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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
 
Interesting clip with the great Wayne Shorter and Wynton Marsalis’ JALC Orchestra in a tribute to the great musician.  Features arrangements by band members of many of Shorter’s compositions with some really interesting commentary by Wynton about each composition’s genesis.  Wayne is 87 (!) years old and certainly not at the peak of his playing ability, but still with that rare and elusive ability to pour an amazing amount of emotion and meaning into a single note.  Wonderful to watch the band’s players all intently hanging on every note that this idol plays.  Fantastic section playing by the band in arrangements that, with one or two exceptions, are great:

https://youtu.be/Db8wyrpxdDo
schubert
7,386 posts
 
One of the joys of hearing live music is hearing a great player bring excellent players upwards towards their level .
nsp
654 posts
 
frogman
Just a slight correction Wayne is 85 yrs. young !! Either 85 or 87 it doesn't matter , most people would be glad to be alive let alone still creating and performing at such a high level.  The only other tenor sax player at that age who is still alive is Sonny Rollins but I don't think he performs anymore?  
I listened to the 1st cut of your post I recognized the tune from his "Juju " album I think . Excellent arrangement. Yes the band members are hanging on his every note. 
Of all the tenor players who came up at the same time as Shorter I marvel at how much he changed his style of playing from the bebop he started out playing to the style he developed with his solo work and with Miles group in the mid 60's.  His probing , contemplative style with use of space differs from the bebop style he played only several years before. I use as examples these cuts with Art Blakey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSo2qaAnit0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tdel_QACLM

I will say there are some aspects of his future style which can be heard in these cuts but it was not fully developed until he performed his own material later . 
I will listen to more of your JALC cut  later.
frogman
7,561 posts
 
“probing, contemplative”.  I like that and I agree.  He has always been one of my very favorites; not only as a player, but also as a composer.  It’s always been fascinating to me how his style got more and more economical through the years even though he has always had technique to spare.  

Thanks for the correction re his age.  A slight correction of my own, if I may.  Although not quite on the same level of overall importance, but there is still a handful of greats in that general age group who thankfully are still with us:

Benny Golson, 90
Jimmy Heath, 93 (heard him lead his big band just a month ago)
George Coleman, 84
Charles Lloyd, 80




acman3
4,337 posts
 
I ran across this recently. Ted Nash on Clarinet and Tenor. Really nicely done by all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9JyJofS49c


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