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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
skyscraper
831 posts
 
Keegiam, you’ve got to have me confused with someone else. I purchased my first jazz album some fifty years ago after hearing " A Love Supreme" the first time. I’ve loved jazz ever since, but did take about a thirty year break from collecting when life and marriage created other other priorities for a while.

Frogman, those you mentioned are all great recordings, and fortunately in the complete Wayne Shorter Blue Note albums box set which is one of the treasures in my collection. It’s obvious you and keegiam both have excellent taste in jazz.

Mike
keegiam
731 posts
 
@skyscraper

My sincere apologies.  For some reason I associated you with starting the recent "Jazz Newbie" thread.  It was started by member "Krelldog."  My warning is, I'm getting old and a little confused so please ignore anything I say that's nonsensical.

BTW, the reason I recommended "Nefetiti" on the "Newbie" thread was that it is, to me, one of Wayne Shorter's seminal compositions.  I consider is a jazz masterpiece.

skyscraper
831 posts
 
Keegiam, I do understand and forgive you for your indiscretion.

Along these lines, I went to the doctor yesterday for my annual physical. She mentioned at the beginning of the session I should remember three words, "apple, penny and watch". I repeated them right back to her and felt good about myself. At the end of the session she again asked what the three words were. By that time I'd forgotten "penny". Even though getting old and failing a short term memory test is nothing to laugh about, it was funny.

"Nefertiti is a really nice piece. Now that you mention it, I’ll play it later tonight if I don’t forget. Take care,

Mike
pjw81563
1,829 posts
 
Good morning Mike

Getting Blakey’s Jazz Messengers for it’s own sake, with or without Shorter is another laudable goal You gotta love this stuff..
I have 60 plus Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers CD’s in my collection. I often go out of my way to find and acquire rare OOP sessions.

BTW I saw the Wayne Shorter Quartet which is featured on Wayne's "Without A Net" release of 2013 and is comprised of John Patitucci on bass, Danilo Perez on piano and Brian Blade on drums. The venue was NYC Town Hall June 2013. Here is one video from it:

(37) Wayne Shorter 80th birthday at Town Hall 6/28/13 - YouTube

And here is Without A Net:

(37) wayne shorter without a net full album - YouTube

My friends who attended the show with me were expecting more "accessible jazz" but they were all mesmerized by what they witnessed that night. Here is a review of "Without A Net" from All Music and an article on the tour.

Without a Net - Wayne Shorter Quartet, Wayne Shorter | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic

Wayne Shorter at 80, catching his second wind - The Washington Post

I have not purchased Wayne's only release since then titled "Emanon" if you have it what is your thoughts on it?
frogman
7,478 posts
 
Well, my feeling is that to better understand Shorter the composer and his artistic direction, this album is a “must have”; even if one may not entirely like it. What I mean is that it is something completely different from anything he has done previously and I would say that more than anything it is “modern Classical” music with Jazz quintet. From that standpoint, I find it very interesting. Listeners who don’t have a taste for contemporary “Classical” may find it strange.

The album features compositions (some from previous records) orchestrated for chamber orchestra (the recently mentioned Orpheus Chamber orchestra) and it is interesting to hear them in this new context. A clear extension of his “composer’s head”. The instrumental playing is great.  Recommended, but buyer beware.
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