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
Another thanks frog.  That merits two comments.

Regardless of which you feel is the best jazz vocalist, I've never seen a video of Sinatra having as much fun performing as Torme on "Love For Sale".

Also, and I hope I haven't related this joke here previously.  It was a cartoon panel with an announcement by a galley slave captain.
"OK men, I have good news and bad news.
The good news is we're rowing to Bermuda.
The bad news is Buddy Rich will be our drummer."
That’s a funny joke, thanks!

Not many could get away telling Buddy to play softer like Torme did in that clip. Amazing drummer, but that Buddy’s personality was not popular among his players is an understatement. Here’s another good one (dark!):

**** A horn player who had been playing with Buddy Rich for many years came back from vacation to hear a rumor that Buddy
had died. He didn’t quite believe it, so he phoned Buddy’s wife and said "Can I speak to Buddy please?"
Buddy’s wife said, "I’m sorry, Buddy passed away last week."
"Oh, I’m sorry to hear that," he said, and hung up.
A couple of hours later, he called her again. "Is Buddy there please?"
"No, I’m sorry. Buddy’s no longer with us," said Buddy’s wife. And hung up the phone.
Ten minutes later, he called Buddy’s wife again. "Can I speak to Buddy please?" he said.
She recognised his voice, and said: "Look, I’ve told you before, BUDDY’S DEAD!" And slammed down the phone.
Two minutes later, and the phone rang again..."Is Buddy at home please?" the horn player asked.
Buddy’s wife was furious. "I’m not going to tell you again, Buddy is dead.. D. E. A. D. DEAD. Why do you keep ringing me to
ask for Buddy???!!!!"
He thought for a moment, and said: "I just love hearing you say it." ****

The stuff of legend. Recorded on Buddy’s tour bus by a friend of mine who shall remain nameless 😊 .  Not for the faint of heart:

https://youtu.be/covUesgI6fA
Torme said this about singing "never lose sight of the original music  value which the composer  put in it ".
He was a musician from top to bottom that actually studied music 
and his genuine intellect knew it well .

Only a real musician could do that run with Buddy, and a very good one at that .
I argued for decades  about that made him better than Sinatra who never  even though he needed to read music .