https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0XIjGei8zG8
Merry Christmas!
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.
31,055 responses Add your response
| Post removed |
@ghosthouse Merry Christmas!
Tidal is great but I find Qobuz generally sounds better. Clicking on 'Versions' (on Roon) shows Qobuz version is 192kHz 24bit vs the Tidal is CD quality. With streams like this I don't buy the physical media...(living on the edge). I keep a pdf of my many many favorites and playlists, so I can reconstruct (or even purchase) this music if all goes to hell. I would say 70% of music is Qobuz, 20% hard drive and 10% Tidal (tunes that I like and are not on Qobuz). Also, if I create a Qobuz or Tidal playlist to parallel my roon playlists, it is kept on Qobuz (or Tidal) to basically back up my Roon playlists. I also use this as I run non Roon software at my vacation home on an Auralic streamer, using their Lightning software. Here I see any Qobuz (or Tidal) lists but not my other Roon songs. |
Ahhh...Ho! Ho! Ho! Bobba! As Bootsy would say...Around this time of the year... @acman3, I had a literal Jam Session at my place last night X-Mas Eve 2024. Those two posts of yours Tomin - A Willed and Conscious Balance (Full Album) and Especially Sahib Shihab - Sahib Shihab and the Danish Radio Jazz Group [Full Album] were off the proverbial Chain. In fact when I first started to listen to the youtube rip of Sahib Shihab I thought it was AI! Cause the youtube video showed a digital facsimile of a black line continuously going back and forth over the picture of the band in the background which to me resembled an analog recording film or celluloid based video recording medium that had deteriorated over time from oxidation on the film and from the old movie/video film projector scratching the film during playback. Man was I wrong, about the rip being AI! As I said in one of my previous posts. @acman3 - You (you’re) Killin The Game! Thank you so much. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATmjXSx3dBs&t=1s
|
| Post removed |
That could be pretty expensive!. Are you aware of the cost of CDs at present? I’ve been shelling out $20 on average for most of my CD purchases. Granted, many are out of print, but still, compared to the pre-Covid era, discs are considerably more expensive and the titles I’m interested in are becoming increasingly difficult to find. I’m actually buying back-ups for some of my favorites, because I have no idea what will be available in a couple years. |
Gene Russell - New Direction - Black Jazz Records 1971 Full Album https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzyffb0Mweo&list=PLCOG87BSx6Azu5ge-lqIyiRSqhubCcc9K |
@stuartk hello! Nah, I mean I can buy these downloads if I ever need. Between Streaming and opportunity to purchase downloaded files, I am done buying CD's. I was spending way more purchasing CDs 5 years ago vs subscriptions to Qobuz and Tidal (about 20 each) and a wll placed lifetime subscription to Roon years ago. AND, I have discovered WAY more music as Roon does a fantastic job of playing similar music.
|
That’s why to this day I still crate dig for used albums and even used cd’s whether it’s a walk in record/cd store or perusing Discogs. Here’s a tip for my crate diggin folks out there, always use a record weight when playing used record albums just in case they may be a bit warped. I spend the bulk of my hifi/audio funds on my rig itself so’s I can buy more records and cd’s. But hey, different strokes... |
Ah. OK. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Accessing music via streaming does look to be more affordable But the overwhelming impression I’ve gathered from perusing numerous threads over a good many years, is that achieving good sound via streaming is more complex and requires more technical expertise, than vinyl or cd playback. I’m more of a music lover than a gearhead and don’t mind the limitations of physical media so I don’t envision getting into streaming. The one chain of decent used cd shops in the Sacramento area closed several years back. Also, I’m not not typically looking for popular/well known pop, rock. country or metal titles. So, online is the best source for me me, in my location, for what I buy.
|
| Post removed |
Hey again @stuartk , I’m sure I’m hijacking this great Jazz thread so I’ll shut up after this.
I think effort, cost and an open mind without huge technical expertise. But the reward (I feel) is sound that is better than CD, and rivals most any vinyl rig. I guess I discount all this when talking about the ‘value” of streaming! Take care! |
Hi all, and Happy New Year to be spent with great music. I've been away for some time, but reading Tom Moon's book "1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die", a comment raised a question I thought might be of interest here. Tom is a music critic, contributor to multiple publications, and experienced as a professional musician. His book covers jazz, rock, classical, opera, blues, world music and whatever else you might think of. I found his comments on many recommended recordings I am familiar with to be very insightful. But one really jumped out at me. Included in his list is "Take Ten" with Paul Desmond and Jim Hall.. In that review he references "Take Five" as one of the most important jazz records of all time. But what surprised me was his statement that album "suffers from a fatal flaw. Brubeck's piano playing." He goes on to say, "The esteemed leader is revealed as something of a musical clod . . ." Now as someone who has enjoyed various Brubeck albums for decades I was amazed by that opinion. I do remember back in the '60s that Brubeck was put down by some jazz fans as being "too commercial", I suppose because of his sales and concert success. But I do't remember him ever being disparaged to this degree. I say this because I find Moon's other reviews to be so well considered and revealing. So surprising to say the least. |
I heard a young (36 years old) saxaphonist live recently. Her name is Melissa Aldana. I was very impressed because she had her own voice, with influences, of course, but like nothing I'd heard before. And it was a feminine voice in a genre of music that is dominated by strong male voices. I was very happy to hear a new jazz voice that would be worthy of playing in your listening room, competeing with all the giants of the past. A breath of fresh air. I think we should all be on the lookout for these new voices and open our doors and windows to new sounds. Two other fantastic female Brazilian jazz musicians: Tania Maria (now in her late seventies) and Flora Purim (also in her late seventies.) Flora Purim's abstract jazz album "Encounter" is in regular rotation on my turntable. As is Tania Maria's "Brazil With My Soul." In many endeavors, I think it is time that we men open the doors and windows to women . They are much stronger than you think. |
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL! Thank you, pryso. Best wishes! I think I may be able to shed bit of light on the reason for Tom Moon’s comment. Hopefully without getting too personal. I know Tom Moon from when we were both students in music conservatory. Tom was (is) a talented, pretty good Jazz saxophone player with a remarkably enthusiastic, wide-eyed love of music, no matter the genre…..like his book (great title!). He also has very specific opinions about what is good and what is not, but with no genre boundaries. Rhythmic feel and nuance, level of Swing are important to him on a very nuanced and subtle level. As concerns Brubeck, I understand where he is coming from, even if I don’t agree with the ultimate relevance of it all! I would not refer to Brubeck as a “musical clod”. Brubeck has a sense of swing that is, generally speaking, not as relaxed, or “swingy” in an easy way as some expect from a high profile Jazz player. That is only one aspect of a musician’s musical personality, but for some (musicians and listeners) it can diminish their overall assessment of a musician in spite of other excellences. I like Brubeck’s playing and I like his compositions a lot even though, for me, his feel can come dangerously close to feeling a bit “square”. In this interview, at the 24:50 mark you can hear Tom address this very issue: https://www.npr.org/2008/11/03/96544112/more-recordings-to-hear-before-you-die The tunes Take Five and Take Ten both have a 5 feel. Very similar tunes. Not easy to play in 5. As Tom discusses in the interview, if one listens to the comping of Brubeck vs that of Jim Hall one can hear the difference in level of ease and relaxed feeling. Take Five: https://youtu.be/ryA6eHZNnXY?si=sJFffWfDfgBEKnIR Take Ten: https://youtu.be/rI7hArFCiR8?si=KBHyyv1hWFkK8yS6
|
Thanks @frogman for replying. I always enjoy your sharing your knowledge and perspectives on music and this was helpful. Tom Moon obviously has great love for and broad experience in music. He is admittedly more inclusive than I am for types and styles he enjoys. But in this case he was more restrictive, which was why I commented. I've admitted here and elsewhere I don't have any training in music. So many technical elements of style or performance escape me. But I've been listening for decades and have formulated my own tastes. I can appreciate that Brubeck often has a rather "heavy" rhythemic sense. Quite different from someone like Basie who was so smooth and flowing while really swinging, if often minimalist. But maybe that is why I and many others enjoy Brubeck playing with Desmond so much, they are opposite while complementary. On the complementary side for Mr. Moon, I've been surprised by how many of his recommendations (not just jazz) are in my collection, and how often I appreciate and agree with his insights and picking those recordings. |
@stuartk +1! |
... while on the topic of Jazz guitar, here's a track from an upcoming live Emily Remler release "Live at the Four Queens, Las Vegas, May 28th, 1984": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akjgp20yZ8Y
|
Great stuff, acman3 and stuartk! Remler sounds great, but I’m a little confused about the title of the tune. “Cisco” is credited to Pat Martino, but his “Cisco” is a different tune. A brand old guitar recording that is really good! 😊: https://youtu.be/IqLyOs_JlaI?si=NQSEwZ-LEXqT4I-b
|
Happy new year!
One of my favorite three jazz albums
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU_1MROrl9g&list=PLfJndz0utgONMP9gZEqcQNHWKPQD2iMpt |
@frogman and @mahgister Pat Martino's El Niño and Cisco?! This is some of the best stuff I've heard in a long, long time! I like anything, with a little Spanish Tinge...Thank you both - dearly... |
@tyray , glad you liked it. Pat Martino was a badass! Very interesting and at times sad personal story. |
@tyray , if you’re new to Pat Martino you may like this. I’ve posted it previously, https://youtu.be/2o0AoEqSlB0?si=wvoQQ9f2OhoqI8ga Another with “a little Spanish tinge”…..at least in title. |
I’m afraid I can’t shed any light on the "Cisco" discrepancy but I’m looking forward to buying the Remler release!
The Virtuoso series highlighted Pass’ solo chord melody playing. Here’s one of several that featured his single-line playing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBf4kKoqnDc&list=OLAK5uy_mDghlHcFxACNnunc0A6IpNpIFtA5sGoHQ&index=2
|
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OFleiE81-E Never been able to sit still while listening to this - more gyrating in some weird dance - which I believe is the intent. Mingus' lead in is one of his best. And throughout more out front that most of his later arrangements of the same tune ... Danny Richmond drumming like a swinging jet engine Jimmy Knepper is phenomenal You know this one.
|
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aGsVqF-URXc Back at you! |
@acman3, Wow! Thanks! I see on wiki there many different version than the original 5 song album release. The 2001 Expanded Edition has total of 22 songs! Check it out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tijuana_Moods ’Charlie’ Mingus. Lol!
|
@mahgister, I was surprised to find a total of 3, and you say there’s a 4th? Way cool... |
@msbel, some years ago Mingus' Haitian Fight Song was used in a commercial. A younger man comes to pick up an older man (his father?) from what appeared to be a care facility. Then they hit the highway and that music was perfect as an expression of the old guy's freedom. As a long time Mingus fan I liked it before that, but it produced a commercial I was always happy to see -- a rare situation.
|
I think now there is 6 recordings albums of title "virtuoso"...
I know only 4... Top each one...
In this article they said 6... https://www.allaboutjazz.com/joe-pass-virtuoso-by-c-michael-bailey
Happy new year and big health and perfect hearing and some good surprize to come this year for you...
|
Listened to "John Coltrane Quartet Ballads" today flipping sides over and over. Elvin Jones' brushes, climbing cymbal mallets and rolls on within and nearly all the lead outs are pure genius. Rising like a Phoenix to remind us this was not an "easy listening session" - actually complex when I listen to what's happening with the time signatures and rhythms of Tyner, Garrison and Jones underneath Trane. I do consider this one of the best jazz albums of all time, so I am biased. Enjoy this track for a reminder of what (for me) rings true to this ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHAKe26KqG4&list=OLAK5uy_lELmp3lItqC6VDTGJLkvFuFBidfOH_WrQ&index=2 |