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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
alexatpos
1,228 posts
 
Conversation with Andrei Tarkovski, movie director.

Funny, you can hear some exact same words as Frogman says (about film/music not beeing created in vacuum and about influences of one artist on another) or about finding his personal expression

If you have time,very  interesting to hear, a great artist perspective...starts around 3rd.min...)

https://youtu.be/4JRfeshEboI

Regarding H.H.maybe its master piece....but in a specific genre? What truly defines something as master piece? Time?


pjw81563
1,829 posts
 
frogman

Big Kenny Dorham (the uncrowned champion as Art Blakey called him) fan as I am I would like your opinion on how Tommy Flanagan handled himself on the following song. I know its nowhere near as complicated as Coltrane's Giant Steps but it has a few challenges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUz-6CZXWO4
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I agree with frogman on Herbie Hancock .
He is the ONLY player I will listen to on anything in any genre .
He is music itself or as close as is humanly possible .
pjw81563
1,829 posts
 
Update

I just pulled the Art Blakey book from my library. The title is "Hard Bop Academy - The Sidemen Of Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers"

I highly recommend 

frogman
7,489 posts
 
pjw, I think Tommy Flanagan was a great player and I love his playing. There is a certain elegance to his playing and a relaxed time feel. Even the tone he gets has an elegant quality to it; not very percussive.

https://youtu.be/ONpG6dtiqzE

I really enjoyed that Kenny Dorham clip. Had not heard that before. Thanks!

My take on Flanagan on that recording is that he sounds very good. He’s a great player and he sounds particularly good on the introduction with its loose feel. He seems comfortable with the tune and its comfortable harmonic progression. He sounds a little subdued in attitude compared to Al Heath’s fiery playing and Henderson’s amazing solo. I found it very interesting how the vibe of the tune changed dramatically at the point that he soloed. They dropped the intensity pretty dramatically. Almost as if the band was accommodating him and the way he likes to play. Nice contrast even if at times I wished he were a little more rhythmic and incisive with his comping behind the soloists.

Here he is as sideman with Thad Jones, one of my very favorite Jazz composers and great trumpet player, on a favorite record. IMO, this is the kind of music and setting that Flanagan sounds best in; relaxed and swinging. Check out Billy Mitchell’s tenor on this. Talk about underrated players! Also, one of Schubert’s favorite drummers and the great Kenny Burrell.

https://youtu.be/dKQaV22GZhg

It should be noted that 23 years after recording Giant Steps with Coltrane and being caught off guard by the complexity of the tune, he recorded the tune on one of his solo records, It is obvious that he worked on the tune over the years. I like his rendition and he navigates the brutally difficult harmonic changes very well, but still without the fire that Coltrane brought to the tune.

https://youtu.be/wkXerGtKtKM
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