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

I was listening to bird with strings and it sounds just as new and fresh as it did the day he recorded it.

I have a story to tell you about that music. This was at a time before everyone had AC, and the screen door was the only thing that separated them from the outside world when it was hot. Every time I passed this one house, I heard music that I had never heard before, "anywhere". That house was between our house and the candy store. On my way to get candy (I was nine at the time) I "accidentally" dropped a dime in grass in front of that house; this meant I had to get down on my hands and knees to look for it, that gave me more time to hear this beautiful music coming through that screen door.

Over 10 years later, I bought "Bird With Strings", and I had the feeling that I'd heard this music before. Each time I played "Bird With Strings" I was certain I heard it before, but I couldn't place where. Many years later, in a conversation about the people who lived in that house, did I put Birds music, and dropping that dime together. They liked jazz, and it was rumored, they even smoked pot.

Enjoy the music.
Today my local PBS station played:

Duke Ellington and his Orch with HERB JEFFERIES singing 'FLAMINGO'.

WOW!

I didn't recognize the performers when I heard it, but it only took a few minutes to find it online.

I understand he is still alive.

Youtube is just toooooooooo much. An abundance of magic. Where would we be without it! Hell, how could we live without the internet period! Thanks Al Gore. :)

Cheers
Gabor Szabo -- THE SORCERER

This made a much bigger impression on me back when I started my Jazz journey, than it does now. I have a lot of his stuff on LP. How our taste evolve.

Pleasant lightweight 'european' guitar. Good background music.
No Blues!! This could be the problem.

Cheers
O-10,

Charlie Parker with Strings: The Master Takes
Verve 314 523 984-2

The liner notes on this CD are much more interesting than the music. Read them. Good insight on the cultural war that raged within Jazz.

Does not sound like one of the the creators of Be-Bop. As the notes imply, he needed someone to push him. This is what happens when non-musicians try to 'direct' or 'improve' genuis. How do you 'improve' Bird?

Norman Granz was the 'Typhoid Mary' of Jazz.

Of all the great players that I have on CD, Bird is the most disappointing / frustrating. Either he is playing a toy sax, or the recording is technically bad, or some stuff like this (with strings!!) Really!

I seldom play Bird, and never this one.

Cheers