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
Today's Listen:

Gene Harris Quartet  --  A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN
at Ste. Chapelle Winery

This place is in Idaho.   Why, that's down-right Incredulous.

Everyone does like Gene.  Never anything other than great music.  I like him even better than Oscar.   Always enjoyable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1gvUf2MYdI 


this is for the OP.   reminds him of his wonderful youth spent in Mississippi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0RCdSKogeI 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iujfwAc-lis

Cheers




Rok, glad you liked it. You are correct, the modern double bass has four strings. In that clip he is playing a period three string double bass. It was not until the late 1800’s or so that the four string bass became “standard”. Before then three, four and five string double basses were used.

Memory is extremely important to a musician. Whether it is to remember the chord changes of a Jazz tune or complex passages in a Classical work. The goal is to remember to the point when the “remembering” process becomes subconscious and the musician is not “working” at remembering. A good musician doesn’t want to be completely preoccupied with remembering the changes of a tune or to be glued to the notes on the page when performing.  When the subconscious takes over is when the musician is freed to interact musically with the other musicians and to take the music to a higher level with inspired and creative phrasing in an improvised Jazz solo or a Classical work.
In case if you didn't know how to do it, here are the instructions:

J. S. Bach - "It's easy to play any musical instrument, just touch the right key at the right time & the instrument will play itself."

You see? It's easy as pie.