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
)-10:
Gray seems to have been quite a talent, who may have placed family before Jazz. So why is he, and his contribution to Jazz almost invisible?

Interesting Documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUhfubHKSAY

Nice clip Acman3. You do have an ear for the good stuff.

Cheers

I'm sure he concentrated on his nuts, I don't know about the bolts.

HAVE YOURSELF A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Damn O-10, you better lay off that egg nog, or at least the stuff you put in it!! (Old Crow?)

We can all be thankful that Wynton Marsalis got the gig at Lincoln Center. Who else could have done it?? A great representative for Jazz.

The man is at home in all musical settings and venues. All genres also. His playing on 'Silent Night', had me screaming!!! This guy is awesome!! And Wycliffe looks like he is out of central casting, as a trombone player is a Chicago speakeasy. The entire group looks 'Jazz'.

I looked at all my Benny Goodman and Dexter Gordon and Count basie CDs, and could not find Wardell Gray on any of them. I will have to order one from Amazon.

A Merry Christmas to you also. And to all 'Aficionados'.

Cheers

Rok, I had forgoten about Nog, but now I'm going to double up and get a little Grog for the Nog.

I searched long and hard for something I would add to my collection by Wardell, but had no success for one reason or another, none of them to do with Wardell's talents.
Although his sound on swing was really appealing, there wasn't enough of it. While he could Bop with the best, I've got enough of that by Bird and Diz.

He had a special sound that I couldn't get enough of, but the cuts were too short. "Easy Living" was a tune that I liked which exemplified that easy swing sound of his that I liked. If I could find a CD with long cuts, and that "easy swing sound", it would be the match I'm looking for; but that's doubtful because "showmanship", like in "The Chase" by him and Dexter Gordan was popular.

Wardell had a special sound, but nothing I found displayed enough of it. I would be satisfied with a solo album where Wardell played for "Wardell". In my opinion, he never really found himself, or made the decision that "This is who I am", because he had it together, he just didn't know it and take command. Miles is an example of knowing who you are, and taking command of things. When I heard Miles at the time when Clifford was alive, I wasn't too fond of his music, along with a lot of other people, but that didn't faze Miles (not that he asked me) because he knew who he was. Wardell just didn't live long enough to discover that the man in the mirror had all the answers to his musical success.

Enjoy the music.
O-10:

I fully understand that this is a Jazz thread. In spite of that, now that I have 'discovered' Classical Music and Opera performed on DVD, I have a million questions. Who / where do we go for question time?? Seeing as how both of our resident Classical gurus are off somewhere sulking / pouting.

Cheers