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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Betty Carter:

Her version of "Favorite Things" is now one of my favorite things.  I liked all three songs.   You have to 'listen' to her music.   I would imagine it's not easy to play in the group backing her.

I was thinking that if Paulette Dozier had not done so many Standards / Popular Jazz tunes, she would have come across better.   When you hear 'moonlight' you think of all the greats that have done that tune, and then you compare her to them.

I have quite a few CDs by Carter.  I'll bring them out now.   DeJohnette, Holland and Allen are not my favorite folks, but that was very good.

Cheers

I must be the only person in the country that did not hear her on the Cosby show.


pjw81563
1,834 posts
 
acman3,

That second link with Betty Carter backed by Geri Allen, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette was a real treat. I will be adding that album to my collection for sure.

Here is one of my favorite "young" jazz musicians and vocalists Esperanza Spalding. I saw her at the Apollo Theater NYC in 2013 and she was terrific selling out the place as well. I wish she would record more traditional sounding jazz albums as she has veered into other genres her last couple of releases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQtXo4tiZxs&list=RD4PIdFIGQRxk&index=5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aRC3YY3svs
frogman
7,534 posts
 
Pjw, you won’t be disappointed with that Betty Carter record.  Highly recommended!  I posted a few from it a while back. Rok, check out Allen, Holland and DeJohnette on this:

https://youtu.be/qgdn9DIdLkE
pjw81563
1,834 posts
 
acman3,

I found that Betty Carter album "Feed The Fire" on Amazon and ordered it. Here is a review from Amazon:

Lionel Hampton nicknamed her "Betty Bebop" way back when--and the soul of bebop was alive and kickin' in Betty Carter when this 1993 live set was recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall. It's a kind of dream date, with Carter accompanied by pianist Gerri Allen, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Jack DeJohnnette. So what I want to say is: "Wow." I guess that's not a very articulate critical observation, but as Carter (a sizzling scat singer) knows, sometimes words just aren't enough to say what needs to be expressed. Some jazz singers (like Billie Holiday or Shirley Horn) don't stray too far from the melody in their improvisations, but Carter takes off and flies like the great bebop sax/horn players. The arrangements on these 10 songs sometimes deliberately downplay the melodies--like a mysteriously beautiful "Lover Man" that Billie Holiday would never recognize. Slowed almost to a standstill and built around a piano figure that echoes Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage," the words are familiar, but the tune is almost undetectable. Carter's up to something else altogether, and makes spine- tingling music. --Jim Emerson





pjw81563
1,834 posts
 
I ordered a Betty Carter compilation album titled "Betty Carters Finest Hour" On the album cover it says all you need to know about Betty's unique vocal style:

"She forever transformed the singers role in small jazz ensembles to that of a fully participating improvising member"

Here is one of the songs on the disc, a duet with Carmen McRae:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF6ihKz4NbA



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