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
You'd have to be very far from life to think that Billy was doing anything but dying a slow death before you very eyes on stage . And through NO fault of her own, a national treasure thrown on the garbage dump .
I'm streaming Huston Person and Ron Carter as I type. "Now's the Time/Something In Common"

Love it.


What upset me was that you seem to say that Billie's rough life helped her as a singer. Like being a prostitute at age 14, and being a drug addict, gives you 'soul' and 'passion' in your music. All BS, of course.

Rok, who made the statement that upset you? Certainly wasn't me or Mary_jo.

We only made statements regarding your statement about her voice crackling.

Society at large or whoever put her in jail, said she was a Black Ho who needed to be in jail. But we never said anything like that.

Just as "Muddy Waters" and "Albert King's" suffering with injustice in Mississippi comes through in their songs. Her pain came through as well; she didn't have to dredge up the pain, because it was part of her, the same as her skin.

The invisible giant in the room is "racism".



Alex, you are to be commended for continuing to post excellent forgotten or little known players.  Of all the ones that you have posted here Don Sleet is possibly my favorite so far.  Very nice player.  Reminds me a little of Blue Mitchell.  And what a lineup on those recordings!  Great rhythm section.  One of the most interesting things about those clips, aside from Sleet’s fine playing is the shades of Coltrane in Jimmy Heath’s playing; particularly on “Secret Love”.  That was recorded in 1961, probably at the peak of Coltrane’s notoriety so not terribly surprising from that standpoint; but I had never heard so much Trane in any of Jimmy Heath’s recordings before.  Thanks for the clips.  Very nice!