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
O-10, how much Charles Ives have you listened to?  Until you have, any answer to your question will be meaningless.
I actually consider Charles Ives to be the quintessential American composer.  He wrote quite a lot of music - hundreds of songs, a very famous piano sonata called the Concord Sonata, and many pieces for orchestra.  A very short and popular piece for orchestra by Ives is called the Unanswered Question - that might be a good place to start.  One of his largest scale works is his 4th Symphony.  

By the way, Frogman, my father transcribed his violin sonata for clarinet.

Learsfool, you are cleverly evading my statement, consequently I have to repeat it; "You will never be able to improvise like the jazz musicians we have discussed, no matter how much you practice, or how many schools you go to".  Your statement was that you have to practice in order to improvise.  You have to practice in order to play "Jingle Bells" properly.   

Have we concluded the practicing and improvising?
Frogman, I never heard of Charles Ives before you mentioned him.  Did he jam at Mintons?