Paul Motian's debut album as a leader was with ECM and all of his ECM sessions, as well as Kenny Wheeler's I have and I like them.
I thought I made it clear what type of the music on ECM I do not like but I guess not.
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.
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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The above wasn't exactly a detailed description of what you like/don't like, so I'm confused by your comment about what you made "clear". Is "Soulville" one of the eleven?
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I bet that was a great show!
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@curiousjim I've listened to about half of "1961". Good record when one is in the mood for some quiet sounds imo. Also KW's first album on ECM is "Gnu High". Very highly recommended. I think it was just reissued on vinyl. Backup group is Keith Jarrett, Dave Holland and Jack Dejohnette. PM's first ECM album was "Conception Vessel". Haven't played it in a long time. There's an ECM enthusiasts group on Facebook that's fairly active; for streaming, I follow it and try to keep a list of the recordings that look interesting. |
Yes -- the language itself is undeniably clear. However, exactly which ECM albums might qualify for these adjectives is, to some degree, open to interpretation. While I’ve certainly heard music on this label that, from my perspective, fits such a description, I don’t know you well enough to presume which ECM albums fit this category within the context of your taste. That's all I was getting at.
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Is that on ECM? I've lost track of when he started releasing music on his own label. There are at least two D. H. Big Band releases. I caught that group live Yoshi's but actually prefer his Octet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ml9D7Hlf9I In any event, it's hard to go wrong with D. Holland! Here's a link to his discography from his website; https://daveholland.com/discography/
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@curiousjim I understand, no apologies please! No jazz police around here... |
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@curiousjim , re Ben Webster...try to find these ones, I guess they are classics... Webster and Tatum https://youtu.be/KJifh-S2Hw4?feature=shared Webster and Hawkins https://youtu.be/ASrLKqVFhKI?feature=shared Webster and Zawinul https://youtu.be/oIv3lM_ksLY?feature=shared Webster and Peterson https://youtu.be/OniFXJLCiQQ?feature=shared Webster and Associates https://youtu.be/VRxSgiksP6Q?feature=shared Webster and Edison |
I was privileged to experience the D. Holland Quintet live 4 times. Some of the best live music I’ve heard, ever.
Full video show by the Quintet (w/original drummer Billy Kilson): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvG8B39_Alc
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It’s probably the best part of retirement 😁 Yeah until recently, I’ve been listening to jazz just a very small amount. YellowJackets, Weather Report, Earl Klugh, Bob James, Rippingtons. But as far as the Rabbit Hole I’ve jumped into head first, OMG, so many names, so little time. I’m listening to Horace Parlan, Up & Down. A great album IMO. He has played with many, but I’ve only found a small number of albums where he’s the main man. |
Had it for a while, did not listened to it and now really enjoing it. Very nice album, stellar line up. Perhaps some of you may like it too... Don Wilkerson ’Texas twister’ https://youtu.be/fJWgcbmAQEw?feature=shared P.S. Dont know the reason, but the recording via ytube sounds like its ’spinning’ faster than the actual album on cd that I listen to. In fact, listening via ytube music sounds annoying, not even close to the ’real thing’. Do not use ’pc audio’ otherwise, so do not know what you might expect on other platforms, but if you are still buying cd’s like me, I recommend that one. They are really ’cooking’ on that album... |
I haven’t been participating in this thread very long so I don’t know if he’s been mentioned but what about Eric Alexander? He and Harold Mabern had a long partnership. Here’s a taste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw7GnNxLIlk
And another, less-often-mentioned player -- Bob Berg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HnIr-u_6pk&list=OLAK5uy_m7ZR6v8ALqCj258qpvfgZJ3cdiwJ17OWo&index=2
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I saw Eric Alexander with Jimmy Cobb at Smoke in NYC I believe it was 10 - 11 years ago. I have a half dozen CDs from Alexander and they are all good. A great tenor. Bob Berg as well as Eric Alexander have been mentioned many times here in the past just not recently. I like Berg to. I also saw guitarist Mike Stern (a friend of Miles Davis) play at the Blue Note in NYC with Jimmy Cobb in a show called the "Music Of Miles" Here is Stern with Bob Berg (1) Friday Night At The Cadillac Club - Mike Stern & Bob Berg Band - YouTube Speaking of great tenors that go under the radar check out Steve Grossman and Dave Liebman. Both are great tenors. Steve Grossman Dave Liebman (1) On Green Dolphin Street - YouTube Steve and Dave on Elvin Jones landmark 1972 Live at the Lighthouse sessions . I have a 24 bit UHQCD Japanese CD of this show in its entirety and the remastering is stunning. A desert island list recording. A young Liebman and Grossman play great tenor and soprano. (1) Elvin̲ J̲o̲n̲e̲s̲ – ̲L̲i̲v̲e̲ A̲t̲ T̲h̲e̲ L̲i̲g̲h̲t̲h̲o̲u̲s̲e̲ (̲1̲9̲7̲2̲)̲ - YouTube
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You can't go wrong with those Ben Webster suggestions from Alek. Also get your hands on the Kid and Brute. The Kid Illinois Jacquet playing Flying Home. This recording is known by all jazz aficionados as one of the first and best examples of the Be Bop language put on wax. And seek out more of the "Creole Kid" Jean Baptiste "Illinois Jacquet". You wont be disappointed. (1) The Kid And The Brute - YouTube Also get your hands on the album "The Soul of Ben Webster". This 15 minute blues from that session is one of my favorite jazz songs from any artist ever put on wax. (1) Charlotte's Piccolo - YouTube The Kid and Brute (again!!) |
I know how much you like Sadao Watanabe. I dont know if you have this or heard of it but its a great live recording with Sadao in the company of Ron Carter on bass, Hank Jones on piano and the great Tony Williams on the kit. Sadao plays blistering choruses and solos throughout.... Ron Carter - playlist by Paul Irishman | Spotify Also wanted to ask if you know about the great Belgium jazz guitarist Rene Thomas. He was a great friend of Sonny Rollins and played with him when Sonny toured Europe in the 50s and 60s. They also played together at Jazz Middlheim in Antwerp. |
My next show this Saturday night at the hallowed grounds of the Village Vanguard NYC. This is the trio I'll be seeing (1) BIMHUIS TV Presents: Bill Stewart Trio feat Larry Grenadier and Walter Smith III - YouTube |
Thanks very much ... I know this Ron Carter album with Sadao... Sadao never studied formally , it is a self taught player who do the best when he go minimally... It is most of the times... I like him as much as other player minimalistic too as Shorter or Desmond for example on many albums... I like the tone texture of the sax more in his melodic flowing than in its stimulating for sure harmonic explosions... Trumpet is no more my best instrument in jazz with piano, i added bass ( because of my high end headphone clearer rendition, my past speakers were limited in a way my headphone are not they sound like speakers+good subs it is the best purchase of my life ) and sax.... I appreciated more jazz musicians than ever ...Even Hammond organ and especially guitar and even trombone with the great Steve Turre who i admire a lot ... I already know these albums of Sadao though... But i did not know at all the belgian guitarist really... I dont remember him... I will explore then thanks...😊 Wow! i love him right now... I just let him play... Thanks ...i am in love with some guitar sound...This is one.... Django Reinhardt influence is behind him way more than Wes Montgomery but he play completely in his own way , amazing... ( i own a big box of Wes by the way which i listen often )... I just realized that i own at least one album of Chet Baker with Thomas... ( i forgot because i have 100 albums of Chet Baker, i discovered jazz thanks to him 30 years ago 😊 )
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@pjw81563 , just recently I have posted this album of Rene Thomas, when Stuartk mentioned him. Here its again, in case you missed it https://youtu.be/0Xoli1r1t2Y?feature=shared (Guitar Groove) Some I. Jacquet albums that I like... https://youtu.be/FE3NM__LIIg?feature=shared (The blues, thats me) https://youtu.be/Z1PR557t64g?feature=shared (The message) https://youtu.be/j5Jsu0g7piQ?feature=shared (Desert Winds) Aldo I have many more Websters abums, do not have that one with Jacquet. Will listen to it, thanks. If you find a decent source or better, a cd, listen to that Don Wilkerson album above,it sounds more ’advanced’ than its age might suggest
I do not remember if I ever posted this album, but along the stellar line up its sound is somewhat different than other sax players may have recorded in those times.It took me a while to get that cd. But, than again, perhaps the Frogmans rule may be applied to him too... James Clay (A Double dose of soul) |
I will check out Texas Twister after they unload my trailer and I hit the road towards my next destination. Almost midnight here in Brooklyn NY. I have been listening to a lot of Oliver Nelson lately (not just "The Blues and the Abstract Truth" LOL ). I have not heard any "duds" on any small ensemble or big band sessions Nelson conducted/composed/arranged/played alto and tenor... Just a great musician with so much to like. From his first album |
@pjw81563 , dont skip that James Clay....
Cannonball Adderley: So long as there's a Duke Ellington you don't have advancement in jazz, you don't have modern jazz, traditional feeling, you don't have time or no time, or polyrhythms and polytonality as well as simple tonalities. I think that so long as he's around we are going to have jazz as we knew it, but I'm a little bit afraid. Our problem is just getting the people to listen. There are a great number of fine players, and there will always be fine players. What were the elements that attracted people to jazz in the first place? Let's stop and think about that. Jazz had a kind of mystique. It differed from popular music and dance music because there were surprises all the time ... there was always the spontaneity of improvisation and the excitement of people really involved in enjoying what they seemed to be doing. Among other things. Now aren't some of these same elements present in some of the popular music today? This is the thing that is of major concern to me. There are certain rock and roll, rhythm and blues groups who have exciting rhythms going on - complicated things they have a spontaneous kind of vocal improvisation even, and they have the same elements, solos that we have today, improvisation based on something new, when they get a music that complements all the other elements they have going, then I am a little bit afraid, because we have become so intellectual in our approach to jazz that it's becoming academic, and we listen to people because we know they are good and to see what they are going to teach us or what they are going to say rather than for the sheer thrill and enjoyment of feeling. This interview was published on "THE chicago SEED" newspaper , November 1968 |