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
orpheus10 that's too bad it's no that's too bad it's no longer like that. I guess times change.  it sounded so vibrant with all the different clubs and churches on every corner all with music. At least you have your memories and you must feel lucky to have been there at that time. I will have some other comments about his interview when I finish it.
James Carter's new album is awesome!

A great live recording at Newport Jazz Festival and engineered well. Sonics are excellent on the CD.

He does a medley based on the Bill Withers song "Use Me Up" which I have seen and heard him done before a couple times in person. The version on this new release is awesome as are all the other songs. Highly recommended.

Nsp, Wright spoke of 47th and Calumet; I recall sitting in my cousin's car on Calumet, waiting for him to come back, when some guy came running down the sidewalk past my window, and hearing a policeman scream halt before he fired his revolver; this guy turned and fired back at the cop then kept on running; I recall he was well dressed. It's funny how details stick in your mind at a time like that.

Fortunately for me they were fairly good shots, they missed each other but the bullets came within feet of my window or closer and they didn't hit me or the car. That let me know I was in the big city. At that time, the population of Chicago was 3620962 and it was number 2 in the USA.
Pjw, thanks for the James Carter recommendation.  Looked for it on the Tube; not there yet.  I look forward to hearing it.

For me, one of the all-time greatest instrumental pairings in Jazz was the collaboration between Bill Evans and Stan Getz. To my ears they both lived in very similar musical planets. I posted this previously:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kSdDcxyIWm1GGkwoOsAnSegN9sZYwenrE

I post it again because it was long thought to be the only recorded collaboration between the two. Not sure how this eluded my radar, but I just became aware of this other, previously available only as a bootleg, live recording:

https://youtu.be/4_eLn4B9MzQ

Evans, by his own admission, was heavily influenced by Classical composers. A beautiful example of this “cross pollination” of genres in his very interesting chord voicings on their fabulous rendition of “The Peacocks” @ 39:57. Bela Bartok with a touch of Ravel all the way.