Jazz for aficionados
Rok, the answer can be found in the fact that "Jazz Aficionados" have never said it was so; I don't think even Miles thought it was so; and we are in 100% agreement about your other comments in regard to those other albums. While a second album would reinforce her standings, there is no doubt about this album. Only time will tell how good Ms. Salvant is, when compared to those Divas you mentioned. Enjoy the music. |
Frogman, while most of the time we agree, I consider your last post as a challenge; title this, "The Musician" vs "The Aficionado". In regard to "modality" or "no modality", KOB lacks the intense emotion of SE; maybe that's the ethereal quality of KOB. Miles music dominates this album to such an extent, that he can be heard within each solo, making the artist secondary to the music; could that be the cohesion you refer to? Without a doubt this maybe "MIles Davis" greatest album, but when placed up against the artists Rok referred to, and their best albums, KOB begins to slide down the totem pole. Oddly enough, those who are obsessed with KOB, would not be aware of those albums; and consequently, would not be considered jazz aficionados. While KOB is "one" of the greatest, it most certainly is not "The Greatest". In regard to SE, "The tunes are mostly standards", while three of the tunes are standards, I consider that a putdown. Hank Jones intro on "Autumn Leaves" is so dramatic, you don't know what he's going to go into, but you know you like it because it sounds so good. This is followed by incredible solos, from Miles and Cannonball; after Miles plays the melody, Hank comes back in and gets into the heart and soul of the tune with each note on his piano. "The tunes are mostly standards" sounds like such a put down that I'm left speechless. As I sit here trying to respond to your post, I get more and more "discombobulated"; "Art Blakey", a sloppy drummer". I can only suggest you give SE another listen, I don't know why I get the feeling you're responding to this from memory, as opposed to putting the CD on and listening to each cut, and each note as I am at the moment. While all music is subjective, I'm finding it hard to believe we're so far apart, far beyond your preference to KOB over SE, which is not hard to understand. Enjoy the music. |
There's no doubt I over reacted because I couldn't find words to express my emotions, when you said "standards", which was factually accurate, but they took those standards where they have never been before, and although I hear this every time I play that album, I can't find words to express it; evidently I'm too close emotionally to this album. I feel so much more comfortable responding to this Miles cut; I'm not sure if I've heard it before, but I like it. I see why I don't have it; it was released in 67, and that was when I was into "The Age of Aquarius", that "hippy thing"; but so was Miles; it may not have been reflected in his music, but it was certainly reflected in his dress and lifestyle. I can lay back, chill and really get into this album, especially since I haven't heard it before. Thanks for the heads-up, I'm going to put it on my play-list. Enjoy the music. |
Miles and miles of Miles is enough Miles; I'm going back to Cecile McLorin Salvant before my odometer runs out. While I can switch the sound to the big rig, which gives me superior sound without picture; in Salvant's case, that works to her advantage, but when the big bucks come rolling in, a make over is in order, plus a few trips to the gym, and that gal will be a stone fox. Here she is on "Yesterdays", which is a little reminiscent of Carmen. Salvant can scat too, nice and easy without overdoing it, and her pianist is boss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgOghmYGsSY Enjoy the music. |
Frogman, without a doubt that's my favorite album cover. I'm sure it was taken during the best time in Miles life, he was "insanely" in love with the woman on the cover. That was when Miles was going into an "angular" approach to his music; this would be reflected in "Bitches Brew". In general, I preferred the flowing music him and Gil Evans produced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-EgyUcHSSQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01GW0jdJatA&list=PL08420B7A2DE13933 Enjoy the music. |
As you can see, my posts are out of sequence in regard to miles and miles of Miles before my odometer runs out. Rok, I'm switching between "Cecile" and those African cuts on "you tube". While Cecile is better without pictures, those African cuts can't stand alone, they have to have pictures. Cecile just gets better and better all the time; although chicken is chicken, I've had chicken dishes that were awesome and unforgettable. While Cecile isn't brand new, she's like that unforgettable chicken dish, I didn't know what they put in it, but I just couldn't get enough of it. She makes songs I've heard a million times sound brand new; Cecile is putting her secret spice "essence of Cecile" into each and every song, that's what makes them new. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, for the records: I never met a professional jazz musician who was an audiophile. I remember when professional jazz musicians were into "DAT" tape recorders; that's as close as they came to audiophile. During the three months time my friend, the professional jazz musician lived with me, I don't recall us ever sitting around listening to music; if we were at the apartment, we were engaged in lively conversation, or sleeping. Why would anyone sit around listening to recorded music, when there was always live music playing somewhere, to be heard; do you think Miles sat around listening to recorded music? and of course the difference between a young man (then), and an old man (now) is night and day. Enjoy the music. |
Which African tubes? This is one of them, but it didn't really matter because the costumes and the dance was more interesting than the music; especially when some of them switched back to the village. Since there are no DVD's, so much for that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0HGdO42nMA Here's another one; after awhile, switching on those on the sidebar, they began to sound alike, that's when I left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE4RkXO5IfU Enjoy the music. |
Rok, although I have Casandra's CD's since the beginning, this is my first time getting acquainted with her; she's infinitely more impressive than ever entered my mind. Never heard of Gregory Porter, but the boy can "sang". I must say, Casandra is growing old quite gracefully; she's beautiful in many ways, I watched the entire 52:23 of that clip. Since I've been looking at "Miami Vice", that offshore bank account thing was right on time, I'll have to check it. Leersfool, when you say "musicians", you mean "Classical" musicians; the one's who can debate a "Basis super arm 9, versus "Vector" versus "Graham" tone arms. John Lee Hooker had 3 identical Adcom systems in his three homes; Max Roach had a most unimpressive system in his apartment over looking Central Park when he was interviewed by "Stereophile". If the musicians I've known were filthy rich, they would not be "Audiophiles"; setting up a brand new, high end analog rig, is too much like playing with electric trains; "When am I going to listen to some music, I'm tired of fiddling with this cartridge and tone arm, somebody call an engineer or Jeeves the butler." Enjoy the music. |
Frogman, since I'm an "Audiophile", they don't have to prove anything to me in regard to the sound, but I bet neither Casandra Wilson, or Gregory Porter would consider themselves audiophiles. All I'm saying is the lifestyle of musicians I've known is more like the people in Rok's clip of Casandra Wilson. While anyone can find specific examples of almost anything, we're talking about in general. Now I don't know anything about Casandra Wilson, other than the fact that she can probably afford to be an audiophile. Since we're talking about musicians in general who can afford to be audiophiles, let's lay it all on the line for "Casandra Wilson". If she's an audiophile, me and Rok will concede, if not you and Leersfool will concede that musicians are less likely, than more likely to be audiophiles; go to work. Enjoy the music. |
Somebody done hit the sweetest sweet spot in jazz "Mr. T"; he's made more sweet sounding notes than any other jazz musician, and I ain't gonna take it back. His entire discography is boss, and what I don't got, I'm going to get. Turrentine received his only formal musical training during his military stint in the mid-'50s. In 1959, he jumped from the frying pan into the fire when he left the military and went straight into the band of the great drummer Max Roach. He married the organist Shirley Scott in 1960 and the two frequently played and recorded together. In the 1960s, he started working with organist Jimmy Smith, and made many soul jazz recordings both with Smith and as a leader. In the 1970s, after his professional split and divorce from Scott, Turrentine turned to jazz fusion and signed for Creed Taylor's CTI label. His first album for CTI, Sugar proved one of his biggest successes and a seminal recording for the label. He worked with Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson, George Benson, Bob James, Richard Tee, Idris Muhammad, Ron Carter, Grant Green and Eric Gale, to name a few. He returned to soul jazz in the 1980s and into the 1990s. Turrentine lived in Fort Washington, Maryland from the early 90s until his death. He died of a stroke in New York City on September 12, 2000 and is buried in Pittsburgh's Allegheny Cemetery. Although I like every cut on that album "Salt Song", this has got to be my favorite; it pictures someone who's done everything humanly possible to resolve a difficult situation, now there nothing left to do but "Tell Jesus". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4JP6JRv7k0 Enjoy the music. |
Schubert, not too long ago, there were no LP's or CD's by Ike available. I got a store owner to make a tape from his LP. After that, no CD's were available, I had to pay $35. for an LP, when I wasn't even into vinyl. As you can tell, I'm 100% into Ike Quebec; I just wanted you to know how the music world goes in circles. Enjoy the music. |
Ike Quebec died January 16, 1963; "Heavy Soul", my favorite album by Ike was recorded November 26, 1961, although it was not released until 62. I've forgotten my source, but they had gotten the news that Ike had lung cancer when they recorded this; listen at how sad, but beautiful, Freddy Roach's organ sounds on almost all the cuts. Can you imagine them recording this album with the knowledge Ike wouldn't be with them much longer. It's impossible for something like that to not come through in the music; listen for it on your copy. I purchased the album at the end of the summer in 62, I know this because I recall "Heavy Soul" coming on like a cool breeze at the end of a hot summer day. This was an album I played repeatedly for a long time; especially during the winter of 63. Enjoy the music. |
Learsfool, I'm listening to "The Film Music of Bronislaw Kaper", played by the composer, in celebration of what I learned from you. Two of my favorite tunes by him are; "Invitation" and "Green Dolphin Street". While Miles with Bill Evans is my favorite version of "On Green Dolphin Street", there are so many versions of "Invitation" I like, that I would prefer you choose your favorite version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nic4lb02ANw Enjoy the music. |
Shall we Tango? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FDXPYE0nVw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdSreoOun9s Enjoy the music. |
"Jazz does the Tango", is the title of our new segment. Come with me to my new life; I'm now in my mid twenties, and Tango was in my blood since birth. For every man there is a woman, where is she, where is the one for me, where is my Tango lady? Find the one, and you will find the sun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0pYkIVHP44 My "Tango Lady" must sing a song of love; it's for certain this is a song of love, and she wrote it; but can she dance? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIJZSs2gxdo This is the ultimate "cerebral" Tango; my Tango lady must be able to do this one as well; it's done on a rainy afternoon, at a sidewalk cafe overlooking the park, seated at a table for two. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9lfdx-h6u0 Now it's time to Tango, like the last Tango ever in life; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lAKlYTQVKY Where is she? My fantacia Tango lady who will dance me to the end of love, to the end of life? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWCmubP5h9c Enjoy the music. |
Hey Rok, here's where Don Cherry paid Miles aunt Corrine a visit; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bF5yqfaYVw Enjoy the music. |
Frogman, this is so beautiful; it's about musicians from different parts of the world coming together in "Bombay", and creating new music. What is that instrument Caroline, the lady in the cap playing? I've liked these musicians individually for quite awhile now, since this was done some years ago, we get to see the outcome. I'm looking forward to your creative musicians analysis of this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFb9-lik2cg Enjoy the music. |
Does anybody remember "Les Baxter"? Honest to God, I really believed this is the way music sounded in all of those faraway places with strange sounding names when I heard Les Baxter. I just thought this would be a good nostalgia trip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTwwnEggw24 Enjoy the music. |
Rok, that's a very tall order, and a question I had to answer for myself. Forget about boxed sets or anything critics and reviewers have to say. Billie Holiday had a style so unique and special, that you could hear it in a crowded bar on the jukebox, with drunks making the noises that drunks make, so don't worry about the sound quality; whatever she had when she had it will come through that. Focus on early and mid career, before she began to have health problems. Remember, a person does their best work, and then they become famous; after they become famous, every body is trying to make a buck, consequently every sound they make is the best sound ever, those are the Billy Holiday records I had in my collection that I sold. Try to audition everything you can and trust your ears is the best advice I can give you, but don't listen to the critics because you might wind up with Billie Holiday records for sale. Enjoy the music. |
Alexatpos, it's absolutely astounding how music transcends all other forms of communication; I was intimately acquainted with John Wright's "South Side"; it was a glorious place, even beautiful in spots, while that South Side no longer exists, it's still alive in his music and my memory. Enjoy the music. |
"Horns and piano, horns and piano; how about a little "Gitar"? Grant Green, my homeboy was born good; I saw him at clubs before he made his first record, and he was good then. He would just kind of lean back, look at his guitar, and beautiful music would start pouring out; he didn't even seem to be playing it, or making hardly any effort, like magic, beautiful music emanated from his guitar. Since I like all of his records, I'm going to have a hard time choosing, but I hope you'll forgive what some would call my excess number of selections. Me and Grant's music seem to be in a constant state of resonance, that is "we vibrate in harmony"; my first choice is "Lullaby of The Leaves". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hxCP_LEniw Next is "Round Midnight"; this is a real laid back version with mystery; you never know what's going to happen around midnight in the city. While we have those syrupy lyrics to that song, they were not Monk's intention; he wanted the music to speak for itself, that's why he never plays it the same way twice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cYSD0knfvA "Somewhere In The Night"; this version seems to be more optimistic than most, "All he's got to do is just keep looking, and he's sure to find his lost love, she's out there "Somewhere In The Night". PH3Yc56wRZN25Bv3um>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOOfQjU_Pxk&list=PLxsNFDVhPXQhZ_- PH3Yc56wRZN25Bv3um Now we have "Speak Low"; Grant pops them "Gitar strings" on this one; and I mean he could pop em. I recall notes reverberating right inside my ear when he was popping them strings from way cross the room. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHDEEJF1I4I&list=PLF3AB418A7231FFDF "Idle Moments" is the last one; this is one beautiful tune. The most striking thing about this tune is when Joe Henderson got so caught up in his solo, that he had no idea of time, and Rudy Van Gelder, who is a stickler about time, knew he was going over, and just let him blow. "Let that man blow his horn", that's what Gabriel said. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoXNc-vKdJM&list=PL8C1FF6ED9FD7329B Enjoy the music. |
Lou Rawls is my favorite male vocalist "ever", and I find that easy to say without restrictions. Rok, you know how I am about the "Jazz Classics"; you got to stick to the script. Well, Dianne Reeves broke all the rules on "Summertime", but she did it in such a spectacular way, that not only is she forgiven, but she has my permission to break the rules anytime she feels like it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_iyKq9R3Bo Enjoy the music. |
Ronnie Milsap brought back a flood of memories of the 50's; "Doo Wop" and teenage love. There is no greater love than teenage love; how many times did you feel like your heart was going to bust wide open with love? How many times did you feel like your heart was broken forever and two days? That exhilarating roller coaster of love that was teenage love is best expressed in "Doo Wop", and I'm going to share some of my favorites with you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4oSTyjZCfE Remember how those beautiful doo wop harmonies floated to the full moon on a hot summer night, and they reminded you of "her". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3zl1LIL6AA Or maybe "her" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DlMHoOZ4Qg Although you fell in love often, each time was the love of all loves. I was really sad when I had to leave Chicago at the end of the summer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbl90s__X4Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_0Dje6FV0w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zcxsl2DdN8 Enjoy the music. |
Alexatpos, this is the first time I heard of "Ernest Ranglin", but I like his music. Since I discovered he played mostly in Jamaica, I guess that explains that. This certainly wont be the last time because I'm looking for more music by Mr. Ranglin as of now; as a matter of fact, him and Monty Alexander play so well together, I'll look for both of them together. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, as you know, I have to occasionally pay a visit to where things are really different. Once again it's with Jan Gaberek on "Evenly They Danced"; I find that bass hypnotic, and the music seems to fit the photographs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20fHftzcOGs Here again we have hypnotic bass, this is complete with weird animation; "Where are we?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnrH-7URvpc Enjoy the music. |
Zoot Sims and the Count were a perfect pairing. Here are two by Zoot that I like; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djeNFZb7yTY This is "Bohemia After Dark" by the man who wrote it, OP; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMaqzjSx7a4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyMeLLyVHJA That was one fantastic version of "Summertime". Enjoy the music. |
Zoot Sims and the Count were a perfect pairing. Here are two by Zoot that I like; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djeNFZb7yTY This is "Bohemia After Dark" by the man who wrote it, OP; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMaqzjSx7a4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyMeLLyVHJA That was one fantastic version of "Summertime". Enjoy the music. |
I should have repeated the warning I gave you about Billie; why don't you go back and read that post again. Zoot was probably a real hip nickname when they gave it to him; although "Zoot suits" were kind of before my time, I know Cab Calloway wore one. Speaking of Cab and Zoot suits, here he is in his "Zoot Suit" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyuRT-ExzuQ Enjoy the music. |
After all that snow and ice in the Himalayas, I decided to warm up a bit in the Arabian desert; here's Rabhi Abou- Khalil, and "The Happy Sheik". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVs-H07nU5s Enjoy the music. |
"Ham Hock Blues" piqued my curiosity; I done heard of every kind of blues under the sun, but never "The Ham Hock Blues", do you know the words to this one? Well here's the music , and I like it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgLDLLbIUa8 Enjoy the music. |
Did you know, that according to a search of The Jazz Discography, Milt Hinton is the most-recorded jazz musician of all time, having appeared on 1,174 recording sessions. Also a fine photographer, Hinton documented many of the great jazz musicians via photographs he took over the course of his career. Hinton was one of the best friends of jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong. He died on December 19, 2000, in Queens, New York City, at age 90. See if you can find that photography book to add to our photography library. Here are just a few of my favorite cuts by "Old Man Time". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2-CmJtkLW0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlpfoxYIcW8 And last but not least "Heavy Soul" with Ike Quebec. I know I've posted this before, but now I want you to try and focus on the bass alone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1cTgZDUsSc Enjoy the music. |
Frogman, what you called "Cool School", we called "West Coast". When I bought records every week, I always bought half West Coast. Since that time "All" of those original records have gone with the wind, but I've been able to replace the other records, which might be on the 5th copy by now, while the "West Coast" records were no longer available. In the case of East Coast, West Coast, don't get locked down to geographical area; while Lennie Tristano's studio was in New York, the music was strictly "West Coast". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvk0U3FTWzQ Here are some examples of "West Coast": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLtNSPC7P0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfLsEH4csQ4 Enjoy the music. |
