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

Back to the music...

Re: Sonny Simmons (the artist that Alfred Lion tried to sign using heroin)

This was the first I have heard of him because Sonny Rollins liked his playing. Rollins and Simmons would go over to saxophonist Clifford Jordans house for hours long jam sessions and Rollins liked Simmons because of his improvisational talent. 

Naturally I checked Spotify and found Simmons' first 3 albums and made a Sonny Simmons Playlist. His debut album as a leader is called Staying on the Watch - Wikipedia

Sonny Simmons - Staying On The Watch (1966) - YouTube

Blue Note paying artists in Heroin????   My BS alarm is beginning to vibrate.

 

Cheers

Blue Note paying artists in Heroin????   My BS alarm is beginning to vibrate.

I have no problem believing that Lion could be guilty of this. He was, after all a record producer in the 30s through the end of the 60s and heroin was used by a lot of jazz artists, many of whom made little to no money and were "strung out". 

The list is so long that posting the names of the jazz artists that used dope during these 4 decades might take up a whole page on this thread.....

 

 

Just listened to Sonny Stitt And The New Yorkers.   Sonny Stitt might not be in my top five, but he’s probably in my top twenty. 😁

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