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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
7,561 posts
 
My sentiments exactly.  I love Dr. John, but that “It Don’t Mean...” sounds like a parody of the tune.  Curious choice to do a tune about swinging with a straight up and down beat.  And, too S....L....O.....W!  

This is not meant as a criticism of Brubeck’s music in any way.  I like Brubeck’s music a lot (in great part for the usual presence of Paul Desmond) and appreciate his legacy; but, in many ways this piano playing style strikes me as the antithesis of Brubeck’s:

https://youtu.be/QO53Xu6TZBg
 
pryso
1,986 posts
 
As a fan of Brubeck for several decades, I'm well aware of the criticism he received.  But "No soul, no jazz"?  I just don't understand that.  I've heard plenty of emotion, drive, and thus soul in many of his recordings.

This may be an oversimplification but I believe much of that criticism came from two factors.  One, much of his playing was melodic enough (especially when joined by Desmond) that it could be appreciated by a broader audience than just those favoring straight ahead jazz.  Thus he was more commercially successful and so possibly resented by those who hadn't reached that level of popularity.  Second, I suspect many musicians and critics couldn't accept the fact that he seemed to have come from a music conservatory rather than up from the streets earning his trade in bars and road houses.  The latter included those claiming no soul in his playing.

To my ear he was talented as a player, composer, and explorer of new boundaries.  He could swing, play ballads, honor tradition with stride references, verge into avant-garde, and how many other musicians devoted as much creative energy into new directions as Brubeck did with time signatures? 
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

I don't seem to be pleasing anybody today; I think I'm going to do what the little fellow who wandered into a New Orleans house of ill repute did when asked who you gonna please?


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di7ko6eST40&list=PLvzXX1gpYCaqf4nfHi5OzY0UYAgysNAxx


I'm going native.


Post removed 
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 

***** But "No soul, no jazz"?  I just don't understand that.*****


He should have said, "No Blues, No Jazz, Know Blues, know Jazz"

One of those pesky things called facts.

Cheers

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