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
Hello all. Long time lurker, first time poster. I'm trying to improve the soundstage depth performance of my system and would like to have a few great jazz recordings which are known to display significant depth. By having these in my collection I will have a more reliable measuring stick in the future when I make changes to the system or room.

I've not been a jazz aficionado in the past but I'm listening more and more and developing a love for it, hence my desire to start with jazz as my primary reference. I'm assuming in many cases that vinyl will be the preferred route but if a cd or even Tidal is known to work well please spell that out for me. The one time I've heard good depth in a system it was a much nicer system and room than mine and the record was Louis Armstrong doing St. James Infirmary. I believe at the time a good copy of the record was about $150 which was a bit pricy for me. I don't have many options to hear other systems so I'm on my own for the most part. Any help is much appreciated.
kyat, you may be interested to know that Satchmo recording was sourced from an old Audio Fidelity LP released in 1964.  It was recently reissued as a full LP, then apparently once the quality of that particular number was realized, a single 45 RPM version of "St. James Infirmary" was released.  You can find the LP for much less than $150!  https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_21?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=louis+armstr... The point being that recordings need not be new to offer great sonics.  

However, for newer recordings with great sonics and natural tonalities I need not go any further than LPs by Patricia Barber as I referenced above.
Kykat, you may try this, Chet Baker ’Candy’ album. It is recorded on dvd as well on cd. Beleive that it will provide the sensation of ’depth’, like looking at it live. Here is the link...

https://youtu.be/0mnAVcMqJr8

Another good one is Bill Evans' "Waltz For Debbie"/"The Village Vanguard Sessions".  A live album(s), it does a remarkable job of capturing the sound and ambience of the famous club; a sound I know well from many visits there.  The sense of depth is fantastic; but interesting because the perspective is one from which one gets the feeling of being on stage with the players looking back (way back!) to the audience and the rear of the club instead of looking AT the band.  The music is, of course, fantastic.  
pryso, alex and frogman, many thanks! I'm looking forward to listening to all of your suggestions.