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.
- ...
- 30874 posts total
Speaking of alto sax players and obscure/unrecognized musicians such as J R Moterose, I think you can put alto sax player John Handy in both of those categories. I really enjoy a lot of Handy's albums as a leader, and his playing on various Charles Mingus session dates. One of his albums, Live at Monterey Jazz Festival, is on my desert island list. The release with the 3rd bonus track Ole Miss (Anatomy of a Riot) Live at the Village Gate is the one to get. The two songs from Monterey (1) John Handy - Monterey Jazz Fest (Full Album) - YouTube Bonus track at Village Gate (1) John Handy Tears Of Ole Miss Live At Monterey Jazz Festival - YouTube And a nice blues track featuring Handy (not to bad) on vocals (1) Blues For Louis Jordan - YouTube And Handy expanding his horizons with Asian Continent musicians @mahgister may enjoy this album which features Handy on the alto sax combined with 2 eastern musicians playing the string instruments Sarod and Tanpura with a 3rd playing the percussive instrument Tabla. (1) John Handy, Ali Akbar Khan - Karuna Supreme (full album) - YouTube
|
OK -- it only takes seconds to hear the difference. I like both but when listening to McLean, I'm not focused on his intonation, wishing it were less sharp. A poorly intonated guitar can drive me nuts but I don't have perfect pitch. On the other hand, for me, Dolphy's playing is akin to taking a swig of milk only to realize someone's spiked it with vinegar. I find it fundamentally unpleasant. For McLean, I enjoy: "Left Alone '86" (w/ Mal Waldron), "Jacknife", "Let Freedom Ring", "Dynasty", "It's Time", "Action" and "Consequence".
|
- 30874 posts total