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
The Frogman:

ahahahahahahah I have to laugh out loud. This is getting to be ridiculous.

I will try again.

We were having a conversation in which you offered a definition of Jazz. A definition that I have absolutely no problem with!!

Before you stated the definition, you made a comment about people saying things like, "I know it when I hear it", and Implied that that was too easy. Sort of like a cop-out.

In respoding to your post, I attempted to show that a piece of music could meet your written definition of Jazz, and NOT BE JAZZ! That's what I meant, when I stated that, hearing it being of the upmost importance. (know it when you hear it).

The point of the bluegrass piece was to show that this was an example of such a piece of music.

I play it often and have always felt it had a lot of Jazz elements in it. I said it COULD meet your definition.

You said it does have improvisation, but does not meet the definition due to the lack of complexity and sophistication of the music, and interaction between the players. I said that these qualities could be a matter of degree or opinion. i.e. maybe the bluegrass players consider their music fairly complex etc....

I did not say, or mean to imply that the bluegrass piece was Jazz, just to show, that a written definition, no matter how well constructed, cannot be the final answer.

The music must be HEARD! Or maybe in the case of a pro, looked at on paper.

The Hancock piece. I listened to it again. At least 12 minutes of it. 12 minutes I will never get back.

The dynamic range thingy. Don't stoop to 'gotcha' audiophile techniques. You knew what I meant.

I think I didn't like it because of the electronic keyboards and the electric bass. And that mind-numbing repetition of the rhythm section.

It does not sound muffled, bad word, it sounded like what I said, Booker T. No disrepect to Booker T. Memphis Soul. Stax. I love music, but I got tired of listening to it. Maybe it got better later on. I will concede that possibility. I am sure his shoes were appropiate to the music being played. Maybe some horns joined later.

Music genres with hypenated names is used to create new catagories or new genres of established music genres, so that the noise makers can play. And get awards. And make money.

We really have no disagreement.

I will now go into Chief Joseph Mode, and fight no more, forever.

Cheers
O-10:

Pithecanthropus Erectus: With a title like that, and coming from our OP, I thought it best to define terms!:) Walking upright. Got it!

For those of you that want to listen to modern, progressive and cutting edge Jazz, you need go no further than Mingus. He can go to the far reaches, and NEVER LEAVE JAZZ. To me, that is his greatest. No hypen needed or required.

The liner notes on this CD are great. Again the music and it's intentions are explained by Mingus himself. Nat Hentoff gives his thoughts also, but who better than Mingus himself to expalin his music.

The title track is my favorite. There is something about it that rises above the usual Jazz tune. I wish I had the words to explain it, but I am glad I have the ears to hear it.

I recall the CD 'Art Pepper meets the Rhythm section'. A great set. Pepper playing with the Miles Davis rhythm section. They never rehearsed! Met for the first time the day they cut the record. You just know that would not and could not, ever happen with a Mingus set. He demanded more than just blowing, and he got more.

I remember when I was in college, a friend, who introduced me to Mingus' music, made a comment about the strict and high standards he set for his players. How true. That is the hallmark of his records, Playing at the highest level. No blowing sessions.

Calling him a Jazz player, is like calling Einstein a Physicist. It's true, but totally inadequate.

O-10 thanks for reminding us.

Cheers
The Frogman:

Chick Corea -- LIGHT AS A FEATHER

The album from which your clip of 'Spain' was taken.

Corea is a lot of things, but noise maker is not one of them. We are in agreement already. And I hope we can agree that the singer should be banned from ever recording again.

'Spain' is for sure the best track on the CD. I just don't get the need for the electronic stuff. It takes some getting used to, and I don't see the improvement or advantage over the acoustic stuff. Farrell was a welcomed presence.

Visualize for a moment: All the well known great piano players in the history of Jazz. Now, visualze them sitting in front of some electonic thing with several keyboards in front of them. The Duke? Bud Powell?

Now visualize all the great Bass players. Now try to see them with a bass guitar around their necks! Mingus? Really!

The very thought of such a thing is absurd!

But Corea is a great musician. After all, I bought this one, and several more.

The main problem with electronic instruments is that you can get close and actually cross the line between music and 'sound effects'. Note the 'wah-wah' at the end of 'Spain', and in the title track also.

Good album. Would have been better with Steinway and upright acoustic bass.

Cheers

Now that we have thoroughly covered the 50's and 60's, it's time to move into the 70's. Miles ushered in the 70's with "Bitches Brew". I saw him live with that same group before the album came out, and fortunately I was with some guys from New York (they seem to know everything about new music) because the experience was the same as turning up a bottle of whiskey, and tasting wine; this was not the Miles I expected to hear.

Head Hunters, and Weather Report were two groups that impressed me with this new music. Although we try to communicate music with words, it's impossible; the only thing that can be communicated is how this music affected or impressed "you", and that's the only person you can speak with any authority for. "Sextant" was the Herbie Hancock album that impressed me, it really blew me away; I even liked the cover art.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk0L3RXYxS0

Weather Report, "I Sing The Body Electric" was the first album I acquired by that group, it took me to another world; the music was not of this universe, it took me someplace I've never been before, and I liked it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBMLhDw1xOw

Frogman, both "Oregon" and Chick Corea are well represented in my collection.

Enjoy the music.