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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
 
As much as I love some of the modern tenor players from Coltrane to the present, for me the sweet spot in the jazz tenor stylistic lineage is probably best exemplified by Hank Mobley; particularly his earlier records. Very swinging and inventive player he played with a tone that was still in the Lester Young mold of being gentler and less aggressive and hard than what was becoming the trend around this time (1956) as Coltrane began taking the tenor world by storm.  The kind of tone that I think Alex likes. I like this record a lot. Something easy and casual (in a good sense) about the playing, even in the fast tunes. Kenny Dohram sounds fantastic on this as does Mobley; great story telling from both. Excellent rhythm section with players not often discussed: Walter Bishop, Doug Watkins and Art Taylor. The first two clips are the first two tunes on the record with higher fidelity than the entire record third clip:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jh8OCdo5Wh0

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wg-_yoq39YQ

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wvRu3zbM7cg


alexatpos
500 posts
 
Frogman, aldo I have few of Mobley’s albums as a leader and probably more as a sideman I must admit that he does not belong in category of my favourite sax players.

Perhaps is my taste too prosaic and maybe I just cant place him in neither of simple categories that I like, first of big, lush tenors (exmp. Hawk, Quebec or Gonsalves,etc) or neither in lyrical context of some West Coast players.


I admit that when I carefully listen to his lines I often get surprised, because he ’has something to say’ and his music possess a ’continuos drive’, but it is his tone that is not ’attractive’ or particular enough to me, to make me want hear him more often.

On the album you recommended he has nice moments, Dorham even more...

Than again, I must admit that my taste, already described as prosaic is somewhat particular too....

So, for example, I am not a big fan of Coltrane, except for part of his early work and I must admit that again, the tone is ’problem’ for me there too...

Here is one link,of Coltrane, that I like....very simple, but beautiful music...
Wilbur Harden plays along him....like him too...

...from album ’Stardust’ from 1958.
https://youtu.be/TeFeLaEsHBs

frogman
4,637 posts
 
Thanks for your thoughts. I don’t consider your taste "prosaic", but clearly "particular". I agree that Mobley doesn’t have the most beautiful tone, but I think we can agree that there is more to the appeal of any player than tone. I stressed the issue of tone because I think his is a good middle ground in the overall tenor tone spectrum. Ultimately, it’s what, as you say, whether the player "has something to say" or not regardless of tone that works for me. Hawk, Quebec and Gonsalves I like very much too. Different era and different concepts; much more "inside" and traditional harmonically. Nice Coltrane clip; I’m a big fan of that record. There is very little, if anything, by Coltrane that I don’t like, but if made to choose I do prefer his somewhat later stuff. This is where Mobley was coming from tonewise (1952) ; I Iove it:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=55kRe5BvHeg






alexatpos
500 posts
 
Frogman, I understand your point of view very well and becaue of it I guess I should thank you for your patience and your effort for trying to share your perspective toward music in layman's terms.
For my part, I will be glad if I helped you to hear some new (old) music or artist. If I were in your shoes, I would be tempted to feel frustrated sometimes, becuase the 'class' shows very slow progress, if any (smile)
jafant
10,525 posts
 
John Scofield.
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