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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
frogman
4,637 posts
 
Dave, I revisited "Stepping Out". Revisited because I actually have that record and to give you an idea of how much I like Diana Krall, I had forgotten the title of it and almost that I had it at all. It wasn’t until you later mentioned that it was her first that I realized that it was the one Krall record that I have. I think you’re right...this is probably her best. Still... I wasn’t going to respond further so as not to get into "Krall bashing", but heard this on WBGO today and it made me think about the Krall record again; and, to ask myself, again, why anyone would want to listen to Krall when one can listen to something like this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4HMsEX-Zuk

Or:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DZq9mocJkDQ

Or:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MnUqorTHj74



dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
Those are beautiful alternatives to Ms. Krall, frogman. Thanks.

Dave
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Frogman, thank you for putting everything into a new and fresh perspective. I'll listen to "Hudson" again and write a new post after I've put on another hat, the one I wore when "Fusion" was popular.

Thanks for the post; especially Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson and Sarah Vaughan; my collection is loaded with those artists.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
3,718 posts
 
F-man, I agree with you yet again...at least your comments about the quality of the musicians who recorded Hudson and the (advisability?) of "assuming merit". I’ll likely go back and give that one another go. ON THE OTHER HAND...the influence of John Medeski lies heavily on this work. While I greatly admire his talents and have listened to a good few of his other recordings (in MMW) and own Shack Man and Combustication, more often than not, as I’ve tried to follow him in other albums of his/theirs I just don’t enjoy going where he takes the music. A bit of dissonance can be a useful thing...kinda like a strong spice in a recipe. But at some point, you just gotta call "ugly" for what it is. Well, I do, anyway. I always appreciate your analysis and the insights you provide. Your comments about Hudson no exception. Time is short (and getting shorter!), though. There’s many others I’d rather spend it with (e.g., Bill Connors...interesting career path)....though I do find myself going back from time to time and knocking on that Medeski door to see if anything has changed.

Hey O - So long as you are vertical, there’s always time to "get right". It’ll give you hope for the future.
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
frogman,

Perhaps I hastily judged the title in question. I did listen to the rest of it and found some tracks to be very good (the tracks without the sonic pyrotechnics). Sound quality is excellent overall.

However, I notice that many "modern" jazz titles of late are using electronic grunge far too prevalently (for me), some of which are nearly devoid of what I know as music. Bill Frisell is about as far in that direction as I can bear.

After completing listening to the Hudson album, I retreated to "Soul Brothers" and once again marveled at its understated beauty, soul and mind-soothing magic, and sound quality. That seems to be where I live.

Admittedly, my sophistication, knowledge, and transcendence in the "Hudson-type" segment of jazz pales in comparison to some on this thread. ;)

Dave

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