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, that was actually a very conservative estimate; wouldn’t want to be accused of braggadocio 🤗. Moreover, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Wynton has never played Bolero. Well, maybe at Juilliard, your favorite institution of higher learning, maybe once or twice.  It’s not what he does; that’s all. Now, I know you have often said that you are not interested in learning "one single iota" about music; no problem. Perhaps you are interested in learning a little bit about the music scene. If not, you need read no further.

Symphony orchestras program Bolero, on average, probably once or twice a year; the piece is a staple of the orchestral rep. Every time that it’s programmed it receives three or four performances. If it’s programmed twice a year that is 6-8 performances. As a freelance saxophonist for 35 years I have played with at least a dozen different orchestras at one time or another. If you do the math, 30 Boleros is neither terribly unusual nor record breaking. Also, most saxophonists who play Classical music also play jazz. Recently retired bass clarinetist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Ron Reuben, is also a very fine jazz player who also played saxophone in the orchestra for decades; he probably holds the record. Glad to inform you (if you’re still here). Btw, you may recall that I once posted on this thread a very funny story about Gerry Mulligan playing Bolero (on soprano) with the NY Phil. Not what he does (did); we can leave it at that 😉
Today's Listen:

John Coltrane -- JOHN COLTRANE AND JOHNNY HARTMAN
A Kinder and Gentler Coltrane?  As the notes ask, what happened to all the male Jazz singers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecrE80rnjhw 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ-968Fw3bA

Cheers
I got Eric Dolphy - "When Lights Are Low" playing tonight.  He played with Mingus, Coltrane. Solid player.
Coltrane/Hartman:

Whose name appears first in the title of a record or movie credits or.. is a big deal, contractually and ego wise. How often does one see the name of a well known singer follow the name of an instrumentalist in the title of a record? Not often. Such was the stature of Coltrane by the time this was recorded. Gorgeous record with gorgeous singing and playing; a real classic. It is interesting to note that Hartman was reluctant to accept the gig with Coltrane because he did not consider himself a jazz singer (!?); he thought of himself as a balladeer.

**** what happened to all the male Jazz singers? ****

Probably the best right now:

https://youtu.be/LLZwOOEFFKs

https://youtu.be/iXprs8-U5nA

On a funny note, and on the subject of dropping drumsticks, all the songs on this record are reputed to have been done in one take except for one which had to be restarted because Elvin Jones dropped one of his drumsticks 😎