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.
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@stuartk, mahgister, curiousjim, tyray @stuartk Thank you for the list. I will dig into it. @everybody else This three minute recording of Coleman Hawkins playing Body and Soul, according to the Jazz series, is supposed to be the first time a jazz soloist has established a melody and then left it behind and created a remarkably beautiful improv. Previous jazz masters would always return to the melody. Coleman Hawkins must have influenced Coltrane on his improvisation on "Favorite Things," my favorite Coltrane piece. I do not understand the intricacies of music, but this sounds to me that it requires more virtuosity than "Love Supreme," but not as much soul. This is my favorite period in jazz: |
Perhaps @frogman will opine on this topic... |
@stuartK, Yes, the distinction between soul and virtuosity. On the Jazz series, they talk about Billie Holiday's lack of a strong voice. Her range spanned just a little more than one octave, where other singers might span three octaves and have a more "pure" sounding voice. Holiday's had deep soul. I have heard that also discussed with classical musicians. Horowitz was much loved by classical music lovers, but he was not supposed to have had the strongest technical abilities. I heard Itzak Perlman interviewed and he said that the most difficult students to teach are those with the strongest technical ability. It is hard to teach them the emotional aspect of music. |
This distinction between the soul expression and the virtuosity potential are very important... Billie Holiday as Chet Baker playings and singing has soul way more than virtuosity... Some had the two... Armstrong and Marian Anderson are natural self made virtuoso but way more master of our souls...
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