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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Wynton Marsalis -- MARSALIS PLAYS MONK-STANDARD TIME VOL.4

I think we can all agree that no-one can play Monk like Monk could. Having said that, this is a very enjoyable outing.

The recorded sound is a big improvement over the Monk-era sound and the players are very capable. A lot of lesser known / played Monk tunes are included.

Great arrangements by Wynton Marsalis. Where would Jazz be today without this man! 'Brilliant Corners' has never sounded as Brilliant! Nice trombone playing throughout by Wycliffe Gordon.

check it out!

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Today's Gem:

Oscar Peterson Trio with Milt jackson -- VERY TALL
The first time Oscar and Jackson recorded together. The Vibraphone and the Piano make a very good pairing. Wonderful and unique sound.

Six Tunes. All excellent. Includes 'on green dolphin street',(for some reason I love that title) 'work song', and 'john brown's body'.

Awesome interplay between Oscar and Jackson on 'work song'. I felt there was a lot of good natured 'head cutting' going on between the two throughout the entire set.

All performance were Five Star.

Jackson seems to be a different player once he is away from MJQ, or more to the point, away from John Lewis.

When the Good Lord said BOP!, Lewis thought he siad BACH!, And away he went.

Awesome set. Everyone has to have it. Case Closed!

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Rok, it's amazing how much we agree; I just got a HD Download of the MJQ, to replace a scratched 2 LP set, and even that didn't help. Milt Jackson "Bags" on the other hand can do no wrong, I think you've identified the problem.

"On Green Dolphin Street" is also one of my favorite tunes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbHCrFvzwG0

Enjoy the music.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Cedar Walton -- COMPOSER

walton(piano), roy hargrove(trumpet), christian mcbride(bass), vincent herring(alto sax), ralph moore(tenor sax), victor lewis(drums)

The CD is very aptly named. This is all about the composer and his compositions. All tunes well crafted and played.

Nine tunes, all composed by Cedar Walton. This is very advanced bop. Beyond the 50s / 60s blue note era stuff, but still bop, and still JAZZ.

All solos are well executed. No blowing just to be blowing. Recorded in 1996. Great sound quality.

It is obvious these are serious Jazz players with a serious player in charge.(walton) you can always tell.
The playing shows the kind of professionalism shown on 'kind of blue'.

This is the only Cedar Walton CD I own. That is almost criminal. This man is a Jazz pianist / composer of the first rank. I will have to correct this oversight.

That's one of the best things about this thread. You find out where your music collection is lacking. Kenny Barron was another oversight.

Check this one out. You will love it. Just coherent, beautiful, and effortless playing throughout.

Git the CD!!!!

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Rok, thank God Amazon has discovered jazz is a goldmine; the very best "West Coast Jazz" was on movie sound tracks from the 50's, and now Amazon is bringing them back.

I was on Lackland AFB in basic training at that time, and since we couldn't get off base, our only form of entertainment was the movie theater; especially on Sundays. Jazz aficionados discovered there were some real hip sound tracks attached to some of the most "God awful" bad movies, and when word got around, that's where we went. Can you imagine us poppin our fingers and boppin to the music, while making fun of a movie so bad that it could have been a comedy. Although I don't remember any of those movies, I'm still trolling hoping something will jog my memory. In the meantime I've substituted some very good movies with sound tracks that project the best "West Coast" jazz you ever want to hear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Ne0Ig9lDU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWyec7XoASU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My3HPXXoZCA&list=PLAv5cGjUUPodt4exDFPQk_WByIAc31lQo&index=2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwUdfyd77uo&list=PLAv5cGjUUPodt4exDFPQk_WByIAc31lQo

This last song was from the play "Raisen" that I saw with the pit musicians. As moving as this is by Miriam Makeba, the one from the play was even more moving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2gWrlmmh2g

This is the one from the play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf4nM04dv2w

Enjoy the music.

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