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
Schubert,  Sorry but I just noticed I played the wrong title. I like Bley's noodling too.  ;)
Keegiam, Good to see your comments, Don't work so hard.

Bley is a love him or hate him type of player it seems. 
Tony Williams was a vastly better drummer than Buddy Rich.
Vastly?.... Using that word pisses me off.

Stating your opinion that you think TW is a better drummer the BR would not piss me off.

I'm sure you have heard the saying "Its not what you said but how you said it"

That being said I am a big fan of TW as well as BR. I do not believe however, that one or the other is "vastly" better.
pjw, these are a repeat of comments that I wrote last night in response to your question, but I just noticed the post did not go out for some reason. I think I fell asleep before hitting “post” ☺️. They are not in response to more recent comments here.
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Sure, I’ve witnessed musicians get angry; myself included. It is like in any other profession, sometimes there are serious (musical) disagreements between individuals, personality clashes and occasionally it’s just that a particular individual is an ahole. Of course, being a professional means managing disagreements and personality differences and taking care of business, but sometimes its not possible; or, sometimes someone is just having a bad day. It happens. Obviously, given the state of the music business most will be reluctant to direct anger at the boss, but older more established players have been known to do just that, or even walk out. Re Buddy:

I think Buddy Rich was an amazing drummer. I like much of his work, but not all. In some ways he was perhaps the greatest big band drummer ever……if one likes that aggressive, sometimes “balls to the wall” style of big band playing. I don’t. However, in the context of that style of big band music he was amazing. Personally, I prefer a more fluid and flexible style (Mel Lewis). Obviously, he was more than just a big band drummer, but to my ears some of that aggressive style carried over to his small ensemble playing. There is a saying among musicians that points out that, with some exceptions, a musician plays like the way he is as a person. His playing reflects the personality in one way or another. Sometimes it’s an obvious thing and sometimes subtle. In the clip that I posted previously of he and Mel Torme, Torme had to and ask him to play more quietly.
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Re recent comments:

I see no reason to take disagreements about favorite musicians personally. We all have preferences. I think Buddy Rich was an incredible drummer; but, according to my musical preferences and sensibilities I can think of other drummers that I feel were better musicians. I think that this is an important distinction.
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