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.
Showing 15 responses by wharfy
@mahgister -Totally agree! Tangential observation- NHOP has been the bass accompanist for Bill Evans. @jdougs -Agree about Steeplechase. Many of Dexter Gordon's best albums are on the Steeplechase label. |
"Anyone else love Tardo Hammer? Listening to Look, Stop & Listen and it’s just great." Yes, fabulous record. A very well recorded/produced record of the music of Tadd Dameron. Charlesdad2, a regular A'Gon poster, recommended that one. Another fabulous disc he recommended is Oliver Nelson's, The Blues and the Abstract Truth. Have you heard that one? David |
@jdougs -Thanks for the recommendation. Doing some research I saw Kenny Drew is accompanied by Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson on bass and Albert 'Tootie' Heath on drums. I have a terrific CD by Tete Montoliou, Tete-A-Tete, with NHOP and Tootie.
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@curiousjim -Thank you. I have "The Individualism..." look at THAT band! I'll give your recommendation a listen. @acman3 -Going to give your recommendation a listen, also. Just throwing this question out here-if Hendrix had lived, would he have evolved into a jazz-rock musician? |
@pjw81563 -Smith's Foxy Lady is terrific. Thanks for sharing! @mahgister -Love the fat tone of a Hammond B3, also. Because of the posthumous CD /record releases, I find Hendrix's music inconsistent. Up to Band of Gypsys, when Hendrix is good, he's really good. The guitar solo from "Machine Gun" is incredible. |
@pjw81563 -that is interesting. I do like Jimmy Forest's grittier version. I didn't know there were so many to choose from :-) Forest's saxophone reminds me of the sax on this song-
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@pjw81563 -Love Illinois Jacquet's rendition! Thanks for sharing. Jo Jones' drumming sounds like the IRT going over the 125th St subway bridge, late at night. Danny Gatton is under appreciated. |
"By any chance did you get the new (2020 release) release of the 2 of them live at The Penthouse in 1962 titled OW! on vinyl? I purchased the CD the day it came out. The sonics on the CD are very good." I just purchased Ow! at my local CD re-saler. PB&J, indeed. Anyone want any Art Pepper with their New Years Day brunch? Pepper is playing with George Cables on piano, George Mraz and Elvin Jones on drums.
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@jafant - RIP. An excerpt form a Les McCann obit "Les McCann, a jazz pianist and vocalist who was an early progenitor of the bluesy, crowd-pleasing style that came to be known as soul jazz, and who, although he released more than 50 albums, was best known for a happenstance hit from 1969, died on Friday in Los Angeles. He was 88." Another excerpt-"His family was a musical one; he, his four younger brothers and his sister all sang in the Shiloh Baptist Church choir. " The influence of church choirs and sacred music once again plays a role in a jazz musician's development. |