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
@jafant ....Are you finally listening to your Thiels?  Did you get an amp/preamp or integrated?  What kind?  Happy Listening!!!
Beautiful performance of “Old Folks” by Wynton Kelly, Alex.   Beautiful player and one of my favorites.  Too bad he had such a crappy piano to play on that night.  A player like that deserves a better instrument.  Here is another live performance with a much better sounding piano, but mediocre recording quality unfortunately ...oh well.  “Old Folks” is at 32:00.  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u5qSayYcdP8

Possibly a little peek into the personal dynamics that come into play between players during a music project.  “Old Folks” was one of Wynton Kelly’s “signature” tunes.  On this project he was a sideman to a leader of well known ego and opinion; same rhythm section as the above.  Yet, they recorded Kelly’s signature tune for possibly the best known rendition of the tune.  Perhaps Miles’ ego was not as huge as it is purported to have been; or, perhaps his respect for Kelly was also huge:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W7QY-Kh5QMY




pryso, I enjoy that O’day clip more each time I see and hear it. Great singer! Not prepared to say it’s as good as it gets, but certainly excellent. We’re lucky to have so many to choose from depending on the mood. Here’s another favorite female vocalist along with one of my favorite male vocalists (possibly my favorite if forced to choose):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1IM3weosOTY

ghosthouse, Tim Garland is a very talented player who has obviously had serious study on the bass clarinet. Thanks for that clip; I enjoyed it. A very unwieldy instrument the bass clarinet is quite a challenge for any saxophone player to play only causally. I suspect he spent a lot of time listening to Dolphy’s work; and these recordings in particular. Of the five versions the Copenhagen concert is generally considered the best. “Let the bass clarinet play” indeed!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VD-s3des8VU




ghosthouse
Thanks for the bass clarinet Bill Bruford you tub e post. Bass clarinet is a favorite of mine in jazz music. I have a lot of bass cl arinet music
I kind of overlooked Bill Bruford . Was familiar with his contribution to Yes and King Crimson and purchased 2 solo albums but lost track of him. I am going to purchase this album after listening to several other cuts.
I have also been listening to Soft Machine anoth er jazz rock group again.

nsp

Not to divert too much but this was the first version of "Old Folks" I heard as this album was an early jazz purchase for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLUP9-126nk

I too enjoy the sounds of the bass clarinet.  But I never found many recordings.  One I had early on but somehow it disappeared over the years was Herbie Mann's "great ideas of western mann".

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