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 pjw81563
mary jo If you can get a copy of "Straight Life" - Arts autobiography from birth to death written by Laurie and Art Pepper - I guarantee you will really like it. Its a story filled with many heartbreaking episodes but also many fantastic accounts of his life in and out of jazz plus his "redemption" in the 70's until his death in 1982. One of the greatest books I have ever read and I really do mean that. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Straight-Life-Story-Art-Pepper/dp/0306805588/ref=sr_1_2?crid=30C4MN9Y6D5PL&... Pay no attention to that ridiculous price there are used copies available for 20 USD and less all over the place. |
On Green Dolphin Street Stitt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55vzIClGoCQ Coltrane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CRX9h3gaXM |
frogman, George Cables is a great pianist no doubt about that. He was Art Pepper's favorite piano player when he made his comeback in the 70's. Speaking of piano players since I started posting on this thread I have never saw a post about Eddie Higgens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k80AkUq_ViY&list=PLk0W9z0R0_TAuxGn5SZNF3_fNBp39I6pV |
Here is a really good Jimmy Cobb interview for Billboard: https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8527648/miles-davis-kind-of-blue-drummer-jimmy-cobb-shares-m... I have had the pleasure of watching Mr. Cobb play in many of the NYC jazz clubs. 3 different times at Smoke Jazz and Supper Club alone. I know at 90 years old he will still be making the rounds on the NYC jazz scene for the rest of this year and 2020 as well in support of his new album "This I Dig Of You". God bless him and I will be checking on his tour dates. https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/jimmy-cobb-this-i-dig-of-you-smoke-sessions/ |
Art Pepper's last studio album. A duo with George Cables: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rafXSARZtSw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGib0BAT2I4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFX_hO96ino |
I can assure you mary jo "Straight Life" is not fiction. It is Art Pepper's life told by Art to Laurie Pepper. There are many other sources used also by people who were involved with Art throughout his life. If you are skeptical of biographies or autobiographies then all I can say is don't read it. I know what you mean but if that is the case how can you read any books other then fiction? Read the reviews on Amazon for a start. |
nsp, I will look into getting tickets for the Chick Corea show. I can't believe a giant of the jazz world is playing at a small venue in the suburbs of Long Island an hour east of NYC! I will also check out that 3 disc session you mentioned which I was not aware of. I agree with your assessment of Art Pepper's early playing and later playing. frogman also made the same assessment up thread. Schubert I highly recommend the following 2 disc set since you are obviously a huge Sonny Stitt fan (as am I). https://www.amazon.com/Pepper-Presents-West-Coast-Sessions/dp/B01N2NTGV6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25NWW6RYLVL... I do think your sandwich remark regarding Coleman was a little harsh lol. Coleman is no Sonny Stitt but, IMHO, is a very good player. frogman, Great Bill Evans - Eddie Higgins comparison. Nice versions of "Laura". |
frogman, I agree with your observations of Art Pepper’s 70’s early 80’s sessions. Arts playing really moves me in a way no other saxophonist ever had or still does. That rendition of "Laura" is beautiful and really long. I have that Coleman disc live at Ronnie Scotts. I agree with what you said about Miles - Stitt/Coltrane. By the way, Hank Mobley also filled that chair briefly with Miles. What do you think about Eddie Higgens’ piano playing. Many compare his playing to that of Bill Evans which I found interesting. Have you been to see Jimmy Cobb play since he turned 80? (the last 10 years). He is remarkably fully in control of all his faculties and is a pleasure to converse with after the show. Always signs my CD’s. |
nsp, I read the Higgins - Evans comparison on Wiki (not the best source): Eddie Higgins's delicate tone and conception were often compared to those of Bill Evans, one of the most influential and successful jazz pianists. He mostly played bop and mainstream jazz music throughout his career. Higgins was at home playing melodies with swing-like feeling. His melodies had groove and swing-feeling without being superfluous. Such swing-feeling of Eddie Higgins was also often compared to those of Oscar Peterson and Nat King Cole. Schubert I know it was a tongue in cheek comment about Stitt/Coleman and so was my reply that's why I put the lol in there. That was a funny analogy you made. |
mary jo, definitely yes to "Straight Life" pryso, I have not read "Beneath The Underdog" so I cannot compare. I am an avid reader. I often read 2 books at the same time and as soon as I'm done with one I read another. I like boxing biographies and musicians as well. For history I read military books with an emphasis on the second World War - first World War - American Civil War - and ancient Rome. |
frogman and pryso, Here is Pepper Adams' rendition of "Haitian Fight Song": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIu87qCZnJ4 |
alex, That post was a handful! The first link to Higgins' "Soulero" I really like. On the first song the first 50 seconds piano solo sounds like classical not jazz. I have just 2 Higgens albums with him as a leader - "Haunted Heart" and "Dear Old Stockholm" but I will be buying "Soulero" for sure. I enjoyed "Time On My Hands" as well. The Roger Kellaway song also sounded a bit classical. If you listen to the bass and percussion in the rythm section throughout the whole song it can be translated and used in a classical setting. Kellaway's piano playing can be described as "jazzicle" - did I just make up a new word? |
nsp, Great story of Higgins encounter with Art Blakey. I had read on Wiki that he turned down the offer but with none of the details you gave. Thanks for the info on the Lizz Wright album. I still cannot believe Chick Corea is paying a venue that is a 15 minute drive from my house. I saw the Return To Forever reunion tour in 2007 but had to drive to go to the United Palace Theater uptown NYC for that. |
alex, I just listened to all 3 songs off of the Fred Kaz album "Eastern Exposure" I like the groove of the first song "Ameer" but the other 2 songs I found nothing "catchy" in them to keep me interested. All Music site lists only 4 albums with him as a leader. I did some research and apparently Kaz started working in Hollywood in the early 60's. Here is the story: https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/chi-fred-kaz-legendary-musical-director-at-seco... |
nsp, I have the 3 Lee Morgan sessions on the Veejay label. Eddie Higgins piano on "Expoobident". Wynton Kelly piano on "Here's Lee Morgan" Both feature Clifford Jordon on tenor sax and Art Blakey on drums. The bass player changes from Art Davis on "Expoobident" to Paul Chambers on "Here's Lee Morgan" The third Veejay album with Lee Morgan, "The Young Lions" has an altogether different lineup and Wayne Shorter does play tenor sax on it. The rest of the personnel: Frank Strozier alto sax Bobby Timmons piano Bob Cranshaw bass Albert "Tootie Heath" drums on tracks 3, 5, and 8. Louis Hayes drums tracks 1, 2, 6, and 7 All three Veejay album sessions were recorded in 1960 sandwiched in between Lee Morgan Blue Note dates. |
frogman, I was not aware that Eddie Higgins played piano on that Wayne Shorter album which I do not have. I shall have to remedy that. Using Higgins without putting Eddie or Billy in front of it could confuse the uninitiated who may pop up here from time to time. Speaking of the drummer, Billy Higgins, here is an interesting video I stumbled on this past winter which made me purchase volumes 1 through 3 of Cedar Walton's "The Trio" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4BYt3l7zEM |
Some really good live video of some of the best musicians that ever played: Sonny Rollins, Niels Henning Orsted Pedesen , and Alan Dawson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGcsIaErFFw Chick Corea, Christian McBride, Roy Haynes, Kenny Garrett, and Roy Hargrove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uYDBVoUjPo Marcus Miller With The Metropole Orkest - Edison Jazz/World Awards Rotterdam 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIsXGrFkpBo |
frogman, I agree 100% I would put Coltrane just a wee bit ahead of Rollins. But what about your beloved Michael Brecker? I must admit I have been listening a lot more to my Brecker discs over the past few months since reading your praise of his improvisational skills and I would put him in the top 5 tenor players of all time. |
I have off today and I am going to make another pilgrimage to the John Coltrane house in Dix Hills. Will also go to his gravesite which is 10 minutes from the house. Sometimes I sit and look up at the gable over the garage where he locked himself in the room up there for five days and wrote A Love Supreme. I just sit and meditate. I walk around the house at least a half dozen times to see if there is anything I missed the last time I was there..... https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/10/09/arts/09arts1/merlin_144987063_ff989f09-48d2-4242-98b8-260... While my pilgrimage is just a 40 minute drive I wonder how many fans visit the house from all over the world. |
frogman, This, believe it or not, is one of my favorite Sonny Rollins songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hHXhnKEmpM Its another piano - less recording with Jimmy Garrison on bass, Elvin Jones on drums, and Freddie Hubbard on the trumpet. Sonny (and Freddie a few times), plays that BA DE BA DA BE BA BE BA throughout and Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones are just a wrecking crew!! I play it loud on my system and it just moves me..... |
FYI, Those great Sonny Stitt songs posted by frogman can be found at a reasonable price here: https://www.amazon.com/Musicians-Only-Bonus-Tracks/dp/B00KE0NN64/ref=tmm_acd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8... The Sonny Stitt & The New Yorkers is re - issued here with 7 more tracks: https://www.amazon.com/Cherokee-SONNY-JONES-QUARTET-QUINTET/dp/B01N041KDU/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=sonny+... |
Schubert, I have never been to Europe. I hear there are hundreds of beautiful places to see. Vienna is one of them. Here is a Dizzy Gillespie & Sonny Stitt live clip with good quality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ5DS_mmZFQ And here is an album you may be interested in. Its a mid 70’s bop session with Gillespie and Stitt with an excellent rythm section: https://www.amazon.com/Bop-Session-Dizzy-Gillespie/dp/B002ADCXFK/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=sonny+stitt+and... |
mary jo, There is no way o10 and rok are the same person. Orpheus10 strikes me as a very sensitive and intellectual man who displays empathy towards others. rok is a condescending and arrogant bigot who's posts display a pattern of narcissism. There is no way rok could write the type of posts Orpheus does. My description of rok may look abrasive but it is not as the following definitions attest to: narcissism - selfishness, involving a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration, as characterizing a personality type. Bigot - a person who is intolerant toward those holding different opinions. condescending - having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority. arrogant - having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities |
frogman, Larry Young is a favorite of mine as well. Last year I bought a double disc live in Paris album here: https://www.amazon.com/Paris-ORTF-Recordings-CD-Deluxe/dp/B0188EOHOY Of course I have Unity which may be his best recording. Here is more on the ORTF recordings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV-_yQAO7aU And here is something from Tony Williams and Larry Young: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AY4KHCwFl8 Young with Jimi Hendrix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBErvhTAIWg Young also recorded with Carlos Santana, Jack Bruce, and John McLaughlin. |
Ginger Baker had a wild life. Anyone else watch the 2012 documentary "Beware Of Mr. Baker" will understand Baker’s wild ride through life. I’m surprised he made it to age 80. May he rest in peace. That Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, and Max Roach were three of Baker’s biggest influences, does not surprise me. You can see how much he idolized Blakey in that drum solo duel recorded and transferred to VHS with poor tracking. I wish some engineer could clean it up. Baker was also heavily influenced by African tribal music and its rhythmic beats. He called Africa home on a few occasions. Baker recorded some half dozen jazz albums in the 90’s From "Coward Of The County" with a young James Carter on tenor sax and bass clarinet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HRrQBlqqvs The Blakey/Baker video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qghrsBfSbgk |
pryso. Ginger Baker trio is the core of the band with Baker on drums, Ron Miles on trumpet, and Artie Moore on bass. The rest are various "guest musicians" hence the DJQ20 on the album cover. DJQ20 stands for "The Denver Jazz Quintet - to - Octet. See a summary of the album here: https://www.allmusic.com/album/coward-of-the-county-mw0000241034 That the album was released in 1999 when James Carter was 30, and they put on the album cover "Special guest James Carter", is a testament to the virtuosity of Carter even at 30 years old he was so well known by jazz aficionado’s (he had been playin the sax since he was 16) especially in his home town of Detroit and NYC. Obviously putting Carter on the cover was to help album sales. This "Ginger Baker Trio" is Baker with Bill Frisell and Charlie Haden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8GJdPD53w4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49Z2ykdW2gI And in 2014, Baker recorded another jazz album titled "Why" with interesting interpretations of Wayne Shorter’s "Foot Prints" and Sonny Rollins’ "St Thomas". The sax player for this recording, Pee Wee Ellis, who took lessons from Sonny Rollins but gained his notoriety with James Brown and Van Morrison, shows he can play jazz as well as R & B https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZp9SSDwKeE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndjnq40e6A8 "Aiko Biaye" , from the "Why" album live in Madrid 5/06/2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azOczMqyu90 |
Here is the real pianist who plays piano throughout the movie "The Pianist" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janusz_Olejniczak The song I posted from the movie is a Frederic Chopin composition. According to most of the commenters its Ballade No. 1 Op. 23 in G Minor (with the middle cut out), or Nocturne No. 20 in C Sharp Minor. Here is the Discogs info: https://www.discogs.com/Various-Music-From-And-Inspired-By-The-Pianist/release/1032398 |
BTW, I would not know the difference in a blind listening test between the Steinway, Fazioli, or Bossendorfer piano if each were played by the same competent pianist playing the same song on each piano but one of my favorite movies, the pianist, has one of the most emotionally moving piano solo’s IMHO, near the end of the movie (especially moving after watching the movie up to that point). Its as if the pianist is spilling out all of his frustrations, fears, heartbreak and sorrow that was pent up inside of him after hiding like a tiny starving mouse in a massive ghetto crawling with cats for 3 long years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPrQdlrCzPY Of course Adrian Brody is not the "real" pianist that the movie is based on who is Władysław Szpilman. Szpilman really did hide like a mouse (jews) from the cats (Nazis) and survived. |
TGIF! More Sonny Clark With Buddy DeFranco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYU8H4A7YDM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-t9rKMKN_w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghIBkXK6r50 |
Sonny Clark played piano on one album of the great "Sweet Papa" Lou Donaldson titled "Lou Takes Off" and all 4 songs off the session showcase Sonny's comping skills. Lou Takes Off is a late 50's session and it swings hard. In the 60's Lou got more into the gospel/funk infused jazz. Here are all 4 songs in order as they appear on the album https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evDzBWnQcYY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fdk_KIZfmo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrVVJULuwU0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjyQ6SQj-iw |
Conrad Yeatis "Sonny" Clark never played to a large venue and was most likely penniless when he died way to young from an overdose of heroin while "bootin It" (4th link), but he certainly was, IMHO, a master rhythmic accompanist and played with some of the greatest names in jazz. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP8EiargMt4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAUcfCQ0tQg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GKvPNEkNdw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdZyx2uj1ls |
acman3, Great Sonny Rollins link. Sonny’s playing just kept getting better and better. The bag pipes are unusual in a jazz ensemble but it works quite well in there. The kid on the hollow body lead guitar is very good as well. Sonny released an album called "G Man" in the 80's that really kicks a*s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_2lAhpTgVI |
@nsiert, I see the post above is your first. I can assure you 100% that all of the jazz artists you mentioned have been discussed on this forum to many times to count. I guess those represent some of your personal favorites. The OP of this thread is dated 2/24/2013 and it has 362 pages with over 18,000 posts and going on 7 years this February. I'm sure if you browsed through the thread you will find what you are looking for or just post some of your own favorite artists and songs. Welcome to the thread! |
frogman, The Anat Cohen links are great. I like the big band clip the best. Great Monk links and observations by all. I often wonder what the great trio's of the 50's and 60's would sound like using 21st century studio's, equipment, and engineers. Would it be subtly better or obvious? There are some engineers that are raved about and others not so much.... |
Trumpet playing.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDETNk20Vkc&t=287s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnIWn2kqHsY The best for last.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Km3H-dqjC8&t=304s |
Rubalcaba with 2 of the greatest jazz/jazz fusion guitarists: Rubalcaba on piano with Pat Martino on the album "Think Tank" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAoYygrcVkc&list=OLAK5uy_mP6q3sIMufD84wJTYeehIIRjBcaiRYn6Y Rubalcaba on the Fender Rhodes with Al Di Meola on the album "Flesh On Flesh" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hJeqW5jAD4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nx7QpZsprY Pat Martino’s "Think Tank" is an often overlooked album in his catalog and to me, its one of his greatest recording sessions. |