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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
 
Grossman: 'Tunisia"

At  :09 and 2:06   Was there anything amiss there?

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
***** as is Billie Holliday's "Fine and Mellow*****

This video of her always makes me very sad.   It's great, even if her voice is almost gone.  Painful to listen / see.  But she owns that song.
Speaking of drugs.

Cheers
frogman
7,521 posts
 
****At :09 and 2:06 Was there anything amiss there?****

Nothing that is not intentional and musical, if you're hearing what I hear.  At .09 (actually, at .10) he just cuts the melody short;  varies it, if you will, like many players do.  Its all the more obvious with a familiar melody like NIT.  Notice how he does the same thing again at .17.  It's just his personal interpretation of the melody.  It actually makes it interesting and it did what he intended: caught your attention.  At 2:06 it sounds like he turns away from the mic a little and when he plays the multiphonic the note doesn't speak right away so his sound seems distant and almost like a mistake or missed note; it's not.  Good for you for listening for those nuances. BTW, a multiphonic is when the player sounds more than one note at a time.  It's a great sound; very expressive. 

Classic (and some of the first ) use of multiphonics:

[URL]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F54NJdClKPQ[/URL]



moto_man
400 posts
 
@rok2id, interesting . . . Fine & Mellow didn’t make me sad, other than to think how we lost such a great talent. Even with her voice shot, she was amazing, and you’re right, she OWNED that song. Look at her face as her friends are doing their solos . . . a long career with friends who supported her in the ’30’s all together again . . . I may watch it again now! FYI, the LP from the show is a much better recording, quality-wise than the TV soundtrack, and was apparently recorded on a different day, and the arrangements are slightly different. Definitely a great listen . . .

And thanks to the OP and others for reminding me of "Moanin’" and "Bean Bags," two recordings that I hadn’t listened to in ages and pulled up because of this thread! Talk about timeless records!
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
moto_man:

I have the CD, and you are correct, the sound quality is much better than the youtube clip.   Listening to it now.

This was recorded in 1957, during the golden age of Jazz.   This made me wonder about the performers that appear on this broadcast.

Then I read the notes, and it seems that the artists were invited / selected by Nat Hentoff and Whitney Balliett.

Not familiar with Balliett, but Hentoff, is a well known 'know it all' and all around jerk.

I am reminded of the line by 'Fats' Waller, speaking of the NY elite, "they like Jazz, but in small doses".

But, it's historic, and after all,  it does include some greats, it just could have included so many, more important figures.

Cheers


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