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

@jafant 

Im thinking my days of buying of physical media might be over. I only bought one CD this year and only listened to it maybe twice.  I have close to two thousand CD’s and about triple that ripped on a NAS.  We have Qobuz and Amazon HD, so I can listen to most anything I want and if the album isn’t on either service, then I’ll buy a copy.

And Happy Happy-Merry Merry to you and yours.

curiousjim,

I understand.  Let me know if you want to part with some of those CDs.

Season's Greetings!

phillyspecial,

Starting your Jazz journey with "Chet" is a great jumping off point.

Happy Listening!

"The Grateful Dead coined the phrase "the music plays the band" to refer to this phenomena and it seems as good as any. Once experienced, it’s unmistakable and when musicians access this state, there’s no way the audience won’t be swept along."

As a veteran of nearly 100 Dead shows, I can attest that it was more than just the audience being "swept along." Members of the Dead have acknowledged many times that it was a two way street and that they fed off the energy of the audience, without which the music would not have been the same.

Of course, the Dead may have been somewhat unique in that regard. I've attended countless shows by other bands and performers from various genres, and similar experiences have been rare, at least from my perspective as an audience member. The Allman Brothers had something like that going on with their audiences, but I can't think of any others.

@jaym759

Wow -- lucky you! I grew up in the lower Hudson Valley (Middletown) but was too young to drive at that point.

At least for me trying to put words to non-verbal experiences is challenging

I don’t think this comes easily for anyone.

@mahgister

The musician must listen the other one or the result will be unbalanced.

I’d suggest this requirement is not limited to Jazz.

@alexatpos

If we consider an art as a form of expression (that later becomes ’validated’ as such thru different reasons, standards, morals and time) and by looking in many forms of it, it seems to me that there many possible conclusions, as well as there are many different men, (artists) why and how people choose to express themself .(thru some art form).

I heartily concur.

I am always more intrigued by the ones who lived and created things following their own rules or mindset, but thats probably because of my romanticism. Blame it on my youth.

I don’t view a tendency to reserve one’s deepest admiration for the class of artists you describe as purely an expression of romanticism, but it’s possible I’m a romantic, too, and as such simply don’t recognize the associated bias in my own perceptions. There have been, of course, many excellent artists in all genres who’ve hewed to tradition -- both in terms of aesthetics, conception and ways of working. Who’s to say that "renegades" are objectively superior to "academic" artists? Well, I do. . . so it would seem we’re in the same camp! ;o)

 

@ezywind

As a veteran of nearly 100 Dead shows, I can attest that it was more than just the audience being "swept along."

 

Fair enough. I’m not a deadhead and don’t pretend to understand that world or the "ragged but right" aesthetic/ethos. I value more mainstream conceptions of musicianship -- playing in time, in tune, etc. 

More to the point, you’d be mistaken if you’re assuming I’m not aware that audiences can and do significantly contribute to such "elevated" interludes during live musical performances!