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
Some more recent purchases:

Nina Simone -- The Best of the Colpix Years

Nina is great as she always is. The sound quality is hit and miss. The song selection is ok, but this being a compilation, the songs and the sound quality is disjointed.
She sings 'Fine and Mellow', I always thought that song belonged to Billie. After hearing Nina, it still belongs to Billie. The critics seem to feel that she did her best work at Colpix. If the title of this CD is correct, I disagree. I like the Philips output much better.

Branford Marsalis Quartet -- Four MFs Playin' Tunes

Who Dat?? Who Dat, say Jazz is dead?? It is alive and well, and this CD is proof. I am not familiar with his quartet, but they are great. Esp the piano player (Joey Calderazzo). But all are great. I think this is where the be/hard bop guys were heading. It's fresh, new, and progressive, with it's orgins/roots firmly planted in the past. This is the new Jazz! Don't need no Koreans or Arabs or any of the rest. I think Branford might be better than his brother.

Joe Henderson -- Our Thing

with/Joe Henderson, Tenor sax / Kenny Dorham, trumpet / Andrew Hill, piano / Eddie Khan, bass / Pete LaRoca, drums

Good Blue Note outing. Professionals at work. The liner notes of the LP, and the Remaster, this is a RVG CD, are something to behold. I had to check to see if they had been written by The Frogman! I wonder how many Jazz fans think of, and 'hear' the music the way Messrs. leonard Feather and Bob Blumenthal perceive it?

Dizzy Gillespie -- Dizzy's Big 4

with / Dizzy / Joe Pass / Ray Brown / Mickey Roker.
Typical OJC sound quality, which is very good. Dizzy continues to amaze me how he can play in the upper register with such ease and purity of tone. He is without peer doing that. 'Be Bop' is my favorite. They take it at light speed!! Birks Works is also very good. Another Norman Granz production. I am currently reading the Hershorn book about Granz.

Cheers
Branford is the real deal. This record is on my list of must-gets. With your endorsement, it just got moved to the top of the list. Wynton is a more meticulous instrumentalist, but his jazz playing leaves me cold; almost as if he is playing solos that have first been written out. Branford plays with a lot more abandon and spontaneity; very good player.
I have always thought of Wynton and being more than just a Jazz player. He is more. He has greater responsibilities. Maybe his extra duties have affected his playing. I still think of him as being the face of Jazz in America today. I agree with you about Branford.

Cheers
Listening to a recent purchase - John Coltrane, "Soultrane." Just a regular reissue on vinyl on Prestige label. Never heard this recording before. It is excellent. Some really tuneful ballads and John plays marvelously. Recording is excellent too.