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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
alexatpos
1,224 posts
 
Mare, Hampton Hawes served jail sentence for a  long time, for some small drug crime. While waiting for his trial that got him 10 years he recorded this album of mostly spiritual content...

This song is described as 'haunting'...I do not wonder why...
from the album 'Sermon'...

https://youtu.be/NNtl1NdvfhU

same song played by Satchmo, from his only gospel album 'Louis and The Good Book ...

https://youtu.be/bvEmq-cX0G4
pryso
1,955 posts
 
Similar to classical music, there seems to be a fair bit of discussion on where jazz is headed.  Is it fading with an aging audience?  Are young people picking up on it?  Are there any new musicians with something to say?

Following my recent Mingus kick I happened across a video of BBC Proms 2017 with a performance dedicated to his music.  The entire video runs just over two hours, but I also found this from the last 20 minutes.  It raised the point for me, can this be the direction of "new jazz"?  It seems more show than substance but this young guy certainly seems to be athletic and have good wind!

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

I think I see why Leo didn't make our recent list of top bari players. ;^)
pryso
1,955 posts
 
alex, did you ask for haunting?  Check out Donald Byrd -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAzX65ChVT8
frogman
7,480 posts
 
Alex, as I was posting that Phil Woods/Red Garland clip I kept hearing a little voice in my head that made me wonder exactly what you mention.  I guess that little voice was correct; I had posted it previously.  Glad you liked it.

Very interesting observation about Red Garland and something I had not really thought about previously.  I went back and listened to a few things by him and you are correct.  When he plays single notes he does play in what would be called a “staccato” style; the notes are short and clipped with little if any sustain.  There are two ways that a player can control the amount of sustain.  When a note is struck the faster that the player lifts the finger off the key the less sustain that the note will have.  Also, a piano has a sustain pedal that a player uses at his discretion in order to give notes more or less sustain.  However, when Garland plays in his distinctive block chord style he does use sustain and this can be heard easily.  
alexatpos
1,224 posts
 
Frogman, thanks. Its interesting since you have mentioned that his (Garland) style influenced Evans. I find their styles on very opposite sides, Evans has a 'flow' that I miss when I listen to Garland.
Flanagan is another player that comes on my mind, that has a 'Flow'...

Pryso, yes, that one is a classic. Than you will like this one too...
...from the album 'Up', from 1964.

...'Sometimes I feel like'....you know how...
https://youtu.be/_ZlkSz7guIo

 If you like 'A new perspective' album that you have posted. perhaps you could try this one too...the line up is stellar, (Green, Hancock,Turrentine, etc)  I am curious to hear what you all think about it...the arrangments are not typical for the era...

Its a Donald Byrd's   'I m trying to get home', brass with voices...

https://youtu.be/j-ZSIoswvOQ

https://youtu.be/Wdrl-i9wv6E

...
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