Jazz for aficionados
Had been a while since I listened to this favorite record. Tony Bennett was so much more than just a “crooner”. In his prime he was an amazing singer who projected an incredible amount of joy of singing. Even if this genre is not one’s thing, the great artistry is impossible to miss. Awesome orchestra. https://youtu.be/dzyCeul1Hvk?si=yON315vAvPUWS93R https://youtu.be/YJtbT10GN48?si=MrJanQ6CCeZqVEhX https://youtu.be/vrcBo2RE5lU?si=CTgl1WQJyteptv2D Same song with a rested voice: https://youtu.be/5dCcGorrT0Q?si=BHd3w4YzRbJcRoMl
|
I hope you are not suggesting that there is something wrong with “operatic”? IMO, the song does not work as well with “jazzy” inflections. Sheila Jordan’s version has an element of sultriness that I feel is completely inappropriate for the story behind the song. Moreover, the rendition sounds belabored. It’s hardest to sing (and play) really slow tempi. I do like Jordan, but not this song choice. |
I understand it’s not your cup of tea, Stuart. The song “Lost In The Stars” was, in fact, written by the great Kurt Weill for a Broadway musical. One of the beauties of music is that it affects us all differently. Personally, while I certainly enjoy certain genres more than others, there is no genre at all that I “dislike”. This is why I wrote: “Even if this genre is not one’s thing, the great artistry is impossible to miss.”. For me, Bennett’s artistry and expressivity are pretty amazing. As you say, much of this is subjective, but I would not characterize those arrangements as grandiose at all, but lush and tasteful……for the genre. I feel that there is great value as music lovers to not put up boundaries based on genre, but rather always stay open, at least to some degree, to sheer musical excellence; independent of genre and even what our “tastes” are at any particular point. As was discussed between you and mahgister a few posts prior this is something that changes and evolves. Cheers. Another version that some might call sublime (I still prefer Bennett’s): https://youtu.be/_Gt9TUOMhUs?si=NlNw-I3tvImu2UgX And one that makes me wonder “what was he thinking?! “. Very interesting string writing/arrangement and horrible vocals: https://youtu.be/orMCgDSfxQs?si=esX_qmGQRJwFlfch
|
Great stuff, Alex. What a nice feel that Trio had! For me, there’s always two things that set Roy Haynes apart from a lot of drummers. He had the ability to solo in such a way that one could always “feel/ hear” the pulse of the music; as if the bass player were still playing behind his solo.. His solos always fit the composition. Many drummers solo and one very quickly gets the feeling that they are going into a different musical zone away from that of the tune. Roy Haynes also had the amazing ability to play in a variety of styles very convincingly. In Alex’s great clip he shows his Swing background and with that great feel. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kVRzddQFvRgfEQvoNfBxbn1xN_RUpCJf8&si=Wcb2klEcxruglfIk Chick Corea - piano Miroslav Vitous - bass Roy Haynes - drums |
Thanks, @tyray ! Don’t be a stranger. |
Re the interesting topic discussed by jaym759 and stuartk and not meaning to disappoint listeners’ expectations or put too fine a point on things, but while I agree with most of what I think jaym759 is trying to say this comment is not accurate: ” I would strongly suggest that for a musician their ultimate goal is to truly move the audience.” The ultimate, first and foremost goal of musicians is to move, and by doing so, gain the respect and admiration of the peers/colleagues that they are playing with. By doing so, the performance achieves the highest level possible. There is no disrespect intended to the listener; quite the contrary.
|
Not a chance. If, by “resurgence” you mean the level of popularity that Jazz was enjoying when that pic was taken. Jazz had already started to wane in popularity by then. During the decades preceding the date of that pic, Jazz was THE Pop music of the time. R&R and related Pop genres changed everything. The culture changed, the music changed. Having said all that, the “demise” of Jazz has been exaggerated in more recent times. Jazz has been alive and well, but as a (much?) smaller percentage of the total music consumption by the general public and certainly different in many cases. |
@msbel , interesting comments. Not sure I understand your disagreement with “……some feel contributed to heralding in the early "new thing" among other musician extending at the time”. I’m not familiar with what Booker had to say about this notion. What was the disagreement or objection to others feeling that his music was, in fact, heralding in a new thing? Intended or not, in many ways that was precisely what his recordings from that period were doing. |
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL! Thank you, pryso. Best wishes! I think I may be able to shed bit of light on the reason for Tom Moon’s comment. Hopefully without getting too personal. I know Tom Moon from when we were both students in music conservatory. Tom was (is) a talented, pretty good Jazz saxophone player with a remarkably enthusiastic, wide-eyed love of music, no matter the genre…..like his book (great title!). He also has very specific opinions about what is good and what is not, but with no genre boundaries. Rhythmic feel and nuance, level of Swing are important to him on a very nuanced and subtle level. As concerns Brubeck, I understand where he is coming from, even if I don’t agree with the ultimate relevance of it all! I would not refer to Brubeck as a “musical clod”. Brubeck has a sense of swing that is, generally speaking, not as relaxed, or “swingy” in an easy way as some expect from a high profile Jazz player. That is only one aspect of a musician’s musical personality, but for some (musicians and listeners) it can diminish their overall assessment of a musician in spite of other excellences. I like Brubeck’s playing and I like his compositions a lot even though, for me, his feel can come dangerously close to feeling a bit “square”. In this interview, at the 24:50 mark you can hear Tom address this very issue: https://www.npr.org/2008/11/03/96544112/more-recordings-to-hear-before-you-die The tunes Take Five and Take Ten both have a 5 feel. Very similar tunes. Not easy to play in 5. As Tom discusses in the interview, if one listens to the comping of Brubeck vs that of Jim Hall one can hear the difference in level of ease and relaxed feeling. Take Five: https://youtu.be/ryA6eHZNnXY?si=sJFffWfDfgBEKnIR Take Ten: https://youtu.be/rI7hArFCiR8?si=KBHyyv1hWFkK8yS6
|
@tyray , if you’re new to Pat Martino you may like this. I’ve posted it previously, https://youtu.be/2o0AoEqSlB0?si=wvoQQ9f2OhoqI8ga Another with “a little Spanish tinge”…..at least in title. |
Great stuff, acman3 and stuartk! Remler sounds great, but I’m a little confused about the title of the tune. “Cisco” is credited to Pat Martino, but his “Cisco” is a different tune. A brand old guitar recording that is really good! 😊: https://youtu.be/IqLyOs_JlaI?si=NQSEwZ-LEXqT4I-b
|
@tyray , glad you liked it. Pat Martino was a badass! Very interesting and at times sad personal story. |
Contrasts indeed! Well, let’s contrast 😊 First, one should look at the song’s lyrics. For me: melancholy, tenderness, feeling of the blues (obviously, “You don’t know what love is/Until you’ve learned the meaning of the blues”). Should be played as if spoken. Is the player telling the story of the song? Sonny: Love Sonny. Love that sultry, velvety tone and it mostly works for me, but gets a bit notee (notey?). Pharoah: Great! Incredibly expressive owing a lot to Trane’s approach to that melody and Trane’s tone. He doesn’t improvise and sticks to playing the melody. Said it all with just the melody. Love that. Phil: I normally love Phil Woods, but this is not my cup of tea. Way too many notes (notey?) and no tenderness at all. Yuck! In fairness, the tune is one of those tunes with a chord progression that is really satisfying for players to improvise over. Sometimes leads to over playing. Booker: I like it, but not nearly as much as Sonny’s version while having similar tone concepts. My favorite and the classic. Beginning to end, like someone speaking about a lost lover. Pretty amazing. Trane really was a genius: https://youtu.be/YHAKe26KqG4?si=R3DSVNrAprv_G6h0 You don’t know what love is You don’t know how lips hurt Do you know how a lost heart fears You don’t know how hearts burn You don’t know how hearts burn
|
Interesting. Detached or aloof are probably the last two characteristics I would think of. I find his playing to be very direct and committed. The beauty of music in that it can cause different reactions. (Btw, one of the few players who can improvise without piano or guitar and the harmony of the tune remains always clear). |
There has been quite a bit of M Brecker posted by me and others. This is the last Brecker I posted. Perhaps this is it: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l85qqhvqGAA36q_ctKF3ZoE3cqpktgknc Check this out as well. His last. Both are great: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBWjcVWYw1waf3zkCkkNGNAWVR4109BLh&si=7ExrySWN3xPhBleX
|
Thanks for sharing, Alex and Stuart . Times change. Jazz changes. Sometimes for the good. Sometimes not. Sometimes a reboot seems appropriate: https://youtu.be/IBpaSIkmNPU?si=-yfUFhzsNIgrPzeC Where is Rok2id anyway?
|
@stuartk , no, it’s Marcel Daniels, not credited on the clip’s personnel list. |
I get it. The MJQ’s style is of a particular aesthetic. A particular sense of swing and emphasis on a compositional style evoking Baroque Classical music. For me it pushes some of the same buttons as some West Coast Jazz does, Brubeck, Mulligan, for example. Not for every listener. But…..I like to try and not be too dismissive of any music when the musicians making it are of the caliber of those of MJQ. I try and give their effort the benefit of the doubt when I don’t quite get it….yet and give it at least a couple of listens “There must be something I’m missing”. Just me. Tough crowd! 😊 |
