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
For those who love trad jazz there was a great piano player out Chicago, Joe Sullivan, who recorded a lot of Fats Wallers songs, many unpublished, in 40 and 50’s .
Didn’t play them like Fats , but did justice and showed the many facets of his music .
Butch Thompson did an hour show devoted to him yesterday on local
jazz station and Butch sure has cred  with trad lovers .

Pryso, I listened to the music you submitted, but couldn't really get into it; it was just before my time, I couldn't even find those cartoons I was talking about. My trolley just completely jumped the track, I'll tell you about it.


After my last analog upgrade, I decided to record "Cat people"; that's the sound track from this movie about people who change into Big Black Cats. The movie was OK but the soundtrack was a monster.


                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HvJfeSk1RU&list=PL0C46966F4ED6666F


These upgrades put all kind of life and mystery into that record; especially side 2. If you ain't got it get it.
Pryso, 'I've found a new baby' is my new hit of the week. Really liked it, it has some nostalgic tone, no matter that it feels ver much like a dance song. Is there any place where people still can dance on such music?

Here is one album that you may like it, much newer (from 1981), but with all old tunes.

Joe Jackson 'Jumpin Jive'

https://youtu.be/q_scNPUGcDs?list=PL2HjKk62-cN1CqweG5vKQEfSTv3ulkLc5

Fantastic clips, Pryso. Jazz evolves and morphs into different styles, but as always what makes it good or not so good is the level of craft and sincerity regardless of styles. Different time so different aesthetic. Your choice of clips is interesting not only for the quality of the music, but also for their dates. The Louis Armstrong clips from 1947 are interesting because that style was almost "retro" by then with more "sophisticated" swing having already had its say and bebop coming on the scene. It’s very possible that this is the reason that you feel those versions swing more than other (earlier?) versions you’ve heard. Eventhough there was resistance from some players to more modern styles, some level of influence is always unavoidable. That was around the time that Louis famously referred to bebop as "Chinese music". What an interesting voice Teagarden had! Thanks for the clips.
orpheus, thanks for listening to those cuts.  I can't say I'm surprised that you couldn't "get into it".  It took me more than 20 years myself to appreciate some of those performances.  And I'll admit some of my more recent reactions are influenced by memories of dad.

But while my interest in jazz expanded from Brubeck to Monk to Ornette, there is not much prior to around 1950 that I care to listen to.  At the same time "Rockin' Chair" always knocks me out with its spirit, humor, and the swell at the end.

Anyway, I'm glad that alex and frogman perhaps discovered something new to enjoy.  Hopefully others did as well, even without replying here.

frogman, you may be right about the stylistic difference related to time and the evolution of other artists.  But I tend to attribute it more to the influence of the live audience and how that encouraged each All Star to dig a little deeper. ;^)