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
O-10, why do you do this? Why do you ask for opinions and then pick fights when you don’t like the answers? You often seem desperate to be “right” when it’s not a matter of being right or wrong; especially curious coming from someone who does a lot of “wiggling” (your term) by invoking the “subjectivity clause”. You think your clip is “better”, whatever that means. That’s great! I already said I like them both and gave detailed reasons for why I like the other a little better overall. Just what is the problem? You think the music on your clip is better. I disagree that overall it’s better; it’s different.

Btw, re the plastic saxophone. Talk about “superfluous”!!! Actually, it was made of acrylic; the “Grafton” saxophone. If you would like to know why to a player like Bird it would make no difference let me know and I would be glad to explain it to you. In the meantime, you may find this interesting.  Be sure to check out the video link of the comparison/demonstration of a brass saxophone (Buesher) and the Grafton acrylic saxophone; the very kind Bird used at Massey Hall:

https://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxophone-material

Frogman, I don't believe you gave the music a critical listen; consequently you gave a "wrong" answer, and now you're locked into your wrong answer. Yes, subjective opinion can make a difference, but sometimes there is "objective" reality.

Anybody else, I would let it slide, because they are not capable of making an "objective" evaluation of the music, but you are.

You even stated why the "Town Hall" is better;

  " On the other hand, the solos by both Bird and Dizzy on the version with Al Haig are incredible. Bird’s solo break is a wonder. Tough choice, aren’t we lucky?"

What could be more important than those two solos?


You win Frogman, on to the next thing.






frog, many thanks for that sax demo. Even as a non-musician and through my iMac speakers I could hear differences.

I found the Buesher to have a little more body (dimensionality, air passing through a cylindrical tube) and slightly mellower tonality. The Grafton sounded brighter and "flatter". However, to me they were not big differences and I wouldn’t say I could always identify one versus the other on a given recording (with no back-and-forth for comparison).

What did Ornette play?
O-10, you couldn’t be more mistakenI certainly gave the music a critical listen; otherwise I would not have made the comments that I made. I have no interest in “winning”. More importantly, I can’t accept your hollow “concession”; concession that I am not looking for nor interested in. It is not I that is “locked in a wrong answer”, it is you. I don’t have a problem with your answer, why do you have a problem with mine? Like I said, it’s not a matter of better or worse; it’s about preferences based on what one considers the most important criteria in a performance. You think that the quality of the solos is the most important thing in a performance. I, and musicians in general, would strongly disagree with that concept and would consider that outlook uninformed and rather sophomoric. Sorry to be so blunt, but you take these discussions to an unpleasant place.

**** What could be more important than those two solos? ****

A “performance” is comprised of many elements; the soloing is just one of them. I already stated that the solos in your clip, particularly Bird’s, are extraordinary. But, that’s not to say the solos on the Massey Hall version are not excellent as well. Moreover, there is a certain logic in the continuity of the soloing in the Massey version that serves the overall performance better than the other version; and on balance, I think the Massey performance is a more balanced one. Better feel from the rhythm section not to mention better and more balanced recorded sound; as well as excellent, if arguably not as fiery soloing. Those things make it a better performance for me.

**** Anybody else, I would let it slide, because they are not capable of making an "objective" evaluation of the music, ****

I beg to differ on that one too and I would be careful about underestimating other posters’ ability to judge for themselves.