Jazz for aficionados
Frogman, that album seemed to be in everybody's collection. My favorite cut was "Milestones", that was why I bought it. When we choose the same identical LP's, we never choose the same cuts. I noticed this ages ago, but never wanted to mention it because you might get offended. I don't think it's anything that should be offensive, just differences and similarities in two involved and advanced jazz fans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k94zDsJ-JMU Enjoy the music. |
Frogman I'm amazed by your knowledge of this music we call "jazz". Another amazing fact is that some jazz artists, and musicians are quite educated, and articulate in the formal sense. I have been most amazed by the ones that can't read music; it seems they had become professional musicians before they realized that wasn't a good idea. By that time, what else could they do? Think about it. Professional musicians who can't read music are totally unbelievable; they just get up on stage and blow a whole crowd of people away. I've seen this so many times, and found it unbelievable each time. Jazz has a wide variety of people and artists in regard to musical education. |
At this time, I was working with an "Anthropologist" and I didn't even know what an anthropologist was, or did. We were working together building wire mock up for aircraft; those are the bundles of circuitry for planes; never mind if you don't understand that, the only relevance is that too diverse people were in the same place at the same time, working the same job, and that was the reason they were there. This guy was the most brilliant person I had ever been around; when he told me he was an "archeologist- anthropologist", I couldn't stop asking him questions; the first one was "What are you doing in this aircraft manufacturing plant."? He told me he was waiting for a "dig"; that's one word, meaning people pay you to dig in Africa, or somewhere when they get funding. (an awfully insecure job), and working to support himself until that happened. He talked like somebody who was born on a college university with old buildings, and any time the work slowed down, I peppered him with questions, and he always had the answers. I had just bought this Mingus album "Pithcanthrupus Erectus", and I asked him if he knew what it meant; when he told me in great detail what this meant, and how that was part of his job, I was floored. pithecanthropus 1. any primitive apelike man of the former genus Pithecanthropus, now included in the genus Homo See Java man, Peking man. When this man stood up, he was "Pithcanthrupus Erectus". Here is Charles Mingus's take on that; Mingus saw this as the first upright human being and assumed that since he was so proud of standing up, he saw himself as the ruler of the world. And as the ruler of the world, he became rather arrogant. And then, this arrogance makes a counterattack with nature, which led him into decline, and eventually he fell into extinction. That is what Charles Mingus intended for you to hear; can you hear it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB6GkA54n_Q When this dude stood, he felt like ruler of the world. |
Nina Simone was like a diamond with many facets, and I liked them all. Her Caribbean Island "Voodoo" side was quite interesting to me; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FJ5z3mRTe0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVEbzdN_7n0 |
Finding good "new music" is harder than finding gold, but since I've given myself this burden, I shall carry on. I kind of left off in mid sentence on my last review; that's because I wasn't inspired to finish it; the CD, "Marseille" was good enough, but not inspirational. Jackiem Joyner is a name that I have never heard before, but I liked his tune when I heard it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Ty1xV3vFE Here's another tune that's got life; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HR2wExh2AQ I'm listening with open ears and mind by not comparing him with "old school". http://jackiemjoyner.com/ While this is "smooth jazz", it's music of today, and maybe that's what they have to offer. |
A mega system is nothing without the right LP or CD. I forgot to leave a link to "Marseille" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBTxsnFCR6k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f98rHQI8y5Q These are the two best cuts in my opinion; what do you think? Not bad, but just not as good as what I was expecting from Ahmad. Ghosthouse, my time is too precious to spend looking for "new music". What I am going to do is peruse the past for music I haven't heard by the masters. While I stand the chance of a repeat, that's OK too; better to listen to a killer twice, than a dud once. |
Chazro, I have both artists, here's Lew Tabackin "Pyramid", that is one beautiful tune; [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTp9mjI04kM[/url] I also have Toshiko Akiyoshi, "Desert Lady/ Fantasy;" [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JvUQeelTwc[/url] I would like for you and Jafant to compare these tunes with what you have by them. Enjoy the music. |
Jafant, I have not recommended any big band or swing, and there is a reason for that. I'm going to review records in my collection, and you'll be able to decide if they're worthy of your collection. These records are what I consider "must haves" for any jazz aficionado, and would be found in their collections. I wont review any record that's not on CD, nor will I review any record if the CD is markedly inferior. Fortunately, I only found 1 case where the CD was markedly inferior to the record. If I don't have them in my collection, how can I review them? If someone want's to know everything there is to know about jazz, buy an encyclopedia. If someone wants to play jazz, hire a music teacher; or as someone suggested "Go to "you tube" and learn how to play like Miles in six easy lessons". Enjoy the music. |
Inna, it's for certain if I was under Dr. Gisela Joao's care, I would feel like a new man in no time. She reminds me of "Lila Downs"; I think both ladies are very beautiful, and I like their music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxsP6vbcQpQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIJZSs2gxdo When I was in the 6th grade, I sat behind a young lady named Victoria Gomez; she was every bit as beautiful as the ladies under discussion. Her long braids couldn't help falling across my desk, and I couldn't help playing with them. Her reaction was to turn around and give me a look that would kill a brick. (my first broken heart) |
Ghosthouse, Inna has inadvertently led us into something; these Spanish speaking vocalists from all around the world are fantastic; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTwOTCOHG5s |
This is "Master jazz" by masters of the craft; Gil Evans – piano Johnny Coles – trumpet (soloist) Phil Sunkel – trumpet Keg Johnson – trombone Jimmy Knepper – trombone Tony Studd – bass trombone (soloist) Bill Barber – tuba Ray Beckenstein – alto saxophone, flute, piccolo Eddie Caine – alto saxophone, flute, piccolo Budd Johnson – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone (soloist) Bob Tricarico – flute, piccolo, bassoon Ray Crawford – guitar (soloist) Ron Carter – bass Elvin Jones – drums, percussion Charli Persip – drums This is an album I had, but presently do not have; that situation must be corrected. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjQyuualA6Y |
This is my favorite cut by Lila Downs; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD0ZElWWlKQ&list=RDMD0ZElWWlKQ |
Here's an LP that I had not played in a long time; it's a lot more interesting than I remember, maybe I didn't listen hard enough the first time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSRL4z6ADQQ Charles Lloyd - tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute Gábor Szabó (tracks 1, 3 & 4), Tom Trujillo (tracks 2, 5 & 6) guitar Roger McGuinn - 12 string guitar (tracks 1 & 5) Wolfgang Melz - bass (tracks 1-5) Roberto Miranda - bass (tracks 2 & 5) Woodrow Theus II - drums, percussion (tracks 1-5) Mayuto Correa - percussion (tracks 1, 3 & 4) Mike Love - vocals (tracks 1 & 6) Al Jardine, Billy Hinsche, Carl Wilson, Pamela Polland - vocals (track 1) Gabor Szabo adds some interesting twists to any record he's on. This record had a sound that was unique to the 70's. |
Schubert, it's amazing what you and Inna have come up with in relation to men listening; after me telling the man what's wrong, he responds like I haven't said a word. Because they are, we'll say "specialists", they think they know everything about their speciality, when they only know what they have been taught. Come up with something different that they don't know about, and they insist on putting it in a known box as opposed to investigating. I wrote the lady a letter, and until I hear from her I'm not seeing any more doctors; nothing is better than wrong medicine and diagnosis. |
I was visiting a professional musician who was in town, and happened to be a friend of mine. I asked him what artist he was into now, "Baden Powell", he told me. I had never heard of Mr. Baden Powell at that time, so I asked him for a little run down on him. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baden_Powell_(guitarist) My friend is no longer with us, and I'm reminiscing about that visit; although he was at the top of his game, and in town professionally, my visit was not fan to musician, but friend to friend. While we talked about records, the same as you and I, when we looked directly at one another, we could see the experiences we had shared; swimming in the public pool, going to camp together, and on and on, but never verbalized them. I stayed quite a while, and when I left, I could see the relaxed look on his face; he just wanted to unwind with a friend and chill. That was a long time ago, now I'm a Baden Powell expert; his Afro Brazilian rhythms are incomparable, they're rhythms found only in Brazil. Canto De Ossanha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgS16Ipnr2E Afro Brazilian is a marriage made in heaven, and no one does it better than "Baden Powell". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTKSoF2Vr14 |
Jazz here's one of my old favorites "Last Train From Overbrook". I was catching the last train from my hometown, going to San Antonio, Texas, Lackland AFB for basic training when I heard this, that was not a happy ride; but as I was to find out, it could have been worse. [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=028UoUkO7zc[/url] The nice thing about James Moody's albums is the fact that every cut is a winner. Just before I posted, I was listening to "Happy Blues" by Gene Ammons. His albums are consistent winners, as everybody already knows. [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdvienyK758&list=RDBdvienyK758[/url] Enjoy the music |
Although abstract may seem to be an easy word to describe, it's not. The definition can only be agreed on by the people using the word. I'm going to find jazz that I call abstract, and see if it fits your definition as well, and you can do likewise, and between all of us, we will know what we're talking about when we say "abstract jazz". Grachan, calls this "New Africa", since I don't hear "Africa", it must be abstract. I don't hear Art Blakey's Africa with the talking drums, therefore it's not concrete, so it must be "abstract". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xo0mzj-lg4 The first cut is "Queen Tamam"; jazzy African Queen; "you go girl, strut your stuff"; somehow I can not picture an African Queen; therefore it's got to be "abstract" This is definitely abstract because it's beyond my facility's to comprehend it as coherent jazz. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJRcWW0R44Y While that's not a precise definition, it's good enough for me. Enjoy the music. |
If Eric Dolphy's "Out To Lunch" ain't abstract, grits ain't grocery, eggs ain't poultry, and Mona Lisa was a man. Some of my favorite musicians are crazy about "Eric Dolphy"; it must have been his personality. If I owned this record, I would leave it at a friends house, and give him a ring when I wanted to hear it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B09BWkpVv74 That guy can mess up anything; that was one of my favorite tunes, and look what he done did to it. Enjoy the music. |
Ghosthouse, one of my friends like's free jazz, and every time these musicians come to town, he gives me a ring; fortunately, we've been friends for a very long time, so I go pick him up, with earplugs; but "free Jazz" should be free, you shouldn't have to pay for it. I've been through what you're talking about in regard to that musician, and I always say the "politically correct things one should say in order not to offend" (it's easier that way), but I still don't like snails and raw oysters, nor will I make an attempt to eat them. Music I don't like is no different than snails or raw oysters. Enjoy the music. |
The Last Session. Studio album by Lee Morgan Released May 1972 Recorded September 17-18, 1971 Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs The Last Session (also released as Lee Morgan) is the final studio album by jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan before his death in 1972. It was originally released on the Blue Note label in 1972 as a double LP, and features performances by Morgan, Grachan Moncur III, Bobbi Humphrey, Billy Harper, Harold Mabern, Reggie Workman, Jymie Merritt and Freddie Waits. The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 4 stars stating "It is unfortunate that the brilliant and forward-thinking Morgan was cut down at such a young age, for as the music was changing, he would have adapted, as this final statement valiantly suggests. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZEKscACnlw&list=PL1D7B1AA9A8561D27&index=2 Ghosthouse, this is another boss album I don't have. Out of curiosity, are you still into LP's, I bet this wax would be nice. Enjoy the music. |
I just received The Grant Green and Sonny Clark Quartets, here's the scoop; they made real good music, but not near the level I have been accustomed from by either artist. I'm glad I bought the music, but I didn't hear the Grant Green I'm so familiar with from way back; do not add or subtract anything from that statement, I said what was mathematically and scientifically accurate Frogman. Enjoy the music. |
Many times when discussing an era of music in the past, most of the participants in that discussion are unable to put themselves back into that time frame; who were your friends, what kind of clothes did you wear, since you were probably into "Stereo Review", what was your rig like? Did you like this music when it came out? If presently we're into "Hard Bop", and you compare that music with what we're into now, "Fusion" will probably flunk. I would like to go back to "Fusion". Herby Hancock has never flunked, no matter what the genre of music. If it's OK with the rest of the "Aficionados" I would like to go back to that time when Herby Hancock's "Sextant" was the latest in this genre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spnjTzuVBO0 Take your time, and really get into this, I would like to spend some time in this genre if it's OK with you? Enjoy the music. |
Ghosthouse, while I didn't like the Zappa band, I found another cut by "Sugercane" that I did like; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5XAAB_kGR8 Enjoy the music. |
Frogman, the first time I heard Grant Green was in 58 before he became a professional, which means I heard him far beyond his discography, that means I'm very well acquainted with just about everything about his music. Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine [-] Mosaic released a four-disc box set titled The Complete Blue Note With Sonny Clark in 1991, rounding up everything that the guitarist and pianist recorded together between 1961 and 1962. Blue Note's 1997 version of the set, The Complete Quartets With Sonny Clark, trims Mosaic's collection by two discs, offering only the quartet sessions (the Ike Quebec sessions, Born to Be Blue and Blue and Sentimental, are available on individual discs). In some ways, this actually results in a more unified set, since it puts Green and Clark directly in the spotlight, with no saxophone to complete for solos, but it doesn't really matter if the music is presented as this double-disc set, the four-disc box, or the individual albums -- this is superb music, showcasing the guitarist and pianist at their very best. All of the sessions are straight-ahead bop but the music has a gentle, relaxed vibe that makes it warm, intimate, and accessible. Grant and Clark's mastery is subtle -- the music is so enjoyable, you may not notice the deftness of their improvisation and technique -- but that invests the music with the grace, style, and emotion that distinguishes The Complete Quartets. Small group hard bop rarely comes any better than this. There is a possibility that I'm not accustomed to this "gentle relaxed vibe that makes it warm and intimate". Since I prefer his driving hard bop, it's just a matter of taste and opinion. Enjoy the music. |
Acman, now it's coming back to me; to the uninitiated, that sounds like noise, but, if you have special musical receptors in your brain that are tuned to "Fusion", it's music from another planet. Somehow, that music was always best live with black lights that made ladies stockings glow, when they had the right kind of pastel hot pink kind. The music was best live because no recording was ever clear enough to catch all the little sounds at high frequencies that made that kind of music work. And to be perfectly honest, I had always inhaled some kind of musical enhancement fumes; they really clarified the sound; not to be confused with what's going on today. Enjoy the music. |
Here's "Weather Report" live. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bIk1Wl21Yk Here's "Black Market" by weather report; that cover looks just like a market place in Haiti. There is no way you can believe someplace as close as Haiti could be so far away otherwise. That music always took me far away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7_vNpVXubA In order to enjoy this trip, you have to turn on your time machine, and duplicate everything that went on when you were buying and listening to this music. Enjoy the journey. |
"Elegant People" by Weather Report is most certainly one of my favorite cuts of that era, and genre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThF63iql478 Enjoy the music. |
Jzzmusician, you and Frogman are going to have to get together and clarify the definition of "Fusion"; now when you add "any" two different elements you're talking about "fusion", but it took on a different meaning when referring to music. Are you saying this is that "fusion"? Although I like the music, this "fusion" thing is a little hazy, unless you are talking about the kind of fusion Diz is famous for. Enjoy the music. |
Frogman, although I've heard Miles mention "In a Silent Way", it was one of his albums that eluded me. That album was released at about the same time I saw Miles live in Chicago. This wasn't in a club setting, but in a huge auditorium, and somebody bought the cheap seats, consequently I don't remember the personnel on that performance, but I'm assuming they were similar to the record. Nina Simone and Herby Mann were on the same bill, that's why it was in such a huge place. Miles Davis – trumpet Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone John McLaughlin – electric guitar Chick Corea – electric piano Herbie Hancock – electric piano Joe Zawinul – organ Dave Holland – double bass Tony Williams – drums However, I do remember the sound of that performance and it was what the above cast would produce; electric piano, Tony Williams on drums, Wayne Shorter, John Mclaughlin, electric guitar. That sound coming from Miles Davis was a shock that I wasn't prepared for, but my New Yorker friend clued me in. Musicians at the clubs I went to began to duplicate that "electric sound". By that time the shock had worn off and I kind of liked it. Enjoy the music |
Santana and "Abraxas" took over the world of music in 1970; this music could be heard everywhere I went; jazz, rock, blues establishments, no matter what the dominant genre of music in that particular lounge, something from "Abraxas" was on the jukebox. (never went to a hillbilly lounge) Rok, you have to go back to what was happening at that time in order to re-discover fusion; I'm sure you bought at least 2 or 3 fusion albums. "The Beatles" music was popular at that time, and since I didn't care for "The Beatles" I didn't know I was listening to their music recorded by another artist; everybody recorded their music. So many things were happening in the music world in general, that "jazz-Jazz" was pushed completely out of the picture. I use this music to audition just about everything when I'm going to make a new audio purchase. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xskk5q1DL6A Enjoy the music |
Rok, here's one of your favorite artists Chick Corea, him and "Return To Forever" put out some good music that I still listen to. Flora Purim – vocals, percussion Joe Farrell – soprano saxophone, flute Chick Corea – electric piano, Fender Rhodes Stanley Clarke – acoustic bass, electric bass Airto Moreira – drums, percussion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAYUfuJW18U Flora Purim never sounded better. Here's another one by "Return to Forever" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHVNIqbncrM It was a girl who told me to buy three albums: "Hymn of The Seventh Galaxy"; "Sextant" by Herby Hancock, and "Black Market" by Weather Report. I had never heard "fusion" before then; this music was astounding, like nothing I had ever heard, and to think "a girl" recommended this, wonders never cease. Enjoy the music. |
Unfortunately I kind of understand what you mean; I'm looking at two tall stacks of records at this very moment, the reason they're stacked in a wrong manner is because I ran out of room, and don't know what to do with them. I understand exactly what you mean about the CD test. Frogman's leading this parade, and I'm going to do what I can to add to it. The problem I'm having is that I don't seem to be able to add anything new, or discover anything new like we did in "Hard Bop". I was hoping you would come up with something I overlooked during that time. My frame of mind has changed so much since then; that's the only thing I can think of that would alter my taste so much from that time until now. But we are all a part of a "Magagopolis" and when it changes so do we. It has changed drastically since then, and it hasn't been in the slow normal fashion. When I step back on to the moon and look down, I can see changes people are unaware of; especially economically. Since how we are affected by economic changes would change the subject drastically I'll let it rest till everybody is ready. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, I have discovered some music that's new to me, it's Dorothy's harp. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J78y1zpHhMc I have never before seen or heard of this album, which is rather strange since I'm a Dorothy Ashby fan from way back. I'm going to continnue to look; this CD is just over 30 minutes and cost's $24.61. That's better than $240. for one CD I looked into, but it adds up. Enjoy the music. |
Here he is, Alan Pasqua with the "Anti Social-Club"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFa7FZm9wMQ Genuine Bona Fide fusion, electrical to the bone, it's even got a little echo, that reminds me of reverb, back in the day; sounded like you were in a cave in an automobile. That was first rate Ghosthouse, what else you got? Enjoy the music. |
