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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
 
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
7,547 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.

rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
It seems as if his entire recorded output was with Benny Goodman, which at that time, was probably a good place to be.

Cheers


frogman
7,547 posts
 
Great posts and commentary about Tatum and Christian. Also great how it all puts things in a good historical perspective. For me, it makes a huge difference in helping more fully understand and appreciate the artists that followed.

If Tatum was instrumental in planting the seeds of bebop piano, Bud Powell was
one of the players who, along with Bird and Dizzy, were at the front of the pack more
fully defining the music. Amazing piano player who was heavily influenced by Tatum (twenty years his senior) and who was probably the only one at the time who could challenge Tatum in sheer virtuosity. While Tatum’s incredible use of “flourishes” (Rok) sometimes seems to take his playing somewhat away from the kind of vibe we usually associate with Jazz piano, Powell’s playing, as a beautiful example of the evolution of the music, fits my “Jazz ears” more comfortably if not necessarily leaving them more impressed.

Great article on Powell with links to commentary by Jazz greats:

https://legacy.npr.org/programs/jazzprofiles/archive/powell.html

Some “must have” (😊) Bud Powell:

https://youtu.be/_zTokThNmPg

https://youtu.be/_YKLYC-PKj8

https://youtu.be/zrUuyTymA_A




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