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 ran across this music while looking for some Kurt Elling to post. Not great Elling , but Ernie Watts is awesome!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JTu05Iys48
"Nancy Wilson with Cannonball" is an absolute gem. I am biased since she is probably my favorite female vocalist (non-classical) and Cannonball is (was) one of my very favorite alto players. Her repertoire is unusual for a jazz singer since it covers many "torch" songs and songs from the musical-theater and cabaret genres; but, it's so great to hear that material sung with a jazz singer's sensibility and sophistication instead of the "over the top" approach of many cabaret singers. While I disagree with Rok's lack of enthusiasm for the record, I get where he is coming from. As he points out that was probably Cannonball's best band and it's in top form. Nat was probably one of Jazz's most inconsistent players and he is killing on this record. Rok, give it another listen :-)

This clip of Nancy Wilson kills me every time. As far as I am concerned, it doesn't get much better than this for sheer class and emotion by a singer; not to mention flawless vocal skill. And if I write what this clip does to the male in me, this post would probably be deleted by the Agon censors.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QBmrDS2Zhaw
Acman3, thanks for the Kurt Elling clip. He is fabulous and the best male jazz singer on the scene today as far as I am concerned. Ernie Watts is a wonderful player, but while I admit this is strictly a personal bias, he always sounds to me like Michael Brecker with a cold. Because of this I find his alto playing more to my liking. Since we are talking about singers (especially female), this is from one of my favorite Sarah Vaughn records with one of my favorite Ernie Watts solos.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TW1Vcd5uXYg
If Rok wants Carmen McRae, Rok gets Carmen; a sexier, more alluring Carmen with the seductive voice I have on many LP's in my collection. To me she's one of the most attractive, of not only female vocalists, but females period; and she will always look the same as she looks on one of my favorite LP's.

Carmen Mcrae the midninight sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVzPqyAW4N0

Carmen McRae "Yesterdays"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYRrcCjLiGA

Carmen "Skylark"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41uQvy1mO94

Carmen "I'll be seeing you"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrBDRaRG1ME

Enjoy the music.