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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
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 


"I think the idea of the "forgotten player" or the player that "didn't get his due" is mainly overstated and often a myth."

Frogman, I couldn't agree with you more. Pepper Adams was "DA MAN"; everybody who was somebody selected Pepper Adams as a sideman, remember the guy everybody wanted on their side in softball? Pepper Adams was that guy in jazz. Gonna cut a new record, need a baritone; "Where is Pepper Adams"?

"Pre be-bop style sensibilities"; while I never defined music in that manner, my brain automatically did it for me, and called that music "Old fashioned".

I went to this clip to demonstrate soprano sax with Trane and became fixated with McCoy Tyner on piano, this is about the time I saw Trane live; McCoy Tyner was just so right at that time, (not too many notes) he was the glue that kept things together when Trane decided to take off for parts unknown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGck-DRAFyw

Enjoy the music.
frogman
7,557 posts
 
O-10, there is a saying/joke among musicians re the four stages of a musician's career that goes like this:

- "Who is O-10?"
- "Get me O-10!"
- "Get me somebody that sounds like O-10"
- "Who is O-10?"
:-)
acman3
4,335 posts
 
"A player who didn't get his due"

If you didn't want to play the normal game, move to New York, and tour, you would be unavailable to play when people needed a musician. We would not know who Pepper Adams was, because he was in Alabama. Any time you are "not available ", people think of who is available, and the great player in Alabama is forgotten, except to aficionados.

A couple of local legends from the Dallas area, who would fit this criteria would be Big Al Dupree and Marchel Ivery. I would add James Clay but, he missed a lot of time for drug use. Same out of mind situation, but different reason. This is just this one area.

I will close my coffee rant with a question. What would have happened to Ornette Coleman if he stayed in Fort Worth?
acman3
4,335 posts
 
A story to support Frogman and O10,

When I was younger, I taught myself how to play the tenor sax. Not very good, but I loved to play. I rejected the whole playing in cords idea, because I was free to play what I wanted (BS). I could play all kinds of patterns, because my mind saw math when I played, and it sounded ok, by myself. When I tried to play with anyone else the free idea did not work. I played for my family and friends a few times and they did not get it.

I , suddenly lost any desire to play and never played again. My friends and family now talk about how good I was, and with out playing anymore, l get better every year.

I think by the time I die, I will be a legend. 😂
frogman
7,557 posts
 
Accounting for the universal truth that there are exceptions to every rule, what would have happened to Ornette is that he probably would not have become what he did as an artist. Why? Because greatness doesn't happen in a vacuum. A musician needs to be where he is going to get his ass kicked and being a big fish in a small pond is seldom the way. No one is saying that there aren't really good players in smaller towns. We love our local heroes and many are really good players who could probably reach even higher levels of ability if they were in an environment where they weren't the best player in town and where the scene is so vibrant that creativity is inspired. Imo, we tend to romanticize their place in the grand scheme of things. Good players, yes, some of whom could be one of the pool of really good players in scenes like NY, LA, Chicago etc.; but, players like Pepper Adams or Ornette are at the very top of the heap (in very different ways; duh). Players of that caliber usually feel that that HAVE to be in a place where they can grow; it's not an option for them. Imo, that hunger also says something about their potential. IMO.

Thanks for the nice personal story.
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