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
Inna, I have no doubt that it was not your intention; apology if my comment suggested that.  The tasteless attempt at humor in my comments was a visceral reaction to that clip.  From that standpoint, I would say that the music succeeded.  
Frogman - thanks for your insights into that HH Cataloupe Island performance. Just to be clear, I wasn't commenting negatively about the smiles at the end of it, just curious what the inside joke might have been.



Herbie Hancock's solo on "Cantaloupe Island" is among the best piano solos I've ever heard. The other one is Horace Silver's solo on "Senor Blues" at Newport.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8jFGFwOm7k

These solos are a one time thing; they never even attempt to duplicate them. "Hard Bop" jazz musicians only have a "general" idea of what they are going to play when they perform live; Monk never played "Round Midnight" the same way twice, when that was his own composition.

Someone on sax asked Monk how to play something on a set, and Monk replied, "You a jazz musician aint cha"? Meaning if you're a jazz musician, you just put the horn to your mouth and blow, the right thing is going to automatically come out.

That's the difference between a "Hard Bop" jazz musician, and say a classical musician; an improvising jazz musician has to have incredible talent and feel; they are very special and unique.

When "jazz" musicians get on the stage, they rely on one another; Miles said what he played depended on what was played before him.

This is a beautiful live performance; all these guys are stars, but the guy on piano steals the show.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynZDm50EgBY


Enjoy the music.