Jazz for aficionados

Listened to today:

Horace Silver -- DOIN' THE THING -- AT THE VILLAGE GATE
Horace Silver -- JAZZ HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR
Charles Mingus -- OH YEAH
George F. Handel -- WATER MUSIC / FIREWORKS MUSIC

Both Silver CDs were great. His death really sadden me. Surprised me. This is from his liner notes of the 'Sense of Humor' CD. The players he talks about are the group on this CD. Kisor plays trumpet, and has a beautiful tone. They were all good.

"I haver often been concerned about the state of Jazz in the future since most of our older masters of the music have passed on. I don't feel I have to be concerned about that issue any longer since fine young musicians like Ryan Kisor,Jimmy Greene,John Webber, and Willie Jones III are on the scene.....there are many more young Jazz musicians who are capable of carrying the music forward and insuring that it stays alive and vibrant. Insuring that it remains pure and unadulterated. Insuring that the masters have not sacrificed and dedicated their lives to this music in vain. Long live jazz in it's pure and unadulterated form."

He then dedicated the album to Thomas 'Fats' Waller.

Any Comments?

Nice interview with mingus at the end of his CD. Talks about his early career. He played with everyone, including Armstrong. Was afraid to travel down south with Pops, so he quit the band. Disappoints me to know that. Talks about influences like Joe Turner and T-Bone Walker.

The Water Music is the one The Frogman recommended. The English Concert / Pinnock. As always, The Frogman was spot on! Thanks.

I may have submitted this one before. It's LvB's 9th. Played at the 2012 porms. I am sending it again just for the interview at the beginning with Barenboim. I don't remember it being part of the clip last time. He makes some interesting comments about the symphony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vypj9NCINdM

Cheers

Learsfool:

Nuts and Bolts is a term I use to reflect an attitude. And that is, that playing music in accordance with some musical theory, and that along, can make a player great.

You and The Frogman have a habit that drives me nuts. You misquote me, and then shoot down the misquote!

I was speaking of great players being asked about, not so great, or unknown players. "What do you think of so & so?"
Answer: Oh man, he is a great player. I wish I had him in my band. He will be the best someday. etc......

They will never say anything negative about a player regardless of that player's skill or potential. Why?
I think it's just because they are all nice guys. And they were not born great, so they know what it's like to struggle.

I cannot imagine any musician, other than so-called Rock musicians, being anything other than nice human beings.

Cross-genre? You are correct. They all respect each other. The great ones. Beverly Sills once said that Ella Fitzgerald had the most perfect voice she had ever heard. She was not being nice. Just factual. And I am sure the feeling was mutual.

My comments were about the great, being asked about the not so great, and unknown. And Nuts and Bolts, as I use it, means, if anything, a school of thought. Sort of like saying, you can go to school and learn how to be a great Jazz player. You can't. If you could, I would be one. :)

Cheers

Learsfool:

Berlin vs Austin. I just used an extreme example in my attempt to make sure The Frogman understood my question. I was trying to find out if the musical scores, for all Orchestras, regardless of rank, were the same. I was not trying to compare Austin to Berlin in any other manner.

Thanks for dissing Central Texas. I'll have you know that Austin is the Live Music Capitol of the World. Don't believe it? Ask them!

Cheers

Learsfool, I am glad you chimed in about that. I was going to after first reading the comment about Juilliard, but frankly I was almost in a state of disbelief at the comment and all I could muster was my "retort" about Wynton having also attended Juilliard. I certainly agree with your comments.

This topic has come up before in this thread and I am mystified at the apparent insistence that somehow jazz players don't require or, at least benefit greatly from, the kind of study and dedication to music theory, instrumental rudiments, purposeful honing of rhythm via intense practice, and many other ingredients of good musicianship (the nuts and bolts) the way that classical players do; that somehow the authenticity of jazz is diminished if the player does that. Obviously, that is simply not true and points to a very sophomoric understanding of what making music is about. The great jazz players were relentless practicers and voracious students of all aspects of music.

The Frogman / Learsfool:

Why not submit a list, for us aficionados, of GREAT Jazz players, who were great, BECAUSE, they went to Juilliard.

Cheers