Jazz for aficionados

Elvin Jones and Richard Davis win the coveted "Orpheus" jazz composition of the day award with their heavy jam, "Heavy".

I forgot, submitted by Acman

Rok, time never started, therefore it can not stop.  Whatever minute you can think of, there was a minute before that, and the same goes for after what ever minute you say that time has stopped, another minute will follow.

Feeling is what separates music from noise; it's that incomprehensible connection we share with other human beings on planet earth, that enables us to communicate when we don't share the same language.

I am of the opinion that extreme "audiophiles" like sounds as opposed to music because they are obsessed with high and low frequencies where almost no music is found; that might also explain why they touch and go on this thread, and to further confirm my opinion, they never like components that expand the music, preferring those that can play loud at the two frequency extremes.

Rok, I agree with you 120%, so much so that I can't think of much to add. The facts have spoken for themselves over a long period of time, anything else is somebody's wishlist.

All you have to do is look at the other music threads, and with that I'll rest my case.

Frogman, we have been more civil today than in a long time; we may even have broken a record for civility, plus we "never" involve any new comers.

After upgrading my "analog rig" I also have to redo the LP's to my play list in order to get full benefit; that's what I'm doing now. I've got quite a few Pat Metheney records that look brand new, and I don't know what they sound like; that's a bad sign. It means playing that record is a waste of time, because I'm not going to add it to the play list; especially since I haven't heard or played it in years.

Today, I've heard a number of records that will be added to the play list that I don't own yet; all of those records happen to be "jazz jazz". I also subscribe to "Stereophile" because they practically give me the magazine. I think I bought 1 CD in 20 years, and don't even play that one. That lets you know how successful I've been in finding music there.

The best way for me to select music is to let the music select me. "I don't fight the feeling", and experimentation is out of the question, this means I'm walking a well worn path to success; no more wasted money. ( I've got way too many records taking up good shelf space, that need the boot) "What possessed me to buy that record"? is what I'm asking myself over and over.

The best path to success is "what ever works, and this is what's working"


Enjoy the music.

Frogman, you lead the way, and we'll follow, "Frogman you take the point", as they say in the movies.

Alex, as I recall, you went on a fact finding mission of your own in regard to participation in this thread; what did you find?

I would like your opinions on Frogmans assertions.


Thank you.

Frogman, I must have overlooked that, do you recall the month and year "Stereophile" recommended it?


Thank you.

Frogman, as you know, that comes out every year and I usually have almost all of them that I want, (that hasn't changed) although this year has a better selection than most. When I mentioned "Stereophile" I was referring to the monthly selection of jazz albums. That's when they focus on "new" jazz as opposed to the best that's already in one's collection.

Just setting the record straight.

BTW, I don't have that Hank Williams Jr. either, but now that you're recommending it, I'm sure it's something special.


Enjoy the music.

Instead of posting records from my collection, I'm going to post "Records to die for" from the selected collection of "Stereophile" writers, that are not in my collection, and we can get your opinion of R2D4 2017.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=635LnyveWi8


I won't give my opinion of any of these records, I want your unbiased opinion.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZfWZCENO3o


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXlaXbI0Eqg


Without giving my opinion, I will say none of these records are "stereotypical", which is one of my favorite words of derision.


Enjoy the music.

Rok, it's amazing you should mention Joni Mitchell; I got a record where she was celebrating Mingus's Birthday with Mingus, and I bought anything I saw his name on.

Who knows how many years have passed since I last played that record; I'm recording records to the playlist. After I recorded that record, I deleted it. That's who I thought about too.

I'm going to do this everyday, but I'll give my opinion last.


Enjoy the music.

Why do I feel like I've been here before; maybe it is possible to go back in time.

Rok, after Frogman's review, what more can I say; except, all three CD's are on order.


Enjoy the music.

This is one dynamite tune; immediately you can tell he's going into another state of mind, in fact he's going into another mind; "Celia's" mind, which he calls "The Isle of Celia"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crhYor3nbvo

There is nothing so wonderful and rare as when two people form a "mind meld"; that's when they're communicating almost telepathically, and the conversation flows in it's own natural rhythm leading to the deepest levels of communication.

This person has discovered Celia, and now he is languishing on "The Isle of Celia"; a rare tropical paradise, too nice to believe.

The conversation goes on as represented by the musicians:

"The Isle of Celia" (Horace Tapscott) - 10:28
"Blues in My Heart" (Benny Carter, Irving Mills) - 5:59
"This is for Benny" (Tapscott) - 4:53
"All Night Long" (Curtis Lewis) - 3:59
"Crisscraft" (Sonny Criss) - 7:08
Personnel[edit]
Sonny Criss - alto saxophone
Dolo Coker - piano
Ray Crawford - guitar
Larry Gales - bass
Jimmie Smith - drums

I was on "deaths doorstep" in an emergency room with a lot of other folks who looked like they were worse off than me; not a good place to be be. After waiting forever, they took me to a temp room and took blood. I could have died between the time they took blood and the results came back.

Once the results came back, they took my clothes slipped on a robe with my but out, and rolled me to a room. Next they set up an I. V. They asked me if I was in pain? Since they knew the answer, it got me a shot of morphine.

Presently I'm enduring pain that goes away when I take more pain killer than prescribed; I'm just using such a time to post, (I'm at home, but will go to another facility next week)

This is the first time I recall hearing Larry Willis, although I probably heard him as a sideman. Yes! There is a big deal on Larry Willis; there's a big deal on any body who can play at this level.

The problems in jazz, are caused by people who can't accept "evolution". "If it doesn't sound this way or that, it's not jazz". Let them keep their definition, and I'll accept the music.

I bought a lot of LP's on sale, after this LP came out, that were of this genre, that I haven't played. As soon as CD hit, all the excess LP's of that time were almost given away, and I've still got new LP's to sort out; but buying a new cartridge is not on my things "to do list". This CD has been added to the shopping cart.

Frogman, so many people played Be-Bop after Bird's demise, that it's not worth debating. The only question that remains is, "How much of it was of the same quality as Bird's bop."?






Enjoy the music.

Thanks to you, fellow aficionados, this has been a very good year for new acquisitions. What's amazing about my "new" acquisitions, is that they were not current, with the exception of "Dee Dee Bridgewater". Larry Willis was someone I missed completely, but that was before the age of personal computers, and so much good music came out in the 70's, that it was easily missed.

By attempting to stay within my chosen genre "jazz", I was probably unaware of good music that wasn't in the jazz section at the music store; and quite naturally I looked at the well known chosen names first. Now I'm catching up to all the good music I missed, thanks to you.




Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

"The Bright Mississippi"; the interesting thing about that glistening muddy river from St. Louis to "Nawlins" is that the culture of the people along the river, and the music are so connected. "Board plank floors and Juke Joints", are another interesting aspect of the music, the river, the culture, and the people; I suppose when you put them all together, you got "The Bright Mississippi".






Enjoy the music.

I believe you puttin us on Schubert.

The Tikiyaki Orchestra - Exotique; out of R2D4.



              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYEVq0xhRCE



Duke Ellington, different and nice;




          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY4aVohFLZs





Keith Jarret and Charlie Haden;


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ff2HTMvfCU

I have presented 3 albums from "Stereophile R2D4" without any consideration of my personal likes or dislikes; you be the judge.


Enjoy the music.

Rok and Jazz, I've been enjoying the posts and the conversation. Right now I'm dealing with big time weather related problems, and won't be posting for awhile.

These weather related problems of one kind or another have been going around like some kind of contagious disease.



Keep up the good work.

I have stumbled on the music that was my primary interest before jazz; EXOTICA! This was when Martin Denny's music evoked pictures of far away places with strange sounding names where flamingos fly, and incredibly gorgeous women were all over the place; this high school student was going to get him one when he got there.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9C2tHYZ3R8



Enjoy the music.

I had the exact same opinion about the "Takiyaki orchestra", after wanting to make fun of it, I liked it; as a matter of fact, it made me recall Martin Denny, who I liked a long time ago.

As you stated, "Three winners from Stereophile".


Enjoy the music

Rok, I've been treading water in my basement, but that's better than treading from my rooftop.


               

              [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGs2iLoDUYE[/url]






                [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyfvnM4Grik[/url]





              [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS6188eowAY[/url]





              [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voJqvu752pI[/url]








From what I heard the river gonna rise some more. I can almost walk to the Missouri River, and the Mississippi is a very short ride away. I think I'm going to get a kyack just in case them rivers keep rising. I was too busy wading in the waters to wish everyone Happy New Year; so







"Happy New Year!"

Something old has been at the top of my list for quite some time.

Something new, Brad Mehldau - "Blues and Ballads" is sure sounding good.


            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssgnCeomQFM


Thanks for the tip Dave.

I'm continuing with Stereophile's list of R2D4. Buddy Collette played sax, clarinet and flute; I primarily knew him for his work on flute. He grew up with Mingus in LA, but I can't think of any musical similarities between the two.

Buddy Collette Big Band In Concert;


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS6HZoTt1TM


Sonny Rollins, "Alfie";


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_moRogiog0


The last selection isn't jazz, but it was in R2D4, and I know somebody will like it; I wouldn't be surprised if he has it in his collection already. The Neville Brothers "Yellow Moon"


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlVxx3HVW24


Enjoy the music.

What I find more amazing than anything else, is that I can hear the difference in the first rig,and this rig on my computer dime store rig.

Those speakers are just fine, but all that garbage coming from the front end got to go; I have to have a better front end.

Aficionados, it's been over 24 hrs since I last posted, and I noticed Frogman hasn't posted either, could there be a connection?

Dave, having excellent taste is an important component for the acquisition of a boss jazz collection. Not many newcomers would have selected "Soul Brothers" in the beginning stage of getting into jazz. You couldn't have picked a better time; thanks to "You Tube", and a little help from your friends in jazz, you'll have a boss collection in no time.

Rok, anything and everything "Nawlins" you got it, and if you ain't, you gonna git it; I know my aficionados.


Enjoy the music.

Lazarus came back from the dead, and so did Orpheus; as a result of hearing the highest Blasphemy possible in the "Jazzasphere", someone has dared to compare St. Coltrane's version of "My Favorite Things", to some relatively unknown version of this same tune.

Let us not forget, Orpheus saw Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, and Elvin Jones at a small club, about this time of year in 63. (I recall the ride to the club in a brand new Buick, on wet streets glistening with the reflection of multicolored neon lights) "My Favorite Things" was performed with the extended version that included a preview of the sacred music St. Coltrane was to perform later on in his career.

While the tinkling of ice cubes and audience chatter can be heard behind live recordings of other artists, if this recording was made live, non of that would have been heard; the audience was as silent as in a recording studio while these artists were performing. As normal, everyone was having conversations before the music began; but after the first note was heard, the background noise was a silent as in a tomb, everyone came under the spell of that hypnotic "Soprano Sax". McCoy Tyner, and Elvin Jones, were as one; weaving in and out of the East Indian sounds of the most melodic "Soprano Sax" any one has ever heard.

I urge you to play this twice, and just focus on McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones; you will hear what the audience heard. When listening to music of this caliber "live", time stands still, and your hearing plays beautiful tricks; one instant your listening to "Trane", and the next instant your Listening to McCoy Tyner, and Elvin Jones. Your mind and hearing does mysterious phase shifts, hearing one while excluding the other, and then combining the two.

When you close your eyes at a live performance in a small club, it can seem like the hypnotic "Soprano Sax" of "Trane" is in your ear, and mysteriously changes to McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones are as one; you'll hear this the second time around.




Enjoy the music.  

Musicians and none musicians have very different perspectives on jazz, or should I say music in general. Musicians can appreciate technical virtuosity, while to my ears it might sound like bombastic noise. In the case of our most recent comparisons, it was apples and oranges, plus comparing a solo artist to a group that played as one was a lose no win situation. I've heard that same identical cut of MFT no less than two zillion times, and this time I heard it new; no one can top that.

Although Mehldau was very good, who and what was chosen to compare him with was a bad idea. Now that we have two fantastic musicians, I'm looking forward to fresh new music they have discovered on this thread. Maybe we should accept new musicians for what they are, and what they have to offer without comparing them to the old.




Enjoy the music.

Frogman, I like the music; I'm going to give his music an extended listen, and get back to you.

Maybe it's because I have to take so many painkillers that I drift in and out of time; presently here's where I am;


            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uJL8er_tV0


This is a most appropriate tune;


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WANNqr-vcx0



Good music never leaves me, no matter the genre;


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guKoNCQFAFk


Now back to the subject at hand; Lee Morgan "New-Ma"; Pepper Adams sets his baritone on fire on this one.

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omc5iNix0W0


This is the first album to feature his own compositions, and the first without any compositions by Benny Golson.

This Lee's best album in my opinion because it goes so deep into the music we call jazz; it also indicates there would have been no end to how deep Lee could go


"A Night in Tunisia" (Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli) – 9:24
"Heavy Dipper" (Lee Morgan) – 7:05
"Just One of Those Things" (Cole Porter) – 7:18
"Lover Man" (Jimmy Davis, Roger Ramirez, Jimmy Sherman) – 6:50
"New-Ma" (Morgan) – 8:14
"Just One of Those Things
Personnel
Lee Morgan – trumpet
Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
Bobby Timmons – piano
Paul Chambers – bass
Philly Joe Jones – drums

These are not only some of the best jazz artists, but they jam so well together; this is the epitome of jazz.

Rok, I'm glad you finally got my point, and I have done more than allege such stuff, I've laid it all out in black and white, simple math, 2+2 still equals 4. When they allowed "Goldman Sachs" to become a person, that signed, sealed, and delivered it.

Now we're going to have some more "De-regulation", and those pills Grand ma ma can not live without, will be $200, while heroin will go down to $5 bucks a fix. My suggestion is to get Grand ma ma enough dope to send her to Glory-Land, and watch her bid farewell with a big grin on her face.

Seriously, did anyone try and focus on McCoy Tyner, and Elvin Jones when listening to MFT, by Trane. I promise you will hear it differently.




Enjoy the music.

Without a doubt, that would have been better with a southern choir; everything goes better with biscuits, butter and molasses.   Which reminds me of a joke, "How can I have Mo-lasses, when I aint had No-lasses"?

Somehow, sophisticated Northern soul is not quite the same as southern "Nawlins" soul.

I've got one more cut to conclude R2D4, and it's one that's probably already in everyone's collection; "Grace, Passion, and Fire", features three of the worlds greatest guitarists.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3iGy4ErYNE


Enjoy the music.

Rok, for me, that's universal, ageless music, it never gets old, and also has good recording quality; that puts it over the top.

There was another piece of music that fit in that category, and we both liked the way they danced, but I can't remember it right now; it was a traditional dance, maybe you can remember and find it.

James Booker is fantastic, and us soul survivors will testify to that fact; you got to love "Nawlins".

Good morning Aficionados, we have a new member to this thread, "Dave - dlcockrum"; who is a very sharp audiophile that has personally helped me to upgrade my rig substantially.

If I cover ground we've already covered, it will be to bring Dave's collection up to speed. I was listening to Shirley Scott, Queen of the organ, and thinking, "What a good place for Dave to start", she's so connected to other prominent jazz artists that every aficionado has in their collection, that he can't go wrong here.


Enjoy the music Dave.

Rok, I must have that CD; he covers a lot of territory in regard to "Genre", or is "Nawlins" a Genre unto itself that covers many different Genre?


Enjoy the music.

Dave, you must be forewarned, that from time to time, I have these brain-strokes and get off thread. I know all the other aficionados are sweating bullets right now, and saying to themselves, "Please, not now, you might run him off".

Some things are more important than me or this thread.

Dave, I thank you for your compassionate stance, but I'm beginning to see the other side.

We like to know your musical taste, that way we can recommend what you like best in jazz. Jazz is incorporated into every genre under the sun, consequently, anyone who doesn't like jazz, doesn't like music.

While some among us (raise your hand) have a very definitive definition of jazz (I don't) we call "JAZZ Jazz", which is also "Jazz" in a specific time frame, this music is broad enough to accommodate your musical taste without too much change.

Since I recommended Shirley Scott, I'll give you one with her husband at one time, "Stanly Turrentine", that I like. This will start things off.


                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G4pR4jKEFg


Enjoy the music.

I was listening to Marvin Gaye's, "What's going on" and thought about when I was partying in Detroit in the mid 60's, when it was the richest city in the world in per capita income. Although at that time, I most certainly did not have time for statistics, I couldn't help but notice all the brand new shiny cars. I have never seen so many new cars on any city street before nor since. In one of the nightclubs we visited where Aretha Franklin was performing, the people were so well dressed, the place looked like a fashion show shoot.

"And the band played on". This is not the forum for such a discussion, I was just sharing my musings of how the times have changed, nothing else.

Dave, you're getting special treatment; I don't know if you know that Frogman is a professional musician, who is also a walking music encyclopedia.

Presently I'm working on my "Vinyl play list"; I hope you have that analog to PC down pat. In this process I'm making discoveries; if you like "Grace, Passion, and Fire", you can focus on each individual guitarist, and expand your collection in a most pleasing fashion. I have a lot of Al Di Meola on very well recorded LP's, and none of them sound repetitious, which is what you run into recording one Lp after another of the same artist.

While not "Jazz Jazz", it's good music. If you make known what kind of sound you like in jazz, the other aficionados will chime in and help to build your collection; hope to hear from you.


Enjoy the music.

Rok, I don't have much "Pops" in my jazz collection because until this thread,I considered him more of an "entertainer". That also goes for some of the other artists you have presented; I'll have to get busy and start adding.

It's funny that one of Acmans friends called the music you presented; "Cartoon music", and it's true, they used that music in a lot of old cartoons; that was a misuse of the music. I could hear the "Nawlins soul" in Pops horn, and that's always good.


Enjoy the music.

Rok, I thank you for putting that on this thread, and I'll probably put it on the analog forum when I get around to it.  I don't think they'll find it boring.