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 surprised me in a way. So far, you have always tried to put things we discussed about (music) in a wider perspective, and now I find your statements to be very opposite. I consider you as a very educated person so I find your post very biased because of some personal motiv and not because you are not able to name things with their proper names.

But, let me make myself more clear, if somebody else read this.
You have always said that is important to put things into 'context'.
If you are writing only from a perspective of a cuban disident, I could perhaps understand, but still your post is far from truth. It has at least two incorrect generalisations.

Let me ask you hypothetical question, if you are by any chance refugee from Iraq, Syria or Lybia, would you perhaps think that all evil comes from 'western democracy' ?

Or what would you say about this, now very old quote, about 'the most important force for good, on the planet'...from S.D. Butler
' I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902–1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.'

What would you think how the perspective looks from non American point of view? And all that said is ancient history and childs play in comparation from events from ww1  (which by the way is caused by colonial and imperial aspirations of western powers)  ww2  and not the mention recent history  of 20th century and 'export of democracy'.

Bottom line, its all about the money and power.  Hypocricy is the same, no matter do you 'export' 'communism' or democracy'.

But, in the name of truth, all the things should be called by their true meaning. Communism is just a theory, that was never implemented, no matter how it was called by thugs who use it as a poor excuse to rule the people or states.
Same goes for 'western democracy'. If its forced, or used just as excuse for dirty deeds, than its not democracy but agression or tyrany.

Finally, the 'left' or 'right' certainly have different meaning in US than in Europe. But, the most advanced countrys  from old continent, the scandinavin ones, (most of the rest are having the similar policy) are for sure the ones with most developed 'social' states, which does not mean that their citizens are controled by the state, but just that they have very human attitude towards health care, education, employment, housing or about handling the unemployed or homeless people.
In reality often that means 'free' health care and college education, flexible job market and protection of rights of working people.
In fact, if someone would propose the same to the US citizens, no doubt it would be named as 'communist'.

The thing that bothers me is hypocracy, when somebody (individuals, corporations or states) takes the false pretenses and use mass media to spread lies and fears, naming its intentions as a 'good or righteous', when behind is only greed for power or money.



Alex, I am traveling today so will not be able to respond until tomorrow; but I will.  

I hate to spoil everybody's fun, but there is as much insanity at the very highest levels of government as in the movies; phone tap, computer tap, and tap the tap; meaning lets get back to the music.

I know I started this conversation, and I also Know about the insanity that's not suppose to exist; it's just like in the movies, crazy.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh9UPDjh2H0


How about some more crazy music.
I like above mentioned Paul Gonsalves very much. Couple  albums, maybe not so known...

'P.G. meets Earl Fatha Hines'
https://youtu.be/TZM2ApjFcvM
https://youtu.be/pzRg0LZZvTE

John Lewis  'Wonderful world of Jazz' from 1960.
https://youtu.be/J-mpBlU_lbk
Alex, I am well aware of the ideological differences between "socialism" and "communism"; I am also aware, as I know you are, that although the terms are mistakenly used interchangeably, there are similarities that go to what is, for me, the main issue relevant to what inspired this discussion in the first place.  My comments were made with the situation in Cuba as the backdrop, in reaction to the comments by O-10.  That may make me biased due to a "personal motiv", but my "bias" does not change the reality ("truth") of what the situation is in Cuba; and, there is a great deal of misinformation and inaccuracies presented about that situation.  Most people are shocked when I tell them about the incredible shortages of the most basic goods and medicines that all, except the elite, in Cuba face.  How a young attorney in Cuba earns the equivalent of $30 (yes, you read that correctly) a month, an experienced and established doctor (my brother) $300 a month.  How, only if someone in the family is ill, are you allowed a meager ration of meat or yogurt; unless, of course, you have funds sent to you from overseas; funds which the govenrment proceeds to take a percentage of.  How, if one applies to leave the country, you will be ostricized and even your employment is jeoperdized.  Oh, yes, medical "care" is free to all.  Problem is, many of the most common meds are not available. The situation in Cuba is a disaster and, incredibly, getting worse in spite of recent changes in relations with the US.  This, sadly supporting my contention that the best reason for "improving" relations between the two countries would be the elimination, once and for all, of the last excuse that the Cuban regime has had for why their system of government is a disaster.

I am not sure what "incorrect generalizations" in what I wrote you are referring to, or how it is "far from truth".  If you are referring to my comments about Cuba, I assure you that my comments are absolutely correct; "dissident perspective" and all.  As I said to O-10, if you would like more details about what life in Cuba is like for the average Cuban I would be glad to offer more information.  If, on the other hand, you are referring to my comments about the role of the U.S., that can certainly be debated.  However, if you think your own perspective is not biased I think you would be mistaken; all our perspectives are for a variety of reasons.  From my perspective, that the U.S. is, on balance, the greatest "force for good" is undeniable.  I would simply (?!) point to things like the question of what the world would be like had it not been for US involvement in WW2, largest humanitarian aid donor, most advances in research and innovation in medicine; the list goes on.  Problems? Mistakes?  Many.  However, the notion that that the export of Communism can be equated with the export of Democracy strikes me as highly cynical.  I would agree that the notion of "exporting" of ideology is highly questionable; however, as usual, and as complex and difficult as these topics are, we the "very educated" have a tendency to get mired in the theoretical details and overlook some of the most basic and mundane indications of a possible answer to our heady questions.  What country do more foreigners want to go to than any other?  

Thanks for the thoughtful comments and challenge.