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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
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nsp
362 posts
 
there is another angle to the S Rollins Live at The Village Vanguard sessions. It was the 1st live recording done at the Vanguard.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/sonny-rollins-a-night-at-the-village-vanguard-by-c-michael-bailey.php

I was curious what other members think of the authors list of best live jazz recordings and if they have their own picks which were left out?
frogman
4,637 posts
 
nsp, you may very well be correct that there is music from the afternoon sessions that was not released.  They were probably tunes that were also played in the evening sets.  It is possible that these versions from the afternoon set were felt to be inferior to those from the evening sets and weren’t released.  The record does include two “alternate takes”.  Neither is one of the two tunes from the afternoon set.  Perhaps it was felt that those two (from the evening sets) were felt to be good enough to include as alternate takes.  It is unlikely that they would play the same tune twice in the same set.  So, it does appear that they did play some of the same tunes in different sets.  I suppose it is also possible that there were technical issues with some of the recordings from the afternoon set.  What do you think?
pjw81563
258 posts
 
frogman, thanks for the links on accompaniment.

 A perfect example of correct accompaniment would be McCoy Tyner (accompanist) and John Coltrane (soloist) in the song "My Favorite Things"

Even someone with limited knowledge of sheet music, chords, minors and majors, ect., can clearly hear the excellence exhibited by Tyner comping Trane.
frogman
4,637 posts
 
Hah! I didn’t know that about it being the first live recording at the VV. Thanks for that very interesting factoid, nap. With that knowledge in mind, I would put even more stock in the possibility that technical issues may have been the reason that not all of the music from the afternoon set was released. Afternoon set: very first time that a recording was attempted vs the evening sets for which they had had a “practice run”. Seems plausible to me. In answer to your question: Good list that I can’t argue with eventhough that, as usual, “best” gets a little complicated. A couple more that come to mind as contenders (favorites, anyway):

Stanley Turrentine “Up At Minton’s“
Sarah Vaughn “Live In Japan”
Monk/Coltrane “At Carnegie Hall”
Eric Dolphy “At The Five Spot”
Benny Goodman “Benny In Brussels”





frogman
4,637 posts
 
How could I forget this one?!

“Joe Henderson Quintet At The Lighthouse”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hvEBhx0eYZo&index=2&list=PLMD9X0rJLX6bVX8SIMSmPlVv_PAFx3v85&am...

I did it again (in my last post).  Sorry, nsp.   You are definitely NOT a “nap” 🙃.
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