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
**** That they kept playing it until they got it ’right’? ****

Yup. Or, at least until they had a take that they liked. Some producers want options to choose from later.

**** Does that mean the higher the ’take’ number, the better the performance? ****

Not necessarily. This concerns the first question as well. Sometimes, the producer or leader isn’t exactly sure what he wants, so he may want a version that’s a little faster or maybe a little slower. Or, one take may have a great alto solo, but not so great piano solo. Or, they’ll have a great take 11 and Nat farts during Cannonball’s solo (it happens) and they can’t edit it out.

**** Does the ’take’ number become part of the name of the tune? In other words, if that performance was used later on another disc, would it still be listed as (take 12).****

Not necessarily. More times than not an alternate take is used and nothing is printed about it unless two or more takes of the same time are included on the same record. Or, is a different take than the one on the original record and appearing on a later release. 

**** Is the order in which the tunes appear on the CD / LP of any significance?****

Definitely. They strive for a certain logic or flow in the order. You don’t want two or more ballads back to back, or all the fast tunes back to back for example. Kind of like movements of a symphony.