Monk on Dutch TV in 1961. Frogman, was Charlie Rouse underrated on tenor?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zUulKnCTf0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zUulKnCTf0
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
Frogman, thanks for your views on Charlie Rouse. On "You Don't Know What Love Is," the Ben Webster influence is unmistakable. Beautiful piece. Interesting that the album title for the second track you posted is "Unsung Hero." That sort of sums it up. Now I see that "underrated" is inaccurate. It's more like Rouse didn't get appropriate acclaim. I imagine he did feel like an unsung hero. |
While driving yesterday, listened to my beloved Robert Lockwood Jr.'s "I Got to Find me a Woman." (1997) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC8Tt4iEeHw Ran into this 1951 recording of "My Daily Wish." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO3GpjbtZ8A And gotta include "Lockwood's Boogie" from "Steady Rollin' Man." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4BXwVqwhR0&list=OLAK5uy_kBM4x-V6E8XxZD8WsNI9ssbrPrjN3h-1s&i... |
O10, I love this one the same way. Great memories, carefree days... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxXZF60EPdM |
Since I've been hanging out here, I don't recall much acknowledgment of Mr. Ron Carter, one of the greats. Listened a lot tonight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z53ytYBJ5m4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJE38wpNvyw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asJRAGUlZ1c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4n8fL5BYMo |
A wonderful performance, beautifully filmed. McLaughlin at Berklee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHbLq694PoU |
Funny, all my high end cables were trade-ins, and I've stuck with them. Saved a lot of $$$ thanks to the types who are eager to spend more in almost no time. My Cardas balanced interconnects are awesome and I paid something like $350 for the pair (and they're pretty long). They were only months old. |
*****As a side note, good system should maintain its character when listened to from another room.***** Good systems are absolutely convincing in other rooms, or even outside of the building. One day I was playing a Sonny Rollins album at realistic volume with the windows open, and my neighbor later asked if I played sax (which he does). If a musician feels that he's hearing live music that's actually being reproduced by an audio system, that's a good sign. |
Speaking of frenetic... Chris Potter is featured here on tenor, but make sure to pay attention to Benny Green's keyboard work. "Moment's Notice" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJxGmD7ePME&list=RDuaUTSUb1zXw&index=2 |
Jimmy Owens featured in this video of "Donna Lee" from '73. Great clip, but keep in mind the emphasis was on "frenetic." Yikes. BTW, Roy Haynes on drums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaUTSUb1zXw&list=RDuaUTSUb1zXw&start_radio=1 |
Rok, you don't get it. We're human, and we hear live music with the hearing we're stuck with. All we want of our audio systems is to present performances with the most true-to-life recreation possible. It doesn't matter how a dog hears or how a tiger hears. The point is to bring what we would hear if we were at the performance into our homes. Just deliver, through audio gear and the recording, the same experience as if we were present at the performance. That is, in my view, an audiophile's ultimate goal. |
Nice performance by Stanley Clarke with his quartet featuring Hiromi Uehara on piano. Warning: no woodwinds or brass included. Two keyboards, bass and drums. I am consistently blown away by Hiromi's talent and exuberance. A total joy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaxNsv3oPik |
pjw, thanks for calling my attention to Lyle Mays' work outside of the PMG. I always appreciated his playing with Pat. His solo on "San Lorenzo" (first cut on "Pat Metheny Group") is simply beautiful. I loved hearing it 40 years ago and still feel the same now. Now I will start checking out his other work. Thanks again! |
Looked for "San Lorenzo" studio version but couldn't find it on YT. This live version (1977) is somewhat similar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAlyWSAxNZ8 Yes, this is one of the group's "mood music" pieces, but so what? Those who dismiss Metheny and Mays that way have usually never heard the considerable amount of straight-ahead and avant-garde jazz they recorded. Pat and Lyles were great jazz musicians. |
Steve Swallow lays down a nice bass groove for this funky duet with Metheny & Scofield. They go atonal at points but keep on swinging. "Everybody's Party" (1994, Stuttgart)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_PNJKFgjQc |
This Lyle Mays piece isn't jazz, and it doesn't rock or swing. It is, however, one of the most pensively beautiful recordings I've ever experienced. Forget labels. Just give yourself 5 minutes to listen and enjoy the heartfelt vision behind this composition, as well as the musicianship that accomplishes that vision. Lyle Mays "Close to Home" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdjPyXWfhNY&list=PLo64ErhWbRZG_wIyJHzHkD0PqZV1Hgooa&index=8 |
Art Pepper and Zoot Sims doing the anthem of Bossa Nova. Sidemen: Victor Feldman, Ray Brown, Barney Kessel, Billy Higgins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JknpIkwHwUY |
This is for Rok, who I think is a fan of Carlos Santana. Over the last 48 years, I may have played this more than "Abraxas." Santana: "Caravanserai" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS67o4npBuE |
ghosthouse, I checked out this version of "Blues for Tony." Nice groove - very intense piece. I found the drummer and keyboard player more enjoyable than Holdsworth. Holdsworth strikes me the same way Di Meola does - lightning fast, technically amazing but the end result is tedium. I guess I haven't given him an adequate audition, but perhaps you can suggest a few more pieces that might change my mind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFdD98R-Al0 |
Apologies if this has been posted before. This is in the middle of my favorite Coltrane years. Where the heck is everyone? Mile & Coltrane, Paris, 1960 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VE_dP90V84&t=154s |
This a compilation of performances by the Tony Williams quintet 1986-1991. It is 3 hours long, and I'm only a half hour in, but Herbie Hancock is blowing me away. For me Tony Williams was the most musical drummer ever. I know that's vague, but he played with a kind of 3D feeling no other drummer had. He made a go of being a band leader in the 80's-90's. I don't think he achieved much notoriety, but the quintet made a lot of great music. I do happen to have a pre-release TWQ CD from the late 90's. Great stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZwHYX7_fgA&t=5541s |
Frogman, two of my most cherished pieces by that unmatched Miles Davis quintet. Significant Wayne Shorter influence, as it should be. Herbie displays his genius as well. "Nefertiti" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu0IfC_IUaA "Pinnochio" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUC8NuiuXcs |
Nice Barron tracks, thanks Frogman. When I began listening the "Speed Trap," it seemed unmistakable that I was hearing the influence of one of the greats he probably revered as he was coming up. Then the second track - same effect, but now I was hearing a different influential player. And the third. It seems Barron has mastered creating his own sound while also recalling the styles and sounds of his favorite predecessors. Interesting - or just my imagination? |
The plot thickens. It should be no surprise the influence I heard in "Speed Trap" is Monk. Now I learn Barron had a group with Charlie Rouse in the 80's. Thanks for the article link Frogman. JFA has made me feel like a music school student the last few months - I'm enjoying expanding my knowledge. Thank you all, really. |
YT delivered a link to this wonderful Chet Baker/Paul Desmond compilation. Both deliver their sumptuous tone for almost an hour. Note some of the sidemen: Ron Carter (all), Tony Williams (3 tracks), Kenny Barron (3 tracks). On the downside, Bob James never won me over on keyboards, and Chet sings a bit. BTW, another "Autumn Leaves" (track 6). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kQVj68loXw |
On the heels of the Yamamoto/Peacock recording, I noticed a link to
pianist Eitetsu Hayashi's version of "Bolero," live, 1999. Maybe the most intense duet I've ever seen. Drums and keyboards in spades. Yikes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvyHp6WUefM |
Lovely, mysterious, beautiful, haunting & sometimes cookin' - even at 50 years old. From Japan with Gary Peacock, recorded in 1970. Special kudos to pianist Masabumi Kikuchi, and Hozan's flute is as mesmerizing as Yusef Lateef. Hozan Yamamoto: "Silver World" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBvEGkjQCYA |
Cool 5-minute "mini documentary" on Charlie Christian produced by the "Jazz Guitar" gang. Tuberculosis - gone at age 25 in 1942. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcC18U5HoY8 |
This is 80 years ago. Man oh man. Charlie Christian "Swing to Bop" (1941) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce9Jtl9D6FQ |
The Kansas City 6, Carnegie Hall, Xmas eve, 1939 Lester Young on tenor with Charlie Christian on electric guitar. I think Charlie's advancement between this performance and the track I posted from 1941 is remarkable. "Pagin' the Devil" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDb86xrShM4 |
pjw, I rate Di Meola way above Holdsworth, but I've also listened to a much larger portion of his work than Holdsworth. I appreciate his talent, but I don't get any passion or soul from his music, so I stopped playing it. When he played with McLaughlin and Paco, sure, but that's not his typical fare. |
pjw & acman: Yes we all have our cup of tea. I used to turn Van Halen off right away whenever one of his songs started on FM. Too much time on the higher frets, and at searing volume. That probably explains why I'm not wild about Holdsworth. Again, no denying the talent. But "Coltrane of Guitar" is stretching it IMHO. I liked Carlos Santana a lot, but he would sometimes get stuck in those upper fret solo stretches that I wished he would have stayed away from. I found Kath to be a more enjoyable listen on Chicago's first two. More growl and fewer searing, frendzied high fret runs. I don't listen to screeching Coltrane stuff either. |
@frogman What a journey that is! I admire Joni's unique ability to combine avant-garde melody with story-telling, philosophy and social commentary. The interspersion of video clips of Amelia Earhart, old movies, dancing and ice skating expand the production into a creative tour de force. It's a confident woman that can front Metheny, Pastorious, Mays and Brecker, and she does it without blinking. Love Jaco at about 26:00, but he was a driver throughout the whole concert. Also, Lyle Mays' does some nice honky tonk on "Raised on Robbery." Metheny mostly let Joni be the main attraction, but he did do a sweet, dreamy solo around 42:00. |