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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 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.

jafant's avatar
jafant
20,041 posts
 
Jamie Saft Trio
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Shelly Mann is an interesting drummer we haven't discussed.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1h8mJR6SB8
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,023 posts
 
Shelly Mann, a very musical drummer. Has anyone mentioned Earl Palmer? Though known as the creator of Rock 'n' Roll drumming (Little Richard, etc.) and an L.A. studio player, he was at heart a New Orleans Jazz drummer.
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