Jazz for aficionados

Rok, I could live without the commentary as well, but it's recorded on something I have. In regard to organizing, that's something I dread even attempting, let my heirs organize. Acman3, I sold some Cedar Walton LP's and a CD at what I thought was a good price; as it turns out, I regret every LP I ever sold.

Enjoy the music.

The best way to listen is in total darkness, and not even know who you're hearing. When the program list is running the music, I have to identify everything by the sound and my knowledge of the music.

When I heard this trumpet that stood out from all other trumpets, it attracted my attention; as I became drawn into the music, each instrument seemed to be the best I'd heard. Normally you have an idea of what you're going to hear before the first note hits your ear, and since you have the CD or LP in hand, you also know who the artists are; but listening in total darkness without this information, means you have to identify everything by ear.

I identified the music as "Stolen Moments" from Oliver Nelson's "Blues And The Abstract Truth". Although this music has been in my collection for ages, I couldn't identify the artists by name from the sound of their instruments, as impressive as each individual artist was. I can tell you this, I was in for a surprise when I identified the artists. Although every note they played was spectacular on this tune, none of them was my favorite artist, even though they were all well known.

The sum total meaning of all of this is; every well known jazz artist has recorded a spectacular solo, you just have to find it. The artists were: Oliver Nelson, tenor sax; Paul Chambers, Bass; Eric Dolphy, flute; Bill Evans, piano; Roy Haynes, drums; Freddie Hubbard, trumpet; and George Barrow, baritone sax.

Enjoy the music.

*****I have to identify everything by the sound and my knowledge of the music.*****

Sort like the old DownBeat thingy. I was always amazed at how often the guest artist got it right.

Yours sounds like an interesting method. I used to listen in the dark back in the day. I liked the Sansui light show!! Now I am not so fond of stereo equipment lights. Even the power light seems to irritate me.

Blues and the Abstract Truth sounds great no matter the lighting. One of the best.

I could probably pick out Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday, from anyone else. That's about it. :)

Cheers

Thelonious Monk -- MISTERIOSO

Monk(p), Johnny Griffin(ts), Ahmed Abdul Malik(b), Roy Haynes(d)

Typical complex simplicity from Monk. Recorded Live At The Five Spot Cafe, NYC Aug 1958, which makes it a little over 55 years ago! WOW! I still think of these guys in the present tense.

Great music, mostly Monk's tunes, and great playing, esp from Johnny Griffin. This could easily have been his CD. This being pre-Rouse. The audience is there but barely heard. Not obtrusive at all.

One complaint: On the title track 'Misterioso', we have Monk in the middle, the drums and sax in the left speaker and the poor bass by itself in the right speaker.

I had not heard, or been aware of, my speakers for ages, until this. When Griffin took a solo, all the sound came from the left speaker. This only happened on this track.

The rest of the recording was good.

But, it's Monk, and that's more than good enough! This was recorded at the same time as another Monk recording 'Monk in Action" Both on Riverside label.

Do you need it? Can an 'aficionado' have too much Monk?

Check out the 'complete riverside' CD box set.

Cheers

after another listen and this time at 'proper volume', I will withdraw the comment about the sound on the track 'misteriso'. Not as bad as I thought first time around. The middle disappears. :) Sax / drums in the left speaker, bass in the right. Still not ideal for stereo home listening.

Cheers