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
I wanted to listen to some of the music Alex played yesterday on Tidal, and guess what, none of it is available. I am not sure about other services, but just a point to all the people who are considering going to streaming only. It works as a supplement to our collections, but we would give up a lot, in the name of convenience if we moved to streaming only. There are a lot of good music that never made it to digital also. 

Alex, beautiful stuff!

Thank you Acman, that's the first time I ever saw her live; well almost live. I have CD's by her that I've just come to appreciate, and Houston Persons is a big plus.
Don’t know about “best”, but Herbie Hancock is definitely one of the best and he is far more than just a fusion artist.  His creds as a straight-ahead jazz artist are beyond reproach as his discography clearly demonstrates.  Like the recently discussed career of Miles Davis, with whom Herbie made some of the most memorable and important straight-ahead jazz ever recorded, Herbie’s solo career makes it almost impossible to compare recordings from different periods as they can be so different from the other.  He is also a very good Classical pianist.  As good an example of a genre-neutral player as there is.  The playing and creativity is always at the highest level no matter what style he plays; always with his own identifiable and very hip (modern) approach to harmony.  And funky as hell!  

Personally, I would say that Chick Corea is very much Herbie’s peer as a fusion player.  Corea’s Jazz creds, while not quite as impressive as Herbie’s are still very impressive in their own right.  Two different players stylistically with each having his own rhythmic touch.  To my ears, Herbie has the more obvious roots in the blues with a relentless soulfulness.  Corea’s playing, especially on his fusion projects, has always had for me a kind of wide-eyed “perkiness” with a rhythmic feel slightly more on the front side of the beat and brighter tone and chord voicings.  Neither is “better”; just different, imo.  Still, as far as overall influence in jazz, I think few players on any instruments have been as important as Herbie.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JHvegyDAi7Q

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYe02mm9HjxK1qoMNToWjJD4HUQhLZkUj