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
We all KNOW it was a CONSPIRACY, because the RESEARCH shows that Dolphy was the first human to die of diabetic coma.   That proves it.   Those damn Germans.  They have a long history of trying to do-in black jazz players.

You guys keep up the good work exposing these evil doers.

Cheers



The bass clarinet is a very under utilized instrument in my opinion.

        
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSZtX3WHF_E



        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQfv99BCHE



Erik Dolphy excels on this instrument.


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cimpUKVAbY8



Enjoy the music.






Orpheus - Thanks for your gracious response but, honestly, from my perspective, we are simply sharing a discussion. "Writing clarifies thought." not sure who said that, but it’s definitely true for me.

Rok - I fully expect your comment about Germans and black jazz players was made facetiously. Be that as it may, it does offer opportunity to note that in the Last Exit documentary a good bit of time is spent on recollections by several German musicians Dolphy had been playing with. They certainly respected him and in a couple of cases, at least, there was great affection for him.

What is it about Europe that has made it so welcoming for American jazz musicians? Seems to me (from Eastwood’s movie "Bird") I recall Charlie Parker had been an expat in France.

Interesting discussion at the link here:

http://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/12/movies/the-blues-of-expatriate-paris-recalling-america-s-jazz-exiles.html?pagewanted=all


Rok, what's your take on the link that Ghosthouse provided; do you think things have gotten better for jazz musicians, and if so, how?

I'll wait for your response.


Enjoy the music.
***** What is it about Europe that has made it so welcoming for American jazz musicians? *****

I would say France rather than Europe.  The French never miss an opportunity to show the 'superiority' of their country, Language and culture.  It still goes on today.   They see them selves as a counter-weight to American influence and power in the world.

The expats:   These were people like Monk, Bird, Richard Wright, James Balwin, Josephine Baker and other great musicians, writers and entertainers.   What's not to like.  Of course they were welcomed by the French elite, located mainly in Paris.

They did not welcome black people, they welcomed great artists who happened to be black, something new and different,  and very few in number.

What the expats should have known was that if the entire US black population had moved to France, the reception would have been very different, as it is today, after North Africa showed up in France.

BTW, the black female Jazz trumpet player,  Valaida Snow happened to be touring in Denmark when Hitler declared war on the USA.   She was promptly arrested and thrown in prison as an enemy alien.   Just saying.   She was later part of a prisoner exchange.

Cheers