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
Welcome, uberwaltz! First, don’t worry too much about what we think. There has been a lot of disagreement and arguing on this thread over what is and what is not Jazz. Consider what some of the greatest Jazz artists to ever play the music have said and continue to say:

”There are only two kinds of music, good and bad”

Beyond that, does the title really matter that much?

The music of all the Fusion/Crossover artists that you list has, at least, a strong Jazz component in it. Some of them (especially Clarke, Yellowjackets, Grusin and Jordan) have been part of projects (their own and others’) which are Jazz by any measure. Besides the above quote, I would offer another truism that is very important to the musicians themselves. That is, the idea that one can’t really play “modern” without first understanding what came before it. In a way, and to an important degree, the same goes for listeners.

Post some favorite music!

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Jazz quiz for all: Besides being Jazz, what do the following tunes all have in common? (Hint: uber)

https://youtu.be/-488UORrfJ0

https://youtu.be/5Wd--YgSCfA

https://youtu.be/vofbnkQcW_Q


I'm currently listening to JuJu Man by Gary Bartz.  I originally found this record in an old record store in New Brunswick, NJ in 1978.  It blew me away and I wore the grooves out.  I think the session was recorded at some out-of-the-way studio in LA in the mid 70s, but the sound isn't the story here, it's about Bartz' blowing his alto and soprano with much emotion. 

It would be many years later when it was re-released as a Japanese import on CD.  Now the streaming services have it.  

This album just swings hard.  It's worth a listen just for Gary's performance.  On "Chelsea Bridge", he starts on clarinet and switches to soprano mid-tune. 

Thank you, Gary Bartz!