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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
pjw81563
1,835 posts
 
Ryan Slatko, the author and poster of the 3 Lyle Mays videos I posted above is a gifted pianist himself. His debut album was released 3 years ago and, after I listened to a few of his original compositions on YouTube I ordered the album. It is most definitely straight ahead "old school" jazz played by a group of young jazz musicians from today and the band is tight.

Green Ceiling - YouTube

Waltz for Monk - YouTube

In the following video Ryan explains what inspired him to compose the song titled "Green Ceiling"

Green Ceiling: Behind First Impressions - YouTube
pjw81563
1,835 posts
 
 
Huh?! The denial that these sonic nuances in the sounds of gear do exist becomes dogma and they are often not even willing to try or experiment to see (hear) for themselves. The danger in generalizations.
Frogman I agree with you on all you have stated and I have learned the hard way to always keep an open mind, or, as my father would say, don't ever succumb to "tunnel vision" and be able to "think outside the box"

However keeping an open mind with expensive audio gear also means keeping an "OPEN WALLET!!"
frogman
7,561 posts
 
Loved the Slatko “Lyle Mays” videos, pjw.  Hadn’t seen those.  Really great stuff; fantastic analysis.  Thanks a lot!
pjw81563
1,835 posts
 
I know I am getting redundant with the Lyle Mays posts but as I have researched it is really not a coincidence that many of the biggest names in jazz hold Lyle in such high regard.

Lyle’s first touring gig was with the Woody Herman Big Band. Yes THAT Woody Herman.

Lyle won total 11 Grammy awards and was nominated 23 times.

In the following video, bass player extraordinaire Mark Egan talks about how Lyle could emulate and play anything some of the great jazz pianists played and sound just like them. Lyle would say "This is how Bud Powell would play it" and "Here’s Bill Evan’s take on it"

Egan calls Lyle a "genius" and then states he uses that term very rarely.

Mark Egan tribute to Lyle Mays - YouTube

Lyle playing keyboards in the Woody Herman Big Band live in Warsaw 1991:

McArthur Park - YouTube

And Lyle on the keyboards/synth with Bobby McFerrin 1990:


 Common Threads - YouTube





keegiam
731 posts
 
pjw, thanks for calling my attention to Lyle Mays' work outside of the PMG.  I always appreciated his playing with Pat.  His solo on "San Lorenzo" (first cut on "Pat Metheny Group") is simply beautiful.  I loved hearing it 40 years ago and still feel the same now.

Now I will start checking out his other work.  Thanks again!
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