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.
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I concur.... At least " the believer" album is top it seems as the two others above... He had a musical sense so tense that this tame his astonishing virtuosity...This is why i love him... He is not savage player as some others or a completely "civilized" one , but a refined musician who play with his heart no less than with his brain... 😊
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1st song from this album. 1981 is the year, I believe.
https://www.discogs.com/release/2242532-Billy-Harper-The-Believer/image/SW1hZ2U6NDk2Mjg1Mjk= |
This second album i listen to of Billy Harper is no less genius than the first above... Amazing... Because he never put useless notes... His musical sense is top... Then it keep our attention to the music line not to himself playing... A master for me walking the thin line between musical content and improvization ......We feel he never need to prove himself and stay creative without using music for himself... In this sense he is spiritual player...Less ego and more music... i am impressed and i tried to put my words on my impressions... 😁😊 But i could have stayed speechless... 😁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7BOjLN2XTI Is a third album at this perfection level be possible? I will see after dinner and walk...
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Sometimes we can only be sure that the musician is at the top of his game and a genius, even before we learn to know if we like him or not or the fact that we like him or not matter no more because his playing sound and phrasing is unique ... It seems Harper is in this league of his own... The only comparison in mind is Love Supreme of Coltrane ... My first listen and any negative review of this masterpiece would be ridiculous😊and any positive review understatement : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez8uX1Qj5mQ
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You're welcome! Stanley Cowell is excellent. The sax, trumpet, piano, bass and drums is probably my favorite. Check out Billy Harper's quintet recordings with trumpeter Eddie Henderson, such as the three "Live in the Far East" releases and the studio releases "Soul of an Angel" and "Destiny is Yours". Fine Spiritual Jazz.
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i go on listening to my Sipiagin collection...Here he play with a german saxophonist leader... This one album is very good to my taste... On my new improved 4 inches self powered speakers in their acoustic corner in my basement and celestial in my K340 headphone...😊 My audiophile heaven is in a basement corner... 😁 I like hammond organ very much as in this album ... Jazz at his best for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9BkxUeMqZQ
I go on also with Wayne Shorter but for now i cannot recommend one in particular... I like when sax and trumpet are in duos in some Shorter albums ... |
Well, OK -- if you insist! Sticking to the Ralph Moore theme, here's a live JJ Johnson date with a killer group of sidemen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoYmdoOoOto JJ Johnson: Trombone Ralph Moore: Sax Victor Lewis: Drums Bass: Rufus Reid Piano: Stanley Cowell
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Haven’t heard that one. BTW, another excellent record featuring Ralph Moore is Kenny Barron’s "Other Places": https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kenny+barron+other+places I will attempt to restrain myself from bombarding you with further suggestions, as the Penguin has ( I presume) already provided you with a ton of options! ;o )
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Are you familiar with Vincent Herring? https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vincent+herring+simple+pleasure |
@curiousjim My pleasure! Thanks also to Korry Cook at KSYM radio for playing the record. Cook is a very good drummer, by the way. |
So Blue Note started in 1939 and Simmons first record came out in 1966. Maybe times were tough at Blue Note. Maybe Simmons felt wronged and that was his way trying to get even. But with man’s inhumanity to man, nothing would surprise me. And I doubt they’d want to get cash machines like Mingus messed up. |
@curiousjim I know, as does everyone else, about the Heroin problem at that time. I just don't think one of the founders of Blue Note would pay artists in drugs. That's a felony. Why risk all he had built, by being in effect, a drug pusher. You pay them in dollars and let them find a 'source'. The whole thing sounds like a tale told by someone trying to explain why their career never went anywhere. I can just see some record company exe throwing a few 'bags' in front of Miles or Mingus as 'payment'.
Cheers |
Stitt is definitely in my top 20 as well! A great Sonny Stitt record with an even greater title Sonny Stitt - Just In Case You Forgot How Bad He Really Was (1981) [Complete CD] - YouTube |
thanks go the link.A friend gave me a copy. It’s good to have friends.😁
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Heard this track on the car radio today, my good fortune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcdOmnHverk Had never heard of tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore prior to today. Looking forward to playing his recordings. |
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I have no problem believing that Lion could be guilty of this. He was, after all a record producer in the 30s through the end of the 60s and heroin was used by a lot of jazz artists, many of whom made little to no money and were "strung out". The list is so long that posting the names of the jazz artists that used dope during these 4 decades might take up a whole page on this thread.....
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