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
Ambrose Akinmusire:

Not noise at all. Had too much coherence to be noise. I didn't think the music was that much removed from later day Coltrane or Miles.

I was not familiar with the group, so, google being my friend, I found this on the Blue Note Site:
"Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire is a forward-thinking musician with a bent toward atmospheric post-bop". Sounds about right to me.

I liked the clip you submitted. They didn't 'sample' A Love Supreme' did they?? I let the youtube run and this came up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNzE2nTCtxE

The problem I have with the newer stuff, is that it seems to be too introspective and / or esoteric. Greatly appreciated and understood by those in the know, but will never catch on with, or, be appreciated by the great unwashed. And to my ear, there is a sameness in overall effect to a lot of it.

Of course it could just be me. Just out of touch. But I did remove a Kenny Dorham out of my cart, and replaced it with an Ambrose.

Back in the day, Jazz Music was being created all over the country. NY, Chicago, Detroit, west coast(LA), New Orleans, St Louis and even Memphis and Kansas City etc....... Does the newer Jazz have that same reach, or is it mainly a NYC or two coast thing???

Cheers
Jazzpeople a ?
I saw a late-right rerun on PBS last night Of the Lincoln Center Jazz Band and the sax player in front,a HUGE man about
a cheeseburger away from 400 lbs, played a solo about as beautifully as music can be played . Whats the guys name ?

I hear folks dissing Wynton, but anyone who doesn't think that a great band needs to check what they're smoking .
I grew up in a time when a form of Jazz , big band + American
songbook vocals, was THE pop music of American Culture .
Seems to me biggest thing that happened was Audience died/is dying and young population was brainwashed by rock .

There are social psychologists who believe rock is a genre
that looks inward and thwarts community which is useful to a society where half the population is really not needed in any role other than consumer .

Rok, that was a highly relevant question in regard to where the "new jazz" was created. When I was traveling a lot, and going to clubs, the music was different everywhere I went. In none of the places would I consider the new music any better, it was all good, just different; Atlanta was different from LA, and Chicago different from St. Louis. Although I've never been to New York, they seem to think what ever originates there has or should set the standard; "It ain't necessarily so."

There was even a difference in jazz from E. St. Louis and St. Louis, Mo. The jazz from E. St. Louis was the most individualistic, it was the most "Afrocentric", while jazz from the other side of the river was what you call "jazz jazz"; closer connected to "Bird" and that lineage. Jazz from E. St. Louis had no lineage, which is why when I went to a new lounge and heard a new group, I was floored; they used instruments like the African finger piano, and unusual drums.

The only group I know from St. Louis that has recorded and played consistently over the years, that I heard a lot live, was the "Trio Trebien". There is no group I've heard live more times than I've heard these guys. This same tune on my CD sounds much better; while I like everything on the CD, this is my favorite tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo1umU82ZAU

I don't approach music from an intellectual point of view; Ambrose's music seemed to wander, at times like one band was playing two different tunes. Maybe at another time in a different mood I might like it.

Rok, I know your thoughts on later day Trane and Miles.

Enjoy the music.