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 acman3
Pjw, Worst part was no Jazz during blackout! Hasn't been this cold in Dallas area since 1989. Didn't have issues then. Developers building something on every spot of dirt they see, and masses moving from all over the country. We will need to upgrade the power grid and get rid of the people not keeping their equipment prepared. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz6LbWWqX-g |
Alex, sorry I missed your questions . I do Stream about 50% of the time. It opens my collection up farther than I could ever afford. Still personally like Vinyl best, but digital has come a long way, and I buy Vinyl based on digital. Also, I listen to a local college jazz station, out of Denton Texas, and they play a lot of great new players I never heard of ,so as I hear something good, I take a picture of the names on the radio screen while driving and search when I have time. Hopefully I don’t kill anyone.
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Since Frogman did such an excellent job on the Phil Woods tribute thread, I thought it more appropriate to post here. I once had a friend who worked in a music store, who helped me find the latest great Jazz recordings. He loved the Phil Woods Quintet and Little Big Band from the mid/late 1980's. Still some of my favorite music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rMj463qkyg |
The link did not work on my end, so I will help. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKrqiKZu-oE Thanks Chazro. |
"A player who didn't get his due" If you didn't want to play the normal game, move to New York, and tour, you would be unavailable to play when people needed a musician. We would not know who Pepper Adams was, because he was in Alabama. Any time you are "not available ", people think of who is available, and the great player in Alabama is forgotten, except to aficionados. A couple of local legends from the Dallas area, who would fit this criteria would be Big Al Dupree and Marchel Ivery. I would add James Clay but, he missed a lot of time for drug use. Same out of mind situation, but different reason. This is just this one area. I will close my coffee rant with a question. What would have happened to Ornette Coleman if he stayed in Fort Worth? |
A story to support Frogman and O10, When I was younger, I taught myself how to play the tenor sax. Not very good, but I loved to play. I rejected the whole playing in cords idea, because I was free to play what I wanted (BS). I could play all kinds of patterns, because my mind saw math when I played, and it sounded ok, by myself. When I tried to play with anyone else the free idea did not work. I played for my family and friends a few times and they did not get it. I , suddenly lost any desire to play and never played again. My friends and family now talk about how good I was, and with out playing anymore, l get better every year. I think by the time I die, I will be a legend. 😂 |
Jafant, Another classic from 1959 Ornette Coleman- Change of the Century Ornette on sax, the master Don Cherry on trumpet, Charlie Haden on bass, and Billy Higgins on the drums. I say, there is no single way to play Jazz. Some of the comments made about my music make me realize though that modern jazz, once so daring and revolutionary, has become in many respects, a rather settled and conventional thing. The members of my group and I are attempting a breakthrough to a new, freer conception of jazz, one that departs from all that is "standard" and cliche' in modern jazz. Ornette Colman |
Agree on all points on Mr. Kirk. Adventurous, but always musical and grounded in gospel and blues. Watch out though. It starts with a little Rahsaan, and next thing you know, your listening to Anthony Braxton and your hooked. Rokid2, I have seen that recording of Fats Waller, but had a Hank Jones recording called " Ain't Misbehavin " which, I would highly recommend , and past on it. I will go ahead and get it next time I see it. Doesn't Hank Jones play on that original Broadway cast recording? |
People have been saying Jazz was dead since that delinquent Benny Goodman came along. Then it was really dead when Bird and those crazy boppers started going nuts. Then Coltrane planted jazz six feet under?Jazz is dead in the water? It just mutates to the next phase, but it will not sound the same as it did, until the keepers of tradition try to drag it back to where they want it to stay. Real Jazz. Look where Lee Morgan had progressed to at the time of his death. He wasn't playing straight ahead soul jazz, but was challenging and stretching in new directions. His music on "Live at the Lighthouse" would be to radical for some on this forum to even be called Jazz. Sound familiar? Jazz will always move forward and challenge the artist and the listener. Btw, some these innovations will flop and some will be wonderful. I hear composers today and I think, that sounds like where Mingus or Monk would be today. Sorry for the rant, but it strikes a nerve. |
As with most, not so well thought out rants, the point gets lost on the side issues. Rok, the usage of Lee Morgan's " Live at the Lighthouse" was only used as an example of how he and his music had changed, not a recommendation for the music. Also, I only have a double album, and not the CD which has more music added as usual, so YMMV. Orpheus10, I have mainly commented in the past through a lens of what you were trying to say/learn on this thread. I lost that perspective on my last post, which was written only to say Jazz is in good hands, although different. I agree with your wise earlier statement that once we start arguing ''What is Jazz',' the thread will disintegrate into chaos and I don't want any part of that. I do not feel qualified to lead any comment on newer jazz styles, as I like most of you, listen mostly to older music, especially since going mostly vinyl about 5 years back. Some of my newer Jazz favorites are now 10 years old, and the musician's are not young anymore. Also for the same reason you have chosen not to identify your mystery musician friend, I will respectfully have to keep some good, but controversial musicians off any list. It is easy to tear down. I listen while I travel around town to the local college station KNTU, and hear great straight ahead music all day. Some new, some old. I will get some names for you if I think they have possibilities. Ken Schaphorst- anything, but "Over the Rainbow " is an overlooked GEM. William Parker- A virtuoso bass player known more for his group interplay and writing than his bass playing. ( sound like any one you know) Some of his music is harder to get, but most is surprisingly accessible. Never boring. Earl Harvin- "Live at the Gypsy Tea Room" has been a regular on my system since around 2000. Earl plays a lot of styles and plays in Jazz to Funk to Rock bands. A monster on the drums. UNT professor Fred Hamilton on bass and guitar, and Dave Palmer on electric piano. Benny Green Kurt Elling Kurt Rosenwinkle Marchel Ivery Dennis Gonzalez- Great trumpet player, getting a little more Avant-garde, but worth hearing. What about John Abercrombie? I have left off about 1,000. |
One of my favorite modern trumpeters, Dave Douglas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpK69hHcfKw&list=PLA989DAB13E7299B7 |
I personally never held Bowie's music up against other trumpeters. He didn't seem that interested in playing like other trumpeters, even the ones he quotes. The musicians he plays with seemed to enjoy playing with him, He was very well respected by most musicians, and a lot of people got something out of what he did do. The trumpeter Malachi Thompson says in his liner notes to one of his cd's that he was warned by Bowie, Joe Henderson , and Freddie Hubbard not to be a copy cat. He then tells of a time after a solo on Killer Joe, Quincy Jones asked, " Whose the kid? He sounds like Freddie Hubbard.....after taxes!" Everybody laughed, but later the other trumpet players in the band, Cat Anderson, Nat Adderley, and Donald Byrd encouraged him to keep developing his sound. It was expected to move the music forward, to not sound like others. Is this not still true today? As far as RAP. It seems to be all rhythm and lacks harmony. I am unable to understand it, but I don't think I'm supposed to.:) Free Jazz also lacks a certain basic music devise, tension and release. It mostly builds tension and becomes difficult to listen to, until you learn to enjoy constant tension. Most give up. |
Found this online. Sorry if it is the same man. Seems to have done a lot. I have some Beto and the Fairlanes somewhere, and will see if he plays on it. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/statesman/obituary.aspx?pid=165564976 |
Rok, did you notice that Ali Farka Toure, who is from Mali, has an almost fully developed blues style. How do you think that happened? He was not from the South or the Caribbean Islands. Good to see you back Ramonron, See O-10 they are coming back. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjpRccuiZPg |
On Ran Blakes latest record,( sorry no YouTube yet), Ghost Tones, " Portraits of George Russell" there is a story of when Russell's recording " Jazz Workshop" went out of print in 1959, Ran Blake went around getting jazz people to commit to purchase it if RCA- Victor would re-release it. The people who signed it are a who's who of Jazz. Some are Jaki Byard, Ornette Coleman, Chris Connor, Bill Dixon, Eric Dolphy, Sweets Edison, Nesuhi Ertegun, Gil Evans, Jimmie Giuffre, Charles Mingus, JJ Johnson, Baroness Kathleen Annie Pannonica Rothschild , Barbara, Nellie, TS, and Thelonious Monk, and so many more. They have copies of the actual sheets and it is very cool to look through the signatures. RCA producer George Avakian replied that he would forward the list to higher ups. It wasn't released until 1987. |
Once, when i was in a used record store, a man and I started talking about Jazz. I told him I was new to Jazz and barely knew anything. He said, " if you buy anything today, buy George Russell"s recording Stratasphunk" I plunked down my $3.99. Sweet! http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=g1feYNzVunI |
Schubert ,Frogman is probably correct , but depending on how old the pbs recording was, Wessel Anderson is another possibility. I have never heard anybody criticize Wynton Marsalis's ability. He is as good as there ever was on the trumpet., Imo, And the bands, always the best. Some people criticize that he doesn't take the music forward, but takes it back to it 's roots. It's like politics, what one person loves about a person, others hate. If we go any farther full scale warfare will breakout! My own personel story is, I have every record Wynton put out till around 2000, when I noticed I did not listen to them after the 1st, OMG, playing. I found more enjoyment out of the other players and started listening to them. No hate for Wynton, just listen to him less often. I realize I have possibly/probably missed some great playing over the last 15 years, but life's not done yet, maybe I will go back. |
O-10, I 'll bite. Education today, does not teach marketable skills. If people learn a skill and they have the ability to use their education they have a great advantage on a person without an education, most of the time. A welder , electrician, computer geek who can manage a business is going to be ok, but a manager with no other skill is at other peoples mercy. Also, we as parents have not done a good job of teaching our children the skills we know and were taught by our parents. What a shame. It seems we now have more educated people with no skills, so your guess of a more educated homeless group makes sense to me. In the past 30 years, I have seen the workplace go from having such a strong pool of workers, we could keep the best and let the others find another calling, to today, having to keep everyone we can find, and letting our performance slide, due to such a poor workforce. That's the problem. But, the good news is that there are jobs for even marginally qualified people. They just have to find them and work hard and smart to succeed . IMHO |
Ran across some New York Jazz Quartet today. Sounded really good. Shows there was more than fusion in the 70's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwT3SU3a91g James Carter; I think as you both said has great talent, but I have trouble following, and this strangely from a guy who is fine with free jazz, What he is doing, He has to much pyrotechnics all at once. Frogman, I have been thinking about your discussion of why most jazz is not fun? What were the points and counter points of your previous discussion? It seems as most art matures it gets more serious. Do we through the discipline of practice, practice ,practice, beat the fun out of learning students? |
Welcome Bob, look forward to further observations! Rok, I am a big Harold Mabern fan…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMHUXiI9QbM |