 17 jazz recordings that were made on December 31st—in the studio or on stage. Happy New Year!
December 31, 1947
Charles Mingus (w/ Curley Hamner And His Orchestra)
- Bama Lama Lam
- Spooky Boogie
The Young Rebel (Swingtime)
December 31, 1947
Lennie Tristano Quartet
- New Sound
- Through These Portals
- Resemblance
- Speculation
- Restoration
Lennie Tristano 1947-1951 (Classics 1290)
December 31, 1952
Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra
- Fat Man Boogie
- Blues In The Night
- Where Are You?
- What's The Riff?
Illinois Jacquet 1951-1952 (Classics)
December 31, 1953
Louis Armstrong
- When It's Sleepy Time Down South
- Indiana (Back Home Again In)
- A Kiss to Build a Dream On
- Tea for Two
- My Bucket's Got a Hole In It
- Margie
- Velma's Blues
- That's My Desire
- C'est Si Bon
- Stompin' at the Savoy
- When It's Sleepy Time Down South
New Year's Eve broadcast from Japan on NBC radio
December 31, 1953
Chet Baker
- Why Shouldn't I?
- I'm Through With Love
- You Don't Know What Love Is
- You Don't Know What Love Is (alt. take)
Chet Baker with Strings (Sony)
December 31, 1953
Benny Carter Quartet (w/ Joe Glover And His Orchestra)
- I'll Be Around
- Beautiful Love
- Blue Star
- Flamingo
New Jazz Sounds: The Urbane Sessions (Polygram)
December 31, 1953
Oscar Peterson Trio
- I Won't Dance
Oscar Peterson Plays Jerome Kern (Verve)
December 31, 1954
Louis Armstrong
- When It's Sleepy Time Down South
- Indiana (Back Home Again In)
- Big Butter and Egg Man
- High Society
- Auld Lang Syne
New Year's Eve broadcast from San Francisco on CBS radio
December 31, 1954
Ruby Braff Sextet
- You Can Depend On Me
- Auld Lang Style
- I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
- Rosetta
- Sometimes I'm Happy
A Ball At Bethlehem (Bethlehem)
December 31, 1954
Harry Edison
- Arcadia
- Santa Anita
- Hooray For Hollywood
- Blindfold Test, No. 3
Best From The West: Modern Sounds From California, Vols. 1 and 2 (Blue Note)
December 31, 1962
Luiz Bonfa
- Silencio Do Amor
- Tristeza
- Vem So
- Samba Lamento
- Samba De Duas Notas
- Ilha De Coral
- Manha De Carnaval
- Bossa Nova Cha Cha
- Adeus
- Domingo A Noite
- Quebra Mar
- Chora Tua Tristeza
- O Amor Que Acabou
Luiz Bonfa Plays And Sings Bossa Nova (Verve)
December 31, 1963
John Coltrane Quintet
- My Favorite Things
- Alabama
- Impressions
Private recording at Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center, NYC
December 31, 1963
Sonny Stitt Sextet
- Slave Maidens
- Blue Blood Ritual
- Bacon Baby
- Barefoot Ball
- Estrellita
- Island Shout
Primitivo Soul! (Prestige)
December 31, 1973
Kenny Drew
- Blues For Nils
- Everything I Love
- Winter Flower
Everything I Love (SteepleChase)
December 31, 1982
Miles Davis Septet
- Come Get It
- It Gets Better
- U 'N' I
- Star On Cicely
- Star People
- Hopscotch
- Jean Pierre
Felt Forum, New York, New Year's Eve (Jazz Masters)
December 31, 1985
Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers
- Hide and Seek
- Little Man
- New York
- I Want to Talk About You
New Year's Eve at Sweet Basil (Evidence)
December 31, 1987
Miles Davis (with Prince)
Recorded at Paisley Park
Miles from the Park (Sabotage Records); bootleg recording
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