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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
frogman
7,472 posts
 
“Lyrical” is the perfect way to describe Morello’s playing.  That clip of “Castilian Drums” is fantastic, pryso and makes the case beautifully.  Wonderful drummer with a beautiful ease to his playing.  He never banged on the drums nor forced the rhythm.  It should be noted that an important aspect of his playing which contributed to his lyricism was the attention he payed to the tuning of his drums to specific pitches; easily heard in his solos.  In my book the only other drummer who could equal him and arguably surpass his sense of lyricism was Max Roach:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F_voXNIsobs
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Ella wishes you a swinging Christmas;



      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59xvZhJFQRQ&list=PL5A20A6534F2F8200
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Never was into 'pop' or 'Jazz' Christmas music.   There are two exceptions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XIjGei8zG8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0mgk0KgI0Q

Drum Solos are intrusive, most often irritating interludes, that add nothing to most Jazz tunes.
There is one exception:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzpnWuk3RjU

Cheers


pryso
1,939 posts
 
I agree that most drum solos can be boring.  They seem like token efforts to give some spotlight to the drummer.  Something I found irritating was local musician concerts (which I otherwise heartily endorse) developed a trend where every musician seemed to take a solo on every number.  I could never understand how that got started?  But since it wasn't fair to expect the creativity of a Morello or Roach (or many other accomplished drummers) among our local talent that simply increased the boredom.

Speaking of a jazzy Christmas, out local college FM jazz station sponsored a concert last evening with their recently formed jazz band playing the respective scores from Duke Ellington and Shorty Rogers recordings of The Nutcracker Suite.  They did a great job and I particularly enjoyed the Rogers' version, something like this -

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzrbaE7M-jL86Zk2_wJQxRMFeowfDgqK 
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Highly Recommended Christmas CD:

****SONGS OF ANGELS: Christmas Hymns & Carols****
Robert Shaw & Robert Shaw Chamber Singers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Xt5SjHbBA

Everything Shaw does is just Awesome.

Cheers



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