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

(1) Fro, thank you very much for your answer. But your announcements (every once a while) that you will actually post it was funny to me in the terms of the rhythm. I liked it.

It was as if you were announcing something public – you make a speech and at crucial points there is a break time and you hear the drums, „bam“, „bam“. After the drums the speech continues. 

Instead of drums, I heard you saying, „I haven’t forgotten mary-jo“.

**

Your thoughts on the subject are very interesting to me. Especially in the following part:

////*** For instance, should a singer like Nina, let somebody else accompanied her on the piano in order to get the perfection out of the both performances? ****

I don’t think so. The end result would be very different. Again, depends on the performer and the strength and flexibility of each skill. While I don’t think Simone is one of these, some lesser performers may actually need to accompany themselves since their instrument can be seen as a crutch or musical security blanket; they might feel naked without it. The quality of the end result depends on having complete control of both. Listen to how perfectly in sinc the “dialogue” between the voice and piano is in Simone’s case. It is akin to a conversation between identical twins or old married couples; they can finish sentences for each other. This is not say that I think she is a fantastic piano player in absolute terms. I don’t; as evidenced in part by the fact that we don’t find recordings (any?) by other artists with Simone on piano. She was the perfect piano player FOR HER music. Conversely, many great jazz piano players are not necessarily great accompanists to singers. It is a specific skill.///

This surely covers all. This is the answer. One cannot say more about it.

I like the pancake part too but never tried it in such combination.


I
(2) I like Nina. Regardless of the performing (im)perfection of each of her skill, she delivers good, at least to me. She has that what people tend to say these days, X-factor (I do not know what it means but it sounds damn good.). And that’s enough for my book. Nina. <3

Nina Simone - Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ckv6-yhnIY&app=desktop

Thank you pryso for Nat King Cole. I was not aware (what a surprise, yes, I know) of his piano playing abilities. But did listen him singing. What a voice, man...

Nat King Cole - Smile. Video - Charlie Chaplin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rkNBH5fbMk

Nat has a smiling face so the song suits him well. : )

***
///“Yeah, man, I know, it should be a half step higher; but I make more money when I play it that way”. ///
This was indeed hysterical!


Frogman, you have excluded some of our very important household names, guess you did not want to stir the pot...

Since nobody has a reason to doubt my good intentions, I will post couple of  'descriptions' as well...


https://youtu.be/X6I_dKUYyI4

and one with famous resident sax player....

https://youtu.be/CgfZVNv6w2E

"Any similarities to actual persons or places, alive or dead, real or ficticious is merely coincidental and the product of a feverish imagination."




(3)    ///The acman rule: Write as few words as possible, but post as much music as possible.///

!! : ))) But lately something is wrong. I can't see him anywhere around after he said that he was offended. 

Acman man, if it that was not me, tell me who that was. Rok mentioned once Minions. Well, if you need one, I will apply for it. Just come back, write as few words as possible, but post as much music as possible or write as much words as possible, but post as few music as possible (like me for instance).