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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
 
In keeping with O-10’s “great female vocalists” theme:

We have looked at many great female Jazz singers and more will surely be posted; some who definitely deserve more attention.

There is a type of singer who can be rightfully called “cross-over” singers of a sort. They are not, or certainly are not considered to be, full-fledged Jazz singers in the usual sense, but they have a fantastic way of delivering a song; of telling a story. They take the back seat to no “Jazz” singer in their ability to deliver the goods....in a particular way and particular style. They are the great musical theater vocalists. For me, “great” is reserved for those that (again, for me) don’t cross the line into a kind of over the top caricatureness as some musical theater vocalists do. Their acting background certainly helps in their ability to tell the story. Some of them are also fantastic vocalists in the sense of control and sheer beauty of the voice. Rok has previously posted some Audra McDonald who is definitely in this category.

Barbara Cook was one of the very greatest. Amazing singer:

https://youtu.be/WHloHH9KwQc

(Some further thoughts re “dissonance” forthcoming)
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Barbara Cook:

She does have a great voice, and surely has that ’Broadway’ vibe. We always give credit to the Blues and other genres for their influence in the creation of Jazz, but maybe Broadway and the ’Great American Songbook’ deserves a lot of credit for the growth and sustainability of Jazz. Because a lot of a Jazz, is ’borrowed’ from other genres.

Nice clip from a lady I was not familiar with.

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Casandra Wilson:

OP, you might be right.   I just never thought of her that way.  I will play my CDs of her again, with your thoughts in mind.

Cheers
frogman
7,561 posts
 
**** but maybe Broadway and the ’Great American Songbook’ deserves a lot of credit for the growth and sustainability of Jazz. ****

Big time!
pjw81563
1,835 posts
 
I posted 2 songs yesterday from a great female jazz vocalist Helen Merrill and 1 a duet with an old (and you can tell) Billie Holiday and Helen Merrill.


That was a day before orpheus10's suggestion. So I already contributed.
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