Jazz for aficionados
Rok, not all movie themes are bad; "I Want To Live" is one of the best examples of some boss jazz from a movie soundtrack; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Ne0Ig9lDU "The Sandpiper" is another; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfdjwcgkxrE And how about "The Thomas Crown Affair" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8De60rjRR0 Also, when you have the usual suspects for a boss jazz album, and you throw in Michel Legrand, it's like putting a different spin on a dynamite recipe. |
Every since my first Tarzan movie, I've been hooked on African drums; that's a long time. Whether in Cuba, Brazil, or Haiti, we're still talking drums that came from Africa. I've got this album, and I've probably got more by Dom Um Ramao; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4MWvNAo5NI I was in Cap Haitian, Haiti, riding up a mountain on a half ass (half donkey, half horse, and very sure footed). When I heard these fantastic rhythms coming from around the bend I was expecting to see some Haitian drummers that were there for the tourists; instead there were these kids, all pre-teen, beating on a steel shovel with rocks and dancing. One of them was beating on a shovel that had been abandoned by the road crew. With a rock in each hand, he was jamming the shovel while the others were dancing; they were moving like their bodies had no bones while the young drummer was beating out some mean voodoo rhythms. No matter how poor, the human spirit is irrepressible. Here is another album I have; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzVjLEzN36M The amazing thing about some drum rhythms in Brazil, you will not find them in present day Africa. My interpretation of that is; the people who made those rhythms are no longer in Africa, they all took the long boat ride to the Americas. "Authentic" Haitian drums are the most fascinating; they originated in "Dahomey"; that's a country with a history so perverse and depraved, that nobody wants anything to do with the name. Present day Benin was Dahomey, it's the home of "Vodoun". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq6UOEnsMMw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZhAxbAx72U |
Rok, here is a lady who could tell you all about Papa Legba, and voodoo in "Nawlins" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaJP8w-jW2k |
All Hollywood/western BS. Without a doubt, you must be speaking of "Les Baxter". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDMI7ez0NZo I thought it sounded pretty good, but it most certainly was not authentic. |
Kenny Dorham highlights Stereophile's jazz review for January 2018; they give him 4 out of 5 stars for his "K. D. Is Here". He died at 48 in 72. If "Stereophile" has to go back to the 60's for music, I don't feel at all lame for not finding "new jazz". I like this album a lot; it's like being with one of my old flames, I get a warm comfortable feeling, this music is good jazz personified. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKyt1nqpnNc&index=2&list=PLpqsnWtrepGqfeaVbHQYyfIR6PIGsvvby |
Pryso, I saw Albert King almost every weekend, 59, 60, at the Club Manhattan in E. St. Louis; Ike and Tina Turner appeared at that same club, just prior to when Albert King was there. The sound of his guitar is so familiar to me; I could tell when I first heard Stevie Ray Vaughan, that he had spent a lot of time with Albert. . |
Acman, you are consistently coming up with must have music for me; https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dom+um+and+jadir+de+castro Check those rhythms; they are ripping Brazilian rhythms that say "Carnival" and gyrating hips with scantily clad, beautiful ladies doing the Samba; this is Rio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_6uIS5Whoc Hard Bop Brazil; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHbEDepj3Zs How about a little Santana; this makes me want to get up and shake my bad hip, if I had two good ones, think what I could do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjaQ5_JKxSY |
That album is totally new to me, but as good as it sounds, I have so much of Getz doing the same thing that I would not be able to justify buying that album; they sound too much alike doing the Bosa Nova but I'm glad you made me aware of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KpIV57PSeo |
This is a mellow groove; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4miRO1NMaP4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgS16Ipnr2E Sometime ago, I asked a professional musician who was a friend of mine, who his current favorite musician was, and he replied Baden Powell. I didn't even know who Baden Powell was at that time; has since been well corrected. |
According to Wikipedia; The berimbau (Portuguese pronunciation: [beɾĩˈbaw]) is a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, from Brazil. Originally from Africa where it receives different names, the berimbau was eventually incorporated into the practice of the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira, the berimbau (the soul of capoeira) leads the capoeiristas movement in the roda—the faster the berimbau is playing the faster the capoeirista moves in the game. The instrument is known for being the subject matter of a popular song by Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell, with lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes. The instrument is also a part of Candomblé-de-caboclo tradition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkZPiZ59lME While I'm truly fascinated by the rhythms and dance, I have no interest in the religion other than what part of Africa it came from. Each one of these religions from Africa has it's own peculiar rhythms. How they have survived intact over hundreds of years under unique circumstances is a mystery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ1lGjziHyk |
Frogman, it's only in isolated pockets of the US that anything African survived; everything African is new in the US. The "Blues" as some people claim didn't come from Africa; that came from picking cotton in the hot sun without pay; that would give anybody "The Blues". As we know, a lot was retained in Brazil, Cuba, and the Caribbean. Milton is well represented in my collection, and your contributions (which I enjoyed) reminded me that I'll have to put him on my playlist. |
Alex, I only know of Charley Rouse with Monk, but I really liked those Bossa Nova clips. All those records were new to me, and made for easy listening; especially Zoot Sims. It seems you had my kind of holiday when I was healthy enough to enjoy things like that. May you be able to swim and drive your bicycle forever. Happy New Year! |
Debate is good, "misunderstanding" is bad. "Da Blues" is so vague and abstract it doesn't have any specific meaning. I was referring to the vocal "Delta Blues". The blues clearly has its roots in Africa and understanding this will open the door to better understanding evolution in jazz. I encourage all to do a simple internet search on the subject; fascinating stuff. "That statement is in debate". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Py37G9qsfY If Albert King told me he got his inspiration from Africa, this argument would be settled. Of course Albert is dead, and can not speak, but if he could, he would give me that big laugh of his at the question. Let's consider Rok, our Delta Blues expert and accept his answer to settle the debate. |
"I don’t think it’s any more of a mystery why this has survived than why any religion, including my RC, has held on to its religious music traditions over thousands of years." That was your statement in response to; "How they have survived intact over hundreds of years under unique circumstances is a mystery." Frogman, did your ancestors endure a trek halfway across the continent of Africa, shackled together? Were your ancestors stored in "Barracoons" before they were loaded on ships that would take them to the "Americas", where they would be sold as slaves. They remained slaves for over 300 years. How does this compare with your history? You stated that it's no more of a mystery than the fact your traditions survived. Do you want to reconsider that statement? |
Pryso, this probably concerns you the most; I was listening to a CD of "Trane" and Johnny Hartman, and noticed how well recorded it was, so much so that it sounded like an LP. Although I've had this CD a long time, I just noticed how good the sonics are; can't wait to get the LP. I have the LP "Don't Go To Strangers" by Etta Jones, and it sounds as good now as it did in the 60's. Audiophiles agree that it's one of the best recorded records, meaning the original record, nothing special. It's a record you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for to get something special. My original records sound as good, if not better than the one's I paid high prices for. My observation for the day. |
As an old aficionado, I appreciate the music so much more now; that's because I hear what each individual artist is contributing to the whole. For example: "A Night In Tunisia" by Lee Morgan; "Moanin" by Mingus; Donald Byrd, "Here Am I"; What do those three boss jams have in common? It's that driving baritone of Pepper Adams, he's one of the best in the business. |
Pryso, I've had so much trouble trying to straighten anything out, that I find it easier to find another way to solve the problem. Type audiogon into google and go to forums, that will get you in every time. When I try to communicate with people about issues, I must be speaking in some unknown tongue, because we never seem to communicate; consequently, I try to find a way around the problem as opposed to solving it. |
I reviewed some new "new" music, and I bought some of it; now I don't remember what it was, do you? We have been enjoying a stroll down memory lane with Nancy Wilson, and I have no trouble remembering this music, but I can't remember the music I bought not long ago. That tells me something, but what it tells me I'll keep to my self. Now I know I shared this music with you guys, can anyone remember what it was without going back over old posts? Did anyone buy any of the music? |
Nothing is more welcome here than a new aficionado, and you came bringing gifts. Kenny Burrell is one of everybody's favorite guitarists. I will have to get that album, but first I'll have to see if it can be had in vinyl. Your friend Alex always submits fantastic albums that I don't have in my collection, I'm going broke trying to keep up. We will be looking forward to your future submissions. |
This is the perfect late night album; Julie London "Julie is Her Name". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fdynmsMomw&list=PLIYC6ekPW5P8QTm_-whNIQV4FVDlQD9be Ages ago when I was having trouble sleeping, for the usual reasons young people had trouble sleeping, I put Julie on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx977XZjtc4&index=2&list=PLIYC6ekPW5P8QTm_-whNIQV4FVDlQD9be This album reminds me of my youth, and if ever I needed that reminder, it's now. |
It's a funny thing that we both have getting stranded stories about the same time in our lives; you didn't take a chance on getting stranded in Detroit (Don't blame you) I got stranded in a small town in Indiana because I stayed too long at a nightclub with a good band. But fortunately for me, there were kind hearted people who let me spend the night at their house. You were trying to get back to college, and I needed to get back to the Air Force Base. Coming that close to seeing a goddess, (absolutely at that time) and just missing her is a very sad story. "June Christy" was another vocalist I liked at about that time; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn8EtaxGJP0 I like the story that song tells; here's another one; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENEroxUE7Fc |
Something Cool is a studio album recorded by June Christy in 1953, 1954, and 1955, and featuring Christy singing 11 (in the original release, seven) jazz songs backed by the orchestra of Pete Rugolo. First issued in 1954 as a 10" mono LP, an expanded 12" mono LP was released the following year, with four newly recorded selections added to the track listing. In 1960, Christy and Rugolo re-recorded all 11 selections in stereo, so that a stereo version of Something Cool could be issued. For many years, this re-recorded version of the LP was the only one commercially available. Christy had been associated with "cool" jazz since her vocal work with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the 1940s and early 1950s. As well as launching her career as a solo artist, Something Cool, according to jazz writer John Bush, was responsible for launching a whole cool movement in jazz singing. It was the first of 18 June Christy albums, most of them recorded with the backing of Pete Rugolo. This debut turned out extremely successful, the album reaching the Top 20 album charts in America. I posted this for you to get the time frame for this song. It was a time when people went to the neighborhood lounge, or a movie to cool off in the hot summer; nobody had AC. She was a young lady who just stepped out of her hot apartment to cool off. He was a guy who just dropped in her neighborhood lounge for a drink, and she was sitting next to him. (it was customary to offer a lady a drink if she didn't have one sitting in front of her, and she sat next to you) She was blabbing her dreams to a perfect stranger who just stopped and bought her "Something Cool". This is a very sad song when you perceive it in it's entirety. |
Enough talk, how about some music, how about the smoothest sax ever; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoiEAlW8Ry4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NJGx0W0Kt8 |
This song tells a fascinating story; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwFJwvZ_57E I recall as a teenager, walking past the Pershing lounge in Chicago, and seeing Dinah's black Lincoln Continental with the spare on the trunk parked out front. It was the first of a kind; that was in 56, look it up. There were other people admiring the car as well, it was the first one we had ever seen, plus we were hoping to see it's owner, the fabulous "Dinah Washington." |
This guy is the most impressive "new" musician I've heard. Like Lou Rawls, I only needed to hear him one time, and I was sold. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJMY8vbkrEM If only he would get rid of that hat (humor). Everything he does seems so natural. Since I'm more into female vocalists, I don't know when my budget will allow his artistry, but when it does, he will be added to the collection. |
Mary_J0, I'm so glad you're back. What you have selected is an indication of your exquisite taste. A person who is "Jazzy" is synonymous with jazzy music; the way they walk, talk, and dress with a "jazzy" style makes that person jazzy. Strange as it may sound, people who "try" to be jazzy won't succeed; that's because it comes from a feeling within that flows out. I had a friend, who happened to be a professional musician, and he fit the description of a jazzy person. He woke up that way, he went to sleep that way, he dressed, walked and talked that way without even knowing it. I guess it comes from being around jazzy people all the time. I think one can evolve into being a jazzy person, but it doesn't come overnight. Too much effort at being jazzy would come off as phony. Being jazzy must come from within. I've been listening to Gregory Porter while writing this, and there's a good chance I'll buy that album, "Gregory Porter Greatest Hits". |
Mary_jo, you selected my number one "lost love song" sang by anybody. Rok is speaking of a voice that's not "aesthetically" beautiful; like Nancy Wilson's voice for example is aesthetically beautiful. No, my friend was not distant, he enjoyed people; but he was uniquely original with a mind of his own. "Bohemian" might be a better word for you to comprehend "jazzy" as referred to a person. I give you "Bohemia After Dark", which is one of my favorite tunes that depicts "jazzy" people after dark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5EwGijmqKc ' |
What upset me was that you seem to say that Billie's rough life helped her as a singer. Like being a prostitute at age 14, and being a drug addict, gives you 'soul' and 'passion' in your music. All BS, of course. Rok, who made the statement that upset you? Certainly wasn't me or Mary_jo. We only made statements regarding your statement about her voice crackling. Society at large or whoever put her in jail, said she was a Black Ho who needed to be in jail. But we never said anything like that. Just as "Muddy Waters" and "Albert King's" suffering with injustice in Mississippi comes through in their songs. Her pain came through as well; she didn't have to dredge up the pain, because it was part of her, the same as her skin. The invisible giant in the room is "racism". |
Rok, "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"; I felt like that was my theme song in 66 because of the way the fickle finger of fate kept running through my life. Have you ever heard of the "Philly Dog", the dance that was done to that tune? Somebody in the audience yelled out, "Do the California Dog!"; that was in reference to the dance that was done to the tune when they were in California. That happened at about 3:46. |
