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

True story: I was in a funereal limousine In Miles Davis's home town, and someone tried to lighten the grim journey by starting a conversation about Miles music. The chatter was going back and forth, when the grieved widow chimed in "I remember Miles, he was that little dark skinned kid who was always trying to blow the trumpet." After that, there was total silence for the rest of the journey.

Rok, Emily Remler and Barbara Dennerlein "Stormy Weather Blues" was boss, they're on my list. The best thing about new jazz is that it can be recorded so much better.

Enjoy the music.

Frogman, I bought that LP when it came out. Toots said that's his best ever, even though he wasn't the leader. There are so many aspects to that one LP, and I've enjoyed them all, but your take on the music always adds something new.

Enjoy the music.

Rok, dynamic range and tension are perfect descriptions for me, and I know exactly what you mean; those two terms are also technical aspects of the recording. Since that's an old recording, it's difficult to separate the technical aspects of "dynamic range", from the musical aspects which create the tension.

On "Moonlight in Vermont", I read the comments in regard to Houston Person, and they all spoke for me.

Enjoy the music.

For me, a person, and a person's music, are two entirely different things; at this time, it's necessary for us to make that distinction because I would like for us to get into current jazz, while at the same time we discuss past masters. If it's necessary to bring up an "incendiary" name for the sake of comparison of his music with other current or past jazz musicians, we must restrict that conversation to the music in isolation, because that's the way I see all music. When we want to talk about a person that's one thing, if we want to talk about that persons music, that's another. Is this possible? If not, let's just forget it.

Barbara Dennerlein is a new interesting artist who I've not heard before now, I think her group has the "dynamism" that Rok's referred to. I like her energy and style, I see a diamond in the rough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa-nKS89ATI

Enjoy the music.