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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
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Why? that’s what these little boxes are for .Takes all of a few seconds to read it or somebody can just skip it if that’s too much  Not to mention that without a woman's view  things are less than one-sided .

Re: Sinatra , that is the prevalent view .





nsp
654 posts
 
frogman
In the Adair and Sinatra versions of "Fly Me to the Moon" for me the thing that "locks in " the song is their impeccable sense of swing. That ,along with the tempo makes their versions right for the listener. I give credit to Adair's trio members for locking in the tempo solidly. Krall tries to impart her own different sense of swing in the lyrics on  her number which fails , especially in the middle and end of the song.
I always feel it's difficult for a singer to cover a song for which another ( Sinatra in this case) has done what most consider a definitive version and her attempt to make it her own falls short. 
frogman
7,561 posts
 
Keep posting mary_jo.  Re Krall:

Not a fan.  I find her deliveries bland and pretty much the opposite of what I
consider “nailing” a tune.  Sorry, it was just a gratuitous dig.  No point in getting on the Krall bashing bandwagon.  Much more productive to discuss Sinatra who was undoubtedly a great singer.  So is fillet a great cut of beef; but, give me sirloin any day.  I agree with Schubert.  For me, there was a quality in his singing (not nearly as much in a young Sinatra) that makes me feel like he felt he was doing the audience a favor by singing.  The simple joy of singing of someone like Bennett is not there for me.  Just me.  

https://youtu.be/kP1F7_G4Adc


frogman
7,561 posts
 
nsp, you are of course correct.  Getting the tempo right without a great feel is pointless and I certainly wasn’t suggesting otherwise.  Having said that, imagine Sinatra himself singing the tune at the faster tempo that Krall takes it at.  Would it swing quite as hard?  I kinda doubt it.  
schubert
7,386 posts
 
frog , re Still .I worked with a guy who was a student of Still .
According to him one of the first things Fritz did when he got to Chicago was to fire Ray . After first few rehearsals he knew Ray was the anchor of the band and would remain so .Kaiser Reiner would have none of this .Thank God the union went to court and Ray got his job back .
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