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Jazz for aficionados

Jazz for aficionados

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.

Our first album is "Moanin" by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. We have Lee Morgan , trumpet; Benney Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie merrit, bass; Art Blakey, drums.

The title tune "Moanin" is by Bobby Timmons, it conveys the emotion of the title like no other tune I've ever heard, even better than any words could ever convey. This music pictures a person whose down to his last nickel, and all he can do is "moan".

"Along Came Betty" is a tune by Benny Golson, it reminds me of a Betty I once knew. She was gorgeous with a jazzy personality, and she moved smooth and easy, just like this tune. Somebody find me a time machine! Maybe you knew a Betty.

While the rest of the music is just fine, those are my favorite tunes. Why don't you share your, "must have" jazz albums with us.

Enjoy the music.
orpheus10
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 
Frogman, Although I've heard a lot of jazz where the piano was less than perfect (good equipment reveals that) I interpreted "playing less than a stellar piano" as a judgement call in regard to Timmons  playing and that's where "Stereophile" has often fallen short.

I don't know what's required to "hear" jazz, but they ain't got it.  While I don't know music, I know good jazz when I hear it, and Bobby Timmons hit jazz licks as good as any I've ever heard.  All things are judged through the prism of time, and the masses of those who are qualified to judge, and Stereophile has consistently struck out when it comes to jazz; they didn't even know who wrote "Moanin"; that spoke volumes for their qualifications.



Enjoy the music.
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

"Long tall Marcia Ball"; that's what they call her down there in the swampland, and I call her music "Gator Boogie". She doesn't play the kind of music you expect to read about on a jazz thread, but occasionally I deviate.

Marcia is influenced by the Gumbo Grooves of Dr. John, and the rhumba-boogie licks of Professor Longhair. When you add it altogether you got Louisiana "Honky Tonk". Let's check her out;


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H240ErU_dtM


Do you think I gave a good description of her music?

Here's "Sparkle Paradise"



              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBRruP-_CYE


Marcia really has a good time.


Learsfool, why don't you hip us to some cool Classical music.





Enjoy the music.



frogman
4,637 posts
 
O-10, you could well be correct about what that reviewer meant, after all it's impossible to tell from a couple of words taken out of context, regardless of what I hear re the instrument.  I would be very interested in reading the entire review.  Kindly tell me where it can be read.  Who is the reviewer? Thanks.
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Frogman, This is the September 97, issue; Wes Phillips is the reviewer, and the context is in regard to the music, not the instrument.

On my first post, that paragraph is from the magazine; they gave "Moanin" to Benny Golson.

Preceding this sentence, they spoke of Morgan's rich tone. "It sounds as though Timmons is playing a less than stellar piano, but the power of Blakey's drums, which drive the show, is especially well rendered- with lots of room sound and natural decay."

Since he spoke of "Morgan's rich tone", before "stellar piano" and the power of Blakey's drums, after "stellar piano". We clearly have the musicians performance before and after "stellar piano"; therefore it's impossible for me to assume that's in reference to an out of tune piano, although it's possible.



Enjoy the music.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
***** Timmons is playing a less than stellar piano*****

If he was speaking of his playing, he would not have included the letter 'a' in the sentence.   He would simply have said "he was playing less than stellar piano".

He was speaking of the piano itself.

Cheers
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