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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
 

Many times an artist's best talents are displayed as a sideman; that's when he enhances another artist's music, such is the case of "The Sermon" by that great organist Jimmy Smith.

As fantastic as Jimmy Smith is, what would "The Sermon" be without the soloist. This is absolutely one of the best jams ever. Every jazz lover can recall the first time he heard "The Sermon", all 20 minutes of it.

The lead off of Jimmy's organ followed by Burrell on his  jazzy guitar, with Jimmy in the background; next we have Tina Brooks soulful tenor, he's followed by Lee Morgan on trumpet. Last, but not least, Mr. Lou Donaldson; just to think that you get all of those stars on one cut on this album; the longest and the best cut, which is why it's the title cut.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3X5J_wGHrw&t=64s


It's difficult to tell after the passage of so much time whether or not this music stands on it's own with new listeners, or is it only fantastic to those who were there when it was new; only you can answer that.




pryso
1,501 posts
 
Well pjw, you made me do it.  I had to find a link to an Italian prog band that plays mostly music by Zappa.  This Riccardo Fassi Tankio Band recording is their only one I have but I assume it is representative.  As much as many other things posted here recently it belongs in a jazz discussion.  I find it fun and enjoyable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIT-Ezm-03g

Here they are in live performance -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kirBufPU__o
pjw81563
258 posts
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZoaI-mbo5k

Zappa had a very eclectic taste in music. He can do classical like the 200 Motels Suites above and play an electric guitar like a mother f***er. One example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXP_pr7np-o
pjw81563
258 posts
 
Thanks pryso for those links. Tight band and I like their take on Peaches En Regalia live a lot. I'm going to search if they have a live disc!
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Acman, I want to thank you very much for that link.

I personally knew two Blue Note musicians who had drug problems, and they both suffered the same fate as Tina Brooks in regard to their best work not being released until after they were dead.

Did Blue Note recruit drug addicts because they could easily be taken advantage of?

I am not God, therefore I can not be a judge of men. I don't know what demons caused them to seek relief through drugs, but I do know that once hooked, they needed money to buy drugs because they could not function without them. That causes a catch 22; they could not make money because they needed enough drugs to function on the set. While too much as in the case of "Bird", caused him not to be able to function at times on the set.

Although I'm not God, I am a student of sociology and psychiatry; and I'm aware of the fact that mental anguish can hurt more than physical pain. I don't pretend to know what drove those musicians to use drugs; life is complicated; but that problem opened them up to exploitation.


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