Going from war to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory is quite a stretch, but today's reality could be worse than any war we've been in; consequently, I choose to hang out in my own fantasies and time travels.
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 orpheus10
Jazz is many things musically, but modern jazz is an expression of various emotions and events in life; "So Tired"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEFaBKok1jg I'm "So Tired", but for what ever reason, I got to keep on pushin. "Can you feel it in the beat and the movement of the music?" |
I make no apologies to no one for the way I lived; while you ninnies were sitting on the sidelines I was living. Whatever I did, I would do twice as much of it if I had to do it all over again. An old man once told me, you better use it cause you gonna lose it whether you use it or not. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRazR0ZSgSc It was sad for me when that time came, but the handwriting was on the wall. |
dramatictenor119, and hypoman8, I want to compliment you both on your very good taste in jazz; I have both of those in my collection. Since words fall short on communicating music, it's our custom to post the link that displays the music under discussion; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhdZSPL7nq8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbxLxZVJ9nw I look forward to your many contributions in the future. |
Schubert I'm sorry you had to witness such atrocities, that scars a person for life. I've seen the movie many times, but I didn't post it for a highly significant reason; it was in response to Rok saying "Someday this COVID 19 thing is going to end" and in the movie I recall "Someday this war is going to end". In addition I've read more about the war than has been reported, and even talked to someone who was involved in one of those "unGodly" massacres; he was never right in the head after that; drunk his self to death. I hope you're coping better than most with what you witnessed. |
I leave you with a version of "My Favorite Things" that captures the spirit of the holidays; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_GlNwLg3GE |
You're absolutely right Rok; I had one uncle go crazy in Burma because of the snakes, and believe it or not, snakes still kill more people over there than car accidents here. Another uncle was in "The Battle of The Bulge", and he told me when the order was given to charge, heads were exploding to the left and right of him, and he was certain his would be next, but they kept moving forward. |
Alex, I found a brand new record in my collection that you might like. The cover is like new and so is the inner sleeve, and the grooves look like they've never been played, although I must have purchased this record at least 40 years ago. I quit playing records when CD came out, so some of the records I purchased at about that time got stashed in the closet and were never played. "Monaural" Sonny Rollins Vol. 2. Jay Jay Johnson, Horace Silver, Thelonius Monk, Paul Chambers, with Art Blakey on drums. BST 81558 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2daCTUm2dU&list=PLMAB89BlQ_bnh70_0SNZw-z72qSpMf82F |
This is some of the music I was looking for; it's truly hypnotic, I can listen to the music without going into the religion, although the music is an intrinsic part of the religion. This is the real deal from Haiti. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZVJuJwTbf0 Is this kind of spooky? |
"Jazz Track" was an album that came out in 59 with "Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud." on one side and "Green Dolphin Street" plus 2 other cuts on the other side. I liked Green Dolphin Street a lot, but not much else. Not until I saw the movie did I realize how boss "Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud." was; it fit the story line of that movie so perfectly. That also revealed what an extraordinary talent Miles was. If I had seen the movie in 59, I would have liked it then. I bought "Legrand Jazz" about the time it came out. |
Pryso, I'm not just from Miles hometown, I'm from Miles neighborhood. The reason I didn't know Miles is because I was only 3 years old when he left town. I never knew how much me and Miles had in common until after he was dead and I read his autobiography. I knew many of the people he mentioned in his book. I used to buy kites, toys and candy at the drugstore below his fathers dental office. I can still remember the Bar B Q, and those fish sandwiches he spoke of; never had anything better before or since, those sandwiches are legendary. In regard to his music, I liked Clifford Brown and Dizzy better in the 50's when I started listening to jazz. The strangest detail I noted about Miles music at that time was that all of the Miles fans I knew smoked pot, but that was cool at the time. Now that I've listened to all his music through it's many incarnations, I realize what a genus he was; any music I didn't like was because it needed a second listen in a different light. |
This is jazz at it's very deepest level; this is music that expresses love and longing beyond comprehension; this is love to kill for, this is love to die for; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekmXq1nyB08 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OKQdp6iGUk |
I am a jazz Thoroughbred, you keep your stinkin words out of my music; case in point "Moanin"; no words can do justice to being completely overwhelmed by bad luck and bad birth; born under a bad sign, and can't do nothing about it, but "Moan". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNjRQo-zpKA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKOoxgI_xfQ |
Occasionally someone will come up with appropriate words for a tune like for this one; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbaGDDbpcQ4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP6mX_HtgGI Moments that can be repeated forever until the end of time. |
"Along Came Betty"; she was beautiful, flirtatious with a jazzy walk, and as much as I liked the sight of her coming towards me, the sway of her hips walking away was a gas. There was only one "Betty", and every man in town knew who she was. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=along+came+betty |
This song tells a short story in just 3 minutes; there's that smokey haunting flute in the background that spells instant magnetic attraction and seduction. "Your eyes smile that strange invitation" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyp1yvSBq5I |
Good morning "pepper pod", I see you're still hot, plus you picked the hottest "Disco Queen" ever, Donna Summer. That gal incited more lust in me than I knew I had. You have a vivid imagination, and I've got a "Star Kite", we'll take it for a spin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZqX7rT1qEU |
Alex, I no longer ask questions I can't answer, when it comes to music, just go with what you like. Modern jazz was created by people who lost their ethnicity, color of skin is not an 'ethnicity'. The way you and I connect with Chicago jazz is one for the mystics, but as long as we both enjoy the music, who cares. |
Glad you like her Mary_Jo. She first attracted my attention with "If You Go Away" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JSi3i_1lZQ |
With so many ugly realities swirling around daily, that are far too close to where I am, now could not be a better time to retreat into sublime memories. Rok just reminded me of when I was a child and we had party lines. Sometimes I would try to quietly listen in, that was fun. Now we just talk on this party line and let them chime in. Feel free to share the music that reminds you of your best memories Mary_Jo. |
So many jazz songs are about people who lived life with intensity, and were aware of the fact that each passing moment was another moment closer to old age and that which follows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpouysaMLwk https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=carmen+%22Speak+Low%22 Speak low when you speak, love, Our summer day withers away Too soon, too soon. Speak low when you speak, love, Our moment is swift, like ships adrift, We're swept apart too soon. Speak low, darling speak low, Love is a spark lost in the dark, Too soon, too soon, I feel wherever I go That tomorrow is near, tomorrow is here And always too soon. Time is so old and love so brief, Love is pure gold and time a thief. We're late darling, we're late, The curtain descends, ev'rything ends Too soon, too soon, I wait darling, I wait Will you speak low to me, Speak love to me and soon. |
What I like most about Shirley Bassey is what I call the "believability" factor; instead of singing a song, she is actually sharing an episode of her life with you, and you experience her emotions. That's the way I felt when I heard her sing "If You Go Away". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JSi3i_1lZQ if you go away On this summer day Then you might as well Take the sun away All the birds that flew In the summer sky When our love was new And our hearts were high And the day was young And the night was long And the moon stood still For the night bird's song If you go away If you go away If you go away If you go away But if you stay I'll make you a day Like no day has been Or will be again We'll sail the sun We'll ride on the rain Will talk to the trees And worship the wind Then if you go I'll understand Leave me just enough love To fill up my hand If you go away If you go away If you go away If you go away If you go away As I know you must… When she came to "But if you stay" I was thinking that if I was that dude, ain't no way I'm going anywhere; she's going to make me a night like no other night has ever been before, or will be again; I have to turn around. |
Pure imagination; I can travel to any time I choose, (except the future) and there is nothing handier than a "Starkite". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIYNk4ARUR8 |
Pryso, Miles Davis was not born a celebrity; one older lady remembered Miles as "The little dark skinned kid who was always trying to blow the trumpet" (little dark skinned kid was not meant to be disparaging, just a matter of fact description) The neighborhood had not changed when I was a child and I walked the streets within the boundaries of "My neighborhood". I was preschool and walked those sidewalks without fear. Everybody knew me and I spoke to people sitting on their front porches and even stopped to chat. (that was usually good for a nickel or a dime) People didn't have AC in their houses, and when it got really hot, everybody made a pallet and slept on their front porches. That was big fun, people next door talking to one another in the night until somebody complained that they had to go to work and wanted to get some sleep. Life was a lot different then. |
This is an album that hit it out of the park for me. I played this album and reflected on all of the songs in it; especially the songs I had experienced; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0wta3xkqJo&list=PLGGHQ-AX44-SShGhZ_zK9E23Q0-DukSaI |
Pryso, the closest I came to what you're asking about is when one of my uncles who used to call me at 3:00 AM after he had gotten into the brandy bottle, and wanted to talk until daylight. One night he called at his usual time and began talking about ancient family history, and just out of the blue asked if I liked Miles Davis. "Sure", I answered. Then he asked me if I wanted to meet Miles. "Of course", that's when he told me that he would call Miles to check his schedule to see when we could come to New York to visit. I figured that this was just Uncle's brandy talking and didn't follow through. It wasn't till many years later, after I read Miles Autobiography, (both men were dead) that I discovered he was one of Miles good friends, and our visiting Miles would have been just that easy. When Miles got homesick and wanted to see his friends, he invited them to his home for a week or longer at a time. None of his musician friends were allowed at these gatherings. From what I discovered, that's because he was no longer Miles the celebrity musician at these gatherings (they treated him the same as they treated him and each other when they were all growing up) That was something he didn't want anyone else to see. This Miles was never revealed to the public, he was not that sometime abrasive person that we know as "Miles Davis", but the kind of person you would want to have for your best friend; he was the nice person that we never got to know because nice people got used and abused when they were famous musicians, and he had to maintain a "veneer", that wasn't really him. |