Jazz for aficionados

Today's Playlist (so far)

The Blue Note Swingtets -- Featuring groups led by
Tiny Grimes, John Hardee, Ike Quebec, Benny Morton and Jimmy Hamilton

Great playing throughout. This was, according to the liner notes, recorded during Blue Note's 'Swing' period.(1944-1946) A period greatly influenced by Quebec. He seems to have been a very influential advisor to the founder of Blue Note Alfred lion. Even brought Monk to Blue Note.

On this CD, eight of the numbers are by groups led by Ike. Very easy swinging blues rule these sessions. Ike contributes two of his own compositions: 'Blue Harlem' and 'Zig Billion'

Some of the all time greats appear: Milt Hinton, Oscar pettiford, Ben Webster, Barney Bigard and a lot of the Duke's men.

All recorded between 1944 and 1945. Some tape hiss and a little noise, but nothing that would bother a vinyl aficionado. Which I ain't.

I have not given Ike his proper due in my music collection. Only one CD. I will have to correct that. I am sure I have more of him on LP.

Great Liner notes by Dan Morgenstern. I just love it when the history of the players / music and background of the recording session is included.

Cheers

"Nature Boy" by Ike Quebec is an interesting version of this tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tk6dYP_uhs

Since I posted "Heavy Soul" two miles back and it got missed, here it is again. I especially like Freddy Roach on organ. They knew Ike was dying from terminal cancer when they recorded this, hence the title "Heavy Soul" .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIZzHpXGEjg

Enjoy the music.

I listened to Ike Quebec's Bossa Nova Soul Samba last night and it made me very, very happy.

When I watch a youtube 'video' with just a still shot of the artist, I think of the movie '1984,' and the pictures of Big Brother. Words being spoken but he never moves! hahahahahahah I felt like Ike was watching me!

Cheers.

'Heavy soul' did not get missed. That's why Ike is the topic of conversation. The Frogman and I commented on it. And I even listened to his work on the Blue Note Swingtet CD. Pay attention O-10. :)

Some jazz artists I've known personally, were gifted, as opposed to talented, or practiced hard. They could improvise on their chosen musical instruments and mesmerize a crowd on any given night. I decided not to name them, because I'm going to give you the reasons they didn't become rich and famous. One word, drugs!

I can say with confidence, there was absolutely no linkage between the drugs and jazz; they would have been drug addicts whether they were musicians or not. From what I could ascertain in these particular cases, there was some "unspeakable" psychological pain they had endured, and drugs was their only means of escape. This also applied to Billy Holiday if you read about the psychological trauma she endured as child.

Miles Davis would not have become rich and so famous, had he not kicked his drug habit. He was a copycat drug user, he did it because he thought it was hip. There was no "unspeakable" psychological event that ever occurred in his life, and that's why he was able to kick the habit.

The musicians who I watched shoot themselves, didn't know how I sufferd when they did it. Since we had become close friends, I could also imagine being part of their "guaranteed" wealth and fame. No matter how gifted an artist is, if he can't get up and go to work, there is no way he can be successful. No, drugs did not help them play better, as a matter of fact, they just wouldn't show up on a gig if they were wasted. When I asked them why, they simply looked off into space.

None of the current crop of musicians can remotely compare to the musicians I knew personally. You'll have to take my word for this, or not take my word; but the linkage between rich and famous, as opposed to relatively unknown is not necessarily how good of a jazz musician the individual is.

Enjoy the music.