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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
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

A professional jazz musician who lived with me for one entire summer, never practiced during that summer. He had been playing keyboards since he was a child in church, and his mother was an organist. Playing three gigs a week was practice enough, according to me. I didn't have an organ or piano, so he couldn't practice. I have his records, and he played better that summer than during any time in his life. Unfortunately, that wasn't recorded, and it was much different than any of the records I have. Since "Bird" practiced I'm sure jazz musicians practice, his case was unique.

Back on the track; Cuba's music is like a Cuban history book if you know how to read it. Even Ricky Ricardo, a fictional character on "I love Lucy", is part of the US, and Cuba's history, if you know how to read it. Cuba's present music is an unfolding event that's a reflection of "The new Cuba", which is partially why I'm so interested in this "new music".

As everyone knows by now, although I'm a fossil who likes fossil music, this doesn't stop me from enjoying and appreciating new music, especially that from Cuba. I'm also enjoying these discussions.

Enjoy the music.
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Rok, thank you for that piece of fascinating history on Valaida Snow that I never even heard of, which is something this aficionado finds hard to believe; that I never heard of it I mean. Please continue with fantastic, almost unknown people and events of jazz history that have probably been forgotten.

Enjoy the music.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
O-10:

This may be representive of the Jazz scene within Cuba.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTnoDOSv7_o

The music being played inside Cuba should be the most authentic Cuban Jazz being played today.

Since The Frogman says the regime frowns on Jazz, there might not be that much NEW, to discover. Except the expatriates.

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
O-10:
I think this is in Cuba. If it is not, she's still a Fox and worth seeing and hearing. Even for fossils.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9VwvjZh_DQ

Cheers
frogman
4,637 posts
 
****Since The Frogman says the regime frowns on Jazz, there might not be that much NEW, to discover. Except the expatriates.****

To put it in perspective: it is illegal in Cuba to listen to American radio stations. Cubans can tune in to Miami based radio stations a mere 90 miles away, but they have to do it in secret and risk repercussions if caught. Now, rest assured, there is some jazz (real jazz, not Latin jazz) being played in Cuba, but you won't find it in the clubs and certainly not on youtube; big no-no. As far as Latin-jazz goes there is plenty of it there of the type that we hear here and has been posted; but, that is not the problem. Some of the expatriates left Cuba because they wanted to play JAZZ; not Latin-jazz and not Latin-jazz that was "sanctioned" by the government. Note that the tune being played and sung by the bar band in your clip (yes, that is in Cuba) is a Bossa-nova; I doubt that "It Don't Mean A Thing If....." is on their song list.
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