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.
orpheus10

Showing 9 responses by roxy54

About 1 week ago, I was back east shopping in a favorite old record store from the fifties, and I found a double CD by Stan Getz and Kenny Barron. I have been a very big fan of Stan Getz for about 14 years, and as it turns out, this set called "People Time" is one of the finest performances I have ever heard from him. It was his last recording before he died, recorded at the Cafe Montmartre in Copenhagen. Kenny Barron on Piano is absolutely sublime accompaniment. In my very limited knowledge of jazz, I had heard his name but was not familiar with his work.
Anyway, the recording is as good as the music; very live and dynamic. I strongly recommend this set. Every song is wonderful.
orpheus10,
I'm with you on Jazz Samba. I've loved that disc for years. Who's playing is more beautiful than Stan's? 
rok2id,
White Rabbit is my favorite George Benson disc. I really lost it for him when he started singing, although I know that many people liked that.
That disc just seems so perfect to me, although I've read that he doesn't care for it, and felt that he was being too controlled by the producer during the recording sessions.
rok2id,
It's really an entirely different George Benson than any of his pop stuff. His fluid guitar style is really beautiful the supporting musicians as well as the way that it was produced create a little world unto itself.
Billy Cobham is wonderful on drums and fully sympathetic to the relaxed but probing mood of the interpretations. I think that you'd love it.