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

Rok, I've been comparing "Mary Lou Williams" to "Bird". Not to "Bird" personally but to his era and beyond. One of the reasons I'm doing this is because I was so late in discovering Mary Lou. Since she came from the swing era, I assumed her music would reflect that fact; Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Earl 'Fatha' Hines, and Duke Ellington. As famous as those people are, they are not my cup of tea; more my parents cup of tea. That's why I define music "Before Bird", and After Bird; BB and AB. "Bird" revolutionized jazz, and that's an undeniable fact.

My point is that Mary Lou Williams was so advanced that her music is more akin to Birds music than to the swing era. Let's compare her "It ain't Necessarily So" with Miles take on the same tune.



                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4THBVc47ug



Although she came from the swing era, this is as hip as it gets. She's got just the right touch. Next the same tune by Miles


                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-EgyUcHSSQ



Before we discovered Mary Lou Williams, I thought Miles's was the hippest version of that tune, but now I'm not so sure.

Any way you look at it, she was incredibly advanced, and I still can't figure why I'm so late in discovering her.



Enjoy the music.
Orpheous, check this Barney Wilen live album from 1959.Try to guess who is trumpet player, but before looking....

https://youtu.be/HQneEHGojKU

From later years, with Mal Waldron...
https://youtu.be/VSFCi4SGxl8
It ain't necessarily So:

Williams by a TKO.   The big band sort of took away from the performance by Miles.

Cheers