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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Today's Listen:

Charlie Christian  --  THE GENIUS OF THE ELECTRIC GUITAR
with / The Benny Goodman Sextet.  Other notables include, Count Basie, Cootie Williams, Fletcher Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Georgie Auld, 
Click on "show more" for the lineup for the various tracks.

Notes:  Very informative by Chris Albertson of Stereo Review, a man who has caused me to buy many CDs, including this one.  Christian born in Dallas,  met, and was helped / influenced by folks like Lester Young, Mary Lou Williams, Blind Lemon Jefferson(Texas Bluesman), Monk and others.

Died of TB age 23.

I thought I would hear more of Christian, but they were very limited for time due to the recording restraints of the day.  But, you can't complain when hearing the Goodman band.   I think this was a much bigger deal back then, than it appears to be today.   These days, with all the recording time in the world, they have nothing to say.

rose room
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnHQ9IfRzr8
   
wholly cats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9q1MsEZdoE

air mail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pilXGjb7KdU  

solo flight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfa5CEx4ZkY   

seven come eleven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpcEvSTkSeM    

Mary Lou Williams said Christian was one of the first to play Be-bop, and was one of the few musicians who could 'run changes' with Monk.  --  Notes

Cheers

frogman
7,533 posts
 
Fabulous stuff. Thanks. Christian sits alongside Art Tatum as one of the greatest early players on their instrument. Many think of him as the “Father of bebop guitar”. It may seem like a strange comparison, but for me the Goodman Sextet sits alongside Miles’ 60’s Quintet as one of my very favorite ensembles in Jazz.

I would suggest that the instrumental balance that we hear on those recordings is close to what we would have heard if listening to the group live. We are so used to hearing electric guitar much louder today. In those days balance and blend were always one of the main goals since amplification was a very new and rarely used thing and not playing too loudly is always the best way for musicians to best hear each other (Some blame Rock and Roll. It was really technology that changed everything). On the other hand, Goodman was the leader on those sessions and they had a spot mic on him always. I’m intrigued by the connection to recording time ‘though. Does Albertson say something about this? I don’t get the connection and why that would affect the guitar balance. Great clips.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Albertson spoke of the recording time is relation to the length of time each player got to play.  Solos very short.  Speak your piece and get out.

When I said, I wanted to hear more of Christian, it was not about the balance, or overall sound of the recording, but, again,  the length of the solos.   I never got the idea it was Christian's Album.

I've been listening to too much Coltrane.   A good Coltrane solo is longer than that entire record. :)

Still, I think the name of the album should have been,  "The Benny Goodman Sextet: featuring Charlie Christian on Electric Guitar".
Esp since the guitar being electric seemed to be an important point.


Cheers
frogman
7,533 posts
 
Got it.  I misunderstood.  I agree, would have been nice to hear more from Christian.  
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 


"Still, I think the name of the album should have been, "The Benny Goodman Sextet: featuring Charlie Christian on Electric Guitar".
Esp since the guitar being electric seemed to be an important point."


I never discovered enough "Charley Christian" to form an opinion.

More to discover