Here is an album that was originally posted by Alex. He has a number of albums that capture the spirit of The South Side of Chicago in the late 50's, and he's never been to Chicago. This one album earned John Wright so much fame in Chicago that a day was designated in his honor which is celebrated every year. People who experienced this "Mecca of Hipness" that was so cool, have a hard time believing that it ever existed. Now, John Wright's music is all that we have; it captured something that would elude a photograph; he captured the living spirit of what is was like to walk those streets, to live where famous artists and musicians were a common occurrence; but most importantly, he captured the essence of life on the South Side at that time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvvJWkG0oKk |
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I did the same identical thing, she never fails to light up my day. I know she had to be the jazziest dame in town.
I'm always suprised by your selection for the evening, so get busy.
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Rok, I'm listening to Quincy; "sounds" a little like "In living Color", remember the fly girls. The music is nice, but not nice enough to get my shekels.
Ice Tea lives in Beverly Hills; you never see Rappers with canes, mine is brand new, but I guess this still counts me out.
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Mary_jo, "Desmond Blue" was released in 62; Paul's lush horn, and Jim Hall's guitar were quite a combination; especially after midnight, when the street traffic had quieted down, and we were just cruising with no place special to go. That was the time to listen to "Leo Chears", the DJ in the red vest who played the best jazz on radio. That was his theme song.
At that time there was only one "Desmond Blue", but I think now there is another one with enhanced strings. That's what I was referring to when I mentioned the strings.
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Alex, I never know what others will take for free.
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Mary_jo, that's the list of an advanced aficionado if you already own those artists, but in case you're inquiring, I'm going to give you my favorites that are performed by those artists.
Paul Desmond: "Desmond Blue", the old one. I've heard there is a new one with strings added, "We don't need no stinkin strings, we want to hear Paul"
"The Wonderful World of Jazz" by John Lewis, has some of my favorite artists performing some of my favorite tunes; you can't go wrong on that one, especially when Benny Golson, one of the artists, wrote, "I Remember Clifford". The rest of the artists are old favorites of mine.
"Kind of Blue"; "So Much Guitar", and "Mercy Mercy Mercy" are albums you would find in almost all aficionados collections.
"Know What I Mean" by Cannonball is most certainly a choice album.
"Winter Moon" by Art Pepper, is one I haven't heard, but it sounds promising.
"Midnight Blue"; "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman"; "Blue Train" and "Time out" are five star albums that almost all aficionados own.
I don't know what I have by Chet Baker, but all of those sound good. Bill Evans and Stan Getz has to be boss.
Your list is so good, that maybe I should consult you for future purchases.
Enjoy what you have, and tell us what you like best.
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Rok, those guys on the cover are the Wodaabe, they dress up like woman, and let the woman judge the beauty contest in hopes of getting new wives.
None of their tribe took the long boat ride across the Atlantic.
Frogman always makes the hard decisions, we'll have to consult him on this one.
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Alex, it's amazing how you always have good jazz that I don't have in my collection.
I will buy Leo Parker's album when I have the quid. (you can tell what kind of movies I've been looking at)
Nope, never heard of him.
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Frogman, genius that you are, I believe that you can un-confuse yourself.
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To begin with, jazz is near the bottom of the list in regard to popularity of music genres; this thread is an example of that, it's at the bottom of the list on "audiogon".
Some have given more reasons than you can shake a stick at for that fact, but the fact remains.
Most of the people you named are well represented and appreciated in "Aficionados collections".
The only way they could be more widely appreciated is to play Rock, Pop, or Rap; but then it wouldn't be jazz.
The people you mentioned are very well known to me, and have been appreciated for most of my life. While we are introducing them to "newbies", they are well represented in our collections, as old aficionados.
The fact that jazz is a very individualistic art, also means that the people who appreciate it are very individualistic as well.
Out of the artists on that list of 6, "Blossom Dearie" is the only one I question. Although I have her in my collection, I wouldn't rush out and buy one of her albums; maybe there is a reason "Blossom Dearie" is under appreciated.
I guess 5 out of 6 according to me, isn't too bad, but Earl Hines is the only one that I could appreciate that I haven't listened to lately; sort of "nostalgic" he is, and today is my day for nostalgia.
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Wikipedia
Othello Molineaux is a jazz steelpan player who spent much of his early career backing bass guitarist Jaco Pastorius.[1] Additionally, Molineaux has worked with other musicians such as Monty Alexander, Chicago, and David Johansen.[2]
I saw Othello in Chicago with Ahmad Jamal, and he stole the show; everybody was wanting to know more about him.
That didn't make Ahmad too happy, but you must realize, people in Chicago had seen Ahmad many times, where Othello was brand new at that time, and he was on fire.
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I recently got rid of a trash can full of records not worth the time it takes to listen to them; since I bought them a long time ago, I don't have a clue why I bought them in the first place, but I was tired of them taking up much needed space.
I must have been searching for "unknowns".
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That cover on the King Fleming Trio looks like somewhere I've been, maybe it was in a dream. The misty night and the music belong together; I must have that album.
King Fleming is a name I've never heard, but his music is unforgetable.
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This lady is truly underrated, but she is well represented in my collection. Lorez Alexandria is a singer that I have admired since the first time I heard her; probably in 69. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWXimvRssmQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH3own5sERU These were my favorite songs by her at that time, now I have everything I can find by her. It seems she left Chicago, and got lost in LA, but in a good way; LA fell in love with her. Since good artists can make a good living in LA without being well known nationally, they don't die in poverty; those are the endings I hate most. I hope you grow to like Lorez as much as I do. |
Yes Frogman, I have both of those and enjoy them very much.
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Jafant, I have many of his albums in my collection, and I've enjoyed his music for many years.
He will be missed.
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Frogman, music will continue, but not "Jazz". At some point we have to define jazz, and not consider any music played to be "Jazz".
Let us start from the most fundamental point, and that is with the artists who create jazz; in their hearts they are "humanitarians" they care for other people. That means that "love" is more than just a word, it's a profound emotion we feel for others, and it's expressed in the music we call jazz.
I don't know when one generation ends, and another begins, but I know from my point of view, I'm living in a strange generation, and this goes for much younger people that I know and love. While their love for me is true, it's because we're related, their love does not extend to the broader community; they don't have "empathy", and what I say is verified by many of the posts right here on "Audiogon".
Jazz is passing away with the artists who created it, and when those who appreciate that art are dead, jazz will be dead.
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When I lived in the city, there was a film festival that was held at night in the Art Museum, and my wife didn't want to go, so I had to go it alone, and some very strange, even scary things occurred that night on my way to the museum.
As I was driving down one of the main thoroughfares, I coincidentally changed lanes several times as a car a few lengths ahead of me changed lanes. (I hope that guy doesn't think I'm following him) He turned left on N Kingshighway Blvd & Natural Bridge, and so did I (that was the way to the Art Museum). We drove a long way down Kingshighway before he made a right turn off Kingshighway and I kept going straight.
After this I breathed a sigh of relief; don't need some paranoid dope dealer to think that I'm following him, those guys shoot first and ask questions later.
I drove for a mile or two before I reached the turnoff into Forest Park, inky black dark at night Forest Park. Boy am I glad I'm not still coincidentally following that same car into this deserted park at night. The next thing I know, this same car appeared a few car lengths ahead of me in this dark deserted park; that's when my pulse began to race and I could hear my heart beat. Fortunately, he sped up and disappeared out of the park, we were both thinking the same thing; he thought I was following him, and I thought that he thought I was following him when I was just trying to reach the Museum which was in the park.
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Rok, 'Twixt optimist and pessimist
The difference is droll...
The optimist sees the doughnut;
The pessimist sees the hole.
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Frogman, assuming I'm 18, and decide to become a jazz musician. I could go to Juilliard School of music, and graduate with honors as being one of the best on my instrument; that would not make me a jazz musician of note for sure.
The ability to start with a blank sheet of paper and create something is reserved for the very few.
There are jazz musicians of note who never went to any school, but they could create; that's a special ability that few of us have.
While I could excel at playing someone else's music without a doubt, the question of whether or not I could improvise on the spot, and also create "new" music would determine my rating as a jazz musician.
You say I'm stuck in the past; well I've been stuck for a long time, and all these new records that get no play verify that; the records that get posted on this forum that I've only heard for the first time, that I rave about as must have records, also verify my reality as being one that's in the past.
I think you have made a very good assessment and evaluation of my taste in music, it's in the past.
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Frogman, in response to: Juilliard was in reference to a musical institute of higher learning. We could have substituted your favorite school, there was no "subterfuge" in my post, it was direct.
Those three clips I posted was honoring "Pepper Adams", and Rok made the statement that "Night in Tunisia" sounded better than the original, since I knew what he meant, I agreed.
Conservatory trained is an absolute asset; musicians that were not, would have, if they could have; gone to a conservatory.
Those musicians did a marvelous job of "imitating" the original; Ronnie Cuber did an especially good job of imitating Pepper Adams; but having the ability for the original improvisation is what counts. That clip was my mistake, it should have been Mingus and Pepper Adams.
A large photograph of Pepper Adams appears in Baroness Pannonica De Koenigswarter's book. Commonly known as "Nica", she was a patron of jazz musicians of her era; that large photograph is a statement that speaks for itself.
Her book "Three Wishes", is a compilation of photographs of jazz legends, and their three wishes in life.
In response to your "encouragement", I have both feet plus body and soul in the past; "short timers" count every second, and I don't have any to waste.
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If I made the mistake of assuming that the music was something I liked a lot, how could I not like the music.
In regard to how different Cuber sounded from "Pepper Adams", someone else will have to decide that, I'm not qualified.
Call it "improvising" or what you like, but when someone mistakes it for the original, I call it imitating.
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"Melancholy", a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause. "an air of melancholy surrounded him" "Sublime", of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe. "Mozart's sublime piano concertos" If we combine both of those words, we get "Beautiful sadness"; is Paul Desmonds "A Taste Of Honey" a beautiful sadness, or a sad beauty? Now let us examine other aspects of the song; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAFpqd_mDNo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4glzb5lVnzAI conclude that which ever version you like the best is the best. |
Thank you very much Alex, and I see the price is right.
Could you post the other Chicago albums you have?
Thank you.
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Alex, I recall two other albums you posted by Chicago musicians of that era; could you post them. |
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I really enjoyed your post Pryso. Just before I responded, I was going through old LP's denoting which were best to record. I concur with your entire post, that's because I'm enjoying these records now more than ever; it's because I can clearly hear and appreciate each sideman.
Good health is a tremendous blessing, spend time doing what you enjoy most; listening to the best music ever. I'll enjoy my evening even more after reading your post.
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Pryso, I just made a new discovery while searching my LP's for something to download to hard drive; Gabor Szabo "Mizrab" is like new. All cuts are killer "according to my varied taste" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJaAZ4z0_v4 |
Mary-jo, you have exquisite taste. Ecstasy was being in a living room with a number of people who appreciated that music, at about the time it came out. Nothing could be heard but the music; the "vibe" was tangible, we were all interconnected, it was magical.
It was a different world then; only those who experienced the magic of that time know what I'm talking about, but the magic was in Atlanta, it was in Chicago, it was in LA; it was all over.
Wonderful memories of people I knew at that time give me a warm feeling.
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I know exactly what you mean by not enough space.
For years, I went shopping with a friend who was always trying to save money. He alerted me to every record sale, and we went shopping. The problem with sales is that the temptation to buy "unknowns" is too great because the price is right. Most of the time I should have left the unknown remain unknown.
Not until recently did I discover I had accumulated records I never play because I recognize the duds on sight. Nobody likes to throw away records, but once I realized they were simply occupying space, I bit the bullet and found an empty trash can. (you may not have that problem)
Today was a good day, I have been enjoying the fruits of my labors; listening to the vinyl from the hard drive playback (can't tell it from dropping the needle in the groove, but I had a lot of help getting things this way) When getting up and down is no problem, I know dropping the needle in the groove is more fun, but under the circumstances, I don't miss it.
It's a real groove for me to listen to one killer after another without getting up.
I thought about that upgrade thing you mentioned; they are always a lot more work than you anticipated, plus, after all these years of "upgrading" our rigs sound pretty decent.
Enjoy the fruits of your labors.
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Frogman, that's a very interesting photograph on the cover of Fred Hersch's album.
I liked his improvisation on "Whisper Not"; it did two things at once, it retained the original, but gave us his beautiful interpretation at the same time.
I'll have to search for more of Fred Hersch.
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Kenny Dorham: K. D. is here: New York City 1962 & 1966; K. D. trumpet; Sonny Red, alto, or Joe Ferrel , tenor. Kenny died at 48, in 1972, and didn't play much toward the end. He is not always listed with the major post bop trumpet players, but deserves to be. These two sessions were recorded at the Half Note in lower Manhattan, and the Flamboyan in Queens; both clubs were shuttered decades ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r8BxHDHcdI&list=PLpqsnWtrepGqfeaVbHQYyfIR6PIGsvvbyJust relax and listen until you can see yourself right there on the set at the Half Note in lower Manhattan where this was recorded. Kenny Dorham is a "catch up" for me, but since I will no longer be chasing some illusive unknown "The next "Bird", or whatever, I can find time to listen to Kenny. Pryso, I know you're addicted to vinyl, so if you find the "wax", let me know. |
Frogman, on those piano-less trios, you can clearly hear the spontaneity of the improvisation; nothing rehearsed. Each individual musician was a star; none of them are sidemen on those gigs; that's what made those sets so spectacular, they were created right there on the spot, and could never be duplicated.
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That's the one Alex, I love that photograph where you can see the skyscrapers from the railroad tracks. It was just such a setting where me and a choice friend or two would gather to philosophy and smoke exotic blends of tobacco from the orient. Those were happy times; although I don't have any exotic blends from Mexico or the orient anymore, plus the fact that I no longer smoke, I can still use music like that which you submit as a vehicle to travel back to happier times. 1960 was a fantastic year, coincidentally, that was the year we (select friends) were viewing skyscrapers from railroad cars while discussing different philosophies. You have all the privacy in the world at such a location; just what's needed to smoke exotic blends of tobacco and philosophy. I'm not sure I even have any music in my collection other than that Richard Wright album that can place a person in a geographic setting, or even create a mood like King Fleming and I never heard of either one of them before your submissions. Bobby Hutcherson's "A Night In Barcelona" might come close; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc5LzriDdyMThanks for remembering. |
Pryso, when I got into jazz, anybody before "Bird" was obsolete. That outlook remained for many years, but recently, new jazz has to be "very old" jazz, such as Louis Armstrong. (isn't that an interesting play on time)
I'm going to listen to this in it's entirety, and see where it takes me, after which I'll get back to you.
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Ghosthouse, that was boss; I remember Brian Auger from the express, I have one of his albums, this might be his best.
Thanks!
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