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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Today's Listen:

Art Blakey -- !!!!!impulse!!!!!art blakey!!!!!jazz messengers!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nghsczow3kM

O-10, I agree with you once again. The best Jazz messengers group ever. Shorter, Timmons, Morgan and Fuller. I listened to it twice. Great playing by all.

Why was there so much turnover in the groups? Did Blakey see that as his 'mission'? Was it by design? Talk.

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Acman, I've been saying the same thing you just said since day 1.

Enjoy the music.
alexatpos
1,228 posts
 
Bobby Timmons 'Workin out'album is a great one, and there he plays with Johnny Lytle. I will use the opportunity to point at couple of his albums as well. Timmons:

http://youtu.be/ovPCAhzEvgw

http://youtu.be/u58QYljKcf4

J.Lytle

http://youtu.be/Hm5cXBulyaY

http://youtu.be/PL5YmGFap-U

http://youtu.be/VLddG-fDDuw
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Alex, thank you for those superb contributions.
frogman
7,489 posts
 
Thanks for the clips Alexatpos. Bobby Timmons was a great player with a great time feel and a kind of unassuming way with his style that always feels right and often surprises. O-10 is probably correct; but, if Bobby Timmons was the most underrated player in jazz, then Johnny Lytle was the most overrated. I just don't get it, and I would love to know the story behind his appearance on many of these records; there's always a story. He was featured in this thread a while ago and my reaction is still the same: a player comfortable in the simplest of jazz forms, the twelve bar blues, with a very undeveloped improvisation ability. He plays the same blues scale over the entire twelve bar progression, and seems to ramble without a clear sense of shape in his solos; some of his solos border on being b.s. in their lack of coherence and purpose. Even his time feel is unsophisticated with the notes on the upbeats being too close to the downbeats the way a young player plays when he tries to "swing". To my ears there's always a sense of relief when Timmons follows one of his vibes solos; "aah, that's what it's supposed to feel like". One man's opinion.
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