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
Paul, call me oldfashioned, but yes, I liked the MM Ensemble,(liked the J.Pelt as well, in case you missed my post)  it has that reminiscence to older sound.
But, than again, it will be hard for me to exit my 'comfort zone' if I continue 'that way' ha,ha....

https://youtu.be/qK2hwkOHNKI
You should see my blackberry bushes and Black-eyed Suzies (am I allowed to say that?), Mary-jo! Looking great. New pear trees, not so much.

Btw, why are we talking about the Grammy’s anyway? It’s not news that there has always been corruption. Same with Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, etc. And, to use 1964 Grammy’s as an example?! 1964?! The thick of the civil rights movement and all its implications?!

Still want to know what any of that has to do with NY and the best of the music scene in NY. JALC is great, but kind of the same way that a great History museum is great. Mostly a throwback; emphasis on “mostly”. Great, but not representative of the music scene of NY “at its best“; certainly not exclusively so. Unless, of course, for someone for whom “the best” only existed in the past. The irony in this kind of narrow thinking is that many of the forces that come into play in the corruption in those award ceremonies also come into play at JALC in its funding and how featured artists are selected; and even in how members of the band are sometimes selected; as evidenced very recently 😉 (Hint: berries and flowers).

I better have my bean before I write any more and get in trouble (even more) 😊


Uh, that Art Pepper Live, Thank You Blues is great...

You should see my blackberry bushes and Black-eyed Suzies (am I allowed to say that?), Mary-jo! Looking great. New pear trees, not so much.
fro, lucky you, nothing delicate would survive my care. I have tough guys, lemon and orange tree, kiwi, grapevine.
Come to think of it, one lemon is looking too yellow, I have to do something about it...
New York-ish  --    When a Jazz and Broadway Ballad singer can get the award for Best R&B Recording, and, on the Capitol Label to boot.   I bet that surprised the heck out of the guys at Capitol.

The votes , so they say, came from her peers, fellow musicians, most of whom would be in NYC and LA(same thing just more to the West).

 Great, but not representative of the music scene of NY “at its best“; certainly not exclusively so.

And exactly what music scene in NY outshines JALC?  As long as Wynton keeps the noise makers at bay, Jazz lives!

Unless, of course, for someone for whom “the best” only existed in the past.

Depend on the subject at hand.   The best computers are the ones being made today.   The best cameras.   The best cars.   All tech.

The Arts, that is a different question.   Just think about it.  All the best was / is, in the past, for all genres in music.

The musical tech is better, the gear is better, the speakers are better, BUT the performers?   Not so much.

Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso,  Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Armstrong, Ellington, Miles, Coltrane, Mingus, Basie and the many many many more.  All long dead.   All still the best at their craft.

Today, we have paint splattered on canvases, Pictures of Soup cans, and non-musical noise makers.   The Emperor and his new outfits are back with us.

 And, to use 1964 Grammy’s as an example?! 1964?! The thick of the civil rights movement and all its implications?!

Look at the list again.  If anything, it shows the need for a movement, not the implications of one ongoing.

Cheers