1. Home
  2. music
  3. 1361722327

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
pryso
1,501 posts
 
o10, "we have so many gems in our collections that we forget to play some of them until reminded".  I agree.  

And that is a reason I'm beginning to cull my entire music collection.  But for me that exercise relates to my age.  I really can't imagine listening to everything I own at this point in my life, particularly when the favorites continue to get multiple plays.  That's not a complaint.  I'm grateful to own so many discs I enjoy.  

But a downside to this site for me is hearing so many other wonderful examples I'd enjoy too if I had them.  But if I'm really going to reduce the collection then I must remain disciplined.  All you younger folks be thankful you (likely) have more time to enjoy new finds.
orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Pryso, I'm in precisely the same boat, but I enjoy and appreciate the sidemen on my favorite discs so much more; for example on "Somethin Else", by Cannonball, I hear Hank Jones on piano more, of course you can't miss Miles and Cannonball.


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kag0vqS8CU


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tSYXpq2kW0





While "Kind of Blue" is considered to be the top album by most, this is my pick.



orpheus10 OP
5,988 posts
 

Pryso, when you have old albums like this, there's not a lot of time for new stuff;


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBw-w_jql4g


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4pevIiq9As
pryso
1,501 posts
 
o10, your sidemen comment is spot on.  That is one of the reasons I enjoy many of my older favorite LPs again and again, I continue finding nuances not noticed in an initial playing.

Also, while I greatly enjoy "Somethin' Else", I'm sure there was more to the story of how Cannonball was credited as the leader.  Some contract arrangement with Blue Note?  Consider this comment from Wiki, "The album was recorded during Adderley's membership in the Miles Davis Sextet of 1958, and is one of the few post-1955 appearances of Miles Davis as a sideman. Indeed, Davis plays several of the first solos, composed the bluesy title track and, according to the liner notes, chose most of the material."  That doesn't sound like Miles was a sideman to me. ;^)

Still, that should be on most everyone's top jazz albums list.

Also, Dakota's "Cry Me A River" sounds like it came from a Bond soundtrack, not that's theres anything wrong with that.
frogman
4,637 posts
 
pryso, you’re exactly right re “Somethin’ Else”. That record has long been considered by some to really be a Miles session. There was a debate here a while back about the relative merits of it vs KOB. SE is a great record with a lot of fantastic playing. I can definitely understand why someone might prefer it’s overall fairly conservative style, but it wasn’t the game changer that KOB was. As concerns their relative importance in the history of jazz KOB wins hand down. Still, it is interesting to me that Cannonball’s very upbeat playing feels even more at home on SE than on KOB’s modal tunes with their more introspective vibe and the company of Coltrane’s more modern and “edgier” harmonic language. On KOB, as great as he sounds, Cannonball sometimes sounds to me a little bit like the odd man out.
More to discover