I have Regina Carter, Billy Bang and several by Grappelli.
I love Grappelli, Billy Bang is good also. But Jazz violin is just not my thing. But they are great artists. |
Once things get going, the OP is soon forgotten anyway. :) |
If you read the synopsis of Ponty's career in the All Music Guide to Jazz, you will see that he has not been a serious Jazz player. He seems to be experimenting with a lot of stuff. When the words FUSION and Electric Violin appear, they should be seen as red flags. Last seen playing with some west african group. Stuff Smith was not mentioned on the thread yet. Seems to be very good, but the recordings might not be of the best quality. 20's - mid-60's
I highly recommend the All Music Guide to Jazz. Used out dated ones are just as good as new, since all of the good stuff will be there. The most useful part for me is, they tell you what type of jazz the artist played. Helps me avoid those fusion,free,avant-garde,world, noise makers. |
"even Downbeat had sense enough to recognize that this stuff had compositional weight on par w/ Charles Mingus"
After reading this statement in your post, this episode came to mind. BTW, I bet Mingus was long dead when DB wrote that nonsense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5l_l-Obs4w |
"Even though I am primarily a jazz fan Jean Luc cannot be categorized as a jazz violinist"
Which is my point exactly. I am sure he is great, just not a Jazz great. |
"Rok2id, who said Jean Luc Ponty was a jazz great?"
No one did. I just stated that he was not a Jazz great. Given the direction and subject of the thread, confusion on this point would have been understandable.
Peace. |
Duanegoosen:
"Words like Jazz, Free Jazz, Avant Garde and Fusion don't really have much descriptive value and often get used by the weak minded to reinforce preconceptions and prejudices."
Whew!! Talk about dodging a bullet! That lets me off the hook, because I didn't coin any of those terms. I only use them as put downs. In fact, we may agree on this issue. There is Jazz and there is music that is not Jazz. It's as simple as that. No prefixes or qualifiers needed or required. But your statement does call into question the mental condition, prejudices, and precoceptions of the writers and reviewers in the American music industry.
Mingus died in 1979? Thanks for the info. I don't do research when I respond to posts. My point was I could not believe DB would say such a silly thing, BUT, the magazine business is just that , a BUSINESS. I am sure they wish they had better artists and music to review and talk about, but they have to appeal to the people that buy the mag. Hence, Ponty and Zappa and a lot of other non-Jazz types get coverage. I BET :), the writers at DB long for the heyday of Blue Note and the high cabliber Jazz of that era.
Enjoyed your post.
Peace |
Duanegoosen
BTW, do you agree of disagree with the idea that culture has to be defended. Otherwise we will have no culture.
I don't think a person can get together with a few friends and start a group, make some sounds, declared the sounds their First Symphony in A minor and then have it show up in the record stores right next to Bach and Mozart.
That's how I see the Jazz question. It's getting to be a dumping ground. People don't like what you are doing, short on talent, call it Jazz. just my two cents. |
Orpheus10
I like almost all of your youtube posts.
I am not into video as such. I have a dvd of "a great day in harlem' and a few blue note dvds, but I have never played them, because I don't have a high quality play back video system. I will correct that soon.
What floats my boat?
Today's playlist
Mariah Carey - Greatest Hits
Ellington and Hodges - back to back / side to side
Armstrong and Fitzgerald - best of
Tina Brooks - true blue
Herbie Hancock - Takin' off
andre Rieu - forever vienna
Carmen McRae - sings monk
Betty Carter - droppin' things
George Benson - tenderly (playing now)
all this and more floats my boat.
The johnny hodges / ellington stuff is truly great.
Peace
|
"There you go again, speaking as if your OPINIONS are actually FACTS!"
There is nothing that says an opinion cannot also be factual. And how does one speak as if what they say is not factual? Should I used the 'IMO' every other word? I assume MOST people know that this is a public forum for opinion. I didn't think I had to spell it out.
"(as Jazz is the antithesis of this type of mindset). "
Is this one of YOUR FACTS??
I didn't say Ponty was not a jazz player because I didn't like the 'type' of jazz he played. I said he didn't play Jazz.
Examples:
When wynton marsalis plays mozart and hummel classical pieces for trumpet, he does not call it baroque jazz, or european Jazz,or classical Jazz, it's just classical. He is playing in their house.
When Ray charles sings country, he does not call it r&b country or soul country. It's just country. (And he does it better than anyone in nashville) He is in their house. you play by their rules. Same when he does gospel. no prefixes no qualifiers no howevers.
When ponty plays his music, whatever it is, it could be great, I don't have any of it so I can't say, but it ain't Jazz.
But I do like and admire your fervor for music, that goes for Orpheus10 also. More like you are needed.
BTW, I see that classical music is under attack also. Some talentless folks in NYC, aptly named. bang on a can, are inventing new mo better classical music. stay tuned. |
Orpheus10:
These videos can become habit forming very quickly. I really enjoyed the ones you sent. I have held an erroneous opinion of the youtube music.
Tina Brooks, I didn't realize he was so well known. I thought I had him all to my self. The one you sent was great, and I listened to the 'true blue' cuts also. I also saw one by Freddie Redd. Another on my favorites.
Regina Carter:
I will have to revisit my CDs of her. Here is my take on the ones on youtube:
Artistya - Very nice to listen to. I would call this world music. I think the video helps the audio part. In other words, it was great to watch and listen, not so sure I would like it as much on audio only. i don't think it would have held my attention.
2002 at Bern - Overall sounded rather grappelli-ish. which is not a bad thing. Gyspy / eastern european folk, came to my mind. I thought she was just a little too laid back.
Mood Indigo - more bluesy. this is missing from the first two numbers. Her solos made me wonder if she has mastered the violin. But, she did bend a few notes. very good.
It don't mean a thing (newport all stars 2003) - now this is better, hot club jazz, she breaks out, takes charge, YES she has mastered her instrument. the sax helps with the overall effect. I will buy this if I can find it.
All of the ones I watched were very very good. It don't mean a thing, was more to my liking.
To Chazro: ACHTUNG!! ACHTUNG!! These are my opinions!!! |
Orpheus10:
Floating my boat today
Grazing in the Grass : The best of Hugh Masekela
This is a great review of his music.
(I always liked masekela, I played flugel horn in concert band.)
The very best of Grappelli & Menuhin - nice easy listening, does not reach out and grab.
The Blue Danube - Willi Boskovsky and VPO, I remember where I heard this for the first time. On pbs radio while driving thru louisiana on I-20. Wrote down the info and got it at Tower records in Austin. Great singing.
Manhattan Transfer - Swing, one of their best. When they are good, they are very good. they have made a few clunkers.
Gym Time. Later. |
Orpheus10:
Have you ever ordered any CDs from mosaic? Talk about the sound quality.
Thanks |
Orpheus10:
Don't wanna beat a dead horse, but this is an example of what I was talking about earlier. It's a review from the All Music Jazz Guide, speaking of a german group that could not play, 'inventing' something, they could play, and calling it euro-Jazz? I was surprised at how blunt the reviewer was.
check it out.
http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-in-berlin-71-r500891 |
