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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
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
Schubert, while I am not actually the biggest Sinatra fan either, I don't think very many would agree that Mel Torme was much better. While he did have a pleasant voice, that was about as far as it went, IMO. I would certainly stop short of calling him a great artist. He may have had a great voice, but for me, what little I have heard of him, he hasn't ever seemed much more than a crooner. IOW, he wasn't ever doing any thing very difficult or taxing with it, so that is why it kept sound good for his lengthy career. Johnny Mathis is a different type of crooner entirely, but same sort of concept vocally speaking.

I would be interested to hear what Frogman and Rok and Orpheus have to say, however, perhaps they will think me off base on this one?
chazro's avatar
chazro
635 posts
 
Not quite sure what you mean when you say 'the band was always trying to keep up with him'. Love him or hate him, Sinatra was a consummate singer with perfect time. That word 'prat' (pace, rhythm, & timing) that seems popular today seems to be tailor-made for Sinatra. Check out 'Live At The Sands' feat. the Count Basie Orchestra (Basie doesn't 'try to keep up';), if you can't find anything worth listening to on this record, than Frank'll never be your guy!
alexatpos
1,228 posts
 
Maybe this album could make you change your mind?
http://youtu.be/WoZZ08S4eyw

My favourite would be Dean Martin, he makes me smile, always, Nat King Cole is something special, or Elvis, the King, but I could not say that Sinatra cant sing.I have one album of Mel Torme, but could not put him in the same category.Have you listened Johnny Hartman or Lou Rawls?
frogman
7,489 posts
 
Schubert, while I don't agree that Frank Sinatra was a bad joke, I don't think you are delusional nor full of it. I never cared much for Sinatra's musical persona but recognize why he is considered so great by so many. He had a very straightforward delivery of a song with little embellishment or vocal affectations and a fantastic sense of rhythm. I have always preferred the young Sinatra from the '40's, before his voice got so husky and "masculine"; and before his Vegas "baby" and "broads" persona took over along with the sense that he was doing the listener a favor by letting him/her hear him sing. This is clearly a subjective reaction, but it has been there for me in most of what he did from the '50s forward. I often found his singing simply joyless; unlike a singer like Tony Bennett or Mel Torme.

Sinatra and Torme were two totally different types of singers, and while I would never say that Torme was "better" than Sinatra I am surprised that Learsfool considers him only a pleasant voice. Compared to singers of that generation, Torme could swing his ass off and was a true jazz singer who could scat like no other with the exception of Ella. I definitely understand your reaction to both Sinatra and Torme.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4vZlyfa28iQ
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,566 posts
 
I prefer early Sinatra as groggy describes as well. And yes dean Martin is the one of that bunch that most often makes me smile.
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