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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
pjw81563
1,829 posts
 

@curiousjim 

What are your thoughts on Tina Brooks as a tenor sax player?

Tina Brooks was a great tenor and also a very good composer. Its too bad he died so young. I have all 5 of his Blue Note albums as a leader on CDs. He played tenor on Freddie Hubbard's superlative debut album as a leader. Brooks composed the title track of the session "Open Sesame"

Open Sesame (Remastered 2002/Rudy Van Gelder Edition) - YouTube

Plus 1 Booker Ervin and Hank Mobley @ho249 

acman3
4,275 posts
 

 Joe Williams with Count Basie Band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_P4GU2AUAo

stuartk
3,033 posts
 

@pjw81563

Tina Brooks was a great tenor and also a very good composer.

I’m not a sax player so I’m not going to make any claims as to who was "better", technically. Nor do I possess your deep knowledge of Jazz. Nevertheless, I find "Soul Station", "Roll Call" and "Workout" much more stimulating than any of Brook’s recordings. Ditto Ervin’s "Freedom Book" ,"Space Book", "That’s It", etc.

But, I also prefer Shorter, Henderson, McLean and Gordon to Coltrane, Rollins, Bird and Webster, so what do I know? Simply what moves me, I guess -- no more.

 

 

 

 

 

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,926 posts
 

@stuartk 

I started the Tina topic, because I thought he was fun to listen to. I also like pretty much any tenor sax as long as it’s smooth and doesn’t squeak and squawk too much. But then again, that’s how I feel about all jazz.

But that’s just me.

stuartk
3,033 posts
 

@curiousjim 

I get it. I hope you didn't get the impression I'm suggesting T. Brooks isn't a worthy topic for discussion. 

When Blue Note first came out with the CD reissues of his recordings on that label, I got the sense it was a really big deal -- that T.B. was some sort of neglected genius, based on the labels PR. So, perhaps my expectations were simply too high. I don't harbor a dislike for him -- it's just that there are other sax players who I find much more engaging. 

 

 

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