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
O-10, I am glad you arrived at a definitive conclusion for yourself. Since it is "concealed" in my last post (presumably, you mean last post directed at you), are you going to give me a clue......? :-)
One of my favorite congeros, and one who gained prominence in the 80s is Poncho Sanchez. To my ears, a distinctive approach to Latin-Jazz fusion; a "fusion" which hasn't been looked at much so far:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GcYwjio8E-M
Congueros!! Now we're talkin' my language!;) Poncho Sanchez is a direct link to the great Cal Tjader. He played with him and continues to this day playing that West Coast style of Latin Soul Jazz. The late Clare Fischer also was an alumni of Cal Tjader who very much kept that 'Tjader' style going after Cal passed away. One thing though, I wouldn't ever categorize Sanchez' music as Latin Fusion. I can easily rattle off lists of recordings that can be categorized as such, but Poncho wouldn't be on any of those lists! The best, most intense, and a personal favorite would be the American debut live record from the Cuban supergroup; Irakere. Of course, the marquee players in that band were Chucho Valdes, Arturo Sandoval, & Paquito D'Rivera but every member of that band was a monsta! I own so many records by most of the members of Irakere! VAYA!!!;)
Chazro, you are, of course, correct about the use of the term "Fusion". Notice I didn't capitalize "fusion" along with Latin-Jazz and used the term to mean "marriage". I know exactly what you mean and agree it's best to not use the term loosely. One of the things that I have always found interesting about Poncho's records is that the horn players are guys who come mainly out of the jazz tradition. Gary Foster, one of my favorite LA reed players is often featured. Not a criticism at all, and a generalization to be sure, but the horn sections on his records tend to have a less aggressive sound than Latino horn sections, and the blowing tends to have a more fluid feel. I think this works very well with the band's rhythmic vibe. This is not a criticism of either Latino or non-Latino horn players, just an acknowledgment of a generally different approach to playing that gives the music a different feeling or flavor and is one of the many subtle musical choices a band leader makes that makes listeners react one way or another to certain music without the listener necessarily being consciously aware of it.
I read Bob Parlocha passed on the 15th, age 76.
Feels like a friend has died.