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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
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

I saw Miles in Chicago 69, and this is the sound he presented with a different band. This sound was totally foreign to me at that time, and I couldn't believe I was looking at and hearing "Miles Dewey Davis" dressed in a fringed buckskin vest.

I'm amazed at how good it sounds now; that just goes to show how we change, and become acclimated to new sounds.

Miles had the biggest ego in the business, and also the best ears for new talent; I recall seeing him just before his eternal rest, and he had a white unknown sax player (unknown to me) who was very good. He was playing a long solo that sounded especially good, and he was just developing it, when Miles just blurted in, sounding like an ardvark fart.

I don't know if he ever did that to Trane, but he always complained about Trane's long solos.


Acman, could you tell me what album that's on, ( The Isle of Wight Festival) it sounds especially good now.
pjw81563
1,834 posts
 
orpheus10

Its available on vinyl here:
https://www.amazon.com/Wight-Concert-Vinyl-Miles-Davis/dp/B000ZOSTHW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1534...

Or an mp3 download I don’t see a CD on Amazon

You should just get the DVD "Miles Electric" which features his performance at the Isle of Wight. I have a copy and its very cool. Includes lots of extras with interviews of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Carlos Santana to name a few.


Jazz critic Stanley Crouch is featured talking about when Bitches Brew came out and he kept playing it over and over not liking it.


Carlos Santana states: "To Stanley Crouch and people like that you know they need to be reminded that it takes a lot of courage to leave all of your security blanket behind and jump without a parachute"


I’m watching it now and I’ll tell you this Miles’ wife Betty Davis was beautiful!

Miles Electric:
https://www.amazon.com/Miles-Electric-Different-Kind-Blue/dp/B00069FKN2/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UT...

nsp
654 posts
 
pjw
Did you know the group you saw 4 Generations of Miles cut a cd 16 years ago for Chesky. It's available as a hybrid .
Like you I enjoy the live music Miles cut from the 1968 thru 1975 period. The Isle of Wight video posted was pretty representative of that period. I would like to buy it but it's pricey. 
I think I only own Star People from his later work also ,I did not like the Miles in Berlin clip too much, but I did get the opportunity to see Miles in NY the year before he died and his group stole the show. The group was 2 guitars, sax, bass ,keyboards ,drums and multiple percussion.  The group sound was similar to his 70's groups and Miles was in fine  form.
I picked another J McLean piece w/O Coleman from a later period after heaing the cuts you posted.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s_pE0ElxttI

nsp
654 posts
 
pjw
sorry the cd band of "4 Generations of Miles " had Ron Carter on bass and George Coleman on sax  with M Stern & J Cobb
pjw81563
1,834 posts
 
nsp thanks for the link on that Mclean disc. I will probably end up buying it. Glad you saw Miles. I did not because I discovered the beauty of Jazz when I was around 30 and Miles was gone. I was strictly a rock & roller until the early 90's when I grew tired of its repetitive (at times) nature. I still dig rock but I'm much more selective now.

That Miles Electric DVD is well worth it. The first 40 minutes or so is interviews with Miles and many great musicians and the second 40 minutes or so is the entire Isle of Wight show. One song, 40 plus minute jam session with no title!
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