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

mahgister, in these stressful times, music is our drug of choice to relieve that stress; not just any music, but the best music for us.

Back in the old days before "you tube", no matter how carefully we selected our records, occasionally we bought records we could live without. Now we can review the music on "you tube" before we buy, and it's a good idea to do just that.

Another important item is to do what you're doing right now, taking note of the records you like that you heard here, and might consider for future purchases.

As of today, I'm going to keep a notebook by the computer, and write down the records each day that I have selected from here to purchase. I haven't done this in the past, and when I tried to go back, somehow I couldn't find the record.

I hope these tips help in making your musical selections.

Enjoy the music.

rok2id:

"I wish I could like the current stuff. The technology is better. That should result in better recordings. But what's missing is the essence of Jazz music. They improvise, but they are not improvising over the blues. They are trying to be too 'cerebral' or 'intellectual' too 'deep'. It's a happy party time music. Played is speak easys and cat houses. It's about women and love and sex. The boys from New Orleans would not even recognize this current day stuff as Jazz"

I assume this is meant to be tonque-in-cheek. . . 




Some of my "must have Jazz"...

"The Miles Davis Quintet 1965-1968" box set
"My Funny Valentine" by the same group with George Coleman instead 
of W. Shorter

W. Shorter's Blue Note recordings
Andrew Hill's Blue Note recordings
Bobby Hutcherson's Blue Note Recordings
Jackie McLean's Blue Note recordings

"Extrapolation" by John McLaughlin and John Surman 

BIll Evan's live Vanguard recordings with LaFaro, Motion. 

Chick Corea: "Now He Sings; Now He Sobs" 
Chick Corea and Gary Burton: "Crystal Silence"

Grany Green: "Idle Moments"

H. Hancock: "Maiden Voyage"

Pat Martino: "Footsteps, "Exit" 

Dexter Gordon: "Go" 

Helen Merrill: "A Shade of Difference", "The Feeling Is Mutual" 

Sheila Jordan: "Lost and and Found"

Sarah Vaughan: "Live in Tokyo"

Jackie Ryan: "You and the Night and the Music", "Doozy'

Betty Carter" : The Audience with Betty Carter"

Johnny Griffin: "Way Out", "The Little Giant" 

Woody Shaw: "Little Red's Fantasy", "InMy Own Sweet Way"

John Coltrane: "Coltrane's Sound", "A Love Supreme"

Joe Henderson: "So Near, So Far-- Tribute to Miles" , 
"Inner Urge", "State of the Tenor"

Clifford Jordan: "Spellbound"

Harold Land: "Xocia's Dance" 

Serge Chaloff: "Blue Serge'

Cedar Walton: "Eastern Rebellion" (the first one, with George Coleman) 

Art Farmer Quintet: "Blame It On My Youth" 

Art Pepper: "The Art of Pepper" 

Michel Petrucciani: "Au Theatre Des Champs-Elysees"

M. Tyner: "Time for Tyner", "Soliloquoy", "Sama LaYuca", "Focal Point"

David Murray: "Ming's Samba", "Ballads", "Lovers"

Booker Ervin: "That's It", "Booker and Brass" 


I assume this is meant to be tonque-in-cheek. . .


Actually, it was meant to be a statement of fact.

Cheers

Btw, When did I say this?

While I'm not as stuck on N'orleans as Rok is, we share Dr. John, and I know where he's coming from.


I'm familiar with all the musicians on your list, except I have yet to get into Andrew Hill.


Since I feel like I'm "short-timing", I don't even bother with any of the latest music. I've known a number of jazz musicians personally (not that many) and all of them were raised in one of our fantastic cities that no longer exist. You grow corn in a corn field; if there are no more corn fields, where can you grow corn?

You grow "Jazz musicians" in cities, if there are no more cities (not places out of a science fiction movie, Detroit for example) where can you grow Jazz musicians?