Fred Hersch
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.
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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@pjw81563 -How was the show? Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring are two heavy hitters! The rest of the quintet are no slouches, either. |
@wharfy Great show. The acoustics at Smoke are very good that is why so many artists record live shows there. Herring and Alexander have been playing together over 3 decades and play off of each other really well. Herring mentioned the 2 "battle albums" - the 2005 Eric Alexander release "The Battle", and the 2011 Vincent Herring release "Friendly Fire". Both were recorded live at Smoke. The rhythm section of Mike Ledonne on piano, John Webber on bass with Lewis Nash on the drums really know how to swing. I had seen Webber and Nash multiple times but never Ledonne. Mike Ledonne and I had a 15 minute conversation after the set and it was a great experience. Ledonne graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Jaki Byard in 1978 and has been playing professionally nearly 50 years. Mike LeDonne’s Groover Quartet has been the featured Tuesday night band at Smoke for the past 14 years. On any given week you can hear some of the greatest players today like saxophonists Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring, guitarists Peter Bernstein, Paul Bollenback and Ed Cherry, and drummers Joe Farnsworth and Carl Allen. The late Jimmy Cobb, known for playing drums on Miles Davis’ KOB, really liked when John Webber was available to play bass with him live and in the studio. Webber is deserving of Cobb’s preference. I saw Jimmy Cobb many times and Webber was the bassist on nearly all of these occasions. Lewis Nash, whom I have also had the privilege of seeing multiple times, is a terrific and highly sought after drummer. |
You lucky dog! I caught Herring and Nash in a quartet with Cedar Walton and a bassist whose name escapes me (this was about 15 years ago) at Yoshi’s and my attention was repeatedly drawn back to Nash. Great drummer! Sadly, Yoshi's stopped regularly offering Jazz. At this point, Bay Area traffic is so insane that we only venture over there occasionally, to see family.
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@pjw81563 -Thanks for the report. Really sounds like a tremendous show. Even though I'm 30+ minutes outside NYC, I've yet to see a show at Smoke. Herring, Gary Bartz and Bobby Watson recorded a fabulous Bird tribute at Smoke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sv--I-JFMY I've seen Vincent Herring a number of times, as part of Richard Barratta's various ensembles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tvuglBhHrg I've seen Mike LeDonne with his Heavy Hitters. He's/they are terrific. LeDonne regularly performs at the Jazz Forum, in Tarrytown, NY. That's a terrific place, with lots of top flight performers. |
- 31762 posts total