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

Schubert, I hate to admit it, but our minds are in sync; maybe we'll meet, and discuss many things including fools and kings.
One of my "go to discs"   Krupa and Rich:


Krupa and Rich and look at the other players!

On this CD reissue, drummers Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich only actually play together on one of the seven songs, a lengthy rendition of "Bernie's Tune" that has a six-minute "drum battle." Krupa and Rich do perform two songs apiece with a remarkable all-star band consisting of trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge, tenors Illinois Jacquet and Flip Phillips, pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Herb Ellis, and bassist Ray Brown. Each of the principals get some solo space, giving this release more variety than one might expect. In addition there are two bonus cuts from a Buddy Rich date that feature the drummer with trumpeters Thad Jones and Joe Newman, tenors Ben Webster and Frank Wess, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, and rhythm guitarist Freddie Green. Excellent music overall if not quite essential
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e75c21Nfav0

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be0kO8aJ6B8

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




Great clips, pjw; and nice description of the record.  “The Monster” swings like mad.  Two of the fathers of modern drumming! Krupa was the first drummer to be featured with extended solos in a band. His solo on Benny Goodman’s swing era mega hit “Sing Sing Sing” is a classic. He and Rich, and music from that era, are definitely deserving of much more attention here, imo; and I have always felt that it is unfortunate that the swing era has gotten short shrift. It would put bop and post bop in a much better perspective.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fhyhP_5VfKM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3mJ4dpNal_k








Diane Schuur is an artist that I don't think we've covered;


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6DwEGPuyBs



This is another one of my favorite songs; there are so many beautiful versions, I like them all; this is my favorite instrumental version; I think, but you may come up with something better.


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2_dTssW_eU


The songs that get recorded the most have a life of their own, and "Speak low" is such a song; let us examine the lyrics;



Time is so old and love so brief
Love is pure gold and time a thief

Speak low when you speak love
Our summer's day withers away too soon, too soon
Speak low when you speak love
Our moment is swift like ships adrift
Swept apart too soon

Speak low, darling speak low
Love is a spark, lost in the dark too soon, too soon
I feel wherever I go that tomorrow is near
Tomorrow is here and always too soon

Time is so old and love so brief
Love is pure gold and time a thief

We're late, darling, we're late
The curtain descends, everything ends too soon, too soon
I wait, oh darling, I wait
Will you speak low to me,
Speak love to me
And soon

Time is so old and love so brief
Love is pure gold and time a thief

We're late, darling, we're late
The curtain descends, everything ends too soon, too soon
I wait, darling, I wait
Will you speak low to me,
Speak love to me
And soon
And soon
Speak low, speak low
Speak low, speak low



That is life; "Love is pure gold and time is a thief"; don't waste it.

"The curtain descends, everything ends too soon, too soon"; no matter how long it lasts, the curtain descends, and everything ends too soon.


I cherish all the songs that played as the background to the movie of my life.