Jazz for aficionados
Today's Listen: Recent arrivals. Lee Morgan -- THE GIGOLO And I thought I had all his great stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsemPt2wlCY Red Garland -- RED GARLAND'S PIANO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFSvUShC7To Both CDs highly recommended. |
O-10: I liked "Osamu Kitajima" best of all. But all were very good listening. However, you ain't heard real Jazz, until you have heard Jazz from / in, Kathmandu, Nepal. These guys can Play! The band is called 'Cadenza'. Real improvisation going on here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTCc7glkKmo Cheers |
Today's Listen: Roy Haynes/Phineas Newborn/Paul Chambers -- WE THREE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwQKh9RDjWw One of my most recent purchases. Excellent!! Newborn, quietly and effortlessly, plays out of his head. We won't hear stuff like this, in Kathmandu or Japan!! :) Ain't got it? Git outta Jazz! Cheers |
***you finally came up with a Mingus I could live without*** Then, you should surely be able to do without Air, Water and Food. You do know the meaning of the word "Blasphemy"?? :) You have a Happy Thanksgiving Also. BTW, that was Mingus' 'Changes One'. We'll get to 'Changes two' after Thanksgiving. Don't wanna spoil your Thanksgiving appetite! Cheers |
O-10: *****When I bought them ages ago, I simply listened, enjoyed the music without going into the "sidemen" who made it happen. Now that I'm more aware of how important they are in making the music,****** You nailed it. I feel the same. I am now even more aware of that on the old Motown stuff. A lot of Jazz guys played in the bands backing the popular Motown groups. One reason why it was the pinnacle of POP music. I used to really "Dig" this guy. I have lots of his stuff on LP. See and hear him differently now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlaygvkd-Vc Did you notice on the Preservation Hall clip, there was no Clarinet or Banjo!! Not a good sign. Esp for a Nawlins based group. Cheers |
*****Frogman's opinion would carry the most weight in regard to the question of whether or not Ellington is the most important composer; ***** I disagree. Any person who has been an Aficionado as long as you have, and has seen / heard Trane in person, knew Miles and his Aunt, has all the Jazz cred needed to decide who is the greatest Jazz composer. :) Besides, ALL opinions are subjective, Otherwise, they would be facts. Cheers |
Gypsy Queen - AWESOME!! The music was pretty nice also. :) Not a huge fan of Chico Hamilton. I do remember the Album Cover, and him in his Vampire Cape! Szabo was good on all the clips. "Stereophile" recommends music based on how it sounds on "Audiophile" systems. Sort of like demonstration CDs. The music seems to be secondary, if at all, in importance. But good luck. I think their "Desert Island" list, includes a recording of a helicopter engine at full throttle. You don't happen to have any old STEREO REVIEW magazines do you? You would do much better there. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Charles Mingus -- CHANGES TWO These two CDs, Changes One and Changes Two, demonstrate that in order to hear Modern, Progressive or Avant-Garde Jazz, one need not listen to current day, wannabes(noise makers). This is very coherent and enjoyable modern music, done by the greatest Master of them all. It will grab you, and hold you from start to finish. If you love Jazz, you gotta have both. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upfBe_sGASY I always thought Ellington was the greatest Jazz composer. Hmmmmmm. As NOMAD said,"I must re-evaluate". Cheers |
My political statements are sorta like these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCrXZgpanck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbkcWo5I_A8 Cheers |
Today's Listen: Branford Marsalis -- TRIO JEEPY You listen to this CD and you smile. This music is so infectious. Have a lot of his stuff on LP. He is the older brother, I wonder why he is not, THE ONE? But Wynton is more than just a player. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUJWSjqMx6U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWSKRbJkjPw Cheers |
***** Juilliard is giving a concert titled "Lightning, Thunder and Fire" in honor of our impeccable taste on this thread.****** Well, It's about time!! Mingus / Ellington -- They are both in a class by themselves, but not in the same class. Ellington transends Jazz. Mingus is the best Jazz composer ever!(Small Group) Ellington is the Best Music Composer of the 20th Century. As the OP said, case closed!! If I remember correctly, Mingus did not mention Ellington in his tome. Interesting. BTW, Today's Listen is a Mingus CD. Includes a tune by Ellington. Will post later. Cheers |
****Mingus the person; he held his tongue for no one, and if he had gone south, everyone knew that he would have come back in a pinebox.******** Spare me, Please. And listen to the spoken intro to the tune I referenced. He sounded like an idiot!! Talking about concentration camps in the USA, while in Europe!!!! Give me a break!! I wondered what the Europeans thought as they heard him. He needed to bone up on his history. I said once before, that he is very political correct. I have a couple of his interviews on CD. He always says the right(correct) thing. Emmett Till was a Kid. Mingus was a grown man. There were millions of black folks, living just fine in this place that he was so afraid of. Including me. And you got the Till story wrong. Other than that, we are in complete agreement. :) Cheers |
**** here's nice clip of Valery and big band;****** The question I have is this: Does this audience in Switzerland know who wrote this tune?? Do they think it's an original of this so-called big band? That's the danger of this type of thing. Young folks will think Jazz started the day they first heard Jazz. They might even think wow, what a tune, and have never heard Dizzy play it. Food for thought. Cheers |
****Ellington is the best composer of the 20th century**** Jazz? Probably. Any genre? Doubtful. Well when in doubt, turn to the great unwashed. You are locked in a room with headphones clamped on your head. You cannot remove them. The music is constant. You can choose what you listen to. The list you can choose from: Schoenberg Stravinsky Glass Shostakovich Bernstein Gershwin Ellington Some would choose Gershwin. Some Bernstein. Most would be jamming to: "It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing"!!!!! hahahahhahaha No one would choose the noise makers. So, If Ellington is not the best, it's between the last three on the list. And it's close! Cheers |
****while including Glass belies a limited understanding of the subject; sorry****** Don't be sorry for me, be sorry for the BBC. I just copied a few of the ones they named. You pros need to get on the same sheet of music. How else do you expect us Unwashed to learn anything?? :) http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20141015-20th-centurys-10-best-composers Cheers |
Today's Listen: Great Group. These are tunes by Mobley. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqEkuJ9xnhk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDT6FeYoGkg Cheers |
*****Well, at least you have a sense of humor about it all.**** Of course I do. The whole thing was done in Jest. But you are the one that should be showing a little humor or humility for your comments about the BBC. :) I just googled to get some names to put up against Ellington. Ellington was on the BBC list, but if he had not been, I would have added his name. That was the point of the whole thing. Just having fun. You should try it. One word to you Frogman - CHILL !! Lightened up!! This is Jazz for Aficionados, not finals at Berklee. Still waiting on your choice of composer based on my scenario. :) Cheers |
Alexatpos: Interesting comments about Europe and Jazz. The guys you saw in NYC, I have never heard of them. Could explain the half empty club. The old saying,"if you can make it in NYC, you can make it anywhere", is true. You have to be REALLY good to pack the clubs. Maybe in Europe, Jazz just seems new /exotic, and a break from Oom Pah bands and Mahler. One Frenchman's opinion. Cheers |
O-10: *****Grant Green, and Lee Morgan impart nothing less than their best, which as always is good jazz; they did more than lend their names.******* I must confess, I didn't even remember hearing Morgan during my first listen. I played it again, and now, I understand why I didn't hear him the first time. He soloed for about a Minute and 20 seconds. Very, very, low key, and in the background. He came back in about a minute or so before the end. He played those few seconds in unison with the sax player. I think overall he did just lend his name. Or as they say, he just dailed it in. Helping a friend out? Some contract obligation? I would not consider this a Standard Lee Morgan performance. Just too much organ. Maybe he played more, on other tracks of the CD. This was a strange period for Blue Note. Trying to cash in on the soul-Jazz thingy, instead of staying the course. Cheers |
Alexatpos: Love Bug -- typical "soul Jazz' of a certain era. I am sort of surprised to see Lee Morgan involved. Of course I know of Grant Green, but not his son. Blue mode -- rather simplistic. There was a time when I doubt this could have been recorded at Blue Note. Godfathers of Groove -- same stuff. Bernard Purdie is a name that lives in Infamy with me, for the stuff he did in Europe with the Westdeutscher Rundfunk Big Band. BTW, great examples of what's wrong with European Jazz. Thanks for the post. Nice enough music, but nothing that grabbed me. For this type music I prefer guys like Houston Person, Joey DeFrancesco and Charles Earland. Cheers |
O-10: There is some very good "Soul Jazz" tunes by some big time players. There was a time when it seemed as if every player had to have a "HIT" that was popular with the non-Jazz public. Mainly 'singles', on 45rpm.. I just didn't think this particular tune was that good. Esp considering the line up. If Morgan had been Leader, things might have been different. Remember when you could go into a bar and play Jazz on the juke box? A lot of that was what I would call Soul Jazz. I did not take your comments as a criticism of me. First of all, you never criticize people. Secondly, I am beyond criticism! :) The singing on 'Carol of the Bells' is awesome. Esp the tenors. There is nothing better than good singing. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Hugh Masekela -- THE BEST OF HUGH MASEKELA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JeFE3ZrI_A Oscar Peterson -- GIRL TALK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlUUbylwdnc Oscar Peterson -- NIGERIAN MARKETPLACE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYEm_MDe190 Cheers |
O-10: EXCELLENT Clips!! Foxy Divas Galore! I put Kirk in my Amazon cart just now. That was really good. He was much more than a showman. McRae did one of the better version of 'Besame' I have heard. The pictures of Carmen I remember from the album covers of LPs my brother owned. Along with folks like Dakota Staton. Funny how the album art sticks with you. Ode to Billy Joe? When we first heard that, there was a debate as to whether Bobbie Gentry was black or white. Folks had never heard a white girl sing like that before. Same with the Righteous Brothers. Must have been a water-shed period in pop music. It is a great song, because it is authenic. Authenticity always stands the test of time. We all had to retune our ears. :) I would not have taken a 'duece' across any bridge like that one. That must have been the Tallahatchie River. I lived next to the other river. The mighty Mississippi. Miss Horne was a Lady and a Fox until the very end. What a talent! What a Beauty! Loved her 'southern' accent. Thanks for the clips Cheers |
O-10: ***** that's got to be the the best "Jazz Messenger" group ever;****** I agree. I never get over how easy it is, to see and hear such great players, just by clicking a few keys. What a wonderful technology!! What effect, if any, do you think the change in policy towards Cuba, could eventually have on Jazz in both countries? Could it save Jazz in this country? Food for thought. An infusion of folks that understand rhythm, surely would not hurt. I hope all their great players aren't dead, like ours are. Cheers |
Beck was great on both clips. He always is. I confess, I was more taken with the babes!! There is a lot of talent today, they just need to sing the great songs, regardless of era. Classical players do it everyday. Speaking of Buddy Guy, earlier today, I almost posted him with Roland Kirk, of all people. The sound quality was subpar so I didn't. BTW, Etta James was known to threaten to kick folks' Ass for singing her songs. Esp if they did it as well as she did. Beyonce for example. But Etta is with the Lord now, so the danger has passed. Thanks for the clip. Nice to see Buddy get his due. Cheers |
Today's Listen: The way she walks on stage tells you what the opera is about! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7dvk-pzzp0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S-j593g4K0&index=2&list=PLVNiahN25ReNYazG-Ddtqaswcc752Zhe6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tiyUt1SNaU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYbH4dnjCCE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNskXoj3H_U Cheers |
I love this song. I remember the original from back in the day. It was nice, but nothing like this. The first time it grabbed me was when I was watching a TV Detective show, and a Female Impersonator was singing this in a gay bar. He nailed it!! Been a favorite of mine since then. This female looks much better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmMjhoyILLg Cheers |
Today's Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gSke2yogcw Way down yonder.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY_e6Sdh6Mc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3IL8q8ahWI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFjTz68F-P4 Cheers |
I have all of those 'must haves'. Great clips all around. Alex, two of your clips would not open. One of my favorite 'Salt Peanuts'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui7qVf0z9-E Cheers |
So it's not Classical nor Jazz, but an entirely seperate genre. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_stream Cheers |
