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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
pryso
1,957 posts
 
And now for something completely different. (That is, I just hope it was not covered before I began reading this site!)

After all the recommendations for female singers and bass, sax, guitar players, how about drummers? I’ll start by nominating someone who was respected but hardly ever mentioned among the very best -- Joe Morello. For evidence you Honor, I submit this as Exhibit A -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LBZJk5Kfgw
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Cool, I always thought he was good . I had a chance to see him practice once , after Brubeck, with a pianist who was a cousin of my girlfriend .

orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 


Since you've said all I can think of to say, I've been waiting for others to comment on Joe.

I would like Frogmans comments on drummers in general. I like Chico Hamiltons music, but I don't think of him as a drummer. I'm conflicted when it comes to drummers, although Joe Morello certainly set himself apart from other drummers. Another example is Blakey and "The Messengers"; is it his drumming, or maybe the other musicians that make them so fantastic.
pryso
1,957 posts
 
And if you hold any doubt, here is Exhibit B -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kx1GVYPOos

I'm not a musician and am generally bored by long drum solos, but JM could sometimes be an exception.  And note the respectful comments below the video.

BTW, o10, I like Blakey too.  And respect there goes at least as much for his ability to discover great new musicians as much as his drumming prowess.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

When I think of drumming, I think of anything that can be struck with a drumstick, a mallet, or the hand and produce a sound. Art Blakey has the ability to use all of these things, plus maybe even pots and pans to produce rhythmic beats.

This is one of his early albums that incorporated various African drums;


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Htv_f0r6l_A

Those carvings on this album cover have incited me to tell you a very interesting story. The name "Benin" has been bounced around quite a bit in Africa. The country presently named "Benin" is in reality "Dahomey", a country with a history that was so violent, no one wants any part of it; that is the Kingdom of Dahomey, the ancestral home of "Voodoo".


      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin



Those Bronze Castings come from the real "Benin", the one all Africans would rather be associated with.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin_Bronzes

If you ever meet anyone from the current Benin at a party, and you mention "Dahomey"; they will get a look on their face that says, "Please, lets not go there", and I wont, but that look just told me they are completely aware of a history so violent that no one wants to talk about it, or have anything to do with the name "Dahomey"

That will provide some very interesting, hair raising reading, if you care to go there.

More to discover