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
**********Roy Eldridge makes the claim that he can tell the difference between a black player and a white player merely by listening. Leonard Feather gives Roy a blindfold test. Roy fails.******* 


Thanks acman3 for that tidbit. All in all it would seem 1951 was a great year for jazz!

I dreamed of black eyes last night...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnoCI2N9nWw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG3z_zpFESc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua-MWLJvGvM

"Dark Eyes" (Russian song Очи чёрные)

Lyrics:
written by Ukrainian poet Yevhen Hrebinka

(translation by Peter Farnbank)

"Oh, these gorgeous eyes, dark and glorious eyes,
Burn-with-passion eyes, how you hypnotise!
How I adore you so, how I fear you though,
Since I saw you glow! Now my spirit’s low!

Darkness yours conceal mighty fires real;
They my fate will seal: burn my soul with zeal!
But my love for you, when the time is due,
Will refresh anew like the morning dew!

No, not sad am I, nor so mad am I;
All my comforts lie in my destiny.
Just to realise my life’s worthiest prize
Did I sacrifice for those ardent eyes!"


O-10, you argue against a point that I never made. I clearly said that there are important differences between East Coast jazz and classic West Coast jazz. As with all music the two different styles reflect their “birthplace” in many ways. My disagreement is with your suggestion that West Coast jazz is “less real” and “less emotional”. I don’t agree with that characterization. The style of playing is different and it resonates more with some listeners than with others for the reasons that I tried to explain. Moreover, not all jazz played on the West Coast falls into the stereotypical West Coast “cool” style; especially currently today. LA has and has always had a bebop scene, a swing (traditional) scene, as well as a “cool” scene.

I’m also surprised that you don’t think that players influence other players; especially when they work together. Much has been discussed here on the topic of players’ influence on other players and the idea of evolution in jazz. There is much in print or video interviews in which players who have played with Miles speak about how much they learned from Miles and how much Miles influenced their playing. Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers were referred to by some as “The Hard Bop Academy”.

Rok, seems to me it is not I making the straw man arguments re the Nica’s Dream comparison. I never said that tempo was the “ONLY” difference. Please reread what I wrote. I clearly wrote “main difference” or that there was “little difference” between the two.... especially as concerns a West/East comparison. Remember we are talking about differences in the general style of playing on the two versions since we were talking about East/West. Obviously, since there are different players involved the playing will be different and one could argue that any one player’s playing is better than on the other version; but that is not what’s being discussed, the style is. The general style of playing is very similar on both. They even play the same arrangement of the tune and even have the same order of solos. You yourself said that you would not be able to tell that one was West and the other East. THAT’S THE POINT! That’s why that particular comparison is not a good one. You wanted to know about the “nuts and bolts” differences . In this example, aside from the faster tempo, there is very little. (Personally and subjectively, I like Blue Mitchell’s solo better, but much prefer Harold Land’s to Junior Cook’s). Don’t underestimate the impact that simply the difference in tempo can have on the emotional impact of music; it is huge.

Avid audiophile that I know you are (not! 😊) you’ll appreciate the fact that many feel that the reason that the well known Rega 3 turntable is so popular and thought to be so rhythmically exciting is the fact that the motor runs less than 1% fast. What are the big differences in STYLE that you hear besides the faster tempo.

West Coast style:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JbYUFD3spTM

East Coast style:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=duMc7RCZoME


mary_jo, I’m flattered. Apology to your printer 😌. Nice clips.



"As you define "real", meaning emotionally from the heart, West Coast is less real, but that doesn't mean it's less jazzy."

You read too fast Frogman; the "you" in that sentence was referring to Rok, not me; he identifies some things different from me; I did not make that distinction.