I can’t imagine anyone is monitoring all the posts on all Forum sites!
They get a lot of help from 'informers', those members who bring posts that they don't like, to the attention of the moderators.
Cheers
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 rok2id
Today’s Listen: Louis Armstrong -- SATCH PLAYS FATS ( Fats Waller) One of the great titles in Jazz recordings. The CD I have can only be played on SACD players. No hybrid. Excerpts from the Excellent Notes: Fats father was a reverend at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. He earned the name of ’Fats’ because he was 280 and under 6 ft tall. Often ate half a dozen pork chops at breakfast. Kept a couple of bottles of Gin on the piano as he played. Was very well versed in the classics. Studied with Leopold Godowsky and Karl Bohm. Fats considered Bach the greatest man who ever lived, along with Lincoln and FDR. He also gave Count Basie his first road gig. Died (1943) of a Heart outside Kansas City while traveling on the Santa Fe Chief. Genius does apply here. Seminal figure in Jazz. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d27tE0HVA3w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIXEh9gKfXQ&list=OLAK5uy_l9rgl7ZZXIbSJ9pE6xB0JAwhp0kIpQqVo&index=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyg8aB9qtr8&list=OLAK5uy_l9rgl7ZZXIbSJ9pE6xB0JAwhp0kIpQqVo&index=10 Cheers |
The latest greatest 9th in the world, the whole world, and the milky way, to include Southwest Minnesota. Price: $5.85 new on Amazon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw8fwZB8D4A I was awed by the singing. After it ended I looked at the credits and there it was, Cleveland Orchestra Choir, ROBERT SHAW, Director. That explains it all. What a gift he is. Cheers I better check out Solti and Chicago. I had ignored these old timers in favor of the European gunslingers. |
*****
Today, these times are "infinitely" worse than those times.***** 'These' times are a direct result of 'those' times. Some folks can afford to get high, other have to rob and steal or turn to welfare fraud to get high. A huge difference. All that crack, there is / was, a price to pay, and the then unborn are now paying it. Getting 'high', is / was, not as innocent as you paint it. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Louis Armstrong -- LOUIS ARMSTRONG PLAYS W.C, HANDY Another SACD only CD. Seems to be a companion to Snatch Plays Fats. Handy is known as the Father of The Blues. hmmmmm. I think that title is more because he published blues songs. Simple music, but Pops makes anything sound special. Notes: The Handy innovation which had the most impact on popular music was the introduction of the Negro folk singer's frequent use of the flatten third (and, though less often, the flatted seventh). Identified by by Jazz fans and commercial songwriters alike as"blue notes" . Frogman, HELP!!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-ku1KxQwJc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px3s-u9qWW8&list=RDpx3s-u9qWW8&index=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPEVmBOfiC8 I remember Crump, Boss of the Political Machine in Memphis. Cheers |
Nomad: Sort of ’soundscape-ish’ in my opinion. Nice playing, but did not move me. Mysterious Maiden: Much better. Reminded me of some of Quincy Jones’ type stuff. Conquistadores: The best. That’s the cover I was talking about. Not quite as I remembered it, but that’s it. I have it on LP. The percussion work was outstanding, then I see it’s Willie Bobo!! What else could it be. Szabo was great again. He does have his own sound. Great Clips. I have a new found respect for Hamilton after all your posts. Thanks Cheers |
Chico Hamilton - Passin’ thru Boss Clip. It makes you move with the rhythm, my test for any music. I am proud of myself because, when the guitar started playing I said. that sounds like Szabo, and it was!! (sticking chest out). Lloyd was the star, although flute is not my favorite Jazz instrument. I always think of Dracula when I see Hamilton’s name. On one of his covers he wears a cape with red liner. Just like the man himself. I don’t have any Chico on CD. I think I will. Nice clip O-10. We expect nothing less from the OP. Cheers |
*****
I'm not going to recommend that you get into analog, it's quite expensive.***** We all remember where we were when big events happened. I remember where I heard a CD player for the first time. The PX, in Furth, Germany. A Sony rep was demonstrating their player. I remember saying, thank you Jesus, I lived to see this. But, I have noticed the ridiculous price increases in all things analog. $600 for tubes?? No thanks. When I worked for IBM in Atlanta, they gave us classes in tube theory. The instructors, from Georgia Tech, thought it was a waste of time to teach this outdated tech. Three things from the classes still stick, 1. tubes have very high distortion, 2. tubes start wearing out as soon as you turn them on and 3 they generate heat. You can get a Marantz CD 6006 for 500. Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Wes Montgomery -- FULL HOUSE with Johnny Griffin, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chamber, Jimmy Cobb The Miles Davis Rhythm Section. Tsubo is a very tiny coffeehouse in Berkeley. I don’t think too much coffee drinking went on there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krWZIyNvvXc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQBhNXa-bMI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFkQ0By8N1g Cheers |
I don't envy the 'golden ears' at all. if I could hear all the differences between components that they hear, I would constantly be buying and selling. Would never have time for music. I have three different and separate systems in my rack. I play each one a week at a time thru the same speakers. Thankfully they all sound the same to my ears. I have three because I cannot live without music, so if something fails, I'm still good until the replacement arrives. Cheers |
*****
if I can’t hear the depth that allows you the instrumental separation that I’m used to hearing ,its hard for me to listen. Little less with big band .***** I hear you. One major exception to me is Beethoven 5&7 by Carlos Kleiber / Wiener. A great recording. A lot of other stuff just comes across as a wall of sound. Esp the 'autocrats' whom I love. Now, Mozart and few others, Vivaldi etc.... always sound great on CD. Very heavy on the strings. Cheers |
*****
Impressions of Eurasia" which was inspired by his tour of 14 countries, including Turkey, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in 1958.***** Interesting. Duke Ellington made a similar tour looking for inspiration. He cut it short and canceled the project. Said it, the local music, all had a 'sameness' to it. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Gene Harris Quartet -- A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN at Ste. Chapelle Winery This place is in Idaho. Why, that's down-right Incredulous. Everyone does like Gene. Never anything other than great music. I like him even better than Oscar. Always enjoyable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1gvUf2MYdI this is for the OP. reminds him of his wonderful youth spent in Mississippi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0RCdSKogeI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iujfwAc-lis Cheers |
Today's Listen: Elvin Jones -- DEAR JOHN C. with / Charlie Mariano(alto sax), Hank Jones(piano), Sir Roland Hanna(piano), Richard Davis(bass) Of course, John C. is John Coltrane. Good players, but I expected a little more in a Coltrane tribute. At least a hard blowing Tenor Saxophone. Impulse Label. 1965. JOHN C. -- Bob Hammer / Bob Thiele https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihgs923DfC4 LOVE BIRD -- Charles Mingus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdOv0lfXXoI ANTHROPOLOGY -- Dizzy Gillespie / Charlie Parker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7TBIPvxM8k FANTAZM -- Duke Ellington https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgtpF-IIDZQ This CD contains 'ILLUMINATION' and 'DEAR JOHN C.' Cheers |
Albertson spoke of the recording time is relation to the length of time each player got to play. Solos very short. Speak your piece and get out. When I said, I wanted to hear more of Christian, it was not about the balance, or overall sound of the recording, but, again, the length of the solos. I never got the idea it was Christian's Album. I've been listening to too much Coltrane. A good Coltrane solo is longer than that entire record. :) Still, I think the name of the album should have been, "The Benny Goodman Sextet: featuring Charlie Christian on Electric Guitar". Esp since the guitar being electric seemed to be an important point. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Various Artists -- 'SWONDERFUL THE GERSHWIN SONGBOOK Found this while looking thru my 'do not resuscitate shelf'. Can't imagine why I put it there. Great music and singers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVR-cuh2lKc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clV5Fl4Ucfs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzKvmMohgUQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9IKOpu9M-Y The CD is a compilation, but these are the actual performances on the CD. Great Booklet and notes on the Gershwin Brothers. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Vanessa Rubin -- VANESSA RUBIN SINGS From the notes, a question for all you so-called Aficionados. "Q: What do Vanessa Rubin, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Buddy Rich... and a frog have in common?" If you don't know the answer, tear up those Aficionado cards. it's probably me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d4gFRV4n9k being green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4GyPaPt4Cc our love is here to stay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bx2FBdWE88 black coffee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvn8YXbMlwE his eye is one the sparrow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LABN2P_eWI0 Cheers |
had an opportunity to see her performing, in 98. or 99.. She sure sounded right to me. Thanks for the answer, by the way. I am glad that you too at least share similar political viewsI will listen to another Abbey CD this evening. If all is OK, I will post her tomorrow. I would be afraid to live in NYC with my political views. So, if The Frogman shares them, he'd better be careful. Cheers |
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: Absolutely Beautiful. Very heavy Middle Eastern vibe. The Middle East is where the Lord was born lived and died. So that's really the way it should sound. But, we have been conditioned otherwise. Carols are English/German/European. And so are the titles of the songs. 'Merry Gentlemen' in the Middle East? The OP would say that's Incredulous. But the music grabs you and won't let you go. Very Nice Cheers We Three Kings? |
Today's Listen: Gene Harris Trio -- THE GENE HARRIS TRIO PLUS ONE the 'one' is Stanley Turrentine From the Notes: --Gene's debut recording for Concord. This apparently is a 'reemergence' of Harris. After The Three Sounds disbanded in 1973, Harris settled in Idaho. He directed music at the Idanha Hotel. Stanley did make a recording with the Three Sounds back in 1960.--- The 'I' word seems to apply here, but I will restrain myself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GhJgFzz7j4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DyO6T_rNZk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj6IvVtkNaY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCAhXIqS-80 Cheers |
Talk about a "oops" moment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSmqpCv0LdY Not exactly rare, but not the most played carol. Cheers |
The oops referred to Joseph refusing to get Mary Cherries, and then Jesus making the tree bend down to the ground in a show of Godly power. i.e. Brother Joseph had no idea who he was messing with, until then. Remember he said, "let the Father of your child get you cherries". He did. Cheers ***** that is a man singing;***** I wondered, but could not be sure. Thanks. |
Today's Listen: Cannonball Adderley -- THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER with Milt Jackson Firs time these two played together. The Notes: "This is fundamentally, a "blowing" date, in the best sense of that much-abused term." Frogman!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TfyyNB8CfA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDnIQ1JPcCU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l96BNMieL0 Cheers |
Some of the Popular stuff is quite good. Some. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhoptlvpNmc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgrmhpB0dUc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbz8bhHvIjM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA44kLu_VB0 Cheers |
What a difference real musicians make. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2o-iDeCd50&list=RDk3C9L6VzOdY&index=10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3C9L6VzOdY&list=RDk3C9L6VzOdY&index=1 Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Rene Marie -- VOICE OF MY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY with / Kevin Bales(piano), Rodney Jordan(bass), Quentin Baxter(drums) Notes: "This is my love song to America; a pastiche of rhythms, melodies, dialects and commentary that reflect one American’s experience of growing up in this country. Like Albert Camus, I, too, "should like to be able to love my country and still love justice."- Rene I first became aware of Rene when she appeared on Wynton’s Christmas CD / DVD. Love at first sight / listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joSjP3usatY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLzNJcDZ6J0 we used to sing this at the start of classes in elementary school https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlmYKhVhk2s made famous by Antonio Machin, an Afro-Cuban well know for singing the ’Son’ form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMFyXN9f9WM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqALXvi2C-Q Cheers Nice piano work. |
Today's Listen: Elvin Jones / Jimmy Garrison Sextet -- ILLUMINATION with / Prince Lasha(clarinet & Flute), Sonny Simmons(alto sax & english horn), Charles Davis(baritone sax), McCoy Tyner(piano) A drummer and Bassist leading a Jazz group? 'nuttin' out jones' by Prince Lasha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVEVoKsd6Go 'oriental flower' by McCoy Tyner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTky5aRNcMY 'aborigine dance in scotland' by sonny simmons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRHmx3YmutI Some of Trane's old crew, but no Trane. :( The more I listened to it, the more I liked it. The 'oriental' and 'scottish' tunes were a cute touch. The notes called it "afro-Scottish", cringing here. Cheers |
@frogman New York-ish does not mean bad. Just got Sinatra at The Sands with Basie. In the middle of Nevada, he still sounds New York-ish. It's the lyrics of the songs he sings. Every time he sings, even when it's, 'Chicago my Kind of Town', I think New York. I guess your taste for her came on very suddenly Not at all, I have CDs of her, purchased back in the heyday of 'Stereo Review'. Cheers |