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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
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
3,718 posts
 
Wanted to share a new music suggestion from Spotify’s Browse/ Discover function: Jazz Pistols.

Fusion from Germany (those madcap Germans, you know :-). Guitar, Bass, Drums. Instrumental (my preference). Latest album (on Spotify): Superstring (2010).  Haven't made up my mind about the music on it. Like the guitar tone (always a soft spot for a hollow body’s sound) and the bass player’s work in particular. Musicianship seems first rate. Not sure how "deep" the musical ideas are, however.  Will it bear up to repeat listening?

Here are a couple of studio live tracks: "Penguin" & "Twenty" (don’t judge the bass player by what he does on "Twenty", however!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN74GozqjBg&ab_channel=JazzPistols

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUOgGR78xA4&ab_channel=JazzPistols

inna
5,245 posts
 
It appears that there are no musical ideas at all there. Generally speaking, I think that Scandinavians have a much better sense of jazz and jazz fusion.
About Miles. I read, right or wrong, that after the 'Bitches Brew' he said to McLaughlin that he would be happy to have him in his band on a permanent basis and explore the new music together. At the same time he advised him to form his own band and continue independently. That's what gave an additional impulse to John's Mahavishnu Orchestra project.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
3,718 posts
 
"...no musical ideas at all there."

Huh.   Well, inna, I'm not prepared to say that yet.  Haven't made it through the entirety of Superstring but can say their music is growing on me.  Right now listening to Track 6 Smbh and liking it.  Only time will tell, however.  How often will I go back to listen to it?  In my experience the albums I didn't "get" from the start can be the ones that end up being keepers.  There seems enough complexity here to warrant some return visits.

Out of curiosity, other than McLaughlin/Mahavishnu Orch. & Miles Davis, who do you like?  That should provide some insights.
inna
5,245 posts
 
When it comes to jazz fusion as I understand the term - no-one, except Nils Molvaer, but he is not in the same league.
I stopped listening to classical jazz a long time ago.
Going outside fusion, El Camaron de la Isla - the greatest flamenco singer of modern times, perhaps ever; some Paco de Lucia and Al Di Meola albums, Dead Can Dance, Suspended Memories - tribal ambient, some exotic unusual vocals - Sussan Deyhim, Azam Ali, Rasa, some Middle Eastern music, especially Persian, some neo-classical - "Umbersun" by Elend comes to mind, some of Malmsteen when he is at his best - listen to his concert with New Japan Philharmonic-, and from time to time I find interesting enough videos on youtube by others. Overall, I like very few, both artists and compositions.
inna
5,245 posts
 
This is real thing too, very to the point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbCYRPAfkA8
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