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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
pjw81563
1,829 posts
 

Sonny Rollins, at age 18 - 20 used to hang out for hours in the Harlem apartment of Bud Powell and the upper west side apartment of Thelonious Monk on 63rd St. 

Sonny and his young friends, aspiring young musicians all, would go to both Powell's and Monk's apartments to "jam out" and work out their jazz vocabulary on their respective instruments. This included Kenny Drew on piano, Jackie McLean alto sax and young sax phenom Andy Kirk Jr. the son of band leader Andy Kirk.

Both Rollins and McLean state that Kirk Jr. was the better player and could have been one of the all time greats but, unlike Rollins and McLean who kicked heroin, the drug, which Rollins called the scourge of the jazz scene at the time, heroin won the battle with Kirk Jr. and eventually killed him....

Further Kirk Jr. info on a forum thread by ghost of miles here:

Andy Kirk Jr. - Artists - organissimo forums

pjw81563
1,829 posts
 

Another great Sonny Rollins interview

“It takes a while to perfect your soul”: Sonny Rollins in Conversation | TIDAL Magazine

And I have been listening to more very early Rollins recording sessions like these with JJ Johnson's band in 1949 and Bud Powell as well....

Written by JJ Johnson: Audobon - YouTube

Written by Sonny Rollins: J.J. Johnsons Boppers - Hilo - YouTube

Written by Bud Powell: Bouncin' With Bud - YouTube

Written by Thelonious Monk: 52nd Street Theme (Rudy Van Gelder Edition/1998 Digital Remaster) - YouTube

A teenage Sonny Rollins takes short but great solos on all......

 

stuartk
2,994 posts
 

@curiousjim 

I’m wanting to thank you again for suggesting the Penguin Jazz Recordings book.

You're welcome!

 

stuartk
2,994 posts
 

@pjw81563

Actually, Tyner had 3 brilliant recording sessions 1970 - 73 that I would also describe as challenging yet accessible.

Two other 70’s Milestone Tyner recordings worth checking out:

Focal Point

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mccoy+tyner+focall+point

Sama Layuca

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mccoy+tyner+sama+layuca

And one on Blue Note: Extensions

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mccoy+tyner+extensions

 

 

Another modal Jazz release featuring excellent Jazz violin playing;

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=zbigniew+seifert

 

pjw81563
1,829 posts
 

I have Focal Point/Sama  CDs..I also have Extensions and posted a song from it above From The Nile

@stuartk And one on Blue Note: Extensions

I like a live rendition of Sama Layuca from a 2006 recording at Yoshi's with Tyner, Christian McBride, Joe Lovano and Jeff "Tain" Watts..

Zbigniew Seifert is new to me. Very talented. Died way to young....

 

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