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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
7,829 posts
 
Gentlemen, Gentlemen,

Let's not move so fast of this 'African" stuff. It's not as simple as you are making out.

The most important and significant thing said so far, is that there is no African, in African-American music. It is unquely American. This includes Jazz.

Cultural forces don't move that fast. More like glaciers. The only possible African influence would have been from people arriving here directly from Africa during the slave trade. Importation of slaves into this country ended in 1810, if I recall correctly.

Once here, the influences were Euro-American. Primarily music inspired by The King James version of the Holy Bible.

Please don't make me have to fight off VooDoo!!! And to think, someone once chastised me for saying you have to DEFEND the music! :)

And finally, O-10, this drum nonsense, is just that.

Cheers

orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Rok, I've always liked the "Voodoo music", just as much as I liked "Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White". (No one could have been in taller cotton) And I put as much religious connotation on Voodoo music as I put on "Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White". There are elements of the Voodoo drums in much of African music, that's why I want to strip the music from the religion as much as possible.

This is an "audible" excursion, we are judging everything by ear.

Enjoy the music.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Frogman, I definitely agree on the beginning, and although that music came from Africa, it may longer exist in Africa in it's truest form, but only in Brazil.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Rok, if this drum nonsense is "nonsense", explain why it was retained everywhere slaves were imported except here. Remember, all arguments must be supported "audibly".

Enjoy the music.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,829 posts
 
Is this about Jazz or Just music in general? My comments were made thinking it was about Jazz.

As far as the Music part of this slavery stuff, there are many things to consider, such as:

And this applies to Brazil, Cuba and the USA.

Dominate Religion, Form of Government, Geographical location, climate, size of country, what was the economy based on, population size and ethnicity, and Political status of the area.

all of these things will shape the people, their relationships with each other and the art the create.

Folks in the USA had musical instruments to play. Violins (fiddles), guitars, pianos etc... Fife and Drum units were very big in North Mississippi. Maybe the folks in Cuba, and esp Brazil, only had drums (logs?) to beat.

The relationship between slaves and whites in the US was much different than those relationships in Brazil or Cuba. This fact shaped everything!

I could go on, but you get my point.

BTW, there are more black folks in Brazil than any other country except Nigeria. If you go to Brazil during 'Carnival', you will see them. Any other time, maybe not.

The Spanish came to the New World Looking for Gold. The English came looking for God. That explains a lot.

You may be trying to merge apples with oranges.

Cheers
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