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
pjw
After listening to all 3 G Baker cuts I think he meshes well with Frisell and Haden. But he still sounds to me more like a rock drummer than a jazz drummer. But it fits because Frisell is not a strict jazz guitarist and has a lot of rock sensibility in his playing.Baker really is very talented but leans too much towards rock style for me.
BTW- did you know Baker was a long time heroin addict. Don't know if he's  clean now.
frogman mentioned Charlie Watts -another rock drummer who made some jazz cds . I bought several (still own one) but was disappointed. I love Watts as the drummer for the Rolling Stones but jazz chops he is lacking. As frogman said he was saved by his sidemen.
BTW- I bought the Stan Getz bio you recommended . It's great and gives an excelllent portrait of the "swing" era which he was involved in. I did not know how popular he was back in the late 40's early 50's. . And sadly an alcoholic and drug addict before he turned 20.
nsp,

"But he still sounds to me more like a rock drummer than a jazz drummer."

I agree. However his 3 biggest influences and idols were Art Blakey, Max Roach, and Elvin Jones.On the duet he does with Blakey his expression says it all. It was like a dream come true for him. Of the 3 influences he does sound more like Blakey then Jones or Roach. Blakey has a tendency to "pound aggressively" on the skins as does Baker but Baker tries to "break the skins" on almost every session whereas Blakey occasionally sounds this way and has a softer touch and feel which meshes better in the jazz genre.
pryso,

I liked the Monk piece a lot. I own a lot of Monk recordings but not that one. One of the commenters below the video is a musician and gave a link to a piece he wrote. I think its really a nice piece of work.
Here is the comment and link:

The man who arranged these marvelous arrangements is Hall Overton who was also my teacher at the Juilliard School which of course I am highly grateful for. I however had to study Bartok and Stravinsky and not Monk. He instead inspired me to write this piece. click on link then click "go to site"

https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amrod.de%2Fmp3%2Fhomage-to-monk.mp3&redir_to...