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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
frogman
7,562 posts
 
A "bullshit" solo in musician parlance is a solo that doesn't stay within the music's context. It is usually characterized by overplaying and being self-indulgent with too many notes, too fast, inappropriate effects, or trying too hard to be "hip" while not "saying" anything. Often, this is done to hide the fact that the player doesn't have a good command of the tune's harmonic changes and simply plays a lot of shit that doesn't fit the harmony; or, at best, fits the harmony but is not fully developed as a spontaneous composition. A great solo always keeps a connection to the melody of the tune and simply builds on it. I know he has many fans, but for me a great example of a chronic bullshitter is David Murray:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KrXIQ0_ogK0
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Frogman, yes I see that now, I should have read it better first time. Senility is a bitch.
frogman
7,562 posts
 
Great clip of Jackie McLean, a classic non-bullshitter. First of all, fabulous contemporary alto sound. Re the subject of BS: pay attention to the shape of first six notes of the melody. A very simplistic analysis is that the third note of the melody is a wider interval (higher) than the first two, then the fifth goes back down and the sixth slightly higher; that's the shape of the tune. Importantly, and what gives the following solo musical integrity is that practically everything he plays relates somehow to that shape or to the length of that little phrase, and he goes on to expand on that and spontaneously compose a solo that has musical relevance and is not "bullshit".
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
The clip of David Murray: He did seem to be stuck. The tune did nothing for me. Good to know I can recognize BS when I hear it, even if I cannot explain it. I wonder if he is the reason I never warmed to the WSQ as I thought I would. I will have to revisit them.

I only have one CD by Murray(saxmen). Played it when I bought it a few decades ago, and have not played it since. His association with Shepp and Pullen did not mean anything to me then. But, as you pointed out, he does have a large following.

Thanks for the analysis of the McLean tune. For some reason he seems to fly under the radar. Great player.

Question to The Frogman: Are there any BS Composers in Classical Music / Opera?? Names please. We must have names! If any, I would assume they would be 20th Century guys.

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
No comment expected on these. Music I listen to while browsing..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz-9L2OnOHA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOPYn1l1pvw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXJx2NnnxA0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3KlBJbVQTk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-8QJXqjRng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbWj12YiFRs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynJ0_XQT2Fs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74DxGAFWVXo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6pnzyfFi9w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrGw_cOgwa8
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