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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
Post removed 
frogman
7,561 posts
 
Keegiam, I thought you were referring to “Spain”.

You’re right, “Antidote” is even trickier with syncopations that are even more complicated. However, the tune is still in 4/4. When “trying to maintain 4/4 time” keep in mind that the downbeat of the tune is silent and the first note one hears (piano) is actually a syncopated note on the second 16th note of beat 1 of the first measure. The first piano left hand bass note that one hears (and later the brass and perc) is on the last 16th note of the first measure. Confusing matters even more is that the brass entrance of the same melody is a pickup note (16th) into the downbeat of the 5th measure of the tune. Stays in 4/4 the whole time. Classic Afro/Latin syncopation in which the “basic” 1,2,3,4 pulse is felt even though few instruments are actually playing on those downbeats.  Nice tune.

https://youtu.be/yn4KbJ1Xtsc
frogman
7,561 posts
 
O-10, I realize that I don’t have the great ability that you do to definitively define music genres, but I wondered if you noticed the uncanny similarities between the Kokoroco tune that you posted which I “wasn’t sure is Jazz” and much of the “Afrobeat” (Newen Afrobeat) music that you just posted? As an aside, to my ears Kokoroko is on a much higher level of musicianship; but, what do I know?
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Frogman, I will be more than delighted to explain; first, they both are of the same "genre", and that is "Afrobeat". Newen Afrobeat channels the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He spent his life protesting oppression in Nigeria, his songs always have a message. Since I have been a fan of his music for many years, my ears are most receptive to Newen Afrobeat. Their music is actually more African than Kokoroko.

Kokoroko simply plays jazz with an Afrobeat. I don't hear an uncanny similarity between the two groups. Maybe others here, hear that same "uncanny similarity"?

It is foolish for one man to argue with another man in regard to his sense of aesthetics in music; much of the music posted on this forum makes my ears cry, but they like it, who am I to judge?
keegiam
731 posts
 
frogman, thank you for your detailed description.  I have printed your post and plan to jot the syncopation down on staff.  It's been so many years since I've read music I need to brush up, starting with understanding your explanation of "Antidote."

I'd like to be able to recognize the complexity of the syncopation within the time as well as you do.

BTW, nice talk on syncopation by Wynton.
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