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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
pjw81563
1,834 posts
 
orpheus10,

I have that Shelly Manne album with the song you posted. It is one of about 20 Shelly Manne discs I have with him as the leader.

Shelly Manne, Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Bob Brookmeyer, Lenny Tristano and Zoot Simms among others, were the original artists who did not follow along with everyone else into bebop - that is, I mean players that recorded mostly bop whereas the players I mentioned above, who were highly influenced by Lester Youngs smooth sounding tenor which, believe it or not, had a huge influence on the "West Coast Cool" sound, stuck to a more subdued "swing sound" instead of bebop. 

Miles Davis used some of the players I mentioned above in his nonet for his "Birth Of The Cool" album. Lee Konitz was personally chosen by Miles over Sonny Stitt because of his ability to pay more subdued.

BTW, Gerry Mulligan was a very talented composer/arranger and that part of his legacy is often overlooked.

The complete recordings of Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan is another place to look to bolster your west coast collection.


orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Pjw, West Coast is not quite in the normal lineage of modern jazz, it was developed in LA utilizing elements of modern jazz. The music developed around the California culture, which was cool and laid back.

For me, it is an alternative that requires a different "mind set". Just before you posted I was writing a post for Rok to get his evaluation of "West Coast". Now that this is included, we'll see what he has to say.

For me personally, I'm doing some serious shopping. My opinion is not to compare it to "East Coast", but to enjoy it for what it is. Rather than compare a Kiwi fruit to an apple, just enjoy whatever it is you're eating at the time.

Now that we have "You tube" I can be very selective.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Here's another one Pjw, even on "you tube" this sounds so much better. I'm going to pass on the 4 discs and just get the individual albums.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WxpHeuBo2s
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
O-10,
We should all be wary of fabricated genres.   Esp in Jazz and Blues.

Some people found they could give the locals what they wanted to hear and make a lot of money doing it.  That's the American way.  Even Miles did it. 

But, the creative heart and soul of Jazz remains NYC.   The rest are just, as our OP might say, "earning a Living".

Which begs the question, what the heck was Gene Harris doing in Idaho??

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 
Rok, "West Coast" came and went; what we are discussing is in the past.  When I go back to that time,  (in my mental time machine) I can relate to it.
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