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

Showing 50 responses by acman3

Ghosthouse, yes it is dated, but I was trying to get Phillip Catherine from  this period. Short window, but we can revisit him later.
Actually Frogman played Saturday Dance off the same recording, not the one I played. I don't see another poster of that.
Romantic Warrior is a great record. Played it last night for some guest and they were impressed.

As someone I know is prone to say" Don't got it, Get it!

I never got Eddie Harris. I should give it another go.
Like all Jazz, it kept mutating. You can hear it in modern Jazz to this day.  Is there a Bill Frisell or a John Zorn, without Fusion. Don't think so. 

You always have the decision to add something new to your past or go back. Just because you move forward does not mean you discard the past, but like I said a long time ago, once you stop moving forward and learning the new vocabulary, everything new will sound odd, out of place, except the vocabulary you know and you are stuck in the past. The decision is always yours to make. Both as usual have consequences.

Just saw the last few post. Are you kidding me? 

Frogman, enjoyed all the clips! You are correct in knowing which one I would enjoy best. Grossman plays with great intensity, but you still can follow his ideas. I will find that recording. 

Never knew the tidbit on Sanborn, and never would have believed he played with Paul Butterfield! Thanks!


Thought this was 1977, but it turns out to be 1976, a great year. Bass line makes it my most easily Identifiable song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrnI7TQ44U0
Looked at the Paul Butterfield recording on my computer for the first time, instead of my phone, and saw to my surprise Dr. John on piano, and  Levon Helm on drums. Great band!
I was listening to a 1977 Neils Henning Orsted Peterson trio recording this morning with Catherine , and Billy Hart, which showed how fusion was still influential even once they went back to playing more jazz than rock, but not on youtube ( another reason you need a turntable). From a year earlier you hear a more fusion based song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5MenWMb7fs
Ghosthouse, Definitely! Probably Post/ Post Fusion :) . I have worn out 2 Lp's of this! An all time favorite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQrgE8hF8Qw
Bob, Love the Dog analogy. I think it makes since. Now the purist will have to argue which dog is most like a wolf?

Hope this will do for your Cuban fix?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu6r_JUZu38
Beautiful tones all round. A modern player I think off when you talk of tone, is J.D. Allen.

 He was listening to a middle school player and when playing the blues scale, the youngster played all around the scale without actually playing the scale, and when asked why he said "Thats for third graders". He remembered thinking the same way and decided to reinvestigate the Blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxkHjkrjZy4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOnm42WkEjw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p26cKlB65gc
Alex, good music is always welcome. I have the Ike Quebec, but I don't have a lot of Gonsalves,

Thanks thanks for the Gonsalves recommendations. I did manage to locate an LP from Mr Gonsalves in my collection titled " Tell it like it is". 



On second thought I can hear Jim Hall in Abercrombie, Scofield and Frisell.