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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
 

@wharfy 

I am big fan of Joey DeFrancesco as are a few others here. I believe there was a discussion about JD a few months ago.

I never got a chance to see JD before he passed on last year and this is a regret.

I have a copy of that Christian McBride Big Band CD and the bands rendition of Night Train is awesome as is the rest of the album.

Interesting story of the origins of the song Night Train, of which jazz and R&B tenor sax great Jimmy Forrest made famous in 1951 with his signature solo over the 3 minute long groove head laid down by the rhythm section.

Night Train (Jimmy Forrest composition) - Wikipedia

 

wharfy's avatar
wharfy
334 posts
 

@pjw81563 -that is interesting. I do like Jimmy Forest's grittier version. I didn't know there were so many to choose from :-) Forest's saxophone reminds me of the sax on this song- 

 

pjw81563
1,829 posts
 

@wharfy 

That Viscounts rendition of Harlem Nocturn is new to me. Definitely a "gritty tone" on the sax. This is my "go to" rendition of the same tune. But then again I am mesmerized by almost anything Illinois Jacquet blows and the brief but mesmerizing trumpet solo by Roy Eldridge just makes this version that much better

 

That said, there are hundreds of renditions of Harlem Nocturn on record for us all to enjoy thanks to Earle Hagen. Here is Telecaster master Danny Gatton's rendition.

 

 

pjw81563
1,829 posts
 

And here is a favorite tenor of mine who's tone always sounds "edgy" or "gruff" but I really like a lot of Willis Jackson's recording sessions especially all of the sessions with a very young Pat Martino on the guitar. Pat's solo starts at 4:40 and even then, as young as he was (I think he was 17 on this session but not sure), you can hear the virtuosity in his playing. I saw Pat live at Birdland in NYC a couple years before he passed and I am so glad I went to that show.

 

acman3
4,269 posts
 

 

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