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

@curiousjim

Do not neglect this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLewsblH64M

It’s also known as "Complete Concert In Germany".

I have a special attachment to my copy, having bought it in Paris.

Another live recording -- this one a trio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgZHiYvztfE&list=OLAK5uy_lBGXJME_H0rjQwYH2tDA32a9TjTIQ2EGo

 

 

 

 

I am ashamed to say that i neglected him... Thanks for the reminder... 😊

I’ve been listening to Michel Petrucciani since @7 this morning and every time I listen to him, I am blown away by his talent!

So sad he left us so young.

Keep in mind that this is in the context of the preponderance of the fusion of Jazz and Pop/Rock/R&B over the last four to five decades.  Some genres may not be our cup of tea, but core musical values apply to all genres.

”There are only two kinds of music, good and bad”

I just finished my hunting of  Scott on Hammond...😁

Thanks to frogman...

Now i must look to Sanborn, i do not have a single one ...

😊

This claim coming from an accomplished musician is enough for me ...

Thanks ...

Sanborn, along with Michael Brecker, are undoubtedly the two most influential saxophone players of the last four decades or so.

 

Ask most music lovers what music genre the saxophone is mostly associated with and the answer will probably be “Jazz”. Serious Jazz aficionados (not here 😊) have a tendency to short change David Sanborn’s importance in the overall scheme of things. I’m not suggesting that Sanborn, as a Jazz alto player, is the equal of a Phil Woods or a Kenny Garret, but in the context of all the directions that “Jazz” has taken with its fusion with popular genres he is every bit the story teller that many of the more “serious” Jazz alto players are/were. Unique sound, fantastic feel, phrasing, and one of those players that could say something with just one or two notes. Whereas Jazz saxophone playing tends to be “noty”, his was a model of economy in improvisation.

Sanborn, along with Michael Brecker, are undoubtedly the two most influential saxophone players of the last four decades or so. While Brecker was the much more accomplished Jazz player in the strict sense of the word, they both shared a certain Pop/Rock sensibility in their respective styles. Obviously, Sanborn much more so. For better or for worse the legions of alto saxophone players one hears on “Smooth Jazz” tunes owe their style to Sanborn.

Sanborn credits Stevie Wonder’s harmonica playing as a big influence on his own playing. He played the way a great blues harp player does, or a guitar player like B.B. King. Few notes, but with ultimate expressiveness. But, he could also play with a much more sophisticated sense of harmony when the musical setting called for it; like a Jazz player.

Big loss.

 

David Sanborn R.I.P.

A young David Bowie with a young Davis Sanborn on alto sax. Sanborn solo at 2:15

 

"I’ve Got Your Love" from Boz Scaggs "Come On Home".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ia15RLRpCo&list=OLAK5uy_nHjoCyyKJVGBc7i4cD8b4bmqpyIxVLm2w

The whole album is excellent -- musically and (to my ears, at east) sonically. It’s one of my favorite Boz albums that seldom gets mentioned on the forum. Not only does he sing but he also plays some very tasty guitar. I’ll be surprised if, hearing this track, you don’t want to play the the rest.

"My Funny Valentine" has long been one of my favorite Miles releases.

"Four and More" is its companion, featuring all up-tempo material. Somehow it's never appealed to me all that much but you might want to check it out. 

Thanks @zlone 

I’m listening to My Funny Valentine now. This kind of music I can listen to all day!😀

@curiousjim The first few minutes of Miles Davis My Funny Valentine, from the album of the same name is a track I use for demos. Not sure why, good dynamics I guess. 

I’m going on a road trip to listen to new to me speakers, so I’m listening to a little bit of everything.  From Pink Floyd to the soundtrack from Star Wars, Rouge  One and making a playlist. I’ve got until Friday morning to get it finished.

Any recommendations?

@curiousjim Here is another - The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis

It is not for everyone as members of the Messthetics are from the band Fugazi.

When in the right mood, it is a fantastic listen.

@botrytis 

Keep up the good work. I for one am always happy to listen to “New to me” music.

@acman3 

Great picks! I’ve been on the Herbie train since the mid seventies and have no plans on getting off any time soon.

I’m taking a break from Herbie Hancock and now listening to Charles McPherson,  Reverence. (2024)

@botrytis

I’ve played guitar for 50 years (just to entertain myself -- I found out early on that gigging was not for me) so I don’t have to depend upon my system to have a deep connection with music.

Nevertheless, I still enjoy good audio, just as I enjoy a good sounding guitar. I was very naive when I first jumped down the "rabbit hole" and it’s taken me quite awhile to appreciate just how much I don’t know about gear and acoustics. I’ve found "the journey" to be quite a roller-coaster and I admire anyone who can keep their balance.

That Hancock/Corea show must’ve really been something!

BTW -- my wife and I also enjoy listening together. She has no interest in hunting down music and has witnessed how OCD I can get when it comes to gear but she, like me, dearly loves music. 

@stuartk  I try. I have many friends that go down the equipment rabbit hole and get lost.

I thank my wife for keeping me grounded as we often listen together.

I love Herbie Hancock as I remember seeing him, for the first time, during his 'Rockit' tour. Seen him plenty of times after. Last time was just him and Chick Corea with 2 pianos and that is it. It was an amazing experience, but many were not use to the amount of improvisation that went on between them.

@curiousjim 

You're welcome!

Wish more artists' websites emulated H.Hancock's.

@botrytis 

Sounds like a healthy approach to me...

@curiousjim  I am always looking. I troll around Bandcamp a lot and find some unique artists and music there. 

I am one that actively searches out music. 

My audio equipment is there to play for my habit of buying music 😁

@botrytis 

Thanks, I’ll put it on my list.

 Gilad Hekselman - Life, at the Village Vanguard

@stuartk 
I went to Herbie Hancock.com and I definitely found quite a few albums I haven’t heard yet. Thanks again for the link.

Only 55 albums,  what a slouch 😁😁😁

Yeah, "Head Hunters" was the first H. Hancock album I encountered -- checked it out from the local library in ’75. Soon after that I was seduced by Blue Note album covers into exploring that label’s offerings. "Maiden Voyage" was the first H. Hancock recording that really grabbed me. It’s still one of my favorites. I never did get much into Hancock’s synth stuff but love his acoustic playing!

One exception-- "Fat Albert Rotunda" is irresistible!  

@stuartk ,

Thanks for the link. I’ll be sure to check it out tomorrow. I’ve been a Herbie fan since the mid seventies when I bought the Head Hunters album. I’m pretty sure I still have it 😁

Currently listening to Gilad Hekselman - Life, at the Village Vanguard. Such a beautiful live LP, if one lives guitar jazz. I highly recommend it. It is a 2024 LP.

@acman3

I’d forgotten I’d seen the Heath Brothers until I saw this ! Must’ve been late seventies in Santa Barbara -- don’t recall the venue. Stanley Cowell was on piano. I seem to recall them being on a mission to demystify jazz, make it more accessible, at that time.

 

@curiousjim

You might enjoy perusing the discography on Hancock’s own website -- it has the covers displayed graphically.  Click on each cover for notes. This is an entertaining and very easy way to research his recordings all in one place. Not only that, there are links to Spotify so you can listen, too. Pretty cool resource! 

https://www.herbiehancock.com/music/discography/

Switching to Herbie Hancock for a few albums as they the ones I have picked out are all 40 minutes or less. Starting with  Head Hunters.

I’m listening to a new album (2024) by Marta Sanchez called Perpetual Void. It’s not an album that I will listen to again, but some of you might like it.

This is certainly great Shirley Scott triple album and the sound quality is very good ... Frogman was right ...

 

Houston Person is definitely in my top ten sax players, although I have never actually made a list. We listened to a couple of albums last night and are going to continue our date later today.

Wow! Another sax sound for me...

I am in a middle of Shirley Scott album i interrupted ...

I will listen Shirley looking for Houston Person ... 😊

Serious wind and rain are pounding us, so we’re not going after all. 😕😕. So we’re going to listen to HP with a bottle of red and the lights down low.

Has anyone here seen Houston Person lately?  He’s playing here in a semi bad area tonight and tomorrow and my wife is a bit nervous. If he’s still got it, I can probably persuade her by saying how great he still is.

Lemme know.

Haven’t listened to Bobby Timmons in a while, so I’m starting off with “Easy Does It”.

****  I like her for this simplicity at the service of the song ****

Exactly.  

I explore Shirley Scott at the recommendation of frogman...

What is very interesting apart from his artful playing is a fact that i already knew to because i like Hammond a lot but go to my face with Scott : not one hammond player use the same instrument the same way with the same sound ... They all sound very different instrument from one another in a way way more evident than with piano...The instrument design vary a lot... Not just the playing ...

This explain why i collected Hammond musicians ... I like it as second instrument or in solo ...

I forgot to say that his piano playing exhibit the same humble devotion to the music as his hammond non spectacular playing... I like her for this simplicity at the service of the song ... I will hunt for more ... 😊