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

Eddie Daniels beat anyone on clarinet for fluidity and imagination...

I had 10 albums...

I dont have those above thanks frogman i will track them ...šŸ˜Š

**** Iā€™m not sure there is a bad Eddie Danielā€™s album. Clarinet or Sax, always a good performance. ****

There isnā€™t! Eddie is the greatest ever ā€œwoodwind doublerā€. Hero to woodwind players in the NYC scene. He achieved a level of mastery that is truly astounding. Little known fact is that he is also an outstanding flutist. While he has been concentrating on the clarinet in recent years he revisits the tenor and flute periodically. This is one of my favorite records of his. Early (first?) record of just duets with the great Bucky Pizzarelly on guitar:

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Last night, I was watching a YouTube video from Absolute Sound. An album mentioned was How Love Begins by Nicole Zuraitis. I just started listening to it and before the first tune was half over, I liked it. Well recorded and she has good voice. Ā The guy in the video said it was the best Jazz album of 2023.

Nobody can play at the same level each days on drugs...

But he was used to it it seems and even with it he could play minimalistic with a power of speaking and singing expression most trumpet players not on drug can only be envious... šŸ˜Š

I own 100 albums of Baker ...Save for few evident one he was professional and never played when he was unable to do his job...

The only artist in my own mind thinking of jazz i will compare his artistry is the singing expressive playing of Bill Evans who as Baker try to serve a song more than serving himself with the song ...

They are so great artist that i think of them more than trumpeter or pianist...poet i will say ...

My thesis is they are brothers from an unknown father ...šŸ˜

But nobody will believe me here ,,,

I had liked poetry all my life it tainted my musical preferences ...

I was listening 17 century folk song french and english at the radio canada emission under 5 years old each noon dining ... I was listening madrigals and Choral music at 16 when my friends invited me for the Beatles ... šŸ˜Š

I begun to appreciate jazz when i begun to appreciate musicians for what they are i was old already near 35...

Before that i was mainly classical written choral music ...Bruckner revelation and scriabin revelation educated me and i goes on Persian and Indian ectasy till today with jazz from all countries because jazz is no more just an American language it is universal ...but jazz will never forget his black roots...

By the way the greatest book i read 4 years agoĀ  on acoustics andĀ  revolutionary was written by an AfricanĀ  Acoustician Akpan J. EssienĀ  and specialist of the Yoruba speaking drums whose work contradicting Pythagoras was just proven right this year... I spoke about him in another thread ..

I speak too much but it can be useful i hope ...

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@mahgister

Sad but true.

Thats how Baker can play when he is not too much on drug ...šŸ˜

@mahgisterĀ 

Sad but true.

Thats how Baker can play when he is not too much on drug ...šŸ˜

Just started my listening today with Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio, Ā Speak Low. The recording is a bit compressed, but when the bass is going to town with not much more that the high hat keeping time, I smiled.

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I smile too when i listen to him...šŸ˜Š

Very good recommendation and i concur with you ...

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Just started my listening today with Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio, Ā Speak Low. The recording is a bit compressed, but when the bass is going to town with not much more that the high hat keeping time, I smiled.

Thats the problem i had....

For me Miles Davis is the best trumpet player...

No doubt ...

But Baker sing better with or without trumpet ...šŸ˜Š

I am in a bar and the dude in front of me speak and mumble a bit ...

He spoke to me right now and if you want listening Baker i can say what he spoke about with his words coming as a cigarette smoke ...

Thats how Baker can play when he is not too much on drug ...šŸ˜

And he didĀ  it two times learning anew withĀ  with no teeth...

Then he does not play as this with only his mouth it takes what we must call a soul as in Armstrong playing i forgot speaking of Miles as the best which is true as Jupiter existĀ  ...

Armstrong is the sun.... Baker is the moon ....Miles is Jupiter .... Evident for me ....

It is jazz planetology 101 ... šŸ˜Š

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@mahgister

I think Chet Baker can sing better than Miles Davis.šŸ˜

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@mahgisterĀ 

I think Chet Baker can sing better than Miles Davis.šŸ˜

I put it to reveal that not allĀ jazzĀ afficionados takes Montoliu ,underestimated in America, as a secondary pianist but as one who can rival Peterson in the same way Chet Baker rival Miles DavisĀ in his own individual way

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Iā€™ve been listening to Mammal Hands this morning. I believe they only have 7 albums out so far, but from what I have heard so far, they are well mixed and recorded.

Nothing life changing, but a very pleasant listen.

I explicitly said that i cannot approve or contradict these impressions from Richard Williams (not my impression then it is a quote) . I quote it to add to my own opinion about Montoliu ...

I put it to reveal that not all jazz afficionados takes Montoliu ,underestimated in America, as a secondary pianist but as one who can rival Peterson in the same way Chet Baker rival Miles Davis in his own individual way .

In music all great musicians are beside one another on the same podium for different reasons linked to their soul/body individual unique expression ...

i like Peterson as i like Bill Evans , Keith Jarrett , Brad Meldhau, Montoliu , or few japanese pianists unknown here or Bill Charlap etc ..

Montoliu and Bill Evans and Jarrett and Peterson are my favorite ...but the lists of the one i loved is too long to put here .....

jazz is no more an American genre for many decades after the war now ...

Jan JohanssonĀ  from sweden is one of the great jazz pianist i loveĀ  for example :

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@mahgister

How can one say that anyone is better or worse than Peterson. They are both great pianists. I can and have listened to both for days on end.

@mahgisterĀ 

How can one say that anyone is better or worse than Peterson. They are both great pianists. I can and have listened to both for days on end.

@tylermunnsĀ 

She has put some amazing music out! Iā€™m listening to her playing the Saint Louie Blues and itā€™s really hard to stop my toes from a tappinā€™!

Ā Havenā€™t listened to Black Christ in a while, so it will be next after Live At The Keystone Korner Is finished.

@curiousjimĀ When I listen toĀ Black Christ of the AndesĀ by Mary Lou Williams, I feel like Iā€™m in Heaven. The title track is one of the great pieces of music of the last 60 years to these ears.

Sticking to a theme, todayā€™s listening started with Mary Lou Williams, Ā Free Spirits and Ā  A Grand Night For Swinging.

Here some impressions i cannot entail nor contradict, but which shows how underestimated is this Spanish master of piano :

Ā«As Richard Williams has observed, Montoliu is a far more interesting pianist today than Oscar Peterson ā€“ harmonically more resourceful, more given to subtle humour and with a greater range of mood and tonal colour. Though he has developed in sophistication and technical command over the years, he remains a player of instinct and impulse and his dexterity and clarity of execution are tools waiting to do the bidding of his inventive mind.Ā»

https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2021/08/29/jj-08-81-tete-montoliu-trio-at-ronnie-scotts/

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If you want another guy who can tickle the Ivoryā€™s, check out Gerald Wiggins. The Gerald Wiggins Trio, Wiggin With The Wig.

I am in the same Montoliu day for the last three days :

This anonymus critic on amazon say it better than me :

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Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2009

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The late blind Spanish jazz piano genius Tete Montoliu made this trio recording in 1976. You will not hear a more swinging, joyful trio album than this. Jazz standards such as "Invitation", "Lament," "Lover Man", etc, receive marvelous workups from the trio, consisting of legendary bassist Neils-Henning Orsted Pederson and Albert Heath on drums. This recording is one of 2 recorded by Steeplechase Records in February of 1976. The other equally fine recording is "Tete-A Tete" which you should get as a companion to this recording. Also see my reviews of the same trio's 1974 recordings "Tete" and Catalonian Fire". Get all 4. Ā»
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I concur...

Good suggestions as usualĀ  i will listened anew my 10 albums of the one i consider the best clarinetist i ever heard ...šŸ˜Š

I am guilty of letting Daniels in oblivion this year...

@mahgister

Iā€™m not sure there is a bad Eddie Danielā€™s album. Clarinet or Sax, always a good performance.

@mahgister

Iā€™m not sure there is a bad Eddie Danielā€™s album. Clarinet or Sax, always a good performance.

With 50 albums of Montoliu i am now in my second day of exclusive Montoliu listenings ...

Ā Which album is the better ...I dont know ... šŸ˜Š

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I only discovered 50 of them ....on near 100 possible ...

We can debate if he is beside Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett , but he is not far from them in creativity and originality ... I dislike none of all the albums i listened too ... I can listen to him for days as Bill Evans or Keith Jarrett ... I own 50 of Montoliu and near 100 of Evans and near 100 of Jarrett ...

I dont need to upgrade my gear but i needĀ  to upgrade regularlyĀ  my musical country ... šŸ˜Š

i came to you and few others here for suggestions ...

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I have been listening to Tete Montoliu all day today. I never realized that he had or played on so many albums.

I have been listening to Tete Montoliu all day today. I never realized that he had or played on so many albums.

Tete Montoliu withĀ Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Tommy Potter, and Kenny Clarke

Roland KirkĀ  as Sun Ra live in their own planet...šŸ˜Š

Some artists cannot be judged according to our taste but must be investigated so unique they are ...

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Tete Montoliu withĀ Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Tommy Potter, and Kenny Clarke

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Tete Montoliu with Archie Shepp, Lars Gullin, Niels-Henning Ƙrsted Pedersen, and Alex Riel

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Tete Montoliu with Dexter Gordon,Ā Niels-Henning Ƙrsted Pedersen, and Alex RielĀ 

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Only Bill Evans for me rival Montoliu by far ...

Yet he is not American then not well known as it is a genius pianist ... ( Keith Jarrett in third in my best of jazz pianists)

As for Evans i can listen to him without fatigue...

I own 50 albums on the 100 available ...

Why this musician is not more well known here in America ?

https://www.amazon.ca/Beyond-Sketches-Spain-Montoliu-Construction/dp/0197549284

Beyond Sketches of Spain: Tete Montoliu and the Construction of Iberian Jazz by Benjamin Fraser

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Ā«No musician did more to shape Iberian jazz than pianist VicenƧ Montoliu i Massana (1933ā€“1997), who was known simply as ā€œTete.ā€ Reflecting his fascination with the modernist aesthetics of mid-century jazz, Tete Montoliu was known for his quick fingering, his carefully crafted mix of lyricism and dissonance, his penchant for discordant crashes, and his development of highly original compositions. He boasted some 100 recordings spanning Denmark, Germany, Holland, Spain, and the United States, and performed with the most notable jazz luminaries, including Lionel Hampton, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Dexter Gordon, and Archie Shepp. Acknowledging and drawing musical inspiration from the Black American jazz form, Tete fashioned an adjacent critical space shaped by his experiences as a Catalan and a person with congenital visual impairment living under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Beyond Sketches of Spain: Tete Montoliu and the Construction of Iberian Jazz explores the artistā€™s life, musical production, and international reception within a cultural studies framework. This book moves beyond mere sketches of Spanish nationhood to challenge conventional scholarly narratives and recover links between the United States, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and Europe in the investigation of an impressive and often overlooked transnational modern jazz legacy. Eschewing Theodore Adornoā€™s denigration of Black American jazz, a more compelling model is found in Fumi Okijiā€™s notion of gathering in difference. In this work, Benjamin Fraser deftly mixes musical biography with urban history, spatial theory, and disability studies, fashioning a highly readable text for readers from all disciplines.

@pjw81563

... and yet another is "Journeyā€™s End" on ECM with John Surman.

YouTube only has one track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRyDDBeOWCA&list=RDwRyDDBeOWCA&index=2

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BTW, have there been previous discussions of John Surman, here?Ā 

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Thanks it really interested me ...šŸ˜Š I will go for a hunt ... I am already buying some ...

My honored salutations and thanks for your helping ears ...

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@mahgister Here is an interesting Charles Lloyd article. Lloyd got his start with the great drummer Chico Hamiltonā€™s quintet.

It has a list of recommended albums of the best Charles Lloyd collaborations with the Chico Hamilton Quintet.

Charles Lloyd: Defiant Warrior Still On Song article @ All About Jazz

Here is one of the suggested albums on the list. It features the great Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo as well

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@ho249Ā ThatĀ Miroslav Vitous session is great.

At that time (late 60s I believe) Vitous, IMHO, was a great bass player and composer/arranger. The album Mountain in the Clouds was originally released titled Infinite Search.

Vitous later became a core member of Weather Report.

Here is another really good session by Vitous

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@mahgisterĀ Here is an interesting Charles Lloyd article. Lloyd got his start with the great drummer Chico Hamilton's quintet.

It has a list of recommended albums of the best Charles Lloyd collaborations with the Chico Hamilton Quintet.

Charles Lloyd: Defiant Warrior Still On Song article @ All About Jazz

Here is one of the suggested albums on the list. It features the great Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo as well

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I enjoyed it too..šŸ˜Š

I never realized that they exist many albums...

@pjw81563Ā 

Iā€™m listening to The Montreal Tapes now and I am throughly enjoying it.

@pjw81563Ā 

Iā€™m listening to The Montreal Tapes now and I am throughly enjoying it. Ā I plan on listening to the other one, dated 1996/1997 next.šŸ˜

@curiousjimĀ I bought a copy ofĀ Steve Gadd Band maybe 4-5 years ago and don't think I've even broken the shrink wrap yet! haha Guess I need to check it out.

None of the albums i know of this pianist is bad...(49 albums)šŸ˜

How many pianist can rival Bill Evans? For me none, save Montoliu rythmic colorsĀ  inventiveness which i put beside EvansĀ  poetical lyricism...

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This album of Chet Baker at the end of his career is moving...And we see that drugs could impede him but not kill his genius ...

Read the interesting article about Chet behaviour with the public ...

https://jazzfromitaly.blogspot.com/2010/05/chet-baker-trio-live-from-moonlight.html

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Has anyone here ever heard of the Steve Gadd Band? Ā Iā€™m listening to their Self Titled album from 2018 and itā€™s really nice.