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

If these albums have been mentioned, I’ll delete the post, but a search didn’t turn them up. I was digging through my hard drive last night and came upon two incredible Tal Farlow albums I hadn’t listened to in years. I bought the LPs decades ago, then acquired the CDs when they were briefly issued in the late 90’s. I’ve never been without a copy of these. ;-) Lots of Tal Farlow fans have probably heard them but if you haven’t, they’re just wonderful. Xanadu issued the original LPs and the CDs came out on a spinoff label (CoolNote? I have the CDs somewhere). The original LPs, titled "Fuerst Set" and "Second Set" consisted of eight extended tracks recorded at jazz-fan Ed Fuerst’s apartment in 1956, and they caused a bit of a sensation when they first appeared. The trio is Tal Farlow (g), Eddie Costa (p) and Vinnie Burke (b). Farlow, Costa and Burke made some commercial recordings, but nothing like these utterly swinging jams in which they all stretch out and challenge each other. Tal Farlow needs little introduction, one of the greatest jazz guitarists. Costa was a brilliant pianist and vibraphonist who sadly died in a car accident in 1962. He had a very distinctive sound, recognizable on any recording he made. Burke was an excellent bassist who had a long career as a leader and sideman. The sound is very decent mono for the era. Even Vinnie Burke’s bass is well captured.

Fresh Sound issued a 2-CD set of these sessions called "Tal Farlow - Complete 1956 Private Recordings." Unfortunately, all the CD versions are OOP and I can’t find them on any streaming service. But the LPs can easily be found on eBay, and the Fresh Sound set is available on Discogs:

https://www.discogs.com/release/1520477-Tal-Farlow-Complete-1956-Private-Recordings

If you love jazz guitar, piano and bass, and haven’t heard these truly legendary sessions, by all means grab a copy of the Fresh Sound release.

ETA - The two albums are on YouTube so you can enjoy them there.  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Otl8MQqJQ

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yBO6heqQtbQ

@dogearedaudio , Nice music. Here is another album of Tal Farlow, with Hank Jones

https://youtu.be/q5VLW5gho6A?feature=shared

Check this one, od Eddie Costa, if you have not got it already, previously mentioned here as well

https://youtu.be/_Dygr7RaXsI?feature=shared

@alexatpos

Thanks! Yes, I know the Hank Jones album. And the Eddie Costa Trio recordings were released on a Fresh Sound set:

https://www.discogs.com/release/10211284-Eddie-Costa-Trio-Complete-Recordings

Also well worth obtaining, those these are available on some streaming platforms. The "House of Blue Lights" album is a pretty spectacular. The piano is close-miked and Costa’s growly lower-register octave excursions are quite thrilling!

I’ve been listening to Wes Montgomery this morning.  What a great guitar man!

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