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

@stuartk 

I only own 3 or 4 albums

If 3 of those albums are Saxophone Colossus, Way Out West, and Freedom Suite you have the essentials...

My friend and JFA poster Alextapos is not big on Sonny either (as he posted in a few years back). Not every great artist appeals to everyone. 

But concerning Mr. Rollins I would say the unimpressed fly in the face of public jazz opinions... But jazz has always had critics and when Sonny first started playing they had negative things to say about his improvisations of jazz standards....

The critics also slammed John Coltrane when Giant Steps was released.....

IIRC @alexatpos he does not like the "hard/gruff" tone Sonny employs on a lot of his performances....

Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Gene Ammons and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis had similar tones and according to Hawkins, at least referring to himself, this tone was used on purpose.

Hawkins told Sonny himself that the tenor should have a "large tone" and draw the listener in...

Coltrane played the tenor on A Love Supreme, even though his soprano playing had become very popular by 1960. Coltrane stated that he wanted to use the tenor on the whole session because the tenor's voice has more to say....

@stuartk If you dont have the  Dizzy Gillespie Sonny Side Up LP I highly recommend it. Give it a listen on Spotify first before spending on the LP....

Sonny Side Up - Wikipedia

All 4 songs are great but The Eternal Triangle and After Hours are desert island songs for me...

You can clearly hear the smoother tone Stitt has on his tenor compared to Rollins on his.

The opening features the two tenors playing the same notes as one then Rollins solos first from 0:40 - 2:55 then Stitt jumps in to solo. Throughout they play as one at times while exchanging solos and Dizzy jumps in as well in a blistering pace...

The Eternal Triangle - YouTube

Blues at its best

After Hours - YouTube

 

 

Sonny Rollins, Right behind Coltrane. Favorites/ All definitetly essential-- 

Stuark, we can be friends, but I have gotten rid of girlfriends for less.😂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W9OG1PVOnc

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MKA69yRwE4

 

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