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

"What the holy smoly is this?" is what I thought when I put it on the turntable; however, had I known what it was supposed to be, I might not have taken it back to the record store.

Regardless how some rave about it, I can still live without it. I guarantee he did not carry one original fan along on that trip.


Miles was Miles; what else can you say?
**** I guarantee he did not carry one original fan along on that trip.****

O-10, I "guarantee" you are wrong with that assertion.  He lost many without a doubt.  I don't know what constitutes an "original" fan.  Someone who was alive and listening all the way back when Miles was with Bird?  I'm not THAT old.  Someone who has listened to all of Miles' music including music from his period with Bird?  I'm one of those and, as I have said, that's far from my favorite Miles; but, I "get it" and I can tell you that there are many more who do and some of those were listening to Miles as he was coming up (older than me).  As always, nothing wrong with not liking something; but, that kind of absolutist comment seldom holds water.  

**** Miles was Miles ****

Thats the point.

I knew a guy who went to school with Miles, and had every record he had ever recorded as late as 66; he was an original fan. I'll bet $2.00 to a donut, that he didn't like that record.

That was the worst selling record Miles ever put out, his career took a big dip after that record. The only people who got it, were those who came on the scene long after that record was released.

For years and years Miles made a lot of beautiful, and exciting music that I bought and liked. This went on until his obsession with "different" led him to strange audio lands; they were too different for me anyway.

"Different", but beautiful is how I would describe Miles and Gil Evans; this is a combination that has received very little discussion.

No jazz musician that I know of has attracted as many female fans as Miles Davis; Chet Baker maybe, but when I listen to the beautiful arrangements that he made with Gil Evans, that also seemed to be in the collection of every female jazz fan I knew, I realize he (his music) had an undeniable mystique for the ladies that I don't think has been discussed. Since we aren't ladies, we can only speculate, but it seems to me this music has a certain feminine flow.

Where do we begin? Why don't we try "Miles Ahead"; this album was released in 57, but was a big seller through the the early 60's for sure.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlVrh8t1DE4


This music flows like a cool breeze on a hot summer night.


How about "Porgy and Bess"; "It Ain't Necessarily So" ;


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-EgyUcHSSQ


"Sketches Of Spain" made me want to go to a Bull fight;


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



        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qi1hSK5NWo


For many years Miles made albums that would be found in every aficionados collection, as well as music collectors who were not specifically into jazz; yes, we all enjoyed the music that Miles made for many years.