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
Great Dexter clips!  Not always recognized for being one of the very greatest and most influential, he was credited by Coltrane as one of his main influences.  

Always interesting, and sometimes funny,  to connect the dots.  From Miles' autobiography:

http://www.dextergordon.org/blog/2016/3/12/miles-on-dexter
Welcome back, Orpheus.  Enjoyed your post about the Miles compilation.  Read an interesting essay once about the impact of A/C on neighborhoods and society.  Don't want to overly romanticize things, but it's a mixed blessing (along with TV).  Glad you are posting again.  
O-10, Bird on tenor is a rarity and something that is not normally part of Bird’s most often heard work; thanks for posting that. Bird on tenor sounds like Bird. This is not a criticism in any way; Bird was great, perhaps the greatest:

While the musical personality of a great player transcends things like equipment used, there are some things unique to each member of the saxophone family that, to a degree, shape the sound and direction of a player’s vocabulary. He was, at heart, an alto player and his vocabulary works best on alto. In a way, its a little bit like a great American actor using a British accent for a role (or vice versa). The great actors can pull it off and be believable in the role; but, there’s still something in the accent that becomes obvious when one hears a native speak the language. Great clip; thanks!

Thank you for that warm welcome Ghosthouse. Maybe you can share that essay you read about AC; as far as TV, the impact it has had on society since it's inception is more than anyone would believe; it is reality, and the reality we're actually living is comparatively science fiction. (don't bother to figure that one out)

Miles had an ear for selecting the very best jazz musicians for any group he put together; he had that in the beginning, and retained it all the way to the end; that's why these compilations consist of the very best jazz of the 50's for sure. This is music someone new to jazz would very easily miss, but this thread won't let that happen.

Miles groups in the 50's are the very essence of what jazz is about; it's about all the musicians in a group contributing what they have to offer to a central theme, and the end product is more than the sum of the parts.

I recall you wanting to know about, or hear more trombone I think; here is JJ Johnson on one of Miles albums. Many times a musician's best work will be with someone else, as opposed to him leading his own group, and having the album in his name; here's JJ Johnson with Miles on "Walkin".


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


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


JJ comes in at about 3:22; Lucky Thompson has a sweet solo on tenor sax at about 6:00. This is one of those tunes that belongs in the "Jazz hall of Fame" because some of the best work from individual musicians appear on this one tune; listen and


Enjoy the music.