Jazz for aficionados

Damn O-10, you better lay off that egg nog, or at least the stuff you put in it!! (Old Crow?)

We can all be thankful that Wynton Marsalis got the gig at Lincoln Center. Who else could have done it?? A great representative for Jazz.

The man is at home in all musical settings and venues. All genres also. His playing on 'Silent Night', had me screaming!!! This guy is awesome!! And Wycliffe looks like he is out of central casting, as a trombone player is a Chicago speakeasy. The entire group looks 'Jazz'.

I looked at all my Benny Goodman and Dexter Gordon and Count basie CDs, and could not find Wardell Gray on any of them. I will have to order one from Amazon.

A Merry Christmas to you also. And to all 'Aficionados'.

Cheers

Rok, I had forgoten about Nog, but now I'm going to double up and get a little Grog for the Nog.

I searched long and hard for something I would add to my collection by Wardell, but had no success for one reason or another, none of them to do with Wardell's talents.
Although his sound on swing was really appealing, there wasn't enough of it. While he could Bop with the best, I've got enough of that by Bird and Diz.

He had a special sound that I couldn't get enough of, but the cuts were too short. "Easy Living" was a tune that I liked which exemplified that easy swing sound of his that I liked. If I could find a CD with long cuts, and that "easy swing sound", it would be the match I'm looking for; but that's doubtful because "showmanship", like in "The Chase" by him and Dexter Gordan was popular.

Wardell had a special sound, but nothing I found displayed enough of it. I would be satisfied with a solo album where Wardell played for "Wardell". In my opinion, he never really found himself, or made the decision that "This is who I am", because he had it together, he just didn't know it and take command. Miles is an example of knowing who you are, and taking command of things. When I heard Miles at the time when Clifford was alive, I wasn't too fond of his music, along with a lot of other people, but that didn't faze Miles (not that he asked me) because he knew who he was. Wardell just didn't live long enough to discover that the man in the mirror had all the answers to his musical success.

Enjoy the music.

O-10:

I fully understand that this is a Jazz thread. In spite of that, now that I have 'discovered' Classical Music and Opera performed on DVD, I have a million questions. Who / where do we go for question time?? Seeing as how both of our resident Classical gurus are off somewhere sulking / pouting.

Cheers

Maybe our Gurus will come back, but in the meantime we'll have to wing it. Since I need a change, I'm willing to give "your" Classical Music and Opera a try; where do I start?

Enjoy the music.

The easy part first: OPERA :)

Don't jump in, stick your big toe in first! To see if you really like opera singing I will recommend ones I own.

PAVAROTTI'S GREATEST HITS

Has him at his peak (1980) singing the greatest Arias from the greatest Operas. This is a 2-CD set on the Decca label. On Amazon for $12.25!! This is great singing period! Placido Domingo has a few CDs of this type also. There is a reason excerpts of Operas are produced, because all you really need is the Arias. The rest of it, you have to be there to enjoy or 'get it'.

On the Soprano front:

Maria Callas, Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle et al, have similar records. Not the whole Opera, just the 'good parts'. :) I have, and recommend:

Maria Callas -- LA DIVINA 3

To my taste, the Tenor Arias in Operas are much more enjoyable than the Sopranos.

If you like any of these, remember always get the 'highlights' of the Opera. I would start with the popular stuff like, TOSCA, CARMEN, and BARBER of SEVILLE.

A little Opera goes a long way with me, so I don't stray too far from the well known stuff.

Don't forget Opera on DVD. I just received The Barber of Seville with Kathleen Battle at the Met. Have not watched it yet. Will let you know.

Will send Classical recommendations later.

Cheers