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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
O-10 & Acman3:

My Mistake. I have the RS 1500, which is a 2-Track deck. I bought the seperate 4-Track Record and Playback head assembly. It also will playback 2-Track, but not record 2-Track. Dealing with 2-Track recorded tape is a pain.

I taped all my Classical and Jazz LPs to keep from wearing them out, and also to keep from going thru all that crap getting a LP ready to play. Most of my LPs have only been played once. I look at them now and think, what a waste. Useless, but in Pristine condition.

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
Mary Lou is not the only babe in town.

Today's Listen:

Dorothy Donegan -- LIVE AT THE WIDDER BAR

A little more bombastic than Mary Lou. Sort of like a Female Oscar Peterson. Knows her way around a piano, but stays mostly within the standards of the genre. Great tune selection. Excellent support by Jimmy Woode(Bass), and Norman Fearrington (drums).

Sorry, but I could not find a Youtube clip of this CD. Avaliable on Amazon used and cheap. This is one you should buy on faith. You won't be sorry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Donegan

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Rok, when comparing Mary Lou, and Dorothy, you are side stepping a social issue that affected "all" African American artists at that time; they had to be "entertainers", even if they were serious musicians. This gave us "Mantan Moreland" and "Stepin Fetchit". In no way am I bringing Dorothy down to that level, I'm just expediting the discussion.

Mary Lou never wavered in regard to whether or not she was a serious musician, and not an entertainer. Although Dorothy was as good a musician as Mary Lou, her standard of living, or should I say "making a living", was of a higher priority and she "entertained". No, I'm not bringing Dorothy down, I'm simply shining a light on the circumstances African Americans were confronted with in this country at that time. Do you care to address this? If not, I'll understand.

Enjoy the music.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
Where would the music be if it were not for the 'entertainers'?

Consider for a moment, what if the first Jazz players to come out of Nawlins would have been from the Ornette Coleman school of Jazz. We can be thankful, it was the ultimate entertainer, Louis Armstrong!

Brooding, introspective, self-centered 'genuis', was not what the public wanted. It was the antithesis of what Jazz was at that time. There was a depression and / or a war going on. People wanted to be entertained.

However, I understand the sense of your post. And in that sense, you are correct. But, I consider Mary Lou's music to be very entertaining. Maybe that's the trick, express yourself, and be entertaining at the same time. That's the genuis?

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
Today's Listen:

Mingus in Church.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaeVLd4G1Zg

Tyner said Coltrane was too 'out there'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiI2ZHmxPPo

Cheers
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