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 orpheus10


Strateahed, Dexter Gordon is the epitome of "cool". I don't know how they do it, but jazz musicians I've seen on a casual basis often, seem to wake up that way; they dress cool without ever seeming to think about it.

The first time I heard "Night In Tunisia" I was hooked on it, and have been every since.

"What's New" is another one of my favorite tunes; it depicts the lucky occasion of running into an old girl friend you haven't seen in some time, but are still in love with; it's a beautiful tune and Dexter does it justice.

Dexter announced "Loose Walk" and that's what it was; not "Blues Walk" as it was captioned.

Here is "Blues Walk"


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNR7822K_40



Enjoy the music.

The "Jazz Pistols" and the music currently under discussion, are like two different shores of the Pacific Ocean. I'm listening to them right now.

My My, how jazz has evolved. I like what I'm hearing; what else is important?

"Liquid Soul" is fantastic; it takes me back to a better time.

I had the good fortune of buying Cecil Taylor, and selling him for more than what I paid.


Enjoy the music.

Rok, I have that album on my play list; it effortlessly flows from one cut to the next, and before you know it you've listened to the entire album.

It's a great pleasure to share music of a different "genre" with a fellow music lover, and they like it too.



Frogman, at one time Jay and Kai were inseparable; you couldn't have one without the other.

I liked each and every solo on that "Walkin"; especially Lucky Thompson's. I have very little by him. There was a bar that played jazz on it's outdoor speakers to attract customers, and that seemed to be playing every time I passed; I don't know if it was the way that was recorded, or whether or not his solo had that "echo" effect, like it was reverberating off the buildings, but I liked it.

I remember the name "Fontana", but that's all, he plays a nice trombone.

What I submitted was the "original" Miles, the first Miles before he went through any transitions. That was the one his "Homey's" liked and still do.

If you ask for Miles, those prestige recordings are the one's they will pull out first. There are some Miles I doubt if they even had. As much as his brother loved Miles, I would venture to say, he didn't even have some of them in his collection. Miles went through a lot of transitions; too many for the people I knew that loved him I would bet, but that subject never came up with those people. I just happened to be thinking about it lately; the people I knew, that he knew, are no longer with us.

Since he mentioned in his book that he knew everybody would not like what he was doing, I think he was thinking of the very same people I'm thinking of; the one's he loved, and still loved him as a person, of course that had nothing to do with his music. It's just interesting trivia.

I visited one of best friends, it was about 63, and he had every record Miles had ever recorded; that was before Miles went through his most drastic transitions.

I think Miles was like "Calvin" and had a duplicator;


        https://www.google.com/search?q=calvin+and+hobbes+duplicator&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&...



Enjoy the music.

I got the same feeling on "Blue Haze" as you Ghosthouse. If it had been on CD, I would have bypassed it, but that was before CD when you had to get up, or tolerate the cut you didn't like.

Not to change the subject, but I happen to hear this last night, and thought about that time before AC; which is the time depicted in this song. I also like the story it tells.


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn8EtaxGJP0


Now back to Miles; I like this entire LP, never had to get up.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn8EtaxGJP0




Enjoy the music.

   

Alex, I know I've got "Tricotism" but it's an LP by Pettiford I think. The music I have by both of them is on LP's, and my TT is out of commission until I get a cartridge.

I'm glad you posted these; especially Lucky Thompson "In A Sentimental mood" it has that "old school" sound that's good for reminiscing. That "Lucky Strikes" album cover looks familiar, but I don't recall hearing his "Invitation" which is one of my favorite tunes.

Do you have those on LP's or CD's?

Rather than buy CD's I think I'm going to wait for the cartridge. Can you get all those on CD?

I really like the tone of Lucky's sax; it's definitely got a smooth 50's kind of sound.

More Lucky if it's on CD, LP's can be hard to find.



Enjoy the music.



Ghosthouse, "The Three Marias" sounds like fusion; I have to get into that "mind set" to appreciate it.

I only recall slices of life without AC; hadn't really thought about how it changed us, but that tune "Something Cool" reminds me of when the neighborhood bar was the coolest place in town.

That "track" thing was one of the reasons I quickly fell in love with CD; there were tracks on albums that I hated, could never understand why the artist even put that track on the LP, but I had to sit through it or get up.


Enjoy the music.

Alex, I'm sure I have those LP's; I got them at a time the CD was unavailable, but my records are so disorganized that finding anything is a job.

That was a very interesting story about Wayne Shorter; it's amazing how the different genres crossed paths.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dxchN_rsRY

Another nice version of "Tricotism"


Rok, we're both celebrating the same event for different reasons.


Enjoy the music.



Frogman, that was a mistake "Something Cool" was supposed to be linked to AC and a time when the neighborhood bar was the coolest place in town.


This is the link for miles, and it's from the LP "Something Else" which was under Cannon Ball, and every cut on that LP is boss, didn't have to think about getting up due to a bad cut.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsz6TE6t7-A


Enjoy the music.

I had a rough night as you can tell by my spelling of "Cannonball Adderley".

Since we have been straying occasionally from in the pocket jazz, I'm going to submit something by "Stan Kenton" that I liked a long time ago. This entire LP is nice late at night.


            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB1V7NF0FOA


            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4A2ieV-5g4



            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr-IYnXi2Wo


Enjoy the music.

Frogman, this Bud's for you, it's an orchestra, Stan Kenton's in this case; you will hear a lot of familiar names.


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8JmdTJtlUY



Enjoy the music.

Ghosthouse, I got to have it. I go way back with Pat Metheney, live and on records. He's one of the most creative musicians I can think of. He comes up with music that's new and unique, it's not some kind of style; like this is "new music"; no it is simply "Pat Metheney's music".

That sax was the "change up" that kept the music interesting. Pat Metheney is a master musician; that composition was cooking from beginning to end, it kept changing, but at the same time maintaining the musical flow of good sounds.


I enjoyed the music.

Ghosthouse, this is jazz that has progressed from "jazz jazz"; that's the music Wynton Marsalis and Rok want to hear until the end of time.

While the music they made in the 50's and 60's is fine with me, the musicians who try to duplicate it now, come up way short; it can not be done, and it sounds like what it is; an imitation of real jazz.

Although the new music is called "jazz" (you got to call it something) even the musicians don't like the word "jazz". They can call Pat Metheney's music what they like, and I will still like it; but Pat is human and I don't like all of his music, but I can't think of any musician that I liked "all" of their music.

Out of all the current musicians, he's at the top with any other musicians I can think of.


Enjoy the music.

Rok, maybe you should have specified "Aficionados" in regard to record collections.


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08jyOwx96Ig


Here are some good one's for you.


Enjoy the music.

Ghosthouse, some of "Jazz jazz" is an acquired taste; some of early Miles for sure; I know I'm not going to spend time trying to acquire a taste for raw oysters, and I see no reason to "acquire" a taste for music; you like it or you don't like it, on to the next thing until you find something you like.

I posted Lew Tabackin, that's something you haven't responded to, you might like it.


Enjoy the music.
Acman, I like smoked oysters, but not "raw" oysters, no way ever.  

There was a sea food place I went to for lunch, and had "Bouillabaisse"  almost everyday, and I watched this guy slurp down raw oysters; he made them look so good that I wanted to try one, but never quite made it.

Do you like "raw" oysters?

I didn't "acquire" a taste for jazz, it's part of me and the way I live. I would have to "acquire" a taste for classical music, which I have no intention of doing.

That's where I was coming from; there is so much music that comes under the heading of jazz, that it's possible to find music you like without "acquiring" a taste for it. Life is too short to "acquire" a taste for anything; either you like it or you don't; that's the way it is with me and jazz; some of it I like , some of it I don't.


Enjoy the music.

Herby Mann, sure is sounding good today.

"Comin Home Baby"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJEjFh2FOzA

    "Norwegian Wood"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJEjFh2FOzA


I bought a record "Common Ground" by Herby, and I liked the music, but not the recording quality; later on I discovered he couldn't hear too well.

Does anybody have that with good recording quality?


Enjoy the music.



Emmanuel Pahud: Debussy/ Syrinx, is hauntingly beautiful.

Lew Tabackin's "Pyramid" is likewise, ever so beautiful.

Today is a good day for music;

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE0qBOhVsiM


Old versus New, is not the issue; what I like and don't like is the issue.


From my vantage point there has been as much "old" jazz (I dislike "jazz-jazz") posted here that I would consider mediocre or even sub-par as there has been "new" jazz that I can say the same about. This goes to what I think is a key question that never receives a satisfactory answer in the endless debate about old vs. new jazz:


While I agree with what you posted, it seems that I'm supposed to like jazz because it's new as opposed to "music" to my ears; whether it's new or old, either I like it or I don't like it.

I feel like I'm "short timin" and I don't have enough left to evaluate for any length  of time.

I don't recall being a fan of Wynton? Maybe part of your post applies to someone else who I refuse to name.


Enjoy the music.










Music is a composite picture of everything about you; where you were born, when you were born, your life experiences, and your personality.

I see no reason to "cultivate" a taste for anything; just let it flow, and let everything find you, that's the natural order of things, and they work best that way.

As an example, I have a CD titled "The World's Best Classical Music", and I can hardly get past the first cut; that's the natural order of things, that's the way it's supposed to be.

Ghosthouse, when you expressed your disdain for the "standards" in jazz, that said it all. Enjoy whatever you find that's enjoyable, and leave the rest; go on life's merry journey with a song in your heart, and a smile on your face.

That's my advice for the day, and there is no charge, that was free.

Ghosthouse, "Oregon" is nice, they are well represented in my collection. Whether or not it's jazz "What difference does it make"? It's good music.

Like I said in my last post "Go with the flow that is you" We can't all like the same music.

Ghosthouse, I appreciate your honesty, more than anything in regard to music that's new to you. Currently I'm into "old school" Jimmy Smith, and I would like your opinion of this music.

You can't be expected to like it as well as me and other aficionados, because I heard this music when it was brand new, and I couldn't wait to get to the record store to get the latest "Jimmy Smith". This was when he was making albums with Kenny Burrell on guitar; that was a pair made in heaven. Two of my favorites were "Motorin Along" and "All Day Long"


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUVDk0BCYxs


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4Qg7tAEGQw


Enjoy the music.

Ghosthouse, that would be nice to meet up at a luncheonette like Kate's; it was at a place like that I had lunch and met with a friend, who played "Motorin Along" on the jukebox there every time we met.

It's a funny thing about those old "Tube jukeboxes"; they were my first exposure to "high end" and I didn't even know it. I didn't even know why I liked the much prettier SS Boxes a lot less when they made the changeover.

I don't like to repeat, so be sure and tell me if you've heard this before. "Oregon" reminded me of a group I liked a lot, that I was buying at about the same time I bought "Oregon"; that was the group "Shadowfax". Here is "One Thousand Teardrops".


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQY0rA5W574


They also had the best recording quality I had been exposed to. If you liked Oregon, I imagine you liked this group as well.


Enjoy the music.


My position in music is quite simple, "Everybody is right" because music is so "subjective". With a stance like that, what is there to argue about?

I hope you're enjoying "Shadofax"; I'll peruse my collection and see what else I can find by them.

While my collection might be 90% "jazz jazz", even steak everyday would get boring; this side trip is proving to be quite interesting.

Enjoy the music.

Ghosthouse, I'm surprised that you liked "Bright Mississippi", but it encompasses many cultures and goes back a long way; a wide range of people like it, that indicates how broad that "Nawlins" thing is.

I just found "Ancient Future"; their music is akin to "Shadow Fax", I posted a few cuts before, now I'll see if I can find some new cuts to post.

This one is from the CD "Asian Fusion"

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKMRAUlAB6E


This is from the CD "Dreamchaser"


            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ViRD6ZoGM8


Between the two CD's you might find something that will catch your ear.


Enjoy the music.

I can tell from"Yellow Bell", that Oregon has good recording quality; it was about that time they realized how important such things are.


I am enjoying the music.

Ahmad Jamal is heavily represented on my play list. If I remember correctly, Rok dropped out when I put the "Spotlight" on Ahmad Jamal; but, the old memory ain't what she used to be.

Presently, I'm enjoying everyone else's links so much, that I don't want to spoil the party by submitting any.


I am enjoying the music.

My apology to everyone, especially Rok for being unaware of "Sharon Jones". For most of my life I have been "exclusively" into jazz.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlPE1rEdAdI


It's for sure I heard music, and was entertained by musicians like "Sharon Jones" when I went out on the weekend, which was every weekend. (in my twenties) There were more clubs than I could count, that had clubs with live music like this on the weekend in St. Louis.


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ouI5KcyHfE



Sharon Jones family, and fans have my condolences.

Andreas Vollenweider is a musician who put on an incredible performance when I saw him live. Since this was a big theater I carried two pairs of binoculars, one to focus on close up, and another to get the big picture.

The percussion section was the most impressive; that guy had more chimes, gongs, and drums than you would believe. How he knew when to strike each piece is a mystery to me.

Andreas played two different kinds of harps plus a koto; he put on an unforgettable performance. We were seated in the mezzanine; it was like being in the middle of a gigantic speaker.

While seeing him, and his crew perform live was extremely engrossing, I hope you can use a little imagination while listening to what I've submitted, and bounce around on this site until you find your favorite "vollenweider".


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me6aASTOglE



Enjoy the music.

Very good Acman, I've gotten too old to become acclimated to new music; this sounds so good, it even feels good.

"All Blues"


Miles Davis – trumpet
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley – alto saxophone (except on "Blue in Green")
John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
Bill Evans – piano (except on "Freddie Freeloader")
Wynton Kelly – piano (on "Freddie Freeloader")
Paul Chambers – double bass
Jimmy Cobb – drums


Coltrane! Coltrane! Coltrane! and of course Miles and the rest of the group.


Enjoy the music.

I don't think we've heard much of Lou Donaldson, who happens to be one of the first jazz sax's, and also one of the best in my collection; this tune "Blues Walk" is a classic in jazz;

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNR7822K_40


Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone
Herman Foster - piano
Peck Morrison - bass
Dave Bailey - drums
Ray Barretto - congas


                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL05FVn5TNw


              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh0rmzefIhM


Enjoy the music.

When I was a kid, my mama told me, if you haven't got anything nice to say, keep yo mouth shut. Somehow I still follow her sage advice.

Takuya Kuroda is nice; he achieves a very pleasant balance that makes for easy listening.


Enjoy the music.

Ghosthouse,I was referring to the JB's; they most certainly didn't suit my mood that day; while I enjoyed Takuya Kuroda, as a matter of fact I'm listening to him right now, his music is thoughtful and original.


I'm enjoying the music.



"Enigma" is the most creative musical group to come along in decades; they have presented a new form of artistic expression with mystic and experimental components which enabled them to sell 700 million records world wide.

Their music fits all the various definitions of the word in regard to "genre"; therefor it is music of the world without any specific definition, or genre, although we demand that all things be classified.

My musical receptors make no such demands; the guard at the gate simply says "Come in" or "stay out", and Enigma was welcomed with open arms.

I have both CD's and DVD's by Enigma, that way I go on their visual, and aural journeys.


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr_2W1dTMao


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



Enigma explores the depth of all emotions to their limits, and then some.



          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F80QIeequEI


Journey to the inner sanctums of Enigma;


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbO8KBGWXhA



Enjoy the music.




Alex, right now, I find it much easier to go with the flow, and get on the Gene Ammons bandwagon, than to explain "Enigma".

"Seed Shack" is my first selection;

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


Followed by "The Happy Blues"


              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLKa1y9Sb-c



Here's "Swinging for Benny"; meaning Benny Green;


            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rnw2FQUckE


And last but not least Ca'Purange


            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egl9nKJzJ7E



Enjoy my music.


Frogman, although what you said seems correct, I never heard of "Carmina Burana". Who else here knows about "Carmina Burana"?

Apparently he or she is completely outside of my musical awareness. Is that good or bad for "Enigma".?


Enjoy the music; Carmina Burana too.

Frogman, your "aficionado card" has officially been revoked, also there is a penalty; you have to listen to that music for the rest of your life.


Enjoy the music.

Frogman, I appreciate your very informative post. I never approached music from an academic point of view, it has always been from an emotional, or resonant stance; meaning if the music is in harmony with my inner vibes we, (me and the music) go into a state of "resonance" . Enigma affects me in that fashion.

The music we like is a composite of who we are, that includes all of our various lives before we reached our present state of awareness; in other words, I might have been one of the Knights of the Round table in one of my previous incarnations; that would most certainly explain my affinity for Enigma.


Enjoy the music.

I'm with you Rok; I listen to music for enjoyment, not to break it down like dissecting a frog in biology (pun unintended). Them super "aficionados" got all over me about Enigma, but failed to comment on "Swinging For Benny" which is a real Gem, and I know they probably hadn't heard it before because no one has posted it before. Here it is one mo time.


            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rnw2FQUckE


Can you dig it.


         

This is the second, or third time I posted Gene Ammons, and no response; there is the implication that "communications" be two way; other wise we only have an "attempt" at communicating.

In regard to the "music critic" type of response; it might be appropriate in a music school or class, but comes off as condescending here, where one is more concerned about how the music affects you; "Do you like it"? As opposed to what kind of grade you give the music.

I'm sure those of us who simply listen without analyzing, enjoy the music more than the analytical critic, which is why I always say;


Enjoy the music.
Frogman, the beauty of this thread is that we are all uniquely different individuals; I don't expect that to change.  Since we all have sizable collections, it's apparent we all enjoy  music to the highest degree.

In regard to "condescending" ; I often exaggerate, and occasionally use the wrong word, but it's not meant to be as offensive as you make it sound.

As you know, tonight it's "Enigma", tomorrow it might be something from the outback, but I just go with the flow and the moment, which is forever changing.


Enjoy the music.



"Spyro Gyra", Morning Dance has been in my collection since it came out; as a matter of fact, I only have it on record.

Whether or not it's jazz doesn't really matter; it's a lot better than some current music that is considered jazz.


Enjoy the music.

Frogman, I just realized, you have a problem with accepting the fact that we are uniquely different individuals, and none us are going to change; or maybe it would be OK if we changed into "Frogman Clones".

One example of that is your sensitivity to criticism, even when it's not that at all, but simply a difference of opinion; that's when you go into one of your long "diatribes", and after reading a page of that stuff, the person it's addressed to doesn't even know what he said; especially after you infuse your long "misinterpretation". "Did I say that"? is what the person who is the object of the "Diatribe" is thinking.

Differences in musical taste are never more clear as in the "genre" of jazz, For example; I have submitted one tune by "Gene Ammons" four times, and got no response. While I know everyone here likes Gene Ammons, it could be that no one likes this particular tune by Gene Ammons.

Since I really think this tune is hot stuff, maybe it's my taste in music that is the objection; the name of the tune is "Swinging For Benny", which any aficionado would know, is in reference to "Benny Green" on trombone, as opposed to any of the current "Benny's"


Enjoy the music.


             

You did it again; you neglected to comment on a post that was ages ago, while you're bringing in a new element of objection on this current post.

That tune was most significant for a real jazz "aficionado", and the title of the tune was most significant. Apparently I'll have to resume my roll as "aficionado in chief" and explain the significance of the players.

"Benny Green" was in that unique group of trombonists who were the absolute swingers; hence the title of the tune. Sax is not the only jazz instrument, the trombone cooks too.


                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rnw2FQUckE


Hear Benny come in at 3:58 and blows like crazy; never mind that this is "jazz jazz", as the new title it acquired here, it's jammin; this is "jazz jazz" supreme; which is probably the reason it was overlooked.


why don't you just e-mail me what you would like for me to post, and I'll post it.

Rok, you hit the nail dead on the head; this is the real deal, and it probably sounds strange to those who didn't respond, but we have to overlook that; must be a bunch of newbees. ( I betcha that got their attention)

Enough is enough; I tried it and I didn't like it; but since my mood changes from day to day, maybe Fridays will be a good day for new jazz.

Never the less, I'm going oleschool and getting in the "jazz jazz" groove.


Enjoy the music.