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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
frogman
4,637 posts
 
Jzzmusician, thanks for the fair and evenhanded response.  Brad Mehldau "My Favorite Things": 

Wow!  Astounding.  I've been a Mehldau fan for years and had never heard this; thank you.  His use of the right hand ostinati is simply amazing.  An incredible player with an amazingly expressive touch and, to me, one of the few players that manages to unabashedly express his many different influences (classical, pop, rock) while being very much a jazz player first and foremost.  One of my favorite Mehldau recordings and one of the most beautiful and poignant songs that I have ever heard:

[URL]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U-o4it_WWec[/URL]

And my favorite vocal version of the tune:

[URL]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pIwuoHRRTGA[/URL]

rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
Brad Mehldau:

Very hard to stand out doing 'My Favorite Things'.  I think everyone has covered this tune.  I must confess, I was thinking of Coltrane the entire time.

Cheers
frogman
4,637 posts
 
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rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
***** ???????*****

Since this song has been played by everyone in Jazz at one time or another, it's difficult to do a version that will really stand out.  It was a nice enough Jazz performance, but nothing that will knock Coltrane's version off it's perch.

After Julie Andrews and John Coltrane, what can anyone add?

That's all.

Cheers
frogman
4,637 posts
 
****After Julie Andrews and John Coltrane, what can anyone add?****

"Nice enough"?  Well, I guess I need to throw out about half my jazz records.  After all, what can anyone add to Gershwin's operatic version of "Summertime" , or "Scrapple From The Apple" after Bird did it?  Oh yeah, and all my versions of "St. James Infirmary" and keep only Pops'.  And don't you forget to throw out all except one version of Beethoven's 9th.  C'mon man, that is brilliant and highly original piano playing.  First of all, Julie Andrews' version is not jazz, not to mention its a vocal version; apples and oranges.  Coltrane's version, as good as it is, became a "hit" in great part due to the novelty factor.  What Mehldau does with that tune is absolutely astounding and original.   Brilliant player. 
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