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
frogman,

You mistakenly posted the link to the "Where were you?"

I suspect you meant to post this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylBFW9B6EJg

I was planning to use it for the "2nd break."

Here's a rehearsal story for you:

I was hired to play a gig for the local "country club" consisting of "standards."  No problem.

I called some guys, put a band together and we showed up.  One of the musicians was an absolute killer blues/funk guitar player that could sing his ass off.  He wanted to explore the jazz scene and he was cool, so I invited him to play.

Two brothers on bass and trumpet, (the trumpet player could sing too), my dear friend Pete on keys and I played drums.

We were on our second tune when the lady that hired me came over in a panic and said, (picture dressed up woman with lots of makeup and bling),

"What the hell are you playing?!!!!!!  I said I wanted standards!!!!!"

Me, being the guy that wants to please asked her, "what kind of standards do you want to hear?"

"WE WANT TO DANCE!  WE WANT THE FUNKY STUFF!!!"

Quick rehearsal consisting of, "Hey guys! The lady says to funk it up!"

Bang we changed up.  Old people dancing so hard I was afraid somebody would have a heart attack.

We played our last tune and were packing up.  Pete was getting a beer.  A guy comes to me and says "How much for another half an hour?"

I turn to the guitar player and ask him what it would take.

"500 bucks."

I told the guy, he peels of 5 Benjamins and we start in.  Pete shows up with beers for the band, sees us getting ready to play and I yell, "500 bucks for 30 minutes!"   He scrambles, we play.

We finished the set with "Shout"  by Otis Day and the Knights.  We killed it.

Long story short, this rehearsal lasted all of 10 seconds.

-- Bob
frogman,

I gotta tell you I like you even more. There was a time in my life that if it wasn’t Frank Zappa, it didn’t sound normal. That time lasted 2-3 years from about 1971-73 or so. I had every recording, knew the lyrics, understood the humor and was blown away by how his music opened up a whole new world of classical, opera, jazz and of course, fusion.

I love this tune. As you know, Frank Zappa considered himself a composer and a wonderful, biting and was an honest and insightful commentator on the state of affairs in the world.

You rock.

I think I’m gonna listen to Inca Roads. (It might even be considered a form a jazz)

-- Bob
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