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.
Showing 50 responses by rok2id
Don’t get me started on Miss Dee Dee. Here she is singing an old Brubeck tune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3C9L6VzOdY Cheers |
This man has such an elegant touch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnW9wNN_IVg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiARr9JhLEo Cheers |
I detest the word soul, as it is used in music. Always thought it was sort of arrogant. It made folks, especially singers, make all sorts of silly sounds trying to be 'soulful'. A certain person, whom we will not name, has gone from Pro, to Guru, to The Oracle of New York, and finally to Troll. hahahahh My, my, how the mighty have fallen. Cheers |
A few examples of REAL Soul music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSif77IVQdY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elucuKKfda0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOKHyGtorXQ Cheers |
Just folks enjoying making music. The thunder was not quite right. Each clap sounded the same. Nevertheless, brilliant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c9-poC5HGw Cheers |
Question to The Frogman: Talk about the sax playing on this tune. To me it seems to be a very difficult piece to play. They way they, both the soloist and sax section, are able to maintain their tone while slow and low. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUcEGOLfUTE Cheers |
*****Websters also defines Now this goes to my bigger point about cultural wars. Black folks having 'soul' is now in the dictionary. How ridiculous is that. Who decided this? No one asked me. If they can decide Black folks have 'soul', then they can decide anything else about anyone else. Remember Rok's first and second laws of Jazz. 1. NEVER believe anything you read about black folks that is written by white folks. 2. NEVER believe anything you read about black folks that is written by black folks. Follow these simple rules and you shall know the truth. Cheers |
George Benson -- "New Day": According to the commentators, written by Womack and Womack. It definitely has that Womack vibe. They were on my Sony Walkman playlist whenever I went jogging in Nuremberg, Germany. Art Pepper -- "Thank You Blues" Indeed!! Great tune. When will they learn that you can't go wrong with the Blues. All Jazz sends it's thanks. Cheers |
Excellent explanation from The Frogman. We all appreciate the effort you make to be comprehensive in your responses. Where would this thread be without The Frogman?. I suspect it would have ended years ago. We all have our opinions, he actually knows the facts. I was listening to the Count Basie CD 'The Complete Atomic Basie' this afternoon. My question is, talk about the differences between the Basie and Ellington bands. Their unique respective 'sound', and the relative talent levels of the individual band members. Thanks again. Cheers |
Today's Playlist: BASIE AT BIRDLAND https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSSoP40HU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z13_lIfGAak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKIQ48DZHSM LOUIS ARMSTRONG MEETS OSCAR PETERSON https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emzUBFDjZBI THE JOHN COLTRANE QUARTET PLAYS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UajVYaWDEeY Cheers |
*****I know Rok is about to explode by now as a result of our choice in music.***** Nah, I have gotten used to this assault upon real Jazz. It's been going on for over 5 years now. *****Wait a minute, did I just see a Brubeck video with both Body and Soul?***** No, those were pigs you saw flying. Cheers |
Improvisation is the least important or vital element of Jazz. Jelly Roll Morton said 'Jazz is a style, or way, of playing music'. The emphasis on improvisation in at the root of this so-called modern Jazz(noise). Just play any thing, make any noise, no one can criticize it. After all, he is improvising!!! Cheers |
Today's Listen: Duke Ellington -- MASTERPIECES BY ELLINGTON Notes / Booklet: Very interesting accounts of the origin of each tune. For example, Duke said he wrote "Mood Indigo" in 15 minutes while waiting for his mom to finish cooking dinner. Barney Bigard said, in 1976, that he wrote the major portions of the tune. He was paid $28. Others made similar claims concerning "Sophisticated Lady". The payments then were $15. Sometimes the world of Jazz is not that much different from the world of Blues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZyVBVFnrm4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRBxSrtwbuc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r4GNv9b4KQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpkeqnXphZs Cheers |
This was done right in your capitol city. You don't need no stinkin' Leningrad Cowboys. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymwi61i9cX8 Cheers |
Johnny 'Guitar' Watson: More Funk than Blues. Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGIE28q3fEA should have gone on to Mexico. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0aIjyX7vwI Cheers |
*****No other than the great Duke Ellington said that he didn’t like the word “jazz” because it is so limiting***** Jazz is probably limiting when speaking of Ellington. He composed music that was not Jazz, and he did not call it Jazz. I hope you are not comparing these noise makers to The Duke. Cheers |
and another thing, Evolution of Jazz, and other things: Man, homo sapiens, evolved from single cell creatures that came out of the Oceans. Why aren't we called big amoebas, instead of human. We have a common origin. Same with improvising noise makers, and Jazz players. The differences are just too great. They no longer have anything in common. There is no longer any audible connection. Cheers |
*****“I feel like there are more reasons to be excited about improvised music today than at any time during my 41 years on the planet,” the jazz critic Nate Chinen tells Rolling Stone. ***** Interesting that he used the term 'improvised Music', and not 'Jazz' Future historians will get it right. They will know the start and end date of Jazz. We are too close at this time in history. Too close to see the demarcation lines clearly.. Cheers |
*****...about ’present state of affairs’, one funny saying comes on my mind...it says that ’pessimist is the educated optimist’...***** The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Alex seems to be a truth teller. The truth shall set you free Cheers One more: Conservative -- A Liberal who has been mugged Liberal -- A Conservative who has been arrested |
Recently posted on this thread: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax4K-3UZOzg&app=desktop Jazz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abUBJlLHBOI I posted this years ago, greeted with boos and hisses. Cheers |
*****but your man Wynton himself will tell you that the earliest roots of jazz are the influence of things like the European music tradition and African rhythms; with a dash of things like Irish reels and Middle Eastern chants thrown in. ***** Funny how all these so-called 'influences' only apply to black music. No mention of the blues, spirituals, or other African-American 'influences' musical or otherwise.. Using your logic: The first musician was a person that hummed to himself or beat something that could be called a rhythm on a log in Africa. Therefore ALL subsequent music came from this guy. You can hear the influences in LvB's 9th, if you listen very closely. Cheers |
Wynton should stick to this, and leave Jazz history to me ....oops I mean others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUOTq_xGWpE Cheers |
I never need much of an excuse to post this woman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCY8GpCNEh0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNLbRdoB9Z8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfscL_f_uyU Cheers |
Questions To The Frogman: Sonatas & Partitas Solo Violin2017 | Hybrid SACD - DSD by Julia Fischer and J.S. Bach Fischer AND J.S. Bach?? I notice this on a lot of classical listings. Almost as if the composer is playing along side the instrument player. I guess it does make some sense. Is this something new? If so, why the change. Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Kevin Mahogany -- ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE Have not played this one in years. Actually, very good. Chestnut shines on piano. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0re6Y2c1lmo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0HOD8G8d0s Cheers |