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

Thanks Ghosthouse; no wonder I like Ry Cooders music so much, we're philosophical twins, we always root for the "under dog". (lately we always Lose)

I would like everyone's help in focusing on "Ry Cooder"; contribute your favorite music by him. You will be astounded at how much we learn and enjoy in a short time.


This is from "Pull Up Some Dust"; although I'm a jazz aficionado, this is my kind of song; it's all about the "under dog".



        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgUcW8KbnsU
o10, Ry has such a variety in his recordings I think it is impossible to make an absolute recommendation -- it may all depend on what sort of listening mood you're in at the time.  I will say I've only heard one of his which I didn't enjoy, "Bop Till You Drop".

For all that, possibly his most popular recording and thus a safe place to begin is the "Buena Vista Social Club".  He doesn't play lead, instead allowing a great group of little known (within the US) musicians enjoy the spot light.  I believe he was the producer though so deserves much credit for pulling off the the whole thing.  So yes, it features underdogs!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNYOVEXJBBM
Great and very eclectic musician deserving of all the accolades.  Ry Cooder was indeed the producer of the Buena Vista Social Club project and deserves a great deal of credit, as pryso says, for making it all happen.  Interesting project on several counts.  First, it all happened practically by accident as the original project was supposed to be the recording of a musical collaboration between musicians from Mali and modern Cuban musicians.  The African musicians never made it due to some diplomatic red tape and so Cooder decided to record traditional Cuban music instead and embarked on finding musicians who were active pre-revolution and were mostly retired.  Not only were these musicians not known in the USA, many of them were not known to younger generation Cubans.  Beautiful traditional music from pre-war Cuba.  I love the record, but have one pet peeve.  As much as I like Ry Cooder's guitar playing, he should not have played on the record.  His playing is mostly tasteful, but it really doesn't fit the style of the music.  The sound of slide guitar is something that is never heard in this music.  Paquito D'Rivera tells a funny story of the Cuban musicians looking at each other while recording and shrugging their shoulders as if to say "well, he's the one with the money" 😏.   Still, a record that was hugely influential in exposing people all over the world to this beautiful music.