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

Showing 50 responses by inna

Yes, the last three minutes could've been better, don't know why they did it.
Her name is Azam Ali, Iranian who grew up in India. She also sings classical of a sort.
Have you heard Lotus Eaters by Dead Can Dance ? It is from their last unfinished album from 90ies. Similar to Indus from Spiritchaser.
pjw, I was simply responding to what Rok said, nothing to do with you and your posts.
By the way, why do you think Miles abandoned classical jazz at some point ? McLaughlin never belonged to it, he started out by playing in London clubs, and it was not jazz, with elements of jazz, of course. Tony Williams heard him play and invited him to New York. Then Miles heard him and invited him to participate in his new music. Once some black musicians asked Miles - Why did you invite white man to join you ? He said - When I hear a black man able to play like John I'll invite him. But Miles was not a typical black man, not at all.
Yeah, I have all original Dead Can Dance releases on vinyl except the first album. There is a Japanese one on ebay but I probably won't buy it, I just need two songs there. There is also Japanese It'll End In Tears by This Mortal Coil there. It's a compilation containing two songs by Dead Can Dance. Thinking, but again probably not. I keep a grip on my audiophile fund, maybe too tight a grip sometimes.
This is for everyone. I don't dislike Beck, he just makes no impression, except here. First solo by Jeff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M033mnjBrrE
Frogman, I also like the complexity and ability to play silence as he did in Mila Repa. Reincarnation is another track from the same album worth listening, different enough.
In Django composition I think, it is my guess, John intentionally stayed somewhat in the background, letting Jeff play his best. In fact, everyone played his best with McLaughlin. I only know one more musician with the same talent - Miles Davis.
Even Paco de Lucia played his best with John, with some exceptions.
I used to like Joe Pass, I said it, he is good.
Returning to McLaughlin, for me there was no album after 1992, Que Alegria, that I like. There were performances from time to time, that's all.
Orpheus10, I didn't really explored modern Sub-Saharan African music, but you may be right that most of it moved to the New World.
Slavery, loss of habitat and strange new lands are obvious. But there is at least one more factor that surely contributed - daily interactions with white people. Not all slave owners were bad or mostly bad, but interaction even with bad can give a lot. Black music in Americas developed in a situation of unusual environment. Let's give credit to everyone who often unknowingly contributed. 
Orpheus10, Cielo e Terra is one of my favorite albums. Mesmerizing mindscapes.
Wanted to find some Caribbean music but instead found this. My apologies.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhs4sJWOc0Y
I was thinking..there are almost 1.5 million views of this thread. The contributors did a lot to 'spread the word of gospel'. This is the most important thread on Audiogon.
Look around you and you will see that quite a number of people are in slavish relations, some throughout their lives, at times this brings out art in them, including music.
But this is not a very good place to talk about these things.
As for that sensual piece, I think music is adequate. There can always be something better.
You know, right now I've got a terrible flu and can't yell even thru the net. I can't tolerate any music either.
If we start accusing each other of lack of nuance and feel this thread will be destroyed. By us. Orpheus10, I think you are wrong, even if Frogman might not have been as empathic as you would've liked him to be.
Sometimes it goes like this - there is peace to be found on the other side of war. I hope it's not the case, at least not fully.
Anyway, the best posts of music are mine.
Wasn't Miles Davis recording soundtrack for Lift to the Scaffold in Paris at about the same time ? Great music, I didn't like the movie, though, but great music.
Rok, jazz for you. Very informal setting, no clubs, no usual pomp. And don't tell me you don't like it because I won't believe you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxpEigG9bCw
Unintentionally, I presume, we touched on the subject of after the war Paris jazz scene, and general culture. I understand, that was an interesting and somewhat wild time there. Black American musicians were invited and welcome, treated very differently compared to the US. Speaking of Miles specifically, I think he is in fact more popular in Europe and Japan than in America, especially his late sixties and later music. He left classical jazz in an effort to put slavery behind him, and he might've succeeded. Orpheus10, we can be slaves of our own memories and even enjoy it, in a way.
I am afraid, I disagree with you. I judge things myself, regardless of "generations of music lovers". It is a more difficult position if you think about it, whether it is also more arrogant or not is not a simple subject.
Orpheus10, how is this woman for your taste? It’s a very short piece of Spanish movie Carmen by Carlos Saura. Highly recommended. Paco de Lucia plays Paco, greatest flamenco dancer Antonio Gades plays himself too. Christina Hoyos - incredible flamenco dancer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpZ3ei5juBA
Frogman, no I haven't heard the original, haven't even been aware of the existence of the original.
Rok, you would dance to that ? Oh boy..I'd choose Boney M if no other choice, or ABBA.
I can't believe it, I seem to be the blackest man in town. Figures..
Inuit folk ? Ha, sounds good to me. Siberian funk..I think, you invented a new category. No, it's not jazz in a full sense of it, it's jazzy whatever. John's sense of partner is as good as ever.
This would make a great duo - Zappa and Pavarotti. Performing perhaps  Black Magic Woman by Santana.
Rok would die on the spot, I would probably survived, barely. Orpheus10 would become catatonic for at least a week. But Frogman would have fun, not sure about Schubert.

Yup, Hispaniola by Vangelis.
Carmina Burana is great, always liked it a lot.
It's an excellent movie, by the way, about Columbus, called 1492 Conquest Of Paradise. Gerrard Depardeau as leading actor, European production. Vangelis wrote the soundtrack.
Orpheus10, I listened to the Subramaniam that you posted, it's okay with me but nothing more. Some time ago you posted Subramaniam/Ponti performance that was much better, especially solo by Ponti. As you know, he played in the second Mahavishnu Orchestra, very different voice than Goodman of the first Mahavishnu. Goodman's violin is fusion mad, Ponti is aristocrat - both excellent in my view.
Let's just not go into the dark world of psychopathology, musicians or not - no difference.
I deleted all my most recent posts except one. Moderator has nothing to do with it.
Mary, appreciate your words.
It was my final effort to deliver a message to the OP.
I gave him a warning when he publicly insulted Frogman. It didn't work, his apology was false. I gave him another warning when he switched to me at the first opportunity, it didn't work either.
His mind is bordering on disarray.
El Camaron de la Isla was a unique and legendary flamenco singer. His best years were with Paco on guitar, but also sometimes with Paco's elder brother on guitar. I have all original Spanish El Camaron/Paco de Lucia records. I listen to them quite often, maybe once every other week.
I disagree. The older I get the more audience I need , and life and me are dancing around each other. What exactly we are dancing is hard to tell, though.
Never tried cables that expensive. Among other things, why do you think so much music was poorly recorded ?  Bad cabling. Also bad wall current. If you try to record Amati or Stradivari, to convey what they are capable of, you should have top equipment, including cabling. Nothing happens without signal transmission. And of course it should be analogue tape recorder.
Mary, it is not that simple and not only less noise. I don't waist money, believe you me.
Now where do I find $4k to get me Accuphase class A power amp ?
No idea but it will come to me, I am sure it will..

Back to music.
Mary, if you go to Andalucia visit Sevilla as well. Ask locals about where to experience real flamenco, not flamenco for tourists.
orpheus10, you are right, and this kind of music was also heard before Christ. Persian not Arabic.
I think I posted this video quite some time ago but I'll post it again. I remember you liked it, I have a good memory. I'll try to find something else.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1QST4cJrzs&list=FLHAEL8Iwz684WaGFx1rQchA&index=109&ab_c...
Orpheus10, no, you are not losing me. I am just a little busy these days.
I listened to everything. The Australian funk or whatever we want to call it is great! Really enjoyed it. I very much liked those street musicians too. The second composition by Santana is quite nice as well.
Second part of another McLaughlin/Santana duo is especially good.
I'll keep looking for other music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFCMrZ7jAJc&list=FLHAEL8Iwz684WaGFx1rQchA&index=28&ab_ch...