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
Interesting, similarly to "So What", "If I Were A Bell" was also played at a faster tempo than I remember hearing it.  So was that just an obvious way that Miles never wanted to play anything the same way twice, or were they in a hurry to get through the performance? ;^)
Pryso,  they were doing what they always did when in Japan; they played to the audience.  If you listen to any jazz album you can find that was recorded live in Japan you will hear "showboating"; that's because the Japanese liked that kind of playing. 

Miles never played songs too fast when he was at home, why did he play it too fast in Japan?

Pryso, the comment I'm about to make is not about this artists music, (the music is good) but watch her exaggerated movements; this is what jazz is in general over there.


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


Notice how this tune starts out "normal" but in the middle they jazz it up and break out into some "showboating" jazz; that's what they like in Japan and that's what they give them; sometime it's overdone. Playing tunes too fast might be such an example.


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-T0c3FDEkM
The OP is correct, as he sometimes is, on this.   ANYTHING western is a great curiosity there, and if it's done by black folks, it becomes THE THING.  When ever  I see / hear Jazz played in Asia, I think, another great performance wasted on foreign ears.

To them, its a sign they are wealthy and have become a rich / important nation in the world.   They can import Miles.   How cool is that.   It's a prestige thing.

Reminds  me of a DVD I once ordered titled 'Ray Charles In Brazil'.  Now that just had to a killer DVD.   We know what Ray brings, then we think of Rio, Babes, Carnival etc......  How can it miss?
    
Well, it remains the worst DVD I have ever purchased.   Performed on a nondescript high school like stage in front of the then ruling Junta, and their 'ladies'.  It was a prestige thing.   So as Ray and the Raelettes did their best, the audience just sat there like stone soldiers.

Big Time foreign entertainment, esp American, is seen as proof that a country has 'arrived' in many parts of the world.

Cheers
Today’s Listen:

Ella Fitzgerald / Duke Ellington -- ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE DUKE ELLINGTON SONGBOOK
Ella sings with small groups and full orchestra.

2CD set. Excellent booklet with pictures. I could have posted them all, it’s that good. 37 total tracks. All the Jazz greats play on this session. Too many to list.

with orchestra, check the Trumpet playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mB45AIHJ04&list=OLAK5uy_kfU4X2p8rBHukodapKaobAgzPJRe4410c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMz01jD1634&list=OLAK5uy_kfU4X2p8rBHukodapKaobAgzPJRe4410c&index=4

with small groups

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-XCw8dlrxQ&list=OLAK5uy_kfU4X2p8rBHukodapKaobAgzPJRe4410c&index=15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83L8ol-SYnQ&list=OLAK5uy_kfU4X2p8rBHukodapKaobAgzPJRe4410c&index=20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xikVWnJVgc&list=OLAK5uy_kfU4X2p8rBHukodapKaobAgzPJRe4410c&index=24


Ain’t got it, git it.

Cheers