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
Dexter Gordon:

Fabulous player and great record!  Coincidentally, I posted two or three cuts off that record just a couple of weeks ago.

Toss up between he and Wayne Shorter as probably my two favorite tenor players; and if it weren’t due to the fact that Shorter is one of the greatest Jazz composers ever (Dexter was not), Dexter would stand alone in my book.  One of Coltrane’s and Rollins’ both main influence; pretty good credential.

Personally, I think “unknown” is an overstatement.  Maybe somewhat forgotten during the 50’s while in LA.  He did move to Europe for 14 years and continued to record there and during occasional visits back to the USA.  I was at the Village Vanguard for one of the dates in 1976 heralded as his big return to the USA.  Awesome performance.  Truly one of the greats.  Huge sound and beautiful story telling in his solos with probably the most generous use of musical quotes of anyone; if one likes that sort of thing. One favorite quote was “Mona Lisa”, which can be heard in many of his solos; and it always fit and made musical sense.  Sort of a signature thing of his. 
Dexter makes an interesting comparison to Nathan Davis and the reasons why some players are better known than others.  Davis is clearly a good player and as you point out a brilliant man.  My comments are not meant to suggest otherwise, or that he is perhaps not deserving of wider recognition.  However, the contrast is striking.  

Two notes and one knows it’s Dexter.  His huge sound is immediately recognizable.  Fantastic sense of swing and beautifully expressive solos.  One of the cuts that I posted previously was “Scrapple From The Apple” and commented that I thought his solo on the cut was, for me, one of the all time great solos on any instrument.  Very interesting and a model of thematic development: taking a short, even very simple statement (in this case, a single repeated note) and building an entire long solo that develops and keeps returning to that simple idea.  Fantastic! That is why a player can go into semi obscurity due to drug problems (‘50s), even move to Europe for 14 years (!) and when he returns it is heralded as a great event in the music world.   He was a giant.  Players of that caliber are never forgotten.  VERY few exceptions.

Davis was a good player.  I like his soprano sound and concept more than I like his tenor which sounds a little crass on ballads and overall not nearly as interesting as Dexter’s.  His sound is not distinctive which goes to the core of what Jazz is mostly about: individuality.  His rhythmic feel is not as grounded and solid like Dexter’s.  Good player, but I must say that, IMO, there are many players who are on a similar overall level in towns and cities around the country and teaching in music schools who are local heroes and never get to record as leaders or higher profile sidemen.  This may sound like harsh criticism, but is not meant to be.  So, the question then becomes, is it surprising that all these players are not better known?  Not really.  Is this unfair or some sort of slight.  I can’t answer that for everyone, but the music world is a tough scene.  Very tough!  Still, glad to have made the acquaintance.  
Another favorite Dexter record and one that he himself considered one of his best:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ldEgeU2IYstfUuhavk6y_jkbhhuAHHgSw

I listened to Billy Cobham “Spectrum” again for the millionth time.
Tommy Bolin ate my brain...again
Thanks for the info on Dexter.   I just listened to Tunisia and Apple again.  When you dissect these performances, I like them mo better.   

I always check before posting to make sure the album has not been posted recently.   I must have over looked yours, or the wording escaped the search.
Any way, I was going to post GO tomorrow, so we are even. :)

Thanks again for the input.  Precise and concise as always.

Cheers