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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
pjw81563
1,829 posts
 
From the Art Ensemble Of Chicago disc 2 (Full Force)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTkghqtmR3w

I know its 20 minutes long but its worth a listen. The first 7- 8 minutes puts you in a sort of meditation trance then from 8 - 10 minutes layers or "sheets" are slowly added and then from 10 minutes until the end its totally Avant Guard with a heavy influence of Polyrhythm. The Polyrhythmic percussion dominates throughout and  really is a treat along with the "free" incursions of the brass. Challenging but, IMHO, very well executed.


The song Charlie M, from the same album, has a "Mingus feel" to it and, like all of AEOC's albums diverts from the Avant Guard into a more "acceptable to the jazz masses" direction. Each AEOC album repeats this theme of playing different types of jazz on the same album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgFm-Q7CeP8








frogman
7,489 posts
 
Nice review, pjw.  Enjoyed the clips by this always interesting ensemble.  Lester Bowie always surprises and makes me reconsider my preconceived notions about some of the “out” guys.  Your comparison of the CTI sound compared to ECM’s is interesting; completely different production approaches.  With a few exceptions, CTI’s has never really been my cup of tea even when I like the music.  Highly stylized studio sound with lots of reverb whereas ECM’s is pristine with great refinement; in a way, not unlike classic tube sound compared to good solid state.  Our MIA keeper of the traditionalist flame poster is a big fan of this record:

https://youtu.be/7-WoFL3jCLc


pjw81563
1,829 posts
 
Thanks frogman its kind of frustrating knowing that engineers could and should make the recordings like ECM. ECM is a relatively small label and if they can do it why not the others?


You can have a 50,000 dollar sound system and the source, if bad, still will not sound as good as it should. I spent about 5k on my 5:2 set up Yamaha AVR, Emotiva amps and JBL Studio L speakers and subwoofers and the ECM recording Garden Of Eden by Paul Motian sounds incredible on it. 


The source is what really lets your system shine. I have a 4-6 hour listening session every Friday night while sipping on my favorite bourbon or scotch (Elmer T Lee or Glenlivet) and when the source disc is bad I start thinking I should have spent more money on my system but when I hear the music from a properly engineered source I calm down a bit. Besides I'm on a budget LOL!
alexatpos
1,228 posts
 
Speaking about  'The subject of slow tempos and playing slowly' I guess this could count as well, aldo not all album is like that....

Roger Kellaway trio, from 1965.

https://youtu.be/-Rkt1gvZF0o

same song as Byrd played it above, from other album (this one I dont have)
https://youtu.be/wxwYVvx3wE0

and one played live, with Gene Harris....senor blues

https://youtu.be/gfNIVdnz1FQ
pjw81563
1,829 posts
 
A slow one from JC and orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ_cnJp71BA
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