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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
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Rok, what's your take on the link that Ghosthouse provided; do you think things have gotten better for jazz musicians, and if so, how?

I'll wait for your response.


Enjoy the music.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
***** What is it about Europe that has made it so welcoming for American jazz musicians? *****

I would say France rather than Europe.  The French never miss an opportunity to show the 'superiority' of their country, Language and culture.  It still goes on today.   They see them selves as a counter-weight to American influence and power in the world.

The expats:   These were people like Monk, Bird, Richard Wright, James Balwin, Josephine Baker and other great musicians, writers and entertainers.   What's not to like.  Of course they were welcomed by the French elite, located mainly in Paris.

They did not welcome black people, they welcomed great artists who happened to be black, something new and different,  and very few in number.

What the expats should have known was that if the entire US black population had moved to France, the reception would have been very different, as it is today, after North Africa showed up in France.

BTW, the black female Jazz trumpet player,  Valaida Snow happened to be touring in Denmark when Hitler declared war on the USA.   She was promptly arrested and thrown in prison as an enemy alien.   Just saying.   She was later part of a prisoner exchange.

Cheers
jafant's avatar
jafant
10,525 posts
 
It is an interesting conversation about the how/why so many American Jazz musicians went to Europe in those early days...

The real flipside of this particular issue and to shed a little light on the how/why so many American musicians took on Muslim sur-names???
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
*****  what's your take on the link that Ghosthouse provided; do you think things have gotten better for jazz musicians, and if so, how?*****

I think the article is accurate, but nothing I didn't already know.   Thinking Europe, of all places, was racism free, show a lack of knowledge of history.

I also think if shows a weakness of character to crave the approval of white people to this degree.   They were not shunned in the American Black community, so why did they run to Paris.   Just saying.   Ellington and Armstrong were not expats.

America is, and always has been the most racist free country on the planet.  And this includes the era during slavery.   To understand that, you have to be able to think, and be aware of attitudes and conditions around the world.


Have things gotten better for Jazz players?   Hard to say, since Jazz and Jazz players ain't what they used to be.   By the time social attitudes and technology changed to benefit Jazz and all other music, the music went to hell.

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 


America is, and always has been the most racist free country on the planet. And this includes the era during slavery. To understand that, you have to be able to think, and be aware of attitudes and conditions around the world.

Rok, that must be some good herb you been smoking; pass the pipe.



Enjoy the music.
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