Jazz for aficionados

I was perusing through an old "Stereophile" for music reviews when I ran across this:

"Moanin" was a swinging 1958 session featuring Lee Morgan and Benny Golson who put his mark on the band by composing three long time standards for it's book- the title track "Along Came Betty" and "Blues March". They go on to speak of how good the rest of the musicians are, except "Bobby Timmons" , quote: "It sounds as if Timmons is playing a less than stellar piano" then they go on to gush over everybody else on that album.


There ought to be a law against "Stereophile" ever writing a review on another jazz record.

First, they give "Bobby Timmons" tune "Moanin" to Benny Golson, and next they say he's playing less than stellar piano, when every time he strikes a piano key on this album, perfect jazz come out. It's for sure there are no "jazz aficionado's" at "Stereophile"



Enjoy the music.

Since Previn goes back and forth between classical and jazz, I can't account for his classical music, although I assume it's as good as his jazz. He was one of the early jazz musicians I acquired, and those records were excellent.

The music on Classic American Songbook is excellent. I don't think, if I like it, that's good enough for me. I like "American Classic Songbook", and I've always considered that music "jazz", although it can also be considered pop.

In regard to the evolution of jazz, or a general musical question, I'm sure others can answer those questions better than me.



Enjoy the music.

Newbee, thanks for the recommendation.  I had not heard this record eventhough I've been a fan of Haden and Rubalcaba for a long time.  As you say, Haden was (!) a wonderful and extremely creative musician.  Rubalcaba is an amazing virtuoso and one the very best younger Cuban musicians on the scene.  "Esta Tarde Vi Llover" (trans: I saw it rain this afternoon) is a bolero written by Mexican composer Manzanero, but appropriated by Cuban singers and musicians and has become a standard in Cuban music; beautiful song.  Joe Lovano sounds wonderful on this record:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ouUwKNw3g48

****but if it does could not the frequent whine of the demise of jazz actually have more to do with it than the actual, and continuing natural evolution of a music form?****

I think you're exactly right and precisely the point that I've tried to make many times here; I refer to it as the inevitability of the evolution of the music.  As far as the listener goes, through an open mind and exposure what may sound like noise at first (Berg) can be appreciated for the beauty in its unique and strange musical language.

Coltrane for lovers:

It's a compilation.  I have found that I usually have all the music on the initial CD releases.  I almost sprung for  Coltrane's 'Heavyweight Champion'.   But, like most one-artist compilation I had most of it, and just too many alternate takes.

***** Since Previn goes back and forth between classical and jazz,***

He doesn't travel That far while going back and forth.

Stereophile:

I can't understand why you would read that rag for ANY reason.  If they encourage people to spend serious money on wire, and every other audio con out there, why would you value their opinion on ANYTHING?   Esp something as important as Jazz / Music.

Cheers

Hi Newbee - I would say that your experience is quite common.  Many people that don't think they like something when they first hear it change their minds later, after more exposure to things more easily understandable.  


Artists, too, both composers and performers, react to each other all the time.  

There is a movement away from dissonance in the classical music world as well - many of the current composers are writing much more tonal music again.  Others are reacting against this.  

I think much of it has to do with the times.  You mention Berg and Schoenberg - they were living and writing in a time when the world was in the middle of two huge wars, and their music reflected that, as did that of many other composers, in different ways.   Much of the minimalism that is being written today is a reaction against that type of music.  

A lot more dissonance crept into jazz in the 50s and 60s, as different social movements for change happened, some of them violent.  I think the smooth jazz of the 80s and 90s was in part a reaction to that.   

An example from earlier in history - Richard Wagner changed music more than any other artist has ever effected his/her art form, though not in the way he thought he would, with his "Gesamtkunstwerks."  But for pretty much 100 years after him, every composer had to deal with him and his ideas, and everything was a reaction to it.  Music splintered off in so many different directions after that - it was never the same.  Even Beethoven did not change music as radically as Wagner did.  Ok, enough rambling for the night.  :)