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
Hi O - Glad you did post about MJ.  Nice not to be alone on that topic.  

Tina Brooks (had to look him up) - another said story, unfortunately.

One good thing about getting older is a greater indifference about what other people think.  

Yes Ghosthouse, Tina Brooks is a story even sadder than most sad stories; too sad to comment on, on such a beautiful day where I am.

I went to the grocery store today, and everyone was smiling and helpful; when that happens to you, you know you've gotten old. Even young attractive ladies; and dirty old man that I am, I would like to think there was some other reason for their helpful attitude, but I'm not senile yet.

Getting back to music, there was a time when I dreamed of far away places with strange sounding names. This music takes you to the mountains of Peru, and the Inca's sun God; there is even an Incan high priestess singing praises to the Sun God.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weYhSmkBQho


Enjoy the music.

Frogman, here is a sax man that I think we over looked; I like this, but you can probably find something better.


            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdgB_L0_II4


            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IZb8AJQ7ac



Enjoy the music.
Catching up on the last couple of days' worth of posts.  Thanks to all for the great music.

O-10, I liked John Handy's "Naima"; a lot.  I really liked the sense of freedom in not having a traditional ballad pulse, but rather slowly harmonies without an obvious beat.  And love the way they ended the tune.  I have always liked John Handy's playing.  There is a sense of honesty and lack of pretense in his playing; or, at least, that's the feeling it evokes in me.  He doesn't scream loudly through the horn and is generally understated with a pretty alto sound.  I liked "Where Go The Boats" as a composition, but didn't think the playing on the non-traditional instruments was particularly good and thought the synth sound was a little cheesy.  Liked the tune, though.

Ghosthouse, listened to the Bozzio and Ginger Baker clips; thanks for those.

Stevens is a great player as are Bozzio and Levin .  I really liked the tune which borrows a little from Nouveau Flamenco to add to that nice folky, if not New Agey, vibe.  I love that acoustic guitar driven sound.  I have a couple of issues with the performance however.  As good as it is, there is a "cautious" feeling to it and things feel a bit too "organized".  I would bet that they played it to a click track.  One can usually tell when players are playing to a click track; there is a "safe" quality to the feeling.  The focus becomes being with the click instead of entirely with each other; potential imperfections and all.  The overdubbed guitar is fine, but not the synth strings sound; luckily is was pretty subtle volume wise.  That tune was begging for a small string section instead of synth.  Really nice guitar solo.  Again, probably one of several takes.  Nothing inherently wrong with this production approach, but it does take a little of the energy away.  Still, really nice tune and I really enjoyed it.  Something in a different genre that pushes similar buttons for me, but has a little more abandon might be:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eU2IpZoTMdE

The Ginger Baker clip I didn't like; sorry.  Thank god for Charlie Haden!  He was the rock in that trio and sounds fabulous.  Baker is unquestionably more than just a great rock drummer; but, he's no jazz drummer.  He does ok, but he just doesn't have the chops and comfort in that language to really contribute on the level of the great jazz drummers and seems to be tagging along Haden's amazing pulse.  Speaking of great jazz drummers, some of my favorite Frisell was with Paul Motian:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6jFZ3X9CFuA

Love Lovano on this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YaY1GVeHqKw

Another great drummer.  What do you think of this?:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H-wtZhpxtVE

Alex, I loved those Rene Thomas clips.  And J.R. Montrose!  What a nice player.  Swinging and intelligent playing.  Thanks for those.  Getz?  What can one say?  Genius.