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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
acman3
4,331 posts
 

 

Good to see you here PJW!

Actually thinking of Johnny Griffin this morning while on a walk. 

 

Johnny Griffin, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Ow! Live At The Penthouse

 

frogman
7,531 posts
 

Yes, good to see you back, PJW. Hope all is well and thanks for your comments.

You are correct about Coltrane’s solo on “The Way You Look Tonight”,  Trane plays after Mobley @5:52.

Solo orders:

“Ball Bearing”:

10:26 - Coltrane, 11:42 - Morgan, 12:56 - Griffin, 14:47 - Mobley, 16:00 - Kelly

”All The Things You Are”:

18:48 - Griffin, 21:09 - Coltrane, 22:40 - Morgan, 24:11 - Mobley, 25:40 - Kelly, 26:11 - Chambers

“Smoke Stack”:

28:46 - Griffin, 30:43 - Morgan, 32:47 - Mobley, 34:23 - Coltrane, 35:48 - Kelly, 36:35 - Chambers, 37:24 - Griffin and Blakey trade 4’s to end.

“Smoke Stack” (Alternate version):

39:00 - Griffin, 41:01 - Mobley, 42:48 - Morgan, 45:00 - Coltrane, 46:42 - Kelly, 47:56 - Griffin and Blakey trade 4’s to end.

pjw81563
1,832 posts
 

Thanks frog for the fast and detailed response. Listened to a lot of Trane yesterday and I have a few observations I would like to share.

Blue Train, Coltrane's first album as a leader during his last decade on earth 100% addiction free, is basically "straight ahead hard bop" and very accessible to all.

Giant Steps is when I needed repeated listening's to "get it".

A Love Supreme took more listens to "get it" then Giant Steps.

I have listened to Ascension dozens of times and I still don't "get it".

Frogman I apologize for bothering you a second time in 24 hours but was wondering is there a "certain way" with different expectations of listening to Ascension to get the most out of it. Lord knows I have tried.

Dave Liebman, another artist I listen to that often ventures across the border into "free jazz", says of Ascension:

 the album "blew everybody out of the water" and was "the torch that lit the free-jazz thing. I mean, it really begins with Cecil [Taylor] and Ornette [Coleman] in '59, but Ascension was like the patron saint saying, 'It's OK—this is valid.' I think that even had much more of an effect on everybody than A Love Supreme."

Here is an interesting rendition of My Favorite Things by Leibman's Expansions" band recorded in September, 2021.

https://youtu.be/SxxSKrKRciY?si=CWgLv4sJTpUOntLB

 

pjw81563
1,832 posts
 

Thanks acman. I have that disc ow! with Griffin and Davis and it gets a lot of repeat listening's over here.

Great new Sonny Rollins interview (July 5 2025).

https://youtu.be/StWBlxF3Fg4?si=AVdOGpoZSAf9rgHr

 

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