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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
7,859 posts
 
Today's Listen:

Various -- THE SMITHSONIAN COLLECTION OF CLASSIC JAZZ

This is the 'Revised' remastered edition, released in 1987. The original was released in 1973 on LP. The sound quality on this set is much improved.

This is a 5 CD set. Starts with Scott Joplin and Jelly Roll Morton, and ends with Ornette Coleman and The World Saxophone Quartet.

The sound quality on the early stuff is AMAZINGLY good. The later stuff is good also.

The package is typical Smithsonian. Well done with many nice touches. Great detail on all the tracks. Includes the soloists, and the order of their solos. Date and place recorded and personnel.

A 102 page booklet. Repeats the liner notes of each disc and includes great pictures. The historical information is priceless in itself.

They didn't miss many of the greats. Below is a link to the tune list.

http://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Smithsonian-Collection-Of-Classic-Jazz/release/457754

The sound on the 1973 release was not good. The Scorr Joplin tune 'maple leaf rag' is a recording of a piano roll made before electric recording. Sounds just fine here.

No filler. All great tunes. Even includes two(2) versions of O-10's favorite, 'East St. Louis Toddle-Oo' by Duke Ellington! :)

All Jazz people should have this.

I am becoming a fan of these complilations. Like the '50 Greatest Jazz Tunes' I posted about earlier. Sometimes you just don't feel like an entire CD of Coltrane, or anyone else.

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Rok, I was inspired by the book "Three Wishes", to find songs written in honor of "Pannonica De Koenigswarter" . Although there are twenty songs written in her honor, and I'm sure everyone has many different versions of "Nica's Dream" written by Horace Silver, I could find only one other tune that I liked. Maybe you or Frogman can find other songs written in her honor that you like.

"Pannonica" by Monk captures the essence of a beautiful fluttering butterfly, which is what the lady of jazz was named after.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSHkPCW8dN4

Enjoy the music.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Interesting woman. Born a Rothschild. This article tells of her relationships with various Jazz players.

http://www.icrates.org/baroness-nica-the-musical-legacy-of-pannonica-de-koenigswarter/

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Thanks Rok, that was quite an article. Rumors about her and Monk, were just that, "Rumors", unless Monk's wife Nellie was in on the affair; but you can never stop "animalistic" people from having such thoughts. She was a very special lady.

Enjoy the music.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
I suspect, Nellie 'didn't play that'!

Cheers
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