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

"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.
Jazz Aficionados:

I feel that I understood all the comments The frogman made about Ike Quebec's Playing technique.

The Frogman is a great teacher. His descriptions paint such detailed and vivid pictures of the points he is making. We can all be glad to have a person with his expertise in this discussion and forum.

Cheers