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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
Charles1dad:

I was just about to post with the same point as you wrote about in your last post.

There seems to be an AGENDA going on here to make all Jazz players equal. IOW, just as you pointed out in your post. Miles played Jazz trumpet, so did Chet Baker, so they are the same right? Wrong! Hell, I can play a trumpet! The so-called 'cool' thingy is the equal of be-bop!! Brubeck equal to Silver, Peterson, Powell COMBINED!! It goes on and on.

When I said Jazz has to be defended, everyone said I was nuts. This is the type thing i meant.

No one ever says Beethoven and Philip Glass are equal.

But in Jazz, everyone and everything is fair game. Make them 'equal' today, and the 'best' tomorrow. But as we say in Texas, 'That Dog Won't Hunt'

Cheers
pnmeyer
38 posts
 
Others you could put in the West Coast camp at one time or another are Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Bud Shank and Stan Getz.
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Frogman, it's delight to have you on this thread, not only are you a jazz aficionado, but you're a musician as well. Although I never thought about West Coast from a musical perspective (the softer tone) that's quite accurate.

West coast jazz had a relatively short life span. Although the musicians lived on, West Coast was dead after 65, while the very same musicians evolved into other forms of jazz. The very best jazz from this genre would be in the 50's. This means that although you have the same West Coast musicians after the 50's, they may, or may not still be playing "West Coast" jazz.

Enjoy the music.
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 
Rok, even though you're prone to take things out of context, I like you anyway; but if there was one big "Bird", and a lot of little birds imitating big "Bird", that was too many birds. In regard to "Birds" stature, that's unquestionable.

Many of the "Boppers" just weren't cool enough to understand "West Coast". It was like LA, laid back and in a hurry to get nowhere. This music was best appreciated in a coffee house where they recited poetry and the chicks wore leotards, "Can you dig it"?

Enjoy the music.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
To be clear I enjoy the west coast jazz genre very much, it just has a different feel from the harder edged east coast bop approach.I have lots of both.Idon't believe the west musicians were inferior to the east boppers, but will admit often the east style is more complex and in somes instances more ambitious. I can listen to Harold Land, Teddy Edwards or Richie kumuka or switch to Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt and Joe Henderson.I can really appreciate what they all play in their own way. Same with trumpeters Jack sheldon (underrated chops) or Fats Navarro, very different, I like them both.Pepper Adams or Gerry Mulligan? I can listen to either all day.I appreciate and respect the uniqueness of these beautiful musicians and am less incline to argue who's better than who.I wish I could play 10% as well as any of them.I'm happy to have their recordings and a system to play them.
Regards,
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