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

I concur...i prefer a more jazzy Hiromi too ...

Thanks acman  for this one...

Is this thread running out of steam?

Quick-- someone bring up something controversial about Jazz ! ;o)

How about this -- what was the most recent live Jazz gig you attended ?

For me, it’s been, I’m guessing, close to ten years: Kenny Werner Trio at the Harris Center in Folsom, CA. Werner was booked for the smallest, most intimate of their three performance spaces that seats just 200. Despite its diminutive size, it was not sold out, so we were able to stay for the second set for free. Such is the sad state of Jazz appreciation in America. The Harris Center is a gorgeous venue -- must’ve cost a fortune to build and the lenders must be applying pressure because it’s been years since any Jazz or anything remotely interesting has been offered -- it’s all blandly inoffensive mainstream pablum, at this point. I guess that’s what the public wants.

Anyway, it was this group: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwW5XKCfP4A

I really miss being able to experience live Jazz. But at this point, I’m not willing to spend 2-3 three hours each way in the insanity that is Bay Area traffic. All the more reason to own a nice system!

BTW, Werner is also known as the author of a "Effortless mastery -- Liberating the Master Musician Within" which addresses common psychological difficulties, such as perfectionism, that hamper many players.