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

I just check all the 13 albums of the spiritual jazz collection... They seems interesting... But the double albums from japan is made by unknown artists here and is so good i did not hope it will be beat in ORIGINALITY and RELAXING power ...

I recommend this one...

i will try some others and i will spoke about it here in the months to come...

@stuartk said "BTW, the "spiritual Jazz" series is on the British label "Jazzman"

I quickly scanned the various albums-- there's some material on these that is simply unobtanium these days as OG LPs. Great introduction to the genre.

I'm a huge Cecil McBee fan, he didn't limit himself to spiritual jazz but was part of the old NYC "loft" scene, which crossed over into free jazz as well as more mainstream stuff. 

I was fortunate to buy some of these before the prices went through the roof. The Ronnie Boykins piece is a hoot. It sounds like they are totally out of tune at the beginning but they suddenly get very focused and play their asses off. 

Are you using the CeeDees or vinyl? Curious to know what the quality of the pressings is like. GZ can make a decent record-- they typically use digital masters, but in a lot of cases, who knows where the master tapes are or if they even exist. 

One of my personal favs is Milt Ward & Virgo Spectrum. It was reissued as a needle drop, the OG is serious money. 

This can give somebody entry into a rarified sub-genre for little money and they can then go chase the originals they like! 

The japan spiritual jazz double album even if experimental jazz in many way, is balanced well between hypnotizing rythm and some melody with japan musical instrument sometimes... I like it and experimental jazz is not my cup of tea very often...

The sound quality is top notch... All japan music lover will kill themselves before  the slighest recording error can be faulted to them ... 😉