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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Ok Alex, for you I will tell this story. When I read that Grant Green was going to be in town, I bought tickets, and was really looking forward to seeing him. During intermission he had someone tell me he wanted to speak to me. First of all I didn't recognize him; the Grant Green I remember had a head of thick black hair, and the build of a cowboy, he looked good in jeans. ( Alex, the mind is a funny thing, you expect people to look like they looked the last time you saw them up close and personal) I saw Grant Green up close and personal, from the time period I was from 16 to 20, this was before he became a professional. We spoke, and he quickly got to the point of why he wanted to see me. He asked me about a very close musician friend of his. I told him the truth. He became livid with anger. The two ton bouncer came up to us wanting to know what was going on. Grant walked off leaving me with a two ton bouncer, with a question mark on his face. (I got the feeling that the bouncer wanted to demonstrate why they hired him) It wasn't until many years later that I was able to understand this. Musicians are crazy; they are unable to understand, or cope with their own emotions. After Grant left me he probably cried because he couldn't stand what I told him; but messengers in the past have been slain for telling the truth. Next I'll tell about the musical Grant Green; he was fantastic from the day I laid eyes on him until the last time I saw him. Enjoy the music. |
Frogman, Since I can never tell anyone the conversation that transpired between me and Grant, the story seems kind of incomplete; but it was intended to indicate the love between two musicians that you mentioned. Every since that night, I wished that I had lied to Grant, because he took his hurt and anger out on me, for one reason, and another is, I didn't know the truth would upset him that much. I can make the story more complete by linking the album and music he was playing at that time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZvQhQbPioY That was one boss two record album. Enjoy the music. |
Jafant, while OP has many recordings as leader, and with many of the top jazz men of his day, my top 3 picks are: "Oscalypso", "Scorpio", and "Bohemia after Dark". To me, all big cities are "Bohemia", and they come alive after dark. After the Sun has set, and just before it gets dark, when you can see the silhouettes of tall buildings against the sky; that's when Bohemia is waking up, and getting ready for the nights frivolities; very soon will be the time for "Bohemia After Dark". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5EwGijmqKc Enjoy the music. |
Lucky Thompson with O.P. and Skeeter Best on album named Tricotism, from 1961. It can be found on Impulse label. Does anyone knows any S.Best's album as leader? Always a sideman, but I like his sound https://youtu.be/_XrhG2956Uo https://youtu.be/n7gKcfKdeQ4 |
Back to the West coast, couple of albums from bass players that I like. First, Leroy Vinnegar, from 'Leroy walks again' I like it more than his previous(Leroy walks) https://youtu.be/xB6K2ZdLJwI https://youtu.be/WEzkk03sNoY Ther is more on ytube, if someone wish to further explore. Next album is from Curtis Counce. I have chosen this one, but others of that era are worthy of listening and having too. 'You get more bounce wit C.C.' https://youtu.be/uYZr2E27WBs https://youtu.be/svP428ISTFA https://youtu.be/w4mdR5FSU3Y Hope you will like it |
...and speaking of bass players and their albums, this one should not be overlooked. The name says it all 'Bass on top' https://youtu.be/784vBuUrUFQ |
Kenny Burrel is playing on above mentioned album, as well as on this edition. It is compilation of three albums (aldo the man who posted this on you tube forget to mention the existence of one it is intersting for us, right now. It is first album made as a leader of bass player Doug Watkins, 'Watkins at large' , where he is jonied by H.Mobley and Burrell. This cd's have two other Donald Byrd albums, where Watkins plays too. I have that Blue Note edition, so I know) Here is the link https://youtu.be/M72VFZ8D3c8 |
Alex, you have hit upon three of my favorite musicians; I have the LP "Tricotism", Lucky Thompson is so smooth; Skeeter Best has a boss solo on the "Soul Brothers" LP with Milt Jackson and Ray Charles. Lucky Thompson does a solo on Miles Davis's "Walkin" that's out of sight; I'll link it ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMW3RloxEyA Enjoy the music. |
Orpheus, have those albums. Here are some others, if by any chance you dont have them already. Milt Jackson's 'Ballads and blues' with Lucky Thompson, Best and Pettiford. https://youtu.be/axuGJ7SY0e8 Again, Best with Quebec, on album that is made of songs that were originaly issued as 45 singles and later presented as double cd. https://youtu.be/_CDPhrG9MBI |
Today's Listen: (Diva Day) Etta Jones -- DON"T GO TO STRANGERS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP97iBFNdiY Dee Dee Bridgewater -- DEE DEE's FEATHERS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9slDet0CndI Abbey Lincoln -- ABBEY IS BLUE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiHS8Hf7Tb4 Zap Mama -- ZAP MAMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ROAaB9JlZ0 Cheers |
Alex, I have the Blue Note 45 sessions issued by Mosaic, 2 CD's; that must be the same thing. It came with a book that I have yet to read. Milt Jackson, "Ballads and Blues", this is the true "Golden age of jazz"; the notes coming off of Milt's vibes, seemed to be just popping out of the air. It's one thing to hear this music now, but it's entirely another to have been there at that time; everything surrounding 56 comes back to me; 56 Bel aire convertible, 56 Ford Convertible; those were the cars for a young man to have. You have no idea how special that music sounded, cruising with the top down, summer wind blowing in your face. Pardon my digression. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, when I used Etta Jones for a test record on TT's and cartridges, the salesman said it was a perfect record; perfectly flat and well recorded. That album has withstood the test of time, it's still popular. "Afro Blue" is my favorite cut on that Abbey Lincoln CD. I have that very unique CD by "Zap Mama", and I like it. Enjoy the music. |
Pardon the non-commercial interruption... Just wanted to reply to Orpheus' previous posts and pay a compliment to Leon Thomas. At the risk of trivializing his talent, I want to say, "what a nice voice". When he's singing a lyric...no posturing just a certain naturalness and purity about it - at least in the limited listening I've done so far as a result of Jafant's Pharaoh Sanders recommendations. If you will further indulge me in an unsolicited 2 cents on the more recent jazz bassist topic...check out Tony Levin (yes I know, not a jazz-only bassist) playing with Andy Summers. They do a great version of Afro Blue. It's on "The Last Dance of Mr. X. There was a YouTube video of them playing it live...can't find it now, however. For Rok on in-performance interactions between musicians. On the off-chance he's not already seen it... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuCbQCnoIzI Ciao |
Here's a singer that I really liked when I was in high school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G35oUvfqnsk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbCJbnNDmoM Enjoy the music. |
I don't think Leon Thomas has ever received this much 'press' in his entire life. And this from the same group of folks, that dismissed the Bey Sisters in one short sentence. Makes a body wonder. Wanna hear some real singing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M__j_feCKG0 Cheers |
I just got Leon's CD "Spirits Known and Unknown"; the music is fantastic and so is the recording quality. It has one controversial cut; I wouldn't touch that subject with a ten foot pole, I fulfilled my military obligations at the time Viet Nam started. If that's a problem, I suggest finding another CD with as much of the music you can find that's on this CD minus Viet Nam. I'm having trouble listening to his voice or looking at his picture; he sounds and looks the same as I remember, jovial and smiling. When he sings song for my father, I can see his father; Leon looked a lot like his father. I'm going to have to listen to this CD in stages; enough for now. Enjoy the music. |
Thanks for the Caterina Valente, Orpheus. Not my usual listening but those certainly open a window back to another time, "In the days before rock 'n; roll" to quote Van. How did things get so f'd up? Love the somewhat busy string arrangement on The Breeze and I. More and more these days, those arrangers are my heroes. Kind of working off camera, if you will. Just another comment on Leon...he's someone who serves the music. Not the other way around as is too much the case nowadays where so often music is just a convenient vehicle for self-promotion. Talk about killer arrangements. Please give a listen to the following. The LP is good but let's cut to the chase...the main point can be heard by dropping your needle right down at 20:30. For me this is absolutely one of the best songs EVER. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayW8uK1JwTE Kinda sad to me that Curtis got a lot more credit for a song that William wrote and recorded first! Hope you will enjoy it. Jafant - listening right now to Hartman with Coltrane. My amateur opinion is that Johnny's vocal style is a bit more studied than Leon's. I hear Sinatra (or maybe even a bit of Dean Martin) in Johnny's "tone" (not talking influences, just similarities), Leon's style is more "naive" and his tone quite different to my ear. I think Donny's voice is slightly higher pitched than Leon when comparing the two signing a straight lyric (it changes when Leon does that yodeling!). This might raise some eyebrows but when I listen to Leon getting into the mid and lower half of his range, I hear shades of Barry White. Barry's generally a whole lot deeper but the two have a similar kind of rich tone. Upper half, I'm thinking Nat King Cole. (Hope no one decides to throw stones now!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSYwGEiowHg |
Ghosthouse, Grant Green died going on tour because he needed money, when his doctor told him not to go. Grant spent much of 1978 in hospital and, against the advice of doctors, went back on the road to earn some money. While in New York to play an engagement at George Benson's Breezin' Lounge, Grant collapsed in his car of a heart attack in New York City on January 31, 1979. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, and was survived by six children. Since Green's demise, his reputation has grown and many compilations of both his earlier (post-bop/straight ahead and soul jazz) and later (funkier/dancefloor jazz) periods, exist. They can say what they want to say about "Rappers" but they're taking care of business and making money. I think your evaluation of Leon is "right on target". Now I'm going to pipe your link into the big rig, relax and listen. Enjoy the music. |
Many of the best jazz songs are like a short story. I've written a vignette for this song. The name of the song is "invitation", and now the song becomes alive with your imagination. There's a mid city lounge that feature strong drinks and good jazz; they run a reel plus a juke box, and jazz lovers like to come in to listen and unwind. Coincidentally, an attractive lady and a guy happen to be at opposite ends of the bar regularly. There's a long mirror on the wall behind the bar; not wanting to be obvious, they had been checking each other out in the mirror; but this time they got caught and discovered they were both checking each other out. They smiled at their reflections in the mirror. He was just trying to recover from the end of a love affair and not to eager to start another. She had different ideas. They left separately without engaging in conversation, although she wished he would make a move; this is where the song begins. [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyp1yvSBq5I[/url] Enjoy the music. |
YAW, Jafant - as ever, a pleasure to talk about the music. Hey Rok - when you get a chance, check this out. Curious what you think of it (hoping it is new to you but pro'ly. not). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuCbQCnoIzI Ciao. |
Orpheus - apologies but you will have to connect the dots for me on the why for the Grant Green bio. Don't misinterpret my comments as being down on musicians getting paid and making money. It's more a case of their priorities...doing what they love first and eventually getting paid or producing a contrived product calculated to "sell". That's the best I can explain what makes m crazy about "the industry". When you are inclined, let me know why you brought up Mr. Green. Thanks. |
Believe it or not; I read that Leon was going to be in town, appearing at the same joint where I saw Grant Green. During intermission, I saw guys from the old neighborhood gathered around Leon on the sidewalk out front. Naturally I joined them and began reminiscing about old times. All of a sudden, two tons of ugly comes running up with the assumption I'm causing trouble with the star he's hired to protect. When he starts running off at the mouth, they leave me on the sidewalk with Mr. 5 X 5 two tons of the ugliest bouncer you ever saw. (Deja Vu) It seems I've been here before. You got that right, I never went back to that joint again. |
My point Ghosthouse was that with all the records he made, why should he be so desperate for money? I know nothing about the music business, but that used to occur far too often with jazz musicians; but now that "Rappers" are taking care of everything in the business of recording and distribution, they're rolling in dough. While "Rappers" may sell more records, jazz musicians sold over a longer period of time; there's no way jazz musicians should have been desperate for money. Local musicians who work on a regular basis aren't desperate for money. What I'm saying is that when too many people are handling things, money disappears. Are we on the same wave length? If not I'll come back. |
Ghosthouse, jazz musicians depended more on record sales than concert tours. I forgot what the ticket prices were, but this wasn't a stadium; jazz musicians depended on record sales, and although records were selling, the musicians didn't seem to reap the benefits. Now there are local musicians who record, and sell their own CD's; they're living at about the same level as someone with a good job; nice house, new car; they are not hurting. Maybe Frogman will chime in and enlighten us; we're not talking about musicians with big dope habits who could make any amount of money and still be broke. Enjoy the music. |
Orpheus - OK. I getcha. No argument from me on the "artist" not always getting their fair share "back in the day". Plenty of examples even outside jazz where unscrupulous agents and managers ripped off their clients. Sad story about Grant Green. Was reading about Jaco Pastorius the other day. Another tragedy. The business model does seem to have changed for the better in many ways. |
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Hey Rok - when you get a chance, check this out. Curious what you think of it (hoping it is new to you but pro'ly. not).***** The Greatest ever, small group composer, playing the music of the Greatest ever, big band composer, there is only one thing to think; I wish I was there. They were pretty close to the audience, but that did not seem to affect them. I had seen this clip before, but never really noticed the vocal support of the players before. The first time I ever heard Mingus on LP, way back in the day, a friend who turned me on to Mingus, and was playing it on his system, said to me, "this guy's bands are always very tight and well rehearsed. No sloppy, this is good enough, nonsense". He was right. I have been hearing it ever since. Great clip. Cheers |
This is a long clip. The last tune is Bud Powell's "Un Poco Loco". Great tune. Does anyone know what Wes Anderson is doing at 51:44. The tune starts at 47:20. Feel free to skip ahead. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4BC3vErvpc Cheers |
Ahmed Abdul Malik was an interesting bass player; he was of Sudanese descent and played with Thelonious Monk, Randy Weston, and Coleman Hawkins. This is his most exotic record. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVDnfy9soNU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOGqAvElCAs Enjoy the music. |
Rok - thanks so much for that Wynton Marsalis. The sound is EXCELLENT on it. For one reason and another a bit of a downer kind of day but it is putting a smile on my face. REALLY liked the opening Horace Silver piece. Wynton's solo on Inner Urge was fantastic. The whole thing has my toes tapping. Thanks again. I feel like I know sh** about jazz; so much of this is new and great fun. Thanks again. re the Mingus performance/film...I would have loved to just hang with those guys. Pack up their gear or whatever; watch rehearsals (now that would really be something). Later. Ciao. |
Rok - I think he's sort of conducting...counting off so they all hit the (time signature?) change together. Clarinets come in for a little break and then the trombone guy solos. Loved how everybody was really watching the drummer on his solo last part of Poco Loco. What a great show. Just want to say again, I really enjoyed that whole thing. Held my interest all the way through. THANKS. |
****let's talk about Jazz bassist...Was there anyone of significance prior to Scott LaFaro?**** You bet there was. Duke Ellington's bassist Jimmy Blamton was very influential . How about Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Milt Hinton, Charles Mingus, Wilbur Ware? And of course the already mentioned Pettiford. LaFaro was a pivotal figure in the bass world but hardly the first important bass player. Re jazz musicians and money: don't know much about Grant Green the person, so I don't know about his particular situation. I do know that the lifestyle of jazz musicians does not promote good money-management habits. Being in the road all the time is very difficult and can lead to bad decision making that can affect your pocket book. Think about it: who is more likely to save his money and possibly even invest some of it? The guy who is on the road all the time and who is dealing with the endless temptations of life on the road or late-night gigs; or, the guy with the stable home life and family? Re Mingus/Take The A Train: Agree that Mingus had a very tight and well rehearsed band. But for the sake of perspective: I would bet anything that for that performance of A Train they probably did nothing more than talk about the order of the solos. No rehearsal. Not a criticism, but a testament to the experience and talent of the players involved. There's no arrangement to speak of and rehearse; just play the melody after the traditional piano intro, everyone takes a solo and there may be backgrounds made up on the spot. For guys like that, playing A Train is like a great chef making scrambled eggs; at a very very high level. Again, not a criticism at all, but simply to point out that it's pretty standard fare; a popular tune that everyone knows and can play in their sleep. Still, great music and great playing. Btw, that solo by Dolphy is deliciously strange. Rok, Ghosthouse is exactly right; Anderson is conducting. Specifically, he is counting down the last couple of measures in the last chorus of the tenor solo so that the band can all come back in at the right time. While it would normally be Wynton's job to do that, Anderson is in the front of the band where he can be seen by all. Glad to see so many great posts. |