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

Ghosthouse, I've been listening to jazz for my entire life, and I'm an old man; you shouldn't expect something "new" that grabs you, will grab me.

I've heard the best jazz musicians from the 50's up until it changed and became more abstract in recent years. The musicians in my collection are so very incredible, and I even heard one of my favorite musicians close up and personal.

Grant Green, before he went to Blue Note and became professional, would come into his favorite club, turn off the jukebox, and start playing for himself; not for any audience.

Of course nobody said anything, we all just listened; he knew everybody and we all knew Grant, including the nightclub owner. That was an experience I'll never forget; to be only maybe six feet away from that guitar and hear those fantastic sounds resonate in your ear was incredible.

He would leave just like he came, quietly; he didn't talk too much.

Of course this would occur on a slow night. He played officially at this same club on weekends.


Enjoy the music.

BTW Ghosthouse, Frogman, and Rok have also inquired why I thought something was just ok that they considered special; maybe I'm too honest.   But when they asked that question, the jazz was very good, it just sounded "stereotypical" to me, that's because a new jazz musician will imitate someone special before he finds his own voice, and I've heard what they displayed  by another musician.

The only musician who never imitated anyone was Miles, he came on with a totally new thing.

Frogman, I'm curious to know what you think of that clip with Jackie McClean.  In a way it's "stereotypical"  but at the same time it has something special that I can't identify, but since you're a sax man, I'm sure you can identify it.


Enjoy the music.
O - you sure don’t owe me any justification for your music preferences. I’ve been reading this thread long enough to know YOU KNOW (and that goes for some of the other regulars here too). Yeah, maybe there’s a preference for the traditional here...but that stuff has stood the test of time. While it is always a joy to share something that others get off on too, I have no problem with a difference of opinion respectfully stated AND am always interested in the why or why not of a someone’s like or dislike. I hope I never get done learning. This thread you started has been like a Jazz 101 for me. BTW - you might not be all that much older than me!

Charlie Haden and Jim Hall are two of the highest rated jazz musicians I can think of. I just read where they got 5 stars on performance, and 5 stars on sonics; that's a rarity.

I've just cued this album in and I'm really enjoying it. Whether or not you give it a five star rating on both sonics and performance is your call.


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFzhNdQU8qU


Enjoy the music.