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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
nsp
653 posts
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQZ1c3ixoa4 rok2id
2 Nice cuts from Dolphy. I don't think I have this album. Yes it was a pick up date but it's pretty much all about Eric. Great musician gone way too soon. Played and recorded with both Mingus and Coltrane and a few solo dates. I recommend Dolphy's The Illinois Concert w/Hancock . I have to disagree with your assessment of bass clarinet in jazz- it has a great tonality and goes deeper than a clarinet. Probably just a matter of taste. You are right about his flute playing. I don't always like flute playing in jazz but Dolphy is great.




nsp
653 posts
 
ghosthouse
Here is Bob Mintzer playing bass clarinet on a chesky cd release "the Body Acoustic". Nice cd which is drummerless allowing all players to be heard clearly. It defies categorization not jazz not rock . It sets up a groove and is mellow. Mintzer plays bass clarinet on all cuts.I tried to play clarinet as a youth with no success it's tough to get a sound out of that instrument. I play piano now. More to follow.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kvTgUA3Nfck

Also check out Marcus Miller live concert
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hql_zpc2OTE

Another Bob Mintzer bass clarinet live cut:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qVc_cmvMVme
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,312 posts
 
nsp - 
Thanks for the suggestions and additional video.  Ah...of course, Bob Mintzer.  I've been enjoying the Yellowjackets' Timeline album quite a lot recently.  Was totally overlooking Bob Mintzer on bass clarinet.  Unfortunately, the Bob Mintzer live cut you provided is unavailable (in the US?).  I couldn't view it, in any case.  Wow...Marcus Miller.  Another bass clarinetist I know nothing about (not that big a surprise, really).  His beautiful tone really grabbed me with just the first few notes.  I'm not that big on the "jazz standards" but was really liking things until Mr. Sanborn made his entrance (physically and musically).  Totally wrecks the "mood" of the performance - or so I think.  We will continue to persevere in our pursuit of Eric Dolphy.  

rok & alex - Thanks for the flute suggestions.  

Frogman - The Dolphy solo performances of "God Bless The Child" you linked to reminded me of Bach's works for solo violin.  There's a purity and distillation to essence in his performance.
pryso
1,933 posts
 
All this bass clarinet info has been enlightening.  Yes, taste is personal but I do see its place in jazz.  In many examples I'm drawn in by the rich tonalities, similar to but not the same as the bari sax.

I had no idea so much was available, so thanks to all who posted links.  In particular, not sure how I missed so much Dolphy, but I don't have a single album with him as the leader.  A couple of Mingus albums but I'm not sure what else as a sideman?
frogman
7,457 posts
 
pryso, if one  can only have one album with Dolphy as leader this is the one.  Classic recording which is generally considered to be his greatest.  Amazing lineup playing perhaps the most coherent (non-bs) example of music in all of “avant-garde” jazz:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ln8naZpOJ0o

The first use of the bass clarinet in jazz was in the context of big band arrangements where it’s distinctive tone color can be exploited very much like it can be in a symphony orchestra.  Duke Ellington did this better than anyone who wrote for jazz orchestra. His great baritonist Harry Carney was also a fine bass clarinetist and was featured on the instrument in some of Duke’s arrangements.  “A Tone Paralell To Harlem” is one of Duke’s best known “suites”.  Check out Harry Carney on bass clarinet @ 8:35:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k2x5ukuGPEE

Bill Holman, another (more contemporary) great big band orchestrator featured the bass clarinet on his arrangement of the beatiful Jimmy Rowels ballad “The Peacocks”:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eKv91DFhgS4

Joe Temperley served as the low reed guy in Wynton’s JALC band until his recent unfortunate passing.  Wonderful bass clarinetist:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M9uFP5vPSmI

Another player with “avant-garde” leanings.  Have never been a fan of his tenor playing, but enjoy his bass clarinet:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=akz87TT1c5w

And, of course, the funkiest bass clarinetist ever, Bennie Maupin on one of the funkiest and possibly best “fusion” recordings ever, Herbie Hancock’s “Headhunters”.  Love this record:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mZy7v_-ss74

More to discover