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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
 
pryso, I enjoy that O’day clip more each time I see and hear it. Great singer! Not prepared to say it’s as good as it gets, but certainly excellent. We’re lucky to have so many to choose from depending on the mood. Here’s another favorite female vocalist along with one of my favorite male vocalists (possibly my favorite if forced to choose):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1IM3weosOTY

ghosthouse, Tim Garland is a very talented player who has obviously had serious study on the bass clarinet. Thanks for that clip; I enjoyed it. A very unwieldy instrument the bass clarinet is quite a challenge for any saxophone player to play only causally. I suspect he spent a lot of time listening to Dolphy’s work; and these recordings in particular. Of the five versions the Copenhagen concert is generally considered the best. “Let the bass clarinet play” indeed!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VD-s3des8VU




nsp
362 posts
 
ghosthouse
Thanks for the bass clarinet Bill Bruford you tub e post. Bass clarinet is a favorite of mine in jazz music. I have a lot of bass cl arinet music
I kind of overlooked Bill Bruford . Was familiar with his contribution to Yes and King Crimson and purchased 2 solo albums but lost track of him. I am going to purchase this album after listening to several other cuts.
I have also been listening to Soft Machine anoth er jazz rock group again.

nsp

pryso
1,501 posts
 
Not to divert too much but this was the first version of "Old Folks" I heard as this album was an early jazz purchase for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLUP9-126nk

I too enjoy the sounds of the bass clarinet.  But I never found many recordings.  One I had early on but somehow it disappeared over the years was Herbie Mann's "great ideas of western mann".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tghZxiWdZYg
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
3,718 posts
 
@nsp
You are very welcome. I love the tone of bass clarinet. Much preferred over the standard B-flat instrument. I played both years ago...not very well, mind you. Wish I’d taken opportunities with the bass clarinet more seriously; "Youth is wasted on the young"...a poster child here.

Anyway, other than Dolphy and now Tim Garland (multi-instrumentalist in a late incarnation of Bruford’s "Earthworks") who else is there to check out?

BTW - am familiar with Soft Machine.  Got a boxed set of several CDs (Amazon UK).  Had 5 years ago.  That is still the one I appreciate the most.

Pryso - Herbie Mann...gosh only thing I know of him is that hot disco flute sound he had going in the ’70s. I’ll quickly confess to being more of a jazz dilettante than aficionado...but a committed one! Don’t tell O (actually, I already have). Where is that cat anyway?!

Random Acts of Happiness is very good. Excellent compositions and musicianship. Sonics are exceptional...especially given it is a live recording. Another Bruford I recently found and bought: If Summer Had It’s Ghosts (Bruford/Towner/Gomez). Worth checking out but no bass clarinet on this one...no reeds. Different style than Random Acts. Whatcha do get is some great piano by Ralph Towner! (along with his always excellent acoustic guitar work). His piano work kind of surprised me...it’s very good; I didn’t realize he was that accomplished. Also, starting to be become a bit of a Eddie Gomez fan. Love his nimble, melodic work on this album. He’s well recorded on it too.

Frogman - your input always valued. Bruford fired his original reed player to give Garland a spot. Quality will tell, I guess. Will have to check out the Dolphy performance. He is still a stretch for me but I admire the heck out of him. Maybe one day he’ll click for me.

Thanks to all for the comments and input.
alexatpos
500 posts
 
Frogman, great recordings. There is one other allbum with rerording that is ’rediscoverd’ that I have posted here,not so long ago, with both W. Kelly and W.Montgmery, in case you have missed it.

’Smokin’ in Seattle’ from 1965.
https://youtu.be/Msz2RO-mwq8

Ghosthouse, here are two albums that Herbie Mann recorded with Bobby Jaspar, I like them both

’Flute Souffle’ from 1957.
https://youtu.be/o7LwCm0iXR4

’Flute flight’ also from that year, little bit different line up
https://youtu.be/l_baETClbqA

...and perhaps, something very different, Herbie Mann with Bill Evans

’Nirvana’ from 1961.
https://youtu.be/Fjab84IfpR8
More to discover