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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 

James Carter:

Being great is not easy.   The greats just make it look easy.

A person could earn a living just placing bets on the contents  of a serious Jazz Fan's collection.  We all know, at a minimum, what Miles, Trane, Mingus etc......... albums / CDs, that any Aficionado, worthy of the name, would have on his self.

Can the same be said about James Carter?

Remember:

The Frogman's first law -- If you are unknown or under known, there is usually a good reason why.

Bill Parcells - - "You are, what your record says you are".

Keeping these in mind will answer all questions.

Very good player, but not in the same rank of those you listed.


Cheers



pjw81563
1,829 posts
 
rok2id

The majority of jazz aficionados like I said up thread are "stuck" in the old days listening to the greats of the 1940 -1970 era. Your statement above simplifies my response.

Name ONE sax player today that you think is as good as the old timers?

Name ONE trumpet player? ONE piano player? ONE bass player? ONE drummer?

I for example have 20 plus Art Blakey cd’s. Jeff Tain Watts, a modern drummer has a total of 5-6 cd’s recorded under his own name. Does that make Watts inferior to Blakey? Times change. Back in the day when jazz was popular the musicians were constantly in the studios recording. Miles Davis once recorded 3 albums in less the a week to finish his contract with Prestige Records to accept an offer from Columbia. Its not quantity that counts but quality.

I have about 50 Coltrane cd’s counting box sets and 75 Miles cd’s counting box sets. Name ONE player in todays time that will ever put out so much material.

No doubt in my mind Trane was the best with Parker,Rollins, Hawkins, Getz, Pepper et al grouped behind Trane in no particular order. But JC could definitely hold his own with many of the old timers including Sonny Stitt, Jackie Mclean, Pharoah Sanders, and yes, even Dexter Gordon.

Likewise Stanley Clarke could hold his own with Charles Mingus on bass to name a modern bass representative.

Jeremy Pelt and Roy Hargrove come very close to Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Dorham and Donald Byrd on trumpet

Plus I get to see all of these guys live and is that not the best way to listen to jazz?



jafant's avatar
jafant
19,836 posts
 
Gretchen Parlato
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,836 posts
 
Big fan of Jeff 'Tain Watts
alexatpos
1,218 posts
 
Pjw,

...'No reason to get excited
The thief he kindly spoke
There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke '...

'When Jazz ruled the world' article

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/in-depth-features/when-jazz-ruled-the-world/?utm_source=ka&utm_me...
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