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
rok, I expect that meant Juilliard students are expected to study classical composers, not Monk. ;^)

acman, thanks for the additions. I almost included something from Ellis but decided I’d offered enough. But also to paraphrase that Mexican beer (cerveza) commercial, I don’t always enjoy big band, but when I do I listen to Basie!

pjw, on another audio site I have a different moniker -- M3 lover. I receive occasional questions about that, assuming it relates to a performance automobile or German camera. But that is an audio site so I chose a musical reference -- three of my favorite jazz artists: Miles, Monk, and Mingus. I later considered I should have used M4 so I could have included Mulligan, but it was too late. So o10, you know why I linked the same Mulligan album.  Anyway, I likely have 25-30 Monk albums, mostly on vinyl. I even have an original poster from a Monk concert I attended in Honolulu in 1965. Yes, I’m a fan boy!
orpheus10
I wanted to thank you for posting Johnny Smith and Carmell Jones recently. I intend to check out more of their music.
pjw
Enjoyed your Lou Donaldson story. I have spoken to band members between sets on occasion but only in the audience, not backstage. Nice to hear how friendly Lou was to you. I would have loved to have sat and talked boxing with him , I'm a big fan.
The credit on that Basie cut goes to acman3 , not me. 
nsp,

Thanks for correcting that.

Lou was great to see live. As you know he was at first a big disciple of Charlie Parker as were a lot of sax players. In the 60’s Lou started to get into a blues- soul/gospel funky type jazz and his stuck with that since. Every time I saw him live he played a tune called "Whiskey Drinking Woman". He would joke around with the audience before, during, and after that song.

Mike Francesa, the sports talk jockey on NBC NY used to answer calls from Lou all the time concerning sports.

Whiskey Drinking Woman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCsZ0beofEU

Check out Dr. Lonnie Smith at 5 minutes in!..Lou's vocals are very good for the blues