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, loved the clips from "The Jodi Grind"; especially "Grease Piece". I was not familiar with this record and the more that Silver is discussed, the more respect that I have for him. What a great composer! Tunes that are interesting, catchy and always bear his stamp all over them; "Grease Piece" is no exception. I find Silver’s playing interesting on this cut in that it reminds me a little bit of McCoy Tyner (!); had never heard that in Silver’s playing before and perhaps he was influenced by the presence of Woody Shaw on the date with his harmonic approach which, up to that point in time, was more modern than many of the players that Silver had had in his band previously. Shaw played more angularly and harmonically "outside". And Walter Benton! Talk about raw and soulful; reminds me a little of Bennie Maupin. Whatever happened to him? Will have to look for recordings of his stuff.

"Pursuit Of The 27th Man" is kind of a legendary record for young saxophone players. It was a record that gave the Breckers (especially Michael) some real jazz cred; being that he, unlike many of the older players who transitioned to "fusion", "jazz-rock" or "whatever", began his career in those genres while also playing straight-ahead jazz. It took some time for the purists to take him seriously as a jazz player and the incredible musician that he was. You’re right about the rhythmic interplay between piano and vibes; beautiful stuff!

Thanks for the clips.

In a recent post, Alex made what I think is an extremely important comment and one that I have made in one way or another several times:

****Also I feel that music is more than craft, but have enough sense to recognise that part as very important too.****

The comment was made re George Benson and Grant Green and there is much more in that comment than meets the eye. Along with the appreciation of craft are two cosiderations that I think are very important: when and how to recognize that impressive "craft" is trying to make up for lack of substance (feeling) and the player is not saying anything; and (2) the possible danger in prematurely judging impressive craft as meaning that there is no substance. Tricky stuff which goes to the heart of much of what gets discussed here , sometimes in a contentious way, and which also goes to who we each are as individual listeners with our own likes and dislikes. Of course, our own likes and dislikes have much to do with our willingness to be both open minded and humble in how we judge the music and may not say much about the true quality of any music.

I posted this once before. Amazing craft, and also a great deal deal of substance and feeling; IF we understand the language (post-Coltrane) he’s speaking in (imo). As Rok said, this guy was the real deal:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns02jzH8Ccw



Today's Listen:

Horace Silver -- THE TOKYO BLUES

'Tokyo Blues' turned out to be the most popular tune, but I found that I liked 'Sayonara Blues' best.  More piano playing and less 'drumming' by Silver.   A really nice album.

Blue Mitchell on Trumpet.

Cover Art?  Classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3zvumezFZI  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UAIsks8CaI  

Cheers
One of the things that I like about Silver is that even in photos he seems to be, as my wife likes to say, "a good egg".
Sinatra & Jones:

No matter how illustrious the list of players, when Sinatra is involved, his persona is such that, it always seems to be Sinatra backed a group of mere mortals.

But, it was a great lineup.

Cheers