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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
 
Great Monk rok

Here is another live monk recording that gets a lot of repeated plays this way. **Thelonious Monk - Big Band and Quartet**

Monk’s third album for Columbia Records, recorded live at the newly completed Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center, NYC, on Monday, December 30, 1963. The original LP release omits three compositions, "Bye-Ya," "Misterioso," and "Light Blue," and to save space also Dunlop’s drum solos were edited out. The entire unedited concert was released in 1994 as a two-disk album.

I have the complete 2 disc concert 1994 mentioned above which includes 3 of the following 4 songs that were omitted on the original LP. Saxophones are Phil Woods on alto and Charlie Rouse on tenor and Steve Lacy on soprano. Thad Jones on cornet and Nick Travis on trumpet. Eddie Bert on trombone and Gene Allen on  Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Clarinet. Butch Warren on bass. Frank Dunlop on drums. Phil Woods also plays the  Clarinet on a few songs.

(30) Light Blue (Live) (Lincoln Center) - YouTube

(30) Evidence (Live) (Lincoln Center) - YouTube

(30) Misterioso (Live at Lincoln Center) - YouTube

(30) Bye-Ya (Live) (Lincoln Center) - YouTube
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
pjw,
I have that 2CD set by Monk also.  Monk always plays his stuff and it always sounds fresh and interesting.  He seems to be the only guy in Jazz  able to pull that off.  Truly a unique player.  I served with one of his kin folk in Korea.

Cheers


acman3
4,337 posts
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncjb6GIvLmo&list=PLp1OjP0tJn_F4jBpdG_JqW8PE1bfKwDLt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp1FWMfbhSA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qweSlfP6BtI
pjw81563
1,835 posts
 
acman jumps on the Monk Trane!  More great Monk.
frogman
7,562 posts
 
+1 pjw.  Great Monk, Rok.   New to me, “Plus Two” goes on the shopping list.

****  When you first hear the Saxophone, you know it's Monk. How can that be? ****

It’s called genius.  Not to take anything away from Charlie Rouse’s own genius, but some band leaders have such a powerful musical identity that a great sideman can get pulled into that leader’s “zone” to such a degree that his playing reflects the leader’s personality.  Charlie Rouse’s tone and approach with Monk has always been a great extension of Monk’s quirky style.  A while back I posted some of his stuff as a leader and it showed a different, but equally great, sound and style.  Btw, while I’ve always liked Harold Land’s playing, I can’t say he has ever been a favorite.  This is probably the best I’ve heard Land sound.  Another testament to Monk’s genius?  

Notice how incredibly together and tight Monk and Rouse are playing this typically Monkish disjointed and obtuse melody.  Very hard to do and not heard too often:

https://youtu.be/qweSlfP6BtI
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