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
Genius!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ9El7k4mNo

Rouse sounds amazing! And no, one can't have too much Monk.

"Misterioso" is a great record. Griffin is fabulous, and one of my favorite tenor players. Still, there's something about the way that Rouse seems to get inside Monk's musical head that is almost creepy.

Frogman, here's an outstanding artist you should be familiar with who no one has mentioned. "Desert Lady" is the CD I've chosen to illustrate his talents. The Lew Tabackin quartet on this CD features: Hank Jones, piano; Dave Holland, bass; and Victor Lewis, drums.

While I like the entire CD, "Pyramid" is one of the cuts that's special to me. Lew Tabackin's haunting flute opens this number with an oriental mood that evokes far away places with strange sounding names. The cuts on this CD alternate between "laid back", and really cookin with a high "jump factor". Between the "laid back" cuts, and those with a high "jump factor" is where me and Rok differ, I prefer the former, while he's more in tune to the latter; but this CD has enough for the both of us.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find that particular CD on "Youtube", but this one which features Lew and Toshiko Akiyoshi is reminiscent of that CD; fortunately, I have both. Here's Lew's fantasic flute, on "Desert Lady/ Fantasy"; you can't go wrong with both CD's.

I would like your professional opinion in regard to "Lew Tabackin", who I feel is an under rated artist.

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

Enjoy the music.
Orpheus10, you could not be more correct; Lew Tabackin is most certainly an underrated player. Lew has been one of the heroes of the NY scene for a long time and I know him personally, having recently been part of a project that recreated Henry Mancini's scores for "Peter Gunn" on which Lew was the featured soloist. A Harmonia Mundi CD release of the project is scheduled for early 2014.

http://www.jazzpromoservices.com/jazz-news/harmonie-ensemble-new-york-steve-richman-conductor-with-lew-tabackin-lew-soloff-the-music-from-peter-gunn-weds-june-1-2011-at-100-p-m-st-peter’s-church/

Lew is a beautiful and exuberant tenor player with a notable Sonny Rollins influence. Heard live one immediately notices his HUGE sound and "take no prisoners" approach. He is a classically trained flutist and is widely recognized as one of the very best, certainly the best living, flute "doublers". You will notice that his style on flute has a subtle Eastern influence; probably the result of having been the featured soloist and co-leader in his wife Toshiko's big band, for which she wrote material some of which has an unabashed Eastern (Japanese) flavor.

Some of my favorite playing by Lew is on Freddie Hubbard's recording "Sweet Return"; highly recommended, and as Rok says "gotta get it".
By popular demand?? :)

Toshiko Ankiyoshi Jazz Orch -- DESERT LADY / FANTASY
featuring Lew Tabackin

Acman3 asked why are so many great players and great music overlooked in the Jazz world.

This recording is proof that great players and music can be overlooked sitting right in front of a person on his CD rack.

Since O-10 and The Frogman were in such a rant, I thought I would see/hear what all the fuss is about.

I got this CD soon after it's release (1994). Listened to it for a few minutes, and back on the shelf it went.

Wrong place and time, both in a physical and emotional sense. I have learned that over the years, so I never sell or throw out any Cd. I might listen at the correct time, and / or grow into it later.

WOW! You are spot on about Tabackin. Well constructed solos. I am amazed at how he goes from the highest to lowest notes of the instrument with such ease. He spends a lot of time in the lowest register / octave.

And he can play the flute. His tone is great. The notes are round and clear without all the buzzing / spitting sound you hear with a lot of flute players.

This band is very together. Very tight playing on all tracks. Great arrangements. The brass players have excellent tone also.

I could not pick a favorite track. They are all exceptional. 'Be-bop' was the perfect tune to close things out. They were so tight, it could have been two people playing.

This is not the first time someone on this thread has opened my eyes to music I already own. That's why I like it so.

As The Frogman said, I said, ain't got it? Git it!

Lord, I almost forgot to mention the Trombone player Conrads Herwig. Awesome playing on the title track.

Cheers

Frogman, "He is a classically trained flutist and is widely recognized as one of the very best, certainly the best living, flute "doublers".

A "doubler" with jazz talent, that's super impressive, and it explains why we can't get enough of his flute. Thanks for this new information on Mr. Lew Tabackin, and if you see him tell about his new fans on Audiogon.

Enjoy the music.