"Well there's blizzards down in Texas, all of the telephone lines are down. And I been tryin' to call my baby, Lord and I can't get a single sound."
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 keegiam
Mingus - some chatting, being a dad, some playing, some clowning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diMNtCFrZ_w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t17o8Y7mYLE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKajqnE41fg |
Tough read, but we have to: https://www.npr.org/2020/06/26/883334741/we-insist-a-century-of-black-music-against-state-violence |
@skyscraper My sincere apologies. For some reason I associated you with starting the recent "Jazz Newbie" thread. It was started by member "Krelldog." My warning is, I'm getting old and a little confused so please ignore anything I say that's nonsensical. BTW, the reason I recommended "Nefetiti" on the "Newbie" thread was that it is, to me, one of Wayne Shorter's seminal compositions. I consider is a jazz masterpiece. |
Interesting find, perhaps posted here before I joined, not sure. A 3.5 hour biography on The Bird done by the Norwegian Broadcasting Company in 1989. Quite a mix of music, anecdotes, interviews and discussions about the personal interplay of the band members over 20 years. A bit disjointed, but not enough to make it inaccessible. I'm going to watch it in bits over the next couple weeks. "The Bird: Charlie 'Bird' Parker, 1920-1955" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlS_c2kXQOI |
From my "I haven't played this in ages" category, Milt Jackson's "BeBop." No ground-breaking here, just light-hearted straight-ahead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2STnZnnSTyI&list=OLAK5uy_mo6Q8Y4lESqnkKoLFTiK-CQOv8gXpqo_0 |
McBride trio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ci7oJIkP2Q |
Christian McBride shows how bass ain't always a rhythm role: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V39lXlaj830 |
Yusef Lateef "Ringo Oiwake" (some far eastern music transformed for Western ears): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETDSOugNrqU&list=RDETDSOugNrqU&index=1 |
Inna and Mary - yes, even though I have to judge through my own system, the Nagra/Kharma system seems beyond nice. And if you have to ask how much... 30 years ago I fell in love with the Artemis Eos speaker at a friend's shop. I'd never heard the sound of a violin reproduced so convincingly. Alas, they were beyond my budget. I always appreciate super systems but am still thrilled by my own run-of-the-mill high end set-up. It keeps me from coveting! |
Since we seem to be on a Cannonball binge: "Work Song" (1963, live) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmwsQ_dHrFM "Jazz Casual" (1961 - note Joe Zawinul on PIANO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi0OMG4xAko "Jeannine" (1962, live) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN1SwOdbdBU "A Night in Tunisia" (1958) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iTFfTt0jN4 |
Nice jumpin' guitar trio piece: Grant Green, Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell. "Blue Mist." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p95lksHE5U |
pjw, I liked all three of the GG pieces you posted better
than "On Green Dolphin Street." I also heard some of the
Green/Clark interplay you mentioned on "Someday my Prince will Come" and "If I Should Lose You." I plan to check out more of the pieces in the compilation on YT before deciding whether to put it on my list. Prez really added class to the "Blue and Sentimental" you just posted. Sweet. |
How's the swing factor on this piece? "Lester's Ideas 1937-1938" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hQMM4Rl4NI |
Gil Scott-Heron 1974. Interesting combo of funk with flute as the main instrumental feature. "The Bottle." Not as funky as Frogman's Withers cut, but still worthy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkSFBcjOKHY |
Jimmy Smith 1958 laid-back funk. "The Sermon." Check out this line-up: Jimmy Smith - organ Lee Morgan - trumpet Lou Donaldson - alto sax Tina Brooks - tenor sax Kenny Burrell - guitar Art Blakey - drums https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3X5J_wGHrw&t=179s |
Willie Dixon's classic "I Can't Quit You Baby" has been widely covered. Tonight for some inexplicable reason I chased a bunch down. Pick your favorite. Willie Dixon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaNIKwA4UfY Otis Rush (1956 studio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy2tEP3I3DM Otis Rush (live in Greece 1976): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwYAbT8wXRo Little Milton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFs1XuCyTrI John Lee Hooker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfTNJ_5IDX4 Michael Powers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrioNe9AB7s Led Zeppelin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d_wxEz1Cbg James Cotton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blhUdd6du3M John Mayall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsGaTcmxGG8 Mighty Joe Young: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_d0oaq0m_w Buddy Guy/B.B. King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39W46dLA8BI Gary Moore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wj6slLXicY Jo Ann Kelly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk-dNjfuucQ Dirty Blues Band (1968): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zetbuK618sg |
I like all of these tracks. What's obvious is that Pearson sets out to create "happy" music; "upbeat," free of pain - even the blues number. "Blues for Alvina" - My favorite of the four "Bunda Amerela (Little Yellow Streetcar)" - fun tune, almost geared to children; while listening I was reminded of the sound of Spyro Gyra from years ago, which one audio reviewer referred to as "incessantly happy music" or something to that effect "Los Ojos Alegres (The Happy Eyes)" - well done, I like it "Say You're Mine" - Really liked Pearson's piano work in this; he plays with a very light touch but some really nice sections in this one |
Look what popped up on the fantastic Chico Hamilton tune "Forest Flower": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rcIrxBJtUg |
This is one of the few CTI releases that I really enjoyed back in the day: Freddie Hubbard: "Sky Dive" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn4yTZWN9zw |
Well O10, in the "ask and ye shall receive" department, it seems you fulfilled Inna's request very well. Fascinating stuff. I'll add a Fela Kuti piece: "Water no get enemy"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQBC5URoF0s |
Maybe these are exotic and funky enough for Inna. I have to admit, even at my advanced age, my mind has never before combined the words "the bass player is beautiful." Featuring Mohini Dey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFpouPPR19Ehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrWoIM2plx8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yx37ShuTuUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZUfNxyDaYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AVFUEwjbY8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEJMSYNRQ3g |
JFA exploded with great music the last 24 hours. I spent more time listening to top-notch jazz than I should have today, but this gang is sharing irresistible, addictive stuff. Thank you all. Paul Desmond, Dexter Gordon, Donald Byrd, George Coleman - so much astoundingly beautiful playing. The Dexter Gordon "Loose Walk" is amazing. Frogman, all of those Desmond CTI tracks from "Pure Desmond" are knock-outs. And pjw gives us a huge panoply of Donald Byrd. With Desmond, it's almost as if someone handed him an alto and said "here, make this instrument sound the best it can." Many more recordings now on my list. This forum is priceless. |
BTW, this 2-part live performance of "Tanya" showed up in my YT wandering, so of course I needed to pass it on. Dexter Gordon: "Tanya" live at The Maintenance Shop, Iowa State University, 1979. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P35DDgTameE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BkzQSih7ZY |
Monk's "Misterioso" recorded at the Five Spot Cafe, NYC, 8/7/58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-EfxjJ-B94 |
This seems like quintessential Monk to me. Japan, 1963. 38 mins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDlUsTKvCkQ&t=905s |
Great keyboard video work on Monk's "Don't Blame Me." Denmark, 1966. Time out for the rest of the quartet on this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KshrtLXBdl8 |