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
Rok, there have been many others who were "historically" important, whose music I didn't like. Unfortunately, Mary lou was in that same time frame, and I didn't bother to listen to her music, big mistake, which we are now correcting. Although I had heard Mary Lou's name often, I had no idea she was so far ahead of her time. I can certainly understand how that reviewer could say her's was the best piano recording he had ever heard; she's connecting with me on a deep subconscious level. I recall you posting a number of female jazz pianists, some who I vaguely recall, but none whose music I had gotten into; now I'll back track and maybe post some of them. When you receive your CD's, do a detailed review including sonics. Me and your new speakers are eagerly awaiting this event; we can all go to "Mary Lou-Ville". Enjoy the music. |
Rok, I have a few LP's of Tania Maria, she seems to have gotten better; even though this is old, it's more recent than my LP's, I like it; but I seem to like everything "Brazilian". Thanks for posting this, I will definitely add her to my collection in a big way; she takes to me to places where one can feel cool ocean breezes under swaying palms while sipping on a "pina colada", and gazing into romantic eyes. (I can dream can't I). Enjoy the music. |
Acman, you have cleared everything up in regard to the title "Soul On Soul" in regard to a tribute, or celebration of Mary Lou Williams music; it was my misinterpretation of the title. Evidently the music wasn't supposed to be reminiscent of her music, but a tribute and celebration of her music, which is different; yes it is a good album. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, 2 Track 1500 is exactly what I have. When I recorded LP's, they sounded smoother and quieter on playback; as a matter of fact, they sounded better all the way around. I know that's not supposed to be, and it's "illogical", but the dumb machine didn't take logic, and it doesn't know that's impossible; "Reel to Reel is king of the hill." Enjoy the music. |
Acman, and Rok, blank tape is the problem. If you know of a source of tape "maybe" it would be OK. Those machines have to be played on a regular basis, or they'll go bad. Before my machine was too old, I replaced all the transistors and capacitors; all in all, I can't say I recommend a new beginning in R2R. I started when a good R2R was the ultimate, now the computer can be raised to such a high degree of quality, that I see no reason for the R2R. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, when comparing Mary Lou, and Dorothy, you are side stepping a social issue that affected "all" African American artists at that time; they had to be "entertainers", even if they were serious musicians. This gave us "Mantan Moreland" and "Stepin Fetchit". In no way am I bringing Dorothy down to that level, I'm just expediting the discussion. Mary Lou never wavered in regard to whether or not she was a serious musician, and not an entertainer. Although Dorothy was as good a musician as Mary Lou, her standard of living, or should I say "making a living", was of a higher priority and she "entertained". No, I'm not bringing Dorothy down, I'm simply shining a light on the circumstances African Americans were confronted with in this country at that time. Do you care to address this? If not, I'll understand. Enjoy the music. |
"The Great Lakes Suites"; that sounds so majestic, who could resist? "Free / Avant Garde school of jazz"; I always fell for that, I have two stacks of records, half of which fall in that category, they are all destined for removal. I even went to live shows when that moniker was flashed; "Now that they're through tuning up, maybe they can play some music," was always my impression. Why don't I send your friend a donation, and let him keep his CD. I may be forever restricted to "old, new music"; it'll be new to me. Sometimes my old music sounds new, I seem to hear it better. The more new music I hear, the less I want to hear; it's like eating something disagreeable, that can ruin my appetite for days. Before I had that argument with Frogman about new music, I was constantly having it with myself; I'm glad that's settled, somebody else can pay for the "new noise". Now that I know there's so much old music I haven't heard, I don't have time for the new, and I'm sure those poverty driven estates can use the money. Since the original musicians never got paid what they were worth, their heirs can benefit. Enjoy the music |
Today I went back, way back, so far back that I didn't even know what jazz was; but I knew I liked the music whatever name they gave it. I went all the back to "King Pleasure". I can't even remember where I heard his music, it's for sure I didn't hear it on my record player because I didn't have one; maybe it was on the radio, or a juke box blaring out on to the sidewalk, since I was too young to go inside where the juke box was. Now that we have established it was a long time ago, let's hear a little of "King Pleasure's" music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2N8bVpRneQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK0Z4vqH5KM When I heard this, it made me feel real groovy and I was gone; I've been gone every since. Enjoy the music. |
I like the second "Song For My Father" but I didn't like the first one; it had nothing to do with the music, but it was taken too far away from the original; that's my "idiosyncrasy"; singers should write their own lyrics or just go "scat" crazy and not have lyrics. That's a reverent song Silver wrote for his father, and all fathers, but other than that, it was OK. The second version is better. I will definitely have to get some more of Dee Dee, I liked her group. Lynne Arrial and her group was nice too, I liked them all; they put a new twist on an old song. Bobby reminded me of when I drug that cotton sack down dem long rows, ain't no shade in a cotton field. (I went to church on Sunday back then) I bought Dee Dee's tribute to Silver when it came out. Enjoy the music. |
I have an LP by Billy Bang titled "The Fire Within" that was inspired by books written by Carlos Casteneda. These were some really weird books that were supposed to be true; I found them very entertaining, but hardly believable. That sets you up for the music on this album, with William Parker on bass; it's definitely different. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CQ2wtSACmA Enjoy the music. |
I was immersed in ancient Tibet when I got this album; the books I was reading must have been a hundred years old, that made it really come to life. These words are all about Tibetan beliefs and their kind of Buddhism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGKk4goM2Qk Enjoy the music. |
Rok, "Bird's Best Bop" is a must have CD; it contains cuts from the LP's I bought way back when I first started collecting records. The sidemen on each cut read like a who's who of jazz. It's been said that Bird's fingers moved so fast that you couldn't even see them when he was playing. Monk sounds better as a sideman with Bird than he does on his own records. A fledgling Miles can be heard trying to keep up. The cuts on this CD are so complete, there's no way I could pick out a best. Unfortunately it's not on "You tube", so I can't give you a sample, but since this should be in your collection, buy it if you ain't got it. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, when I don't respond to your post, it's because I don't have anything to say, good or bad, I'm not inspired; not because I didn't look and listen. I don't know how many times you've submitted Oscar Peterson and I didn't respond. This clip is good jazz jazz; but it sounds like the same music that I've heard so many times before, that it's boring; I've been listening to this music a lot longer than you. When more people were here, someone would respond; those "unnecessary" arguments seem to have ran some people off who haven't come back. I'm not in any way suggesting that you change anything in regard to your submissions, just because I don't respond; they may be someone else's cup of tea, just what they were looking for. In regard to posts on threads, all seem to come up short. Enjoy the music. |
Normally someone else would have responded to your post because we had more people responding; that's related to the not so clear "all threads seem to be coming up short", meaning that there seems to be fewer people responding on other threads as well. Many times when a thread loses people, they don't come back. I had that feeling when they were dragging me into all that totally unnecessary, never ending bickering, that we would lose people on this thread, and we did; maybe they'll come back. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, here are some blues with a different twist; this is where two great rivers meet, the Ganges and the Mississippi, down in a different kind of delta. Ry Cooder and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt join to bring us double delta blues, from Mississippi to Calcutta, including a smoking tabla that keeps an East Indian beat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ygVcw4SCk Enjoy the music. |
Rok, your responses are what keeps me going. We gained some people who might have been from the other side of the world because they didn't speak English too well. People who were already on this forum would have agreed with Frogman, and Learsfool no matter what they said. Acman is the only person from here who's still with us, looks like he's going to stay. In regard to the people who were victimized, cheated, and disrespected, I think about them often; I saw Art Blakey in a dump, a low life joint, the reason I never mentioned it is because tears came to my eyes, I couldn't enjoy the set for wandering, "What's the great Art Blakey doing playing in a joint like this." That was in what is referred to as "The dark years". I'm glad you bring things like that into the conversation. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, Ali's music was traditional African music, it was unrelated to our blues in lineage, and the similarities in sound was a coincident. Music is the universal language when it comes to expressing emotions; while our words are different, when it comes to basic emotions, they have similarities in music from around the world, consequently we have "blue" sad music, that could be the same in Africa. Every since someone's trolley jumped the tracks in regard to all those far fetched relationships, you guys have been hearing things; next, someone will illustrate how chitlins are related to truffles. Enjoy the music. |
Acman, I found somebody new for you, she's from Beirut. I'm beginning to like that part of the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mJIKlQ6Rtc Here she is again in a laid back groove. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fggycBtZ6vM&list=PLVpKRoWtZhtfS5TcmFHE6AXzVgrHJ_udG Enjoy the music. |
Rok, we have made a significant "new" discovery. Although she has been around for quite some time, she's new to us in regard to her music; while if we had been on a quest for something new, as related to time, we would have discovered "zilch". This recent experience explains so much more when I compare it to life in general. Just as we are going backwards in music, life in general for the working man is going backwards. While those who can afford "yachts" are trading up, we are trading down. So much for economics. Now back to music; although Mary Lou was an extraordinarily gifted musician, she was a very common person who always thought of her brother and sister human beings, meaning she was not self centered. Her legacy includes the Mary Lou Williams Foundation, which she established shortly before her death. The foundation helps children and young adults learn about jazz. Enjoy the music. |
Rock, Africa imported many items to this country, here are some that many people want to forget: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRKOIphnHXk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAVCBYNujTM |
Rok, since I don't have your e-mail address, we must have our feuds in public, and then go on. "Ebola" is no joking matter; I've heard of people blurting out things best unsaid, but not writing things best unsaid, because that takes time. While everyone knows about AIDS, not everyone knows about EBOLA; it delivers a death too horrifying to write about. What's even worse about this disease is that doctors and nurses contract it while trying to help the afflicted. I suggest you read a little more about it. Some things will have to change if I am to come back; classical, and popular music that can't fall into this ultra large arena we call "jazz", should not be submitted; this is a jazz forum. After saying all of this, my first musical submission might be arbitrary in regard to whether or not it's jazz, but there is no question of the fact that it's beautiful music. This also gives an indication of how big this arena is. Will post tomorrow. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, although the music was better than the movie, I had a tennis partner named Mike, and playing tennis plus taking pictures was all Mike wanted to do, so me and my tennis partner could relate to that. I don't think a CD ever came out, the LP is all I have. Now that I have your e-mail I'll try and get back atcha in the AM. Enjoy the music. |
Learsfool, I am certainly not among that group; as a matter of fact, I thought classical sounded like noise until I heard it on a high end rig: Sota Star Saphire, Koetsu, ARC, and Theil speakers. Now I seem to like it best in movies (movie theaters have incredible sound systems) Here's one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGtN3lpI2f4 You can start this thread back up by submitting some of the best classical, or best jazz in horns. You never know who might drop back in. Enjoy the music. |
After doing nothing but complain about current jazz releases, I discovered something I like; it's relaxed and easy to listen to. While many current artists require the listener to work, "Harry Allen" makes no such demands; although he's only 48, his music is reminiscent of live sets I enjoyed at clubs many years ago, the city skyline on the album cover sets the stage perfectly. The title of the album is "For George, Cole, And Duke", and there isn't one weak cut; once you settle back, relax, and get in this groove, before you know it, the last cut will have played, and you've just gotten comfortable. Although I'm unfamiliar with the artists, I like the music, and that's all that matters. This is too precious a gem not to share with fellow "aficionados", that's why I'm posting this; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4M8a1z24RI Enjoy the music. |
The lack of money is the root of all evil; you can safely walk the rich sidewalks of the North side of Chicago morning noon or night with your jewelry, and no one will give you a second glance. On the subject of "Dusty Springfield"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf1d65OHYXo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmXx_yoZN34 |
Rok, Detroit was very prosperous in 66; "Motown" was going strong, people drove new cars and lived in nice homes. When I went there it was the first time I had ever been to a nightclub where they parked your car. It was also the first time I had gone to a club where pretty girls checked your hat and coat (this is just like the movies I thought) we saw a young Aretha Franklin, she was on fire. How things have changed. |
Say folks! This thread is big time on "Google" https://www.google.com/search?q=A+book+%22Diary+of+a+slave+trader%22&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS804US804&am... |
Mary_jo, men and women are different, I will never understand women, but I will always love them. Since you are a women, no matter how much you try to explain, I won't quite understand, but I will always love you. God just let all the stops out when he created women, because they top everything else. |
Here are notes by Michael Cuscuna: One Summer afternoon in 1980, I was driving through the town of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Rudy Van Gelder was my passenger. I popped in a cassette of Ike. After a tune, Rudy said, "That's lovely, who is that?" I replied, "Well you recorded it, it's Ike Quebec." Rudy looked out his window in silence, then finally said in a soft tone, Ike always played beautifully, even at the end when he was dying...I mean literally dying. |
Rok, when I heard this I thought about you, it's about as Mississippi as you can get, nothing but the "Delta Blues". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKR1gH-fi68 |
Jutta Hipp's piano sounds just right on this one; it has the sound of "lost longing" that some would call "Blue". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDQwB1waXco |
Rok, Abbey is slightly off center; she has more style than voice and you have to be attuned to what she's singing. A live performance is a lot different than a record; it's possible that Rok would have agreed with you Alex. But even when she doesn't have the voice of some of the other Diva's, I like her style. |