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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
frogman
7,574 posts
 
Always interested, Alex.  Have been trying to keep the focus on the music, but.....well, it's all pretty obvious.

Ok, those two clips with Jimmy Forrest are without a doubt some of my favorites ever posted on this thread.  What a tenor sound!  Rich, suave, with just the right amount of grease.  I had the pleasure of hearing him live at The Village Vanguard back in the mid-70s.  Great player who, like another of my favorites, Dexter Gordon, always "told a story" with his improvisations.  Similar rhythmic feel, but with a very different use of vibrato.  Not sure how he would sound playing "Giant Steps", but in that style it really doesn't get better than that.

I like Calvin Newborn; new one to me.  I like his phrasing and feeling a lot.  I also like his electric guitar sound which is a bit "raw" and un-finessed.  I also find it very interesting (especially on "Tin Tin Deo") how his phrasing is very much like a piano player would phrase.  Growing up with a piano player in the family?  Great clips.  Thanks.


jafant's avatar
jafant
20,663 posts
 
Boz Scaggs
frogman
7,574 posts
 
Alex, you probably know this, if not, check this out.  Stan Getz was known for having been a very complex and difficult individual.  Often, that complexity is expressed by deeply interesting and emotional playing that tells a story that doesn't necessarily have a happy ending:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mkrzDFCSuP8
alexatpos
1,252 posts
 
Well, I guess that could be said for a quite few jazzmen or even artists in general. However,speaking of Getz and difficult personalitys, there is one 'relationship' (and album) that comes on my mind immediately.

It is 'Stockholm concerts' of Getz and Chet Baker, from 1983.(3 cd's album)
https://youtu.be/tLgkoERdI90


For reasons that are known only to them, they did not like each other, and that animosity lasted more than 30 years
(its been said, that Getz at a time was a heavy drinker, while Chet had othere prefrences, so maybe even their 'poisons' were not complementary, which is pity, as their music sounds as it is).
They recorded together only on three albums (as far as I know)
frogman
7,574 posts
 
One my favorite jazz quotes is Zoot Sims’ response when asked what he thought of Stan Getz: "Stan, he’s a great bunch of guys". Baker was known to be a nut; volatile pairing. The way that Stan Getz leaves the stage on your clip is very telling of how he felt about Baker. However, if I had to put my money on who I thought was the main cause of the problem I would put it on Baker. Getz leaves the stage abruptly for whatever personal reason.  But, Baker then goes on to express his dissatisfaction to the audience; a big no-no in my book. You may find this interesting:

https://books.google.com/books?id=dm9kOiIEFAwC&pg=PA258&lpg=PA258&dq=stan+getz+chet+bake...

They did have a stylistic "simpatico", but I consider Getz the superior artist.

Some more music from Getz’s "Voyage". After Getz, the star of the album is Kenny Barron; incredible player who matches Getz’s ability to be poetic with his playing. The rhythm section sounds amazing:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mkrzDFCSuP8

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kowHSx8CXgg
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