2. music
  3. 1361722327

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
 

"Blood Count" was as you described it. Johnny Hodges was "Mr. Alto Sax" before Bird. This music prompted me to go through the vaults; I found a treasure of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Hodges and others, for my listening pleasure, that was quite rewarding.

This is music I heard as a child, when such things as who was making the music were irrelevant. Since I associate music with what I was doing when I heard it, childhood memories flashed across my mind like a slide show; in regard to the music, I only recall a joyous feeling and liking it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIkekMoEQY4&list=PL927020F299B15A86

Enjoy the music.
frogman
7,473 posts
 
Just beautiful, and very evocative of an era! Thanks.
frogman
7,473 posts
 
Re Getz and Blood Count: I love the way Getz plays that tune; I can't think of anything that Getz did that I didn't like.

****As much as I love Johnny Hodges, it's Getz who embodies the song****

Interesting choice of words about a song written by a man who is about to leave his body. I agree that Getz's versions are great and there is no point debating who plays the song better. However, to my way of thinking, "Blood Count" is about the composition, orchestration and all, and not just the "song". It was the last statement by a brilliant composer/orchestrator intended to be played by a group of musicians that he knew exactly how each would sound on each individual part; they were his musical palette. No piano/bass/drums rhythm section can capture the dark and funereal (literally) sonorities of Ellington's brass and reeds; his chord voicings are amazing. The orchestration as a whole is a dialogue between the soloist (Hodges) and the band. Great stuff.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

onhwy61, although it's possible that Getz version sounded better, there's no way he could embody the song better than Johnny Hodges. If that sounds like a contradiction, I leave it to Frogman's post for elaboration.

Enjoy the music.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

onhwy61, although it's possible that Getz version sounded better, there's no way he could embody the song better than Johnny Hodges. If that sounds like a contradiction, I leave it to Frogmans post for elaboration.

Enjoy the music.
More to discover