Thank you Orpheus for the Caterina Valente links.
She certainly had a beautiful voice!
She certainly had a beautiful voice!
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 pjw81563
Orpheus, I like the first link of a younger Nina Simone. Her vocals are ok on that one. Her piano playing was always good.. The second link she is older and it shows. You can hear it in her singing. Piano is still the same. Throughout her entire career Simone's vocals never really did much for me. Just never grabbed me deep in my gut like Sarah Vaughn or Julie London. I found her voice to be a little to much on the rough side. I'm not sure why but her voice does not make me feel subdued and mystified. Simone is always listed in the top 10 or 5 on any top 50 female jazz vocalists you can google online and that says a lot about her prowess as a singer. That being said, everybody hears things differently and on my list she would be higher up. It’s a voice we’re supposed to hate. Gloomy, uninviting, and hoarse. Overpowering and booming in the low register, rocky and rasping when high. It’s often unstable, fluctuating within both pitch and timbre. Yet it’s these imperfections that make a voice so beautifully Nina Simone....Prescilla Bajomo. Entire text here:http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/30957/1/nina-simone-s-complex-voice |
John Coltrane, Sonny Fortune, Dizzy Gillespie, and Percy Heath are all alumni of the Granoff School of Music, also located in Philly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granoff_School_of_Music |
nsp, Thanks for the SM live recommendation. mary_jo, I posted that link for our resident Nina Simone lover and either he did not notice it or did and was unimpressed. In case he did not notice here again is the link: http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/30957/1/nina-simone-s-complex-voice frogman, That Pres tune is beautiful! |
mary_jo, Chet Baker was way cool! His vocals are ok and in those ballads he sings I can hear the emotional torment through his voice. Maybe it had something to do with his demons who continued to haunt him on and off until his death. He lost his battle with heroin in 1988. I recommend the Chet Baker documentary "Lets Get Lost" https://www.amazon.com/Lets-Get-Lost-Chet-Baker/dp/B00EDR5MTK/ref=tmm_dvd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&am...= Ethan Hawke portrays Baker in the 2015 film "Born To Be Blue" |
Happy Memorial Day to all!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncjb6GIvLmo&list=PLp1OjP0tJn_F4jBpdG_JqW8PE1bfKwDLt |
Thanks frogman. Your background in the music industry is a plus for me as far as learning a thing or two. I would like to think I know a little bit about "how to listen to jazz music" after the last 15 years where have I listened to jazz almost exclusively with other genres taking a backseat. Not having any musical background of picking up an instrument other then listening closely. Sheet music looks like Egyptian hieroglyphs to me. I still have a long way to go. I was thinking about getting this book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Listen-Jazz-Ted-Gioia/dp/0465093493/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qi... |
I have been active 6 months now on this thread. I know Joey Alexander must have already been mentioned somewhere on this thread before I started posting. This kid is amazing. He not only has total command of his instrument, but he has that feel of interplaying correctly with musicians around him in a small or big band setting that usually comes with age and experience https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpwmTGUflUM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP1hnzWSTFg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTsgoNg5hlo Opinions anyone? |
Thanks all who posted Lester Young recommendations/links. For those who dig multi channel SACD's there is a new quad mix of Bitches Brew. I believe it is the first ever multi channel mix of that fantastic album. It is a Japanese pressing released on 8 August 2018. Mine is on the way. I suggest, if you like multi channel formats, you order it ASAP before they run out of stock and the ridiculous price gouging starts. I am going to listen to it this Friday night in its entirety and give an honest review here for those on the fence about buying it. You can purchase it direct from CD Japan here: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/SICJ-10008 |
nsp thanks for the book recommendations. I have a Direct Stream Digital SACD (2 channel stereo) from Mobile Fidelity. The sonics are awesome to put it mildly. Its a limited edition numbered disc so get it fast here: https://www.musicdirect.com/optical-disc/miles-davis-bitches-brew-numbered-limited-edition-hybrid-2-... I would buy the Mobile Fidelity stereo SACD and not the Japanese multi channel quad if I had a dedicated 2 channel set up. |
frogman, Shorter's Speak No Evil was one of the first jazz albums I bought way back when. I had the privilege of seeing Wayne live at Town Hall NYC around 5 years ago. Although the set he played that night was almost exclusively Avant Guard I enjoyed it very much as did the company I was with. After the show I thought my friends were going to assault me on pressing them to see Wayne as he is an all time great as a player and composer and even I was surprised at the selected tunes for the session. However, each and every one of them were in awe and thanked me for suggesting they buy a ticket! |
Here is my review on the August 18 Japanese release of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew quad pressing WOW! Great separation of instruments. It is just as good if not better then the Rhino Chicago quadio mix box set which I also have. I like my multi channel discs to sound "multi channel" and I am very critical of this. |
Another that O10 may be interested in (24) WDR BIG BAND feat. Richard Bona: African Songs & Tales | Full Concert - YouTube |
Looks like the new Mingus Detroit 5cd set is going down in price. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GW2SZPY/?coliid=I2KTBOSO37XN2M&colid=2MJEFFF7AFXNS&psc=0&re... Also 2 new releases of Woody Shaw and Eric Dolphy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FYHTSG1/?coliid=I3MVNJX9IV6NUP&colid=2MJEFFF7AFXNS&psc=0&re... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HQ7LJQ2/?coliid=I1JDOY67L0FOJF&colid=2MJEFFF7AFXNS&psc=0&re... |
The Hawk's on the morning menu. I like the "edginess" of his tenor playing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO4f7oclj9I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59KMutLJ9Js |
Thanks pryso for sharing your perspective of the jazz genre through the years. I will continue to listen to jazz no matter what others around me think about it. Jazz is alive and well thanks to all of the young and talented musicians that picked up where Miles, Coltrane, Armstrong and all of the legends of the 30’s 40’s 50’s and 60’s and forward into the 21st century. Some Jeremy Pelt released in 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ai9C1BEOic&list=OLAK5uy_mj8nTcforEzf48-9ZGQfy5VQHstudswwc George Cables is fantastic on the piano! |
Hello all hope you all had a great Christmas and new year. Since the recent discussion is Wayne Shorter I will post a few of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhOy-OXGUhs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOdyEWvXpIg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmxSSE3cEhI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_VYGfhkn5g |
frogman, Fierce is an understatement! That song is from the one and only album that Pope played on with the Prince Lasha group. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EAC3UG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc... And thanks for the Nash ballad. Nash is new to me. |
frogman you left two great sax players off your list of the senior sax players and they are, IMHO, two of the best tenors Odean Pope and Pharoah Sanders An excerpt from an article written in 2001 about Pope, who turned 80 this past October 24: Odean Pope spends his time in the relentless pursuit of truth as codified in the fiery scales of a searing free-jazz sax solo. Indeed, 10 minutes into a phone interview with this obscure Philadelphia-based tenor sax player, it becomes clear that this is a man who is not a mere musician in the traditional sense of the word, but a committed spiritual seeker thirsting for sacred knowledge inside a swirl of polytonality. "To me, music is a universal thing," says Pope. An excerpt from an newspaper article written in 2006 about Sanders, who turned 78 this past October 13: After moving back to the East Bay, Sanders joined Coltrane's radical "free" group and stayed in it until Coltrane's death in 1967. Here, however, is what gets lost in the conventional retelling: Sanders did not adopt Coltrane's tone -- Coltrane adopted Sanders'. Their styles are compatible, but who rubbed off on whom? It's clear: By the late '50s, Coltrane was up to his shoulders in pentatonic scales and minor modes, pioneering approaches to harmony. Sanders? Somewhere else completely. Both tenors use overlapping rhythms and strong dissonance, an approach Sanders continued to refine into the 1970s. One of his favorite spots for it was the Keystone Korner in North Beach, which before closing in 1983 had incense on the stage, mandalas on the walls and lines out the door. A clear fit. I saw Odean Pope, Pharoah Sanders, and James Carter live at the Blue Note NYC in 2014 and the three of them brought down the house playing solos and together. The honks, squeals, and screeches blended in perfectly with a harmonic rythm that only these 3 tenors, IMHO, could pull off with justice. One of the best, if not the best, concerts I ever saw. |
I just read this rather scathing review of McCoy Tyner’s piano playing. I was shocked to put it mildly. Once again, the virtuosity vs. "soul/feeling/depth" is brought into play. I happen to think Tyner, although no Bill Evans, is a very good pianist. I enjoy his solos and his accompaniment and interplay on all of the Coltrane Impulse sessions are wonderful to me. How anyone can claim to know what musician has more heart and soul in his/her playing of any instrument or vocals is something I will never wrap my head around. Everyone listens and hears things differently and is entitled to their opinion. A trained classical music professor, who claims to be this wizard of music, who can rightfully review which singer/player exhibits more heart and soul then others is, to me, like the great Oz behind the curtain. A bigot and absorbed in his/her own opinions that disregards anything else. I pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!! Here is the review. I would appreciate any input on this from all the contributors here. And a few by those with experience in the musical field are welcome as well HINT - frogman! The following is quoted from the review of the McCoy Tyner live at the Village Vanguard LP:
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chazro, I have listened to Shorter's new recording but do not own it. The music is terrific but the 50 dollar plus price tag for 3 CD's is ridiculous. I don't see the relevance of a graphic novel and colorful presentation to justify the price. If it was a limited edition, with just 2500 in this format available I could relate. The right thing to do would have been to release it as a limited deluxe set of 2500 - 5000 copies and a mass produced 3 disc music only set for half the price. I am going to wait a year and see if they re-release it in a budget format. The mp3 is 15 bucks but the quality of sound would not be up to my standards. |
Jeremy Pelt new release 22 February pre-ordered https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M7Q4MTB/?coliid=I38ENCJIM3M6EP&colid=2MJEFFF7AFXNS&psc=0&re... Pelt, IMHO, is one of the best 21st century jazz musicians out there and has been relentlessly touring the world while releasing studio albums on a yearly basis over a 10 year span now with some live releases mixed in. Great straight ahead old school jazz rooted in traditional blues/hard bop but he does not limit himself and also composes and plays an equal amount of explorative complex harmonics and melody's. His trumpet playing as well as his music compositions just keep getting better year after year. I met him at Dizzy's Coca Cola Club in NYC back in 2014 while he was guest trumpet on a Ravi Coltrane date. I have all his albums including the one titled "The Talented Mr. Pelt." I walked over to the band after the show and spoke with Ravi then turned toward Jeremy and said "ah the talented Mr. Pelt" to which he smiled and gave me a firm handshake. On the making of the "Talented Mr. Pelt": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGEHmh5-u1M Some complex recordings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGEEoBWOx5Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPJ0ZfGSOSs Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlspBGB0Lhw Hardbop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvhRFDRiIts Ballad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfqHkdfJyWM |
alex, I really dig the 1st and 4th selections of Duke Pearson. 3 and 4 said video not available. btw, I listened to the Joe Pass LP at a friends place. really enjoyed it. I rarely go to his place because he lives in NYC and I am 60 miles away in the suburbs. He has a Rega Planar 2 turntable with tube tube pre amp and amp. 2 channel set up with B & W speakers. |
nsp My "hard bop" link "What's Wrong Is Right" is on your Soul LP. I know you live on Long Island and wanted you to know that the great James Carter is playing at Birdland NYC in April and wouldn't want you to miss it. http://jamescarterlive.com/performances Its his organ trio band which always is a great show! Gerard Gibbs on the Hammond B-3 http://hammondorganco.com/artists/organ-and-leslie-artists/gerard-gibbs/ Leonard King on the drums http://leonardkingdrums.com/ Here is a complete live performance in France I think you will like it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI6KEeiMakw |
Hello Orpheus I hope your doing well. Good to see you posting here. I thought you might enjoy the following clips. Good old grooves from way back! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0kr0IFsM6E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgjDgZe_TQo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf-adLyk3Ds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzJBSjpwtcs Are you originally from Detroit? |
Schubert those 2 Illinois Jacquet clips are great The first one had me mesmerized and the second one had me tapping my feet and snapping my fingers! The second link gives credence Ellington's "it don't mean a thing if aint got that swing" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxfMRhyzu3g |
frogman The 9 April date is on a Tuesday. I’m definitely going to the Thursday 11 April show as I have prior engagements for that weekend but I may just see him 2x and go on the Tuesday. IMHO, James Carter is someone that every jazz aficionado should see at least once in their lifetime. He was an exceptional player at age 16 when he toured Europe with the International Jazz Band in 1985. 34 years later, having just turned 50 this past January, you could make a strong case that no saxophone player alive can match him on a technical level. My only wish is that he would put out more albums. At the least once every year like modern trumpeter Jeremy Pelt has been doing. I plan on asking him about this and taking more photo's of him and I together at the show. Here is a JC clinic in Mariachi Sax Boutique, Moscow, Russia. His statement about the "timeless jazz standards" was not surprising to me as he has the deepest respect for the musical composition arrangements of the great writers from the 1920’s - 1960’s and the players that made these songs masterpieces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7bcVdgHgcI I have seen Carter play alto, tenor, soprano, and baritone and he has mastered them all. His 1996 album "Conversing with the Elders" is his testament to the standards of the past and the musicians who played them. His 2000 album "Chasin’ The Gypsy pays homage to the great Django Reinhardt. nsp I urge you not to miss out!! |
Here is James Carter's version of "Lester Leaps In" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRZminMPYkU And songs 1 and 2 from "Chasin' The Gypsy" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_f2xtNtq8I&list=PLnM5osY--pknRn748BD3flsT-I3E_tKls |
frogman here are the dates: http://jamescarterlive.com/performances 8:30 pm at Birdland Here is another of my favorite 21st century saxophone players: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X4rkhvvfwc |
frogman you misread my post above on Redman. His residence at the Bluenote ends on Sunday April 7. Here is the schedule: http://www.bluenotejazz.com/newyork/schedule/index.shtml I plan on going to the Friday April 5 show for Redman at the Bluenote and the Thursday April 11 show for Carter at Birdland as my friend and I have already chosen that date. However, if I can swing it, I will also go to the Tuesday April 9 Carter show at Birdland. |
listening to the Paul Motian Band on the ECM label it sounds terrific on my system. Compared to the Stanley Turrentine Cherry recording I mentioned last week. Like night and day. same system same adjustments. This one I really dig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBKk67G5F-8 |
What a fantastic concert with a great band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKxd7LoKs2M Sonny Rollins on the sax and Bass - Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Drums - Albert 'Tootie' Heath Piano - Kenny Drew Jazz bliss |
frogman I have that Byrd CD and that is a beautiful song. Donald is always a big go to during my listening sessions. On another note I just received this new limited edition 21 disc box set from ECM today. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HGBR8YJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Very eclectic music. Here are 2 totally different sounds from the same album "Nice Guys" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbcsjKaNS2A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoP0-UImSH0 |
From the Art Ensemble Of Chicago disc 2 (Full Force) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTkghqtmR3w I know its 20 minutes long but its worth a listen. The first 7- 8 minutes puts you in a sort of meditation trance then from 8 - 10 minutes layers or "sheets" are slowly added and then from 10 minutes until the end its totally Avant Guard with a heavy influence of Polyrhythm. The Polyrhythmic percussion dominates throughout and really is a treat along with the "free" incursions of the brass. Challenging but, IMHO, very well executed. The song Charlie M, from the same album, has a "Mingus feel" to it and, like all of AEOC's albums diverts from the Avant Guard into a more "acceptable to the jazz masses" direction. Each AEOC album repeats this theme of playing different types of jazz on the same album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgFm-Q7CeP8 |
Thanks frogman its kind of frustrating knowing that engineers could and should make the recordings like ECM. ECM is a relatively small label and if they can do it why not the others? You can have a 50,000 dollar sound system and the source, if bad, still will not sound as good as it should. I spent about 5k on my 5:2 set up Yamaha AVR, Emotiva amps and JBL Studio L speakers and subwoofers and the ECM recording Garden Of Eden by Paul Motian sounds incredible on it. The source is what really lets your system shine. I have a 4-6 hour listening session every Friday night while sipping on my favorite bourbon or scotch (Elmer T Lee or Glenlivet) and when the source disc is bad I start thinking I should have spent more money on my system but when I hear the music from a properly engineered source I calm down a bit. Besides I'm on a budget LOL! |