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


This song tells a fascinating story;


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwFJwvZ_57E


I recall as a teenager, walking past the Pershing lounge in Chicago, and seeing Dinah's black Lincoln Continental with the spare on the trunk parked out front. It was the first of a kind; that was in 56, look it up.

There were other people admiring the car as well, it was the first one we had ever seen, plus we were hoping to see it's owner, the fabulous  "Dinah Washington."
Great clips of Julie and Christy; thanks O-10 and Pryso.  Aside from the pure enjoyment, two things “jumped out” at me when I listened  to those great clips of those two beautiful singers.  First, like the influence that Charlie Parker had on practically every player that followed is the sometimes subtle but clear influence that Billie Holliday had on singers of that era on phrasing and vocal shadings  The other is bewilderment, once again, over the attention and adulation that a singer like Diana Krall receives today when there are so many practically forgotten singers who were on an entirely different artistic level.  Here’s another from a gem of a record that I have:

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

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yiW0ANvFpKA

Rok, amazing Wes Montgomery clip. Swinging like mad and lots of heat. Loved it! Thanks for that. Wes Montgomery is brilliant as always and Johnny Griffin sounds amazing.

I love the way great players “communicate” during a great performance and send musical cues to each other that then influence the way the other player plays; players are glued to each other musically and taking in everything that each other does. There’s a great example of this in that clip. Listen to what Montgomery does in his solo at 1:39, he plays a phrase by sliding from note to note in a way that is actually very “guitaristic”, but stands out in the context of the entire solo. Now, listen to what Johnny Griffin does at 4:45 in his solo. Griffin is one my favorite tenor players and I have many recordings of him as leader, as sideman and I heard him live twice (Village Vanguard, 90’s); I have never heard him do what he did at 4:45. He mimicked what Wes did at 1:39. If one listens really closely, in the background one can hear who I would bet is Wes Montgomery saying “Yeah!” after the first time Griffin makes those note slides, as if to say “You owe me a beer”.  Love that stuff! That’s a record to buy.

btw, what is that voice at 2:40. Some strange Satanic message? 😳