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
****I'd wager that more new Classical is being written than jazz. You hear it less in the USA than Europe though for obvious reasons.****

This may be true. The question is, how much of this new music 'sticks'? The same applies to Jazz.

Cheers
I wonder why no one ever mentions the music channels on cable TV (Time warner) , as a source of new music, or as a source to get introduced to old music. Not only do they play all genres, all day, but you get some excellent factoids on the music / composer. Heard some great CPE Bach today, then realized I have nothing by him on CD. Hamburg symphonies I think it was.
Gotta start my search.

Cheers
Some thoughts on recent posts:

It always comes back to those famous and simple words "There's only two kinds of music, good and bad". It is true that a good jazz musician has something special in the ability to improvise, and it is also USUALLY true that to be a great artist one has to "have it"; to be born with, at least, with the seed of a special gift. However, this reality applies not only to jazz musicians but to musicians in any genre. Yes, the great improviser has something unique that the classical musician doesn't (although, as Schubert points out, some Classical musicians improvise); but, the great Classical musician brings certain things to the table that the great Jazz player doesn't have. In that regard, other than wether it is a preferred genre for a particular listener or not, no genre is any more special than another. Moreover, anyone who thinks that to achieve the level of proficiency required to be an artist in ALL genres including jazz, doesn't require a tremendous amount of practice and study (formal or otherwise) is mistaken. Sure, there is the occasional rare exception of the player that appears to never have done so, but they undoubtedly did at some point.

Re old/new: As Acmnan3 said, we go around in circles. Actually, more accurately, some just spin their wheels staying in the past without exploring more of what current jazz as to offer. Too bad.
******the great Classical musician brings certain things to the table that the great Jazz player doesn't have. *******

Such as???