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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
*****Maybe it was the suit and tie.*****

Maybe they didn't want a hung Jury. :)

Cheerrs
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
Today's Playlist:
My most recent Purchase of Dexter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N7J6Y6k4EE

Not my favorite cut, but the best SQ on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXtYuziSlUc

I like some of this. It could have been wonderful, ended up just good. It is still growing on me. Great Cover Photo!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M3y1WdAv6U

Cheers
frogman
4,637 posts
 
****I also Have Pictures played on piano by Evgeny Kissin. Didn't think I would like it, but I love it.****

I am sure you know the piece was composed for piano and then orchestratrated by, among others, Ravel. As O-10 often points out, it's hard to beat the original; although, it has been pointed out and speculated that Mussorgsky always intended to orchestrate it and just never got around to it. Kissin's is great. Also try this one by Horowitz; he was born in Kiev after all:

https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=jXfJAup8W9w
schubert
4,867 posts
 
Frogman, I was called for jury duty in Cook County once, the DA struck me off because I had an advanced degree in history.
frogman
4,637 posts
 
One man's opinions:

-"Old lion with the young pups!". Josh Evans. Good young players. Frank Lacy? Ouch!

-Freddie Hubbard "Skydive". Nice clip. Never heard anything by Freddie that wasn't at least good. Great playing, but with a little of a "tenth stop on the tour" vibe. Kenny Garret is definitely someone deserving more attention on this thread.

-Oliver Nelson "Screaming The Blues". Love Oliver Nelson. His composing/arranging is so good that his playing didn't always get the recognition it deserves. The choice of Dolphy is not only "courageous" but smart; the way a great arranger is smart, capitalizing on the contrast of styles. Nelson's playing is soulful but always orderly and disciplined; Dolphy's is abstract and upredictable. Good stuff!

-McFerrin. I like McFerrin. Amazing talent, but I like his solo efforts best.

-Sister Dee Dee. Great singing; great tune. She sounds amazing singing the tune. But, singers are always walking in dangerous territory when they scat. Few do it well and she does it better than most; and, there is always an element of excitement or the simple reason that the singer is being courageous doing it. However, for me, and to paraphrase a very poignant moment in a trial scene from a movie that I saw recently: "Now, close your eyes and imagine that she is a horn player?". Personally, I don't think it would hold up.

-Abbie Lincoln. Love her and her unique style. Great stuff. Thanks for the clips!

-Clark Terry "Quicksand". Smoking! Love his style of trumpet playing. Light touch and immediately recognizable articulation and sense swing. Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (not credited) sounds great.

"Diddling". Jazz players always say that playing a slow tempo is THE test of wether the guy can play or not. Terry plays just the trumpet mouthpiece at the beginning; gotta love it.

****I listen to Tyner, I hear Coltrane, even when Coltrane is not there****

Interesting comment and very appropriate. Both Tyner and especially Trane were key figures in the development of the pentatonic harmonic style of improvisation which defined much of the direction that jazz took in the '60's. This style uses as a building block for improvisation the first, second, third and fifth notes of any scale or tonality and is responsible in great part for the "angular" sound of much of the improvisation from that era to the present. I love it in Trane's playing, but as much as I love McCoy's playing I find that style somewhat tiresome in piano playing; I think because, with piano, the somewhat formulaic sound of this style is not offset by the flexibility of tone possible with a horn. You may find this interesting:

https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=M66jmp4F8I8
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