https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpP5poqFq4E
This rhythm is from Africa, but you won’t hear it in Africa;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5P-aIWZk2A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ORkB1eKWE
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.
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.
Showing 50 responses by orpheus10
Alex, let me tell you about something that was really painful, almost brought me to tears. I was telling a professional musician how good another professional musician was who happened to be a personal friend of mine. "He was good, but he wasn't that good", responded the musician I was talking to. "I'll show him", I thought, I'll find some records that will change his tune. I scoured the best record store in town, and talked to the owner who I have known for a long time. He was familiar with the artist, and told me he had every record that artist had recorded, and that I could listen to them. I was familiar with the records he offered, but I was looking for more; something that was recorded after the summer of 69. There was nothing to be found. I had heard the most fantastic music, this musician had ever played, and I heard it all live. Of course I had heard him live many times before, that was nothing new, but the music he was playing that Summer was new, as well as the way he was playing; I was spellbound every night I saw him, which was almost every night he played during the Summer of 69. He got sick and died before he recorded a single note of that music. I recall he played center stage at the 4th of July St. Louis Fair, and got rave reviews. I can't find that either. I had to go back to the professional musician with nothing. BTW, that local professional musician was a very good pianist who had a photograph resume which included many of the musicians we talked about when they came to St. Louis with out a pianist and needed one. Although I saw him every weekend at different places for years, I can only remember his middle name, which was "Dewey". Another friend of mine who went to school with him told me the reason he didn't go on the road and become famous was because of his beautiful wife. (now that friend is deceased) Famous or not, he made a good living here in St. Louis and had a beautiful wife and a lovely home. That's a lot better than Grant Green who did become very famous. (For all I know, Grant Green might have had a beautiful wife, but he wasn't rich) I always thought fame and fortune went together, what do I know? |
The nice thing about the play-list is the fact that I never know what's going to pop up next. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gXz9RndzzY&list=PLZPaoGGbIbgV3RAB06qW9jx1CtkxPclv3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKAeih6DXp8 |
Alex, I went to that club in 65 and 66. The name "Don Cunningham" sounds so familiar but I still can't quite put it together, There were several real nice clubs that I went to in the same vicinity as the Playboy Club, and if he played there, he probably played some of those clubs as well. I like his music, and it sounds familiar. During that time I almost never listened to music in my apartment, I was always on the go. While listening to his music, I can almost see myself at a "Downtown Club" called "The Upstream", which is another club he probably would have played. I looked him up, and he played "The Dark Side" in Gaslight Square, an area with a lot of entertainment that I frequented; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslight_Square,_St._Louis Here's another group that played "The Dark Side"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtyTjhfbdAg Alex you always come up with the winners from the past; a past that I have fond memories of. Thank you. |
The "Delta Blues" is what I identify as "The Blues"; I have trouble defining other forms of music as "The Blues". For example "Sandra's Blues" is not the Blues to me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMgwWAaxQQ4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQnOY5LWrWI In my mind, we have to have vocal, to have the blues, and for whatever reason, I don't identify "Blue Funk" as "The Blues". |
Alex, I first heard "Blue Funk" in 1959, but not until you pointed it out, did I realize the contribution "Skeeter Best" made. I heard it, but I didn't identify what I heard. That's my favorite tune on that album, but since it's by Ray Charles and Milt Jackson, I just never identified "Skeeter Best" although I heard him playing my favorite part on my favorite tune. That tune is so much more than just music, it conveys something that's totally incomprehensible to most people who don't have an urban origination; South Side of Chicago, North Side of St. Louis, or other urban areas that existed once upon a time. It's kind of like you have to have sung the song, in order to be able to comprehend the song. What "Blue Funk" conveys goes farther than what any words or picture could convey; that's why it's a real mystery to me, how is it that you have so much music of this nature; as an example, all of those Chicago musicians? |
Mel Brown is more into "Blues" and the only Blues player I liked was Albert King; that's because I saw him live every weekend for about a year or longer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyVhBfIFbiQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SP5JHLqXM8 |
This is a little closer to the Delta. Somebody asked if this was for Charlie Mingus or Charlie Parker? I bet Rok knows which Charlie it was written for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpQIM10QI9g |
Alex, the conversation between you and I got derailed, but it seems to have created a lot of interest else where; that's good for the thread. For the record, I don't like "Delta Blues". I liked it a long time ago because those who were of the female persuasion could be found in numbers in the Blues joints, but were scarce in the jazz clubs. My priorities were different then. There are shades of difference between this Blues (jazz), and that Blues (Delta) which some may not be able to distinguish, but my ears hear a night and day difference. You posted an album with a view of the skyline of Chicago from a railroad yard; could you post that one again, and any others you have along those lines Thank you. |
I had no idea there was so much Blues that I like, maybe I like Blues After all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ_Op8dP5Iw |
Trentmemphis, I was crossing a river just before entering Hattiesburg Mississippi, when this song came on the radio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv33eaygVDQ It was the very first time I heard the song, and I was sure I was crossing the Tallahatchie Bridge, so this must be Chickasaw County, and I was looking for the Choctaw Ridge. This girl certainly knows a lot about the Delta; fortunately it made her rich and famous. |
I'm just refreshing my memory on how I got to "Bobby Gentry" who is not jazz. That was in honor of Trentmemphis who is from "The Delta", I think. Is that correct Trentmemphis? Her album depicts "The Mississippi Delta" as a very colorful rural setting where a young lady could enjoy life. When I listened to her album, I felt I had experienced a little bit of life in The Delta. The fact that "Ode To Billy Joe" has been recorded by many jazz artists is testimony to it's greatness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ubj-mnkgf8 Maybe you know of other versions of "Ode To Billy Joe" as well. |
Trentmemphis, I like this primarily because I think she looks very pretty here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_R9AGDvXe4 She sounds really good on this one; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs7YlqUSH1k |
Trentmemphis, there were two high end salons in this area, they were both located where the richest people in St. Louis live; the Mercedes, Jaguar types. I spent as much time as I could in those salons, and I learned a lot; those are the only places where you can hear the expensive equipment that "Stereophile" reviews. (other than shows) Besides listening to a lot of expensive equipment, I discovered that it's not rich people who actually buy high end equipment, but ordinary people who work at the post office, or firemen, or policemen; rich people just seemed to drive on by, but people who have to drive a less expensive car in order to afford the hobby are the one's who buy. I really hated when those places closed in the early 90's. |
You're welcome Mary_jo; "Ode To Billy Joe" is one of the most fantastic tunes to ever come out, and the beautiful "Bobby Gentry" sang it beautifully. Her album, and music describes "The Delta" in a most colorful manner. That song came on just as I was crossing a bridge over a river before entering a town in Mississippi, and that was the very first time I heard it; consequently, I deduced, this must be da place. I was wrong. |
That just goes to show, things are messed up all over the place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_c5ff0EEcA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j73cjA1IcJw I donated a few months to Larry Rice's New Life Shelter, where we utilized my electronics expertise to help him put up a television station. I came in contact with the homeless during this time. This was in the early 80's, and it was nothing like it is now. Homeless people (unfortunately) consisted of mentally ill people who Ronald Reagan had kicked out of mental institutions, and mostly winos, plus some people who were just victims of bad luck. We were able to help the people who were victims of bad luck, the hopeless mentally ill brought tears to my eyes. For the winos, that was their lifestyle, but there were not a lot of what you would call "just normal people" like there is now. |
Mary_jo, it's always good to hear from you, that's because you have such a refreshing point of view. I'm glad you like Bobby Gentry; I've been in love with her since the first time I heard her voice when I was crossing that bridge. She's so authentic, "here I am", if you like me that's fine, if you don't, that's fine too, because it won't change a thing. Here's another tune that I like, and I'm going to post it for us; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORfoK5Ap0FA |
We were discussing the Blues before my trolley jumped it's tracks. I wonder how many people woke up with the Blues this morning. They woke up with the Tokyo Blues in Tokyo; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvsdNDOdpbc And they woke up with the Baghdad Blues in Baghdad; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvsdNDOdpbc While in Saigon they just woke up in a "deep phunk"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0GwWi_VfUg |
I submit some of the best music in my collection, and this bunch wants to talk about Ella clowning around with Frank for one minute and eight seconds, singing off key and not even getting the words right. I don't know the context to that episode, but she was most certainly not trying to win any contest. I think I'll paint a wall and watch it dry. |
Mary_jo, I'm on an indefinite "hiatus", that I just broke in order to respond to your inquiry; however, this is only temporary for a VIP. When someone says "Georgia", to me, that means Atlanta. I hope that city is still as nice as I remember it, that's a city I gave serious consideration to making home. Once you leave that little patch of skyscrapers downtown, you get into the Georgia Pines and that sweet smell on a moonlit summer night. My musical offering to you is from an album I consider to be in the top ten; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u37RF5xKNq8 |
Trent, I have "The complete Blue Note recordings of the Tina Brooks Quintets"; it's boss, three LP's that were recorded when the creative juices of the young lions at "Blue Note" were running wild: Lee Morgan, Sonny Clark, Art Blakey, Jackie McClean, Blue Mitchell, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, and there is even more. I want you to know that I compliment your good taste, and the courage to move to your own drummers beat. |