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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
 

This was the album everybody bought when it came out. Mr. PC is boss on this album.
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Here is where Mr. PC has to strut his best stuff because this is Oscar Pettifords jam;


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


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5EwGijmqKc


   


   
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

To make a living, Eunice Waymon changed her name to "Nina Simone". The change related to her need to disguise herself from family members, having chosen to play "the devil's music" or "cocktail piano" at a nightclub in Atlantic City. She was told in the nightclub that she would have to sing to her own accompaniment, which effectively launched her career as a jazz vocalist.

Nina Simone's early albums gave us two for one; we are getting an accomplished jazz pianist plus a unique female vocalist. Since it was singing that payed the bills, I'm not sure she maintained her pianist skills to the end; Frogman, the professional musician will have to answer that question.

I recognized her skill as a jazz pianist from the beginning; while I have these works on CD, I'm not sure you can get them on vinyl because they're primarily the early albums.

"Nina at Newport" is one of them; besides the vocals like "Porgy", you get instrumentals like
"Flo Me La" and "Nina's Blues"


                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24XaKqEeGk4


                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeMfDflHM1E


orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Can you imagine, Milt Hinton, Herbie Mann, Kai winding & J. J. Johnson as side men backing up a female vocalist? That's when you can count on me to listen intently to the music;


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8eP6WG0aDY


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmj-856HCGU


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_karS6dakeA


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM30-bScuvA
frogman
4,637 posts
 
O-10, re Nina Simone:

Imo, Nina Simone is a perfect example of Aristotle’s famous quote “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. Before anyone thinks that this comment is faint praise, it is not. Nina Simone was a great artist and I love her artistry. Her artistry was a result of a combination of the ability to convey an incredible sense of emotion and commitment to the message of her songs, individuality, tremendous attitude in her delivery and excellent piano skills; not to mention that her songs, many of which had social consciousness themes, added to the overall impact of her artistry.

In this context my following opinion doesn’t really matter, but I point it out because you make an interesting comment re her piano playing specifically: “ I’m not sure she maintained her piano skills to the end”. Imo, none of her many skills were, individually, quite on a par with the very greatest artists that we have discussed here. Her vocal skills (not her delivery) were limited; as was her piano playing. They were very good, but she certainly didn’t have the vocal skills of a Sarah Vaughn (not even close), nor the piano skills of Evans, Kelly, Barron, Wyands, or many other great piano players. To be honest you probably made a valid observation that I never did. You may very well be right that her piano playing was not maintained at the same level. I just never really paid much attention to her piano playing per se because it never struck me as outstanding. Don’t get me wrong, as I said, it was very good, but what always made an impact with me was the commitment and power in the overall delivery of the songs; the sum of the parts.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-sEP0-8VAow

Btw, much has been written about how she was denied admission to the Curtis Institute and her feeling that it was due to racial bias. I don’t question nor doubt that bias may have played a role. However, in fairness, I would have to point out that being aware of the unbelievable caliber of pianists that attend that conservatory with the hope of having careers as concert pianists, I personally have not heard enough in her recorded piano playing that made me think she could have been a contender. IMO.
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