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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
mary_jo
1,525 posts
 
I’m glad that I’m the kind of aficionado that goes where the artist I’m listening to takes me; I never compare.

I guess that this comes naturally as the reaction on fro’s recent post. The movie maker and the movie watcher. I’d like to compare these two rather than a musician and the one who listens music.

Where the pure observer sees the magic and the story itself, prior to anything else, the movie maker sees the complexity of work; the technic of shooting, the angle of light, the cut between the frames and all kinds of other stuff...Presumably this can’t be shaked off one’s mind. It’s the curse in the blessing from the obvious reason. Captures everyone who tried making something (creating something small or big).
Once one has come to the other side where creators have been hiding and tasted the role of the maker, there is no way back. The magic of an observer shapes into the magic of a maker; one starts to examine, to compare, is grown to have bigger eyes (in movies) and bigger ears (in music). See what other can’t see, hears what other can’t hear. The curse in blessing how I see it.

Somebody correct me if I am wrong but I guess that above mentioned is the reason why fro drinks too much coffee.




frogman
7,561 posts
 
pryso, as I wrote the word “generational” I knew that it might get me in trouble; and for the very reason that you reacted to.   You assumed that I referred to the musicians’ respective ages, when using the word “generational”.  In the context of the point being made it referred to the various and broader chronological pieces of THE MUSIC and it’s evolution.  IOW, musical generations.  We have no disagreement as your point is well taken.  

Having said that, Blakey’s music remained pretty much within a fairly narrow style and interpretation of “hard bop”.  As you have pointed out his band was a “school” as much as anything and was a great place for young players to get schooled IN THAT STYLE.  Miles, as you point out, was much more of a chameleon and the MUSICAL GENERATION that he was representing at any given time was reflected with his choice of players.   
frogman
7,561 posts
 
mary_jo, I believe you make a common mistaken assumption. You assume that the “pure observer”. “sees the magic” before the “creator” does. Or that the creator always or automatically starts to analyze. Not the case at all. It is a deliberate choice. Moreover, the “creator”, or listener who is open to critical listening, can often see a kind, or level, of “magic” that the observer who, to use an expression used recently re a different topic, wears only “rose colored glasses” on his ears won’t ever see.

Knowledge is never a curse; when kept in its proper place. Example:

Rok said he will never be able to listen to the great “Giant Steps” the same way again since now he’ll be able to hear Flanagan stepping all over his piano solo. On the face of it, for some, that may seem like a curse. However, I guarantee you, that this little bit of awareness (knowledge) about that performance will open a window to more of the magic of the recording and of Coltrane in particular.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Today’s Listen:

Lee Morgan -- LEEWAY

With what can only be called an all-star group. If you have ever wondered if a tune can survive a Bass and a Drum solo, here’s your answer.

Notes:
"... refused to go in the Miles Davis - Art Farmer direction of essentially lyrical, understated, economical trumpet playing. Lee can be lyrical, but his musical temperament is basically in the exuberant, joyous, extroverted tradition of Dizzy Gillespie and Clifford Brown." Nat Hentoff

For which we can all be thankful.

Morgan was 21 at this time, so I guess he was still being introduced to the Jazz audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIIlQ3Uf-aw

ever notice how whenever the word ’blues’ is in the title, it be mo better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FE6XcsUxos

Cheers

note the cigarette in his hand while playing.   yep, 21.
mary_jo
1,525 posts
 
Fro, nope, I just assume that it sees differently. And nope, the creator does not see it automatically, since obviously a level of education is required. I referred not to the non-deliberate or deliberate choice, I just wanted to emphasize the difference between the picture they have in general. I did wrote that both do have magic but of different kind.

Knowledge is never a curse; when kept in its proper place.

The point is in "proper place" I agree and this can be interpreted in many ways. Obviously I wasn’t trying to say that knowledge by itself is a curse. Of course that it is not. But in the light of from what I am saying, it could be. I would NOT underestimate the power of rose glasses in art in particular, you know, ’cause that is what moves the fan (admirer). And having fan who is moved is what all is about, right?




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