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
**** What are your favorite tunes by Dinah Washington?***

As of this minute, Stardust is!!! Wow, that was really a compelling rendition. I don't recall hearing her singing such 'sophisticated' arrangements before. I always had her pegged as an down-home R&B singer. 'Invitation' was good, 'Stardust' was on a differnt level. You could hear her.

You are good at finding gems that are hidden in plain sight! Thanks for the clips.

Cheers
Acman3, I don't really understand your question? Van Sweden was a former concertmaster of the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, one of the best in the world, so he was a world class violinist who put it down and took up the baton. In a very real sense, he was better prepared to be a conductor than most who went to school specifically for it. It is always better if one actually has orchestral performance experience, and almost all of the really great conductors did have at least some. Jaap is exceptional in that he was actually a world class performer on the violin. Another example would be Anshel Brusilow, who, interestingly, also was music director of the Dallas Symphony early in his conducting career. There are also a few famous pianists who became decent conductors, like Ashkenazy, but that is more rare. Very rare indeed are conductors who didn't really play any instrument, and even these can pick at the piano a little.
Thanks Learsfool, Yes, you answered my question. I always thought that conductors worked their way towards being a conductor through musical ability, and those that showed an aptitude for conducting moved in that direction. I honestly had never thought about it.

I appreciate you taking the time to answer my stupid questions.

Learsfool, this sounded quite interesting when I heard it in the movie theater where "Shutter Island" was playing, but I most certainly could live without it after listening on my rig. My point is this, classical music sounds better on mega buck rigs, like at a movie theater, although it's possible that the brooding nature of the movie and the music matched. What do you think in regard to classical music and the quality of the rig?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iczj8-a7VMg

Enjoy the music.