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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,

Charlie Parker with Strings: The Master Takes
Verve 314 523 984-2

The liner notes on this CD are much more interesting than the music. Read them. Good insight on the cultural war that raged within Jazz.

Does not sound like one of the the creators of Be-Bop. As the notes imply, he needed someone to push him. This is what happens when non-musicians try to 'direct' or 'improve' genuis. How do you 'improve' Bird?

Norman Granz was the 'Typhoid Mary' of Jazz.

Of all the great players that I have on CD, Bird is the most disappointing / frustrating. Either he is playing a toy sax, or the recording is technically bad, or some stuff like this (with strings!!) Really!

I seldom play Bird, and never this one.

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

I decided to put this CD "Bird With Strings" on before waging war; but the most beautiful alto sax riff I've ever heard, or ever will hear on "Just Friends" took me out of the fightin mode. Bird is somewhere riffing on a cloud as I'm listening to his most beautiful music.

"Summertime" just took my breath away, I could feel the intense heat of a cotton field; "Bet you don't know nothing about that". How he can riff and still maintain the beautiful melodies of these standards is one of the wonders of the music world.

"Laura", hauntingly beautiful Laura; was a lady so fascinating that men fell madly in love with her portrait. Only "Bird" could capture the mystique of her beauty in his music.

Although I've heard the lyrics to these standards many times, no one can capture the romance that is the essence of this music like Bird; his music can tell the stories behind this music better than any words ever could. This music never gets old "Long live the Bird".

Enjoy the music.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 


We will agree to disagree about the 'strings'.

Consider this, if he had been backed by a top notch be-bop crew, you would have heard a different summertime.

You won't maneuver me into being critical of Bird. :)

You do realize that Mitch Miller was in this group. I used to watch 'sing-a-long with mitch' on tv back in the day. Not your typical be-bopper!

******I could feel the intense heat of a cotton field; "Bet you don't know nothing about that".******

Having been born and raised in the 'sovereign' state of Mississippi, I have seen and been in a few. :)

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
you ain't one of them fusion and third stream folks, is ya?

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Having been born in the state with the worlds hottest cotton fields, maybe you would know a little bit, like "There ain't no shade in a cotton field".

After this "Bird" fiasco, I hate to admit it was your fault that I'm back into this "old" jazz in the first place; but since there's no new jazz that suits my taste, I might as well be here as any place else.

Just keep on reviewing, eventually we'll strike a "harmonic chord".

Enjoy the music.
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