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
I bought a great Croft pre-amp with dials for both left and right sound
because in a 850 sq ft Condo my placement choice is VERY limited .
To a large extent solved the problem , Left speaker is a meter from wall ,Right is 6 meters . As frog said , every recording is different , 2 dials can do a lot better than just one balance .


If I was young, just starting, and knew what I know now , I would go head phone . Every one says do the room , true enough. but in many situations
for many people , just not possible .

P.S . Bad solder is OFTEN the problem . One reason I went for the not cheep Croft was because all the hand made hard wiring done by Mr Croft himself in England is a work of art . And the phono on the Micro 25 is sweet
as well .. IMO being an audiophile or not is irrelevant . What matters is listening to serious LIVE music as much as you can and as often as you can .


Which however may be almost impossible in future .



To this day, one of the best and most memorable sounds from a stereo system that I have ever heard was years ago (early 90s) at the first NYC hi fi show. Celestion SL-700 monitors on what at first I thought were stands that were too low driven by Croft tube monos. I even remember the record that I had brought along Marriner/St. Martin ITF/Bach Concerto for oboe and violin C Minor on EMI. Gorgeous sound. Smallish soundstage, like sitting toward the back of the hall, but so tonally natural with amazing image stability and scale. Rhythmically fantastic. The antithesis of in your face, but as close to the real thing as I’ve ever heard.

Also at that show,I remember one of the weirdest very expensive sounds I ever heard. Sonny Rollins “Live at the Village Vanguard” on the Jadis “Eurythmy” horn speakers. Some ungodly price for such weird sound.
You got it frog . Croft is 3 things , musical. musical and musical ! I am close to dropping down 1500 $ for his 40 watt amp that goes with
my pre .My large Quad S5 speakers 3 way with 4 drivers in front and 3 ABR in back are not easy to drive nor all that hard either . My current Belles 150A reference MK II does well .

My brain says no , but my heart says 40 Croft SS watts are in there with a Pass or Cory Tube 40 .
Boy , how I remember that EMI Bach , lost in move .Those who referred to Marriner as a " Kapellmeister", and there were many, were full of s..t .
@frogman 

Problem found.  It's the local FM station.  All systems play just fine, that is, all amps and CD players, except when the tuners play.  Assuming all three can't have the same problem, and the problem moves when the RCA cables at the tuners are switched, it has to be the broadcast signal.

The pop CD that I mentioned is part of a 2 CD set of compilations, and are just badly recorded. 

Thanks for your response.

Cheers