That was fantastic, and very funny. "Didn't like spaces", that explains a lot.
I guess he and Miles would never play together.
Thanks
Cheers
I guess he and Miles would never play together.
Thanks
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: Art Tatum -- SOLO MASTERPIECES volume one I have no idea as to where Tatum fits in the Jazz hierarchy. Lots of folks go Ga-Ga. This is volume one of a seven disc set. Lot of flourishes. Produced by Norman Granz. Interesting how his name is always printed larger than the actual artist. Pablo Label, Published 1992, music recorded mid-50's. willow weep for me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffoqivybUi0 body and soul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv-NLdGr47Y moonglow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibCcvdHysYA i’m in the mood for love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQYIf5gvZYI sophisticated lady https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnctKU4uvg4 have you me miss jones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkbKm1n4LJM Cheers |
@frogman Meant to comment on this, but forgot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiP7jKdAhD0&feature=youtu.be The great ones make it seem so easy and effortless. Great Clip. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Charlie Christian -- THE GENIUS OF THE ELECTRIC GUITAR with / The Benny Goodman Sextet. Other notables include, Count Basie, Cootie Williams, Fletcher Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Georgie Auld, Click on "show more" for the lineup for the various tracks. Notes: Very informative by Chris Albertson of Stereo Review, a man who has caused me to buy many CDs, including this one. Christian born in Dallas, met, and was helped / influenced by folks like Lester Young, Mary Lou Williams, Blind Lemon Jefferson(Texas Bluesman), Monk and others. Died of TB age 23. I thought I would hear more of Christian, but they were very limited for time due to the recording restraints of the day. But, you can't complain when hearing the Goodman band. I think this was a much bigger deal back then, than it appears to be today. These days, with all the recording time in the world, they have nothing to say. rose room https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnHQ9IfRzr8 wholly cats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9q1MsEZdoE air mail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pilXGjb7KdU solo flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfa5CEx4ZkY seven come eleven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpcEvSTkSeM Mary Lou Williams said Christian was one of the first to play Be-bop, and was one of the few musicians who could 'run changes' with Monk. -- Notes Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Hank Crawford -- MR BLUES / MR BLUES PLAYS LADY SOUL The ’Lady Soul’ refers to Aretha Franklin. From the Ray Charles School of Jazz. 2 albums on one CD. Brother Crawford likes a little Jazz with his blues. Southern style. teardrops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNT1CccFfDc on a clear day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF_0E9TEJs4 route 66 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTGJ1K9eeok never let me go https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKoVOkFso-w going down slow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo2ekzjvyhg Going Down Slow -- saved the best for last. Cheers |
Today’s Listen: The Timeless All-Stars -- ESSENCE Nice fold-out notes, gives a brief synopsis of each player, then on another page, of each tune. "The music of Timeless All-Stars resonates with the qualities essential to great Jazz - swing, invention, feeling." Another great lineup. The players and their instrument are clearly listed on the record cover. Delos Label. 1986. That was the dawn of the CD. Even has the DDD spars code. alvin’s smile -- by Harold Land, for his 3 year old grandson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQeGeErtNfU the theme -- by miles davis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkfSTbwhvK8 ironclad -- by cedar walton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imc7m0s77e0 lupe -- by buster williams -- named after the group’s manager https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF_ASS_uNhY goodbye -- Benny Goodman’s sign off theme. dedicated to Goodman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lFqGY_dnz0 messina -- by bobby hutcherson inspired by a visit to the Sicilian city https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqBTK0SDWVs Cheers |
Great program on WKCR. I need this, because, it's hard for me to get a fix on Parker. When I talk / think about the greats, I have an idea of time, place and personnel. Famous performances or recordings, record labels, tunes, supporting players, personal anecdotes etc... With Bird, all those things are a blank. In my mind he was like a brilliant nomad. I don't know if it was the times, a certain era in Jazz, or, is it that I just need to make myself smarter on Bird. The sound quality of a lot of his records suffer in comparison to later Jazz. That's part of the problem with me. But this radio program is great. Hopefully I will hear some records I can buy. On CD. :) Cheers OP, check it out. Great music. https://www.harlemonestop.com/event/29228/wkcr-fmto-air-192-hour-marathon-broadcastincluding-a-120-h |
Saturday: end of the road https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5AKiC7QLV4 rock me tonite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbXuQHXwdMU shake you down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc8wmLul3uw sexual healing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjlSiASsUIs can you stop the rain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt9yRFWvY8s power of love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlLsbL2LJKw love the one you're with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDFersmE8QU Cheers |
Today's Listen: Cannonball Adderley with Bill Evans -- KNOW WHAT I MEAN with Cannonball Adderley(alto sax), Bill Evans(piano), Percy Heath(bass), Connie kay(drums). Sort of like Miles merged with MJQ. Riverside Label, 1961. Notes talk about how Heath and Kay were brought in because they are used to playing 'difficult and subtle music', as part of MJQ. And Bill Evans is unexcelled when 'moody delicacy' is called for, and how Cannonball was burdened with the "The New Bird" label, until he was anointed, "The New Benny Carter". :) It could have been worst, "The New O-10"?? who cares --- george and ira gershwin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5yRYTzkuzY waltz for debby --- bill evans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acX3MhM_dpw know what I mean --- bill evans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vp-Z0odHTM toy ---- clifford jordan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRTvayMkaKg Cheers |
Sunday: I got a robe, you got a robe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjHApDsVM3E go down moses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKZclK8Bfm4 joshua fit de battle of jericho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1lK4VSPxe8 ezekiel saw de wheel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xzQdN5uoNE rock my soul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlx9wTxuluw Cheers |
Today's Listen: Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie -- DIZ 'N BIRD AT CARNEGIE HALL I get the impression these guys never thought of posterity during their careers. It was all for the moment. A lot of it was just spur of the moment, right now, and sort of haphazard. Not the music, but the business end of it. Example: From the notes..."A picture of a poster at the entrance to Carnegie Hall reveals that tickets ranged in price from $1.00 to $3.60 and it was standing room only. Ella Fitzgerald's name is clearly displayed, but Parker's in nowhere in sight, so it seems he was a late addition." Notes by Ira Gitler, full of anecdotes about Bird, concerts, and the Jazz scene of that era. Some, to be taken with a pound of salt. 1947. Pretty good sound quality for a Bird record. A supporting cast of thousands! night in tunisia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZQcE1xOrJ4 cubano-be, cubano-bop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAj4OmmWEBo dizzy atmosphere https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IGnn4wNeyU koko https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGg2mBBJjs0 salt peanuts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz1Z4eZqKYI oop-pop-a-da https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ey93hqy1WU currently OWNED by the bey sisters. :) Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Dee Dee Bridgewater -- DEAR ELLA with / Duet, Trio, Combo, Big Band, Orchestra. Dee Dee’s tribute to her Idol. Excellent Booklet, that includes a picture of Dee Dee and Ella sitting together at an reception at the American Embassy in Paris, where Ella had received an award from the French State. ...."there I found an exhausted Ella Fitzgerald, sitting all alone on a couch. All the perfunctory salutations had been made, and everyone had gone off to bask in the glory of being the privileged elite invited to the embassy, where Ella was the pretext for being seen. We spoke at length about the solitude of being on the road, the hardships of absentee motherhood, the woes of keeping ones voice, the problems of remembering lyrics, due to fatigue and the constant changing of countries, hotels, venues. I remember being angered by the superficiality of the invited guest. At least that’s how they seemed to me." I like this woman. a-tisket, a-tasket https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igEkzTh_F6M mack the knife https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t40OSTPU6y8 how high the moon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvYq1Vh4PB4 my heart belongs to daddy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGcMv34fNk8 if you can’t sing it, you’ll have to swing it (mr paganini) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDb7upj-uBI Cheers Btw, Outstanding playing by the backing groups, of all sizes. |
By Royal Command of, Queen Mary Jo, the 39th. if I didn't care https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAinKGJZ8YE rather be blind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZt1xKtPbUQ what's love got to do with it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smGG7L_JjSM you gotta be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmpQReqZfd0 how about us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBUqDr14DEw freeway of love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip_pjb5_fgA the op's idea of paradise, partying and making Buicks don't wanna fight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoNXsne8exg simply irresistible a.k.a. 'royal images' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrGw_cOgwa8 Cheers |
Bud Powell and Fats Navarrow made sweet music together. From the notes by Bob Blumenthal: "Yet when The Scene Changes was recorded in 1958, Powell could no longer channel what Max Harrison once described as his "admittedly delirious emotions" with the relentless eloquence that suffuses his playing on the 1949 Modernists recordings that feature Fats Navarro and Sonny Rollins, or the 1951 Trio date with Curly Russell and Max Roach that produced three different dazzling takes of "Un Poco Loco"..... Who appoints these clowns Jazz critics? Nice clips Cheers Btw, OP, are your ears burning? Mine are. |
Today’s Listen: Bud Powell -- THE SCENE CHANGES with / Bud Powell(piano), Paul Chambers(bass), Art Taylor(drums) Nice foldout with Notes by Leonard Feather(original), and Bob Blumenthal(reissue). Feather: "He has never ceded his position as the most vital of the original bop pianists; yet there is not a single sentence about him, for instance, in ’hear me talkin’ to ya’, while in the Andre Hodeir book there is a brief dismissal with these words: "circumstances that we won’t dwell on here have prevented Bud Powell from achieving a full realization of his immense possibilities." "Hear me Talkin’ to Ya" is a book on Jazz written by Nat Shapiro and Nate Hentoff. Andre Hodeir was / is a French Violinist who wrote books on Jazz. Perfect examples of why you should always read books or articles on Jazz and Jazz players, with the upmost skepticism. Some don’t know what they are talking about, but all have agendas. comin’ up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgelnipWFoU crossin’ the channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAwDGiI97tA the scene changes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MSI2YRmBm8 down with it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYrRxyOsCg0 borderick -- written for his son. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XTPL1fG9Vo Cheers Very good album, but, I sort of missed the horns. Without horns, ’sameness’ can creep in. Unless you're Oscar Peterson. :) |
Lawrence Welk: My Mom never missed his show, and since we only had one TV, that meant I never missed his show. Good musicians of course, but, they should leave Royal Garden Blues to Pops. But Welk is a good history / sociology exhibit. His type of program would not even be considered for TV today. He even spoke with an accent. That would not be allowed these days. Back then, even Southerners spoke Southern. Now everyone sounds the same. Next step, we all think the same. Nice clip, but not Jazz. Maybe a caricature of Jazz. Cheers |
*****
And is there something wrong with that? Isn’t that the goal?***** Not a thing and absolutely. Unforeseen consequences is the point. Many potential Jazz musicians would rather play in an orchestra or teach at university or even work at Amazon than live the life of a Jazz player. They take advantage of opportunities previously closed to them. Actually, that's what Wynton did. You can't have it all. Sort of like the Democratic party, the more they 'help people succeed', their words, the more Republican these successful people become. Cheers |
Now that we no longer have that combination available in many places we can not grow new jazz musicians. Excellent question. The Country changed. Working class America Changed. You could ask the same question about Boxing. The social conditions that produced people that gravitated to these endeavors changed, as more attractive / lucrative and dependable ways to earn a living opened up. The Second World War and the G.I. Bill, changed everything. Just the end of a bygone era. At least we have the recordings, and there will a few good players that will carry on. And there is always the infrequent discovery of a long lost gem by Mingus or Monk. etc.... Maybe some new technical breakthrough that will clean up all the unlistenable stuff from Bird and the blues guys from Mississippi. Cheers And don’t forget, we still have Juilliard. :) |
Today's Listen: Art Blakey -- THE JAZZ MESSENGERS with / Donald Byrd(trumpet), Hank Mobley(Tenor Sax), Horace Silver(piano), Doug Watkins(bass), Art Blakey(drums) Very nice booklet with great photos. The notes talk about this being MODERN Jazz, and this is in 1956. That's 64 years ago folks. Of all the Blakey CDs I have, I didn't have this one simply titled, "The Jazz Messengers". As the OP, who posted Nica's dream a few days ago, might say, "That's Incredulous". carol's interlude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sprjEjU5ssA nica's dream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SASVefCnow hank's symphony -- makes me rethink drum solos in Jazz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTuNkSYX81M it's you or no one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAhaPCWifs8 Cheers |
Why isn’t this one of the great Trumpet solos? I think the applause was for Ella. She stole his thunder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8YOLY4Tats Cheers |
Questions to The Frogman: When the tech advanced from 78rpm, with it's severe time limitations to CD where they can play all day, was the overall effect on Jazz playing positive or negative? Not the sound quality, just the creativity / playing. Was listening to Bird this morning, 'Best of Complete Savoy and Dial', the longest tune was 3 minutes 47 seconds. I didn't feel I was missing anything, except there was time for just one soloist. Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Joshua Redman Quartet -- SPIRIT OF THE MOMENT: LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD with / Joshua Redman(saxophones), Peter Martin(piano), Christopher Thomas(bass), Brian Blade(drums) 2CD Set. No notes to speak of, but he does thank everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, at Warner Bros Records. jig a jug https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRSR2z51zuA my one and only love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXj6M7XujBg st thomas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9c9XO7bf9U lyric https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTBFQfuvNIw Real modern Jazz. If these guys don’t put a smile on your face, git outta Jazz, and stay out. Cheers |
Not a complaint, just an observation. I have just started on the book. After just reading the prelude to the revised edition, dated 2013, and getting as far as page 7 in the main text, I can see that this guy is more into showing off his use of the English language, than he is in Bird. More later. Cheers |
in the fifth grade: "when, mulishly trying to make sense of opening chapter of "The Brothers Karamazov", I twigged that Alexei and Alyosha were the same guy, ditto Dmitry and Mitya ---ditto maxima, Parker and Bird". as a music teacher: my students had "followed me through Armstrong and Swing, and never blinked when we got to Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor, but the volatile 1945 Savoy record of "Koko" unnerved them. Unnerved them?? The only folks that should be unnerved by Bird are the guys on the bandstand with him. --- Rok "But where’s the pedagogical fun in that" -- speaking of messing with his students. I continued to start the class with "Koko" without preface, enjoying the general alarm, ’wtw’ His style of writing was influenced by his reading Satrtre’s "Prisoner of Venice". "By the 1980s, I had read Johnson, Boswell, Strachey, and Sartre’s longer ’Saint Genet’, and I knew what I wanted to do, if not how to do it." Rok’s Take: The ravings of a person full of himself. This is an example of the type of people teaching young people about Jazz. And this is just the Prelude, to a book about a Jazz player. Stay tuned. Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Duke Ellington -- MONEY JUNGLE with / Duke Ellington(piano), Charlie Mingus(bass), Max Roach(drums) Notes: " Ellington! Mingus! Roach! A Triumvirate, not a trio... To hear this album is to believe fully in the validity and lasting qualities of Jazz. " -- George Wein Says it all. All tunes by Ellington. a little max https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hv1nRXK02w rem blues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnbZUFQqnEY wig wise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6s0iDoXpdY switch blade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5D8k5I8LkA caravan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPnB56fQJNQ solitude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_wT4xRpPoU As you hear the music, just think of who is playing each instrument. Good to ’hear’ these guys play. Cheers |
The influencers and driving force behind high-end audio. Scary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T8BsJT58KE Cheers |
Aficionados: Rok2id, a.k.a. the world's foremost Jazz authority, is just fine. Just catching up on my listening of real Jazz, while you folks were engaged in posting primitive noise makers. Recent purchases: Complete Monk on Prestige Just Coolin' -- Blakey Ella and Duke at the Côte d'Azur Rejoice - Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela All recommended. I don't think Ella and Duke were recorded at The Côte d'Azur at the same time. Dishonest, and they did the same trick with Ella and Pops. Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Ella & Duke at The Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) Verve 2CD set. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiRJdOtX2Y0 Gonsalves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMGOti4LvuI Ella https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxFFc0AXMak Hodges https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpRoKIXGCXk gotta love the name LOUD, s’il vous plaît . Cheers pjw: Great Blues. Real Blues. |
Rok2id, a.k.a. the world’s foremost Jazz authority I do not brag about, or flaunt my preeminent status in the world of Jazz. I let my Jazz do the talking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT_Zs5FKDZE Lee!! Cheers |
O-10: May I suggest Beethoven’s 9th. Esp the 4th movement. Some folks consider it the artistic height of Western Civilization. Try it, You will like it. My current, greatest ever, for this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfwHKKOQMQk Cheers It's like Jazz in many ways. |
If that’s so, it also means that you are also born with your ancestors sense of aesthetics in music. Primitive thinking. Think of all the musical greats whose off spring can’t play a lick. DNA transmits potential, and that potential is not the same as the parent’s. May be greater or much less. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Thelonious Monk -- THE COMPLETE PRESTIGE RECORDINGS Frank Foster(ts), Ray Copeland(trumpet), Curly Russell(bass), Art Blakey(drums) The 3CD set also includes Rollins and Miles on Prestige. Disc #2 smoke gets in your eyes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae1haBMK0kI hacksensack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJbDS3HSJ-E locomotive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PnWdyPpGZ8 blue monk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZcTZycaBdg percy heath(bass) No Rouse! Cheers |