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
Alexatpos, very nice posts recently; thank you.

I particularly enjoyed the Billy Bean posts.  As you point out, Bean is a little known guitarists to most jazz lovers, but a local legend in the Northeast USA area.  Wonderful player with a beautifully fluid style who was part of the Philadelphia scene where he served to be one of the great and fellow Philadelphian Pat Martino's influences.  To Learfool's post: most major cities or major metropolitan areas in the USA have always had a local jazz guru who many of the famous players have gone to in order to study with them.  In Philadelphia it was Dennis Sandole, a guitarist who players like Bean and even John Coltrane went to.  The great Pat Martino:

[URL]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cyqJwJzGB0g[/URL]

One of the most interesting stories in all of jazz lore.  Pat Martino suffered a brain aneurysm late in his careerand lost much of his memory and actually had to relearn to play the guitar by listening to his own recordings and studying with the students that he had taught..  Amazing individual and considered one of the very greatest by guitar players.  

Also enjoyed the Curtis Amy clips, very good player, but I don't consider him, or Dupree, have been (Bean? 😉) top tier players. I agree with Alex that many of these players deserve more recognition and its a shame that they are forgotten, but I will stick to my contention that with a few notable exceptions (Bean) most of the "forgotten" players are forgotten for a reason.

Alex's Hot Club Jazz clips take me back to moto_man's recent post re Lionel Hampton.  He was discussed early in this thread.  One of my very favorite clips from that era on all of YouTube and one that brings a little humor to several of the "Hot" topics of the thread:

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

Jafant, haven't heard them yet, but I would be on the lookout for Peter Erskine's "Dr Um"; new for 2016.



Ahmad Jamal "Saturday Morning"  album is a masterpiece.  Everyone go take a listen.   It's been out a couple of years.  He is a master.  70 years in music still has the piano keys smoking! 
Yes! calvinj-

Blue Moon + Saturday Morning are (2) recent masterpieces by the master himself.
Thanks! frogman-

Big Peter Erskine fan here. He is a master w/ the brushes- love his work and did not know that he has a new release for 2016?
Alexatpos, here's one that was forgotten and one who was considered to be in line to be a star ahead of Zoot Sims, Al Cohn and even Stan Getz (Lester Young disciples).  He was one of the first swing tenor players to go the bebop route and was a very colorful character who led a very interesting and varied life.  He disappeared from the scene to pursue, among other interests, race car driving (!).  I will never forget, in 1979, while I was a student at the U of Miami, this old hippie in a pony tail who enrolled in music classes at the Frost School; he caused quite a sensation among the young students.  Eager had spent the last several years as a truck driver in Florida and had decided to make a comeback after many years of not touching the saxophone.  In the third clip we can hear Billy Bauer who you brought to our attention:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4JAUyaBvuEI

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QYXCfB6bJNA

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UlQxKMHM3Ps