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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
I listened to this today:

Irakere -- THE BEST OF IRAKERE
Plenty of Latin brass vibrato and of course the incomparable Cuban percussion. Many of the future heavyweights of Cuban Jazz are here. With D'Rivera, Sandoval and Valdes on board, what's not to like. Best heard next to a dance floor.

Andrew Hill -- POINT OF DEPARTURE
I made it through 2 tracks today. An improvement, but I'm still not there yet.
Great lineup and they all seem to play well, and know what they were doing, I just didn't know.

Maynard Ferguson -- CONQUISTADOR
The purists and snobs of Jazz pan it, but I love it! Great flute work on 'Theme from Star Trek'.

Irakere and Ferguson were fun. Hill and Dolphy and company, were thinking too much.

Cheers
frogman
7,478 posts
 
Today is Dexter Gordon's birthday.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RyzAxgMki9c
acman3
4,275 posts
 
Thanks Frogman! How could 7 people give thumbs down to that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ILMmDB0kI

The great Kenny Drew and Niels-Henning Orsted Peterson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QyWFJRIYYs
frogman
7,478 posts
 
Great stuff, Acman3. Sophisticated Giant was one of his first recordings after his return to the states from Europe. The live clip with Kenny Drew is wonderful and appropriate given a discussion in another thread about pop tunes as jazz vehicles. I saw Dexter at the Vanguard a few times in the late seventies/early eighties and they were unforgettable experiences. Thanks for sharing.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Today's Listen:

John Coltrane -- COLTRANE LIVE AT BIRDLAND
Great set. This was before he got in his Sunship and took off for Stellar Regions. Great version of Afro-Blue.

The recording had problems. Coltrane from the left speaker, Piano and bass inbetween and the drums from the right speaker! Sucks. But the music is exceptional.

Duke Ellington -- AND HIS MOTHER CALLED HIM BILL
Recorded in honor and memory of Billy Strayhorn. My favorite Ellington disc. The Ellington Band!! What an instrument!

Anyone interested in hearing great Sax playing should listen to this CD. Hodges on 'Blood Count'!! Strayhorn died about 6 months prior to this recording. He and Ellington were very close when it came to composing and arranging.

Very eloquent notes in the liner from Ellington, about Strayhorn. Great loss.

Doc Cheatham/Nicholas Payton -- DOC CHEATHAM & NICHOLAS PAYTON

Lazy down-home Nawlins style Jazz. Cheatham sings. He really should not. Nice relaxed playing by two guys who keep the flame alive. Mostly well known standards.

The Ellington and Coltrane are must haves.

Cheers
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