George Benson.
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.
31,615 responses Add your response
Chzaro and Ghosthouse, maybe you will like this band (if you have not listened it already) Cant believe that its already 20 yeras passed since I' ve heard it first time. Still fine music, would like to hear them live in some club. Liquid soul https://youtu.be/OkJjhC2790g?list=PLPS7mgHPfB4tuC_6IPi9icTrPVYtXh1yN |
Chazro - THANKS. Found it on the Spot and Tidal too. Safari playing now. Great stuff. Smooth sailin’ groove for sure. Were you the one turned me on to Sao Paolo Ska Jazz? It was in another thread. Not sure. Anyway, if the Sao Paolo name is new to you, check ’em out. I got the 2009 self-titled release. I see just now they have a 2016 release, "Gringo". Haven’t heard that one yet. Thanks again for this Anatomy of a Groove. Alex - okay...found Liquid Soul Equinox on Spotify but couldn't find it on Tidal (there's a Techno outfit with the same name). YES...this works for me. Circling back to our earlier exchange, what/who do you recommend for trombone in either a newer "funk/fusion/jazz" style as this in this Liquid Should OR in a BeBop or HardBop style. The only name I know is J.J. Johnson but don't know much of his work. Love that 'bone solo in Safari. |
Ghosthouse, glad you like it. I am not a person that can recommend much in a 'fusion' department, but could try with something older. Posted this before, but since there is not much going on here now, hope nobody would object. 'Bob Brookmeyer (trombone) and Friends' (Getz, Hancock,Carter, Burton, Jones) from 1964. https://youtu.be/_9nOfu1tssE https://youtu.be/NvE4WEOJ9dY https://youtu.be/5C9QRnJlco0 https://youtu.be/_fgoFCEpkd0 |
Great Dee Dee Bridgewater clip, Rok. She sounds fantastic, rhythm section is excellent and James Carter is on fire. I don’t know about anyone else, but it seems like a pretty great party to me and would put it up there with some of the best. It also goes to a couple of the recent points made. Alex points out that earlier periods in the evolution of jazz styles were more easily defined by name (swing, bop, etc) and recognized stylistically. There is some truth to this, but I don’t agree entirely. Seems to me that the reason there is truth to this is fairly obvious. The further back you go in the evolution of jazz, the "simpler" the music is with more easily followed melodies, less complex harmonies and simpler rhythms. This is no reflection on the sophistication in the performace of it. The closer you move toward the present the more complex the harmonies are with much more dissonance and complexity of rhythms; it puts more demands on the listener. Additionally, with each successive period in the history of the music there are more influences as part of the mix. The influence of World Musics on modern jazz is huge. Take a basic bean soup....add a lot of ham and potatoes....is it still a soup or is it a stew?....add rice and sausage....is it a stew or a gumbo? Harder to define. Does it matter? Even on this thread there has been quite a bit of confusion and misunderstanding about wether a particular performance is swing, bebop etc.. This ambiguity is one of the reasons that I think it’s pointless to try and so finely define the styles. To what end? I think we sometimes develop a bias against or for a particular style based on preconceived notions. Example: many jazz lovers don’t think too highly of Dixieland Jazz; yet, much of Louis Armstrong’s rightly revered music was "Dixieland", but it is seldom referred to as such. Every period in music, including the present, has excellent jazz and the "best" is seldom found in the "retro" stuff. The retro stuff will never be as good as the original stuff; it is in the new stuff where the "best" of any period can be found. I prefer to focus on the excellence (or not) of the execution instead of the "style". Speaking of which: "Liquid Soul" is just one of the "not easily defined" modern styles. Some would call it "Acid Jazz". Not sure why it’s called that, but I do know that it’s kind of fun and funky and pretty well executed. I like it ok, but if I was in the mood for something like that I would much prefer to listen to this which pushes similar buttons for me, but is executed on a higher level compositionally, improvisation-wise and overall level of skill. Not retro in 1975: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ylTE9yLRb6g https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0cDxDnKt53M Ghosthouse asked about trombone players in funk/fusion. One of the Crusader’s founders was trombonist Wayne Henderson. Great Bob Brookmeyer clips, thanks Alex. |
Ghosthouse, here is another ’newer’ (he started in 70’s) artist and album that I have, that you might like. Its Rodney Jones, he played with some all time Jazz greats, as well album is ’Soul Manifesto’ https://youtu.be/2WzVpix59vU Charlie Hunter is another name that comes to my mind https://youtu.be/WXpUzsrMBC0 Again, another trombone player (from the past),also posted it before ’Bill Harris and friends’ (again) and they are Webster, Rowles,Mitchell,Levey recorded in 1957 https://youtu.be/WXpUzsrMBC0 https://youtu.be/au17d5LLSA8 https://youtu.be/Ks4ebGaMDTQ Frogman, question for you. I believe that today there is much less music that is composed for ’classical’ performing than it was in the past. Still, except from modern, disonant music, do you find that composed work is following some older patterns or it is created with some new influences, like the ones that are present in modern jazz? |
Alex - You might find these enjoyable, or not! though I hope you do. Tracks 4 & 11 from Rachel Grimes' album, The Clearing. Contemporary chamber music. Track 4 with jazz influence. Track 11, mainly solo piano. I've mentioned this album before. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BymIWJKOvl8&ab_channel=TemporaryResidenceLtd https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kGctHnWZDo&ab_channel=RachelGrimes-Topic |
Rachel Grimes: They use this stuff to put you under before surgery. They start the 'music', then tell you to count down from 10 backwards. With this 'Jazz', I don't remember saying 'Nine'. You people do realize Jazz came from the blues and was played in houses whore houses in New Orleans? You do know that? Cheers |
acman31,286 posts11-04-2016 8:14amI have never been to a whore house, but I am pretty sure they don't play Jazz or Blues.Did you ever had sex and played "Highway to Hell"? LOL, You might be a red neck! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYw4aItvb4w |
Alex, while you are correct in that there is, overall, less Classical music being composed today than during the most prolific periods in the music (the "Classical" period of the second half of the eighteenth century was the most prolific), there is a great deal of it still being composed. Not all of it is "dissonant" and a distinction should be made between "dissonance" and "atonality". I think that your analogy to jazz is a good one. While modern composers definitely build upon established traditions of composition technique as expressed by the great composers before them, the good ones have their own individual musical vision that they often express by breaking many of those traditions through novel use of harmony and rhythm; fundamentally, much the same way that a jazz artist composes or improvises. As always, all in the context of the idea that "any good art reflects the time of its creation". |
Chazro, really liked the Brazilian Groove Band. Great chart; groovy and funky with a touch of that great "up" and traditionally Brazilian "Carnaval" vibe. I’m always a sucker for a great baritone sound and the drummer is killer with a great snare sound. Thanks for that. We recently touched on the role of the producer re CTI records. Overly produced music which aspires to stay in the (wide) realm of "Jazz" is usually a drag. Somehow, eventhough the engineer and artists might be the same, some CTI recordings (not all) tend to sound overly produced, imo. However, when "production" becomes a complete vehicle for the expression of the music the results can be great in their way. I was listening to this earlier today and thought that Ghosthouse, guitar-phile that he is, might find the guitar player (Jon Herrington) on this interesting. Killer sound and very tasty solos with a Jeff Beck-like touch. Definitely not jazz, and like it or not (I like it....sometimes....sometimes I almost hate it) the production values are amazing. In a whorehouse? Maybe: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6xk8x4bV8Mc https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Td_kLBqDqE |
Frogman - Love Steely Dan? Love Jon Herrington. Very familiar with the latest Fagen solo project. Just listening to it the other day. Not sure why one would ever be inclined to hate such as that (though it is not Fagen's strongest, I don't think). Sure, it's not jazz (especially as Rok defines it) but much of the music by Fagen, Becker and the Dan is definitely informed by jazz. You might find this piece featuring Herrington interesting... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhboYQHDRI4&ab_channel=PremierGuitar As a musician, I hope you will enjoy this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p0uSTcv7t8&ab_channel=bulleto79 There are in fact a series of related videos featuring Fagen and Bernhardt discussing the SD album Aja. Closing thought.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eLEVZ_q9eU&ab_channel=SteelyDan-Topic |
Jon Herrington, check, CTI, check! CTI tried to make a comeback in the early 90's releasing an interesting group of recordings. Unfortunately, the effort failed fairly quickly. One of the 1st was Chroma - Music On The Edge - taken from a live 1990 performance in Japan featuring an all-star line-up. The band was made more interesting by the fact that they went the ol'skool R&R route by opting for two lead gtrs, Mike Stern & Jon Herrington! CTI had a certain style of over-produced product that became their 'signature' sound. This sounds nothing like that! But anyone who's listened to CTI also knows they released a number of killa Fusion recordings. Fusion's always has had it's detractors, here and elsewhere but I'll always fly my F flag high!;) Unfortunately, this particular cut doesn't feature the horn section, that was on fire that night, Randy Brecker (tpt) and the late, great Bob Berg (sax). Oh yeah, this ain't yo daddy's Jazz, so if you give it a listen, don't forget to turn it up!!;) https://youtu.be/0Ba1PqlbcbI I know this isn't the type of music usually discussed on this thread, it's cool to see the diversity of the genre manifesting itself every once in a while. I'm sure yr regularly scheduled programming will be back in due course!;) |
****Not sure why one would ever be inclined to hate****(Fagen) Alex, I have been a fan of Steely Dan since college days forty (!) years ago and still have all their lp’s. I am more mixed about Fagen’s solo efforts which go even further into that slick, "urban-hip" sensibility and, as such, I have always had a love-hate relationship with his solo efforts. Notice I said that "sometimes" I hate "Sunken Condos" it is like my feeling about "The Nightfly". Sometimes I think that "The Nightfly" is a masterpiece. "Kamakiriad" leaves me absolutely cold. This is not the first time that I been asked why I feel this way and the best way I can describe why I feel this way is found in an article about an interview with Fagen that I saved a while back. The author does a fantastic job of putting into words Fagen’s personality and demeanor. From the interview: "When he speaks, he seems so contemptuous at his need to communicate to the outside world " What he describes is precisely the feeling that some of his music projects for me in spite of its many excellent qualities. This is an interesting example of the subjective/objective dilemma. From an objective standpoint it is, within that genre, compositionally great, the production values are state of the art and the playing is fantastic and "perfect". Subjectively, I am not always in the mood for its personality. Interesting reading for SD fans: http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/music/114035/shanah-tova-from-donald-fagen "Aja"’s title cut features the great Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone. In 1985 Shorter released "Atlantis", what I think is, after Herbie Hancock’s "Headhunters", my favorite fusion recording. Very interesting compositions with a compositional depth not always found in the genre and great playing: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z3qXILIfPuw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uyhXnCN5Tic https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bYjfHviuOGM |
Hello Frogman - I did realize for whom your comments were intended. Appreciate you taking the time to explain. I asked strictly out of curiosity. Fagen is a case study in "supercilious" - though that hasn’t diminished my own enjoyment of his music. To my mind, that attitude has been something of a Steely Dan trademark, so not limited to Fagen alone. I do appreciate how an emotional response to the artist (or lack thereof) independent of any artistic-merit considerations can affect "receptivity". I encourage your view of The Nightfly as a "masterpiece", however. FWIW - Michael Jackson would be good corollary in my own little universe. Thanks for the tip on Wayne Shorter’s "Atlantis". I note we are contemporaries given college being some 40 years in the past. To Rok - I doubt "fusion" is free at Madame Dupree’s. |
Fabulous! Definitely whore-house material....as if I knew...not! Great chart and great feel. Fabulous plunger solo on trumpet. Once again, don't know where the "no more good new jazz" crowd is coming from. Dee Dee sounds great and I never heard heard such an obvious Biily Holiday influence and even a bit of Leon Thomas type "yodeling" thrown in. Good stuff! All this talk about ladies of the night made me think of this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mxVo5mjK4eg https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLO2wh9neLtRY6HqOq7kozUzaTKc1t4TRm&v=rctESG7Ht84 Ghosthouse, I agree with your comments re SD but I do think that Fagen's solo projects go even deeper into the sensibility that I am trying to describe and somewhat away from the R&R sensibility that, even with all the Jazz and other "inform"ation, was still at the heart of SD's music (Becker?). My reaction is just a personal one and, to be clear, it has nothing to do with any knowledge of Fagen's personality as described in that interview; the vibe of his personality seems more obvious in the music of his solo projects, as expected. Not sure about the MJ reference. I get it in broad terms, but for me MJ is not in the gategory of great musicians so comparison to someone like DF seems a bit strained and, for me, different "rules" apply to MJ. MJ was a fabulous entertainer in a genre unapolagetically "pop" and whose final product depended on the producer's (Quincy Jones) hand to a great extent; not the case with DF. |
Frogman - okay! I do think I get it. Not disputing anything you've said. We can let it rest. Just brought up MJ as an example of a personal case somewhat analogous to yours (yes, imperfect) where someone's professional credentials (whether pop, R&B, musician or entertainer) just don't get me past subjective issues with that individual...not to mention taste (absence of) for the music style. You bring up QJ...I'll repeat again the great admiration I have for the "behind the scenes" talents in the studio...arrangers, producers, engineers (anything else?). That would be a good thread: a listing of the standouts in each of these 3 areas. |
Speaking of arrangers, one of the greatest arrangers and band leaders of all time and one who doesn't get enough recognition. Of course, it helps to have a band like this; incredible lineup. Amazing groove from a rhythm section that doesn't have to play loud and amazing precision and warmth from the brass. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZLvqXFddu0 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hTFhcL-YrDU |
Thanks, Frogman. Interesting stuff. Wish I lived closer to the city. Would be great to be able to get in on a Monday night to hear the Vangard Jazz Orchestra. A bit of living history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thad_Jones/Mel_Lewis_Orchestra I especially enjoyed Roland Hanna's piano work on Groove Merchant. (Seem to enjoy playing that uses a lot of chords.) Reading about Jones, there are connections to other names...Count Basie, Elvin Jones, Bob Brookmeyer and Tommy Flanagan. Reflects the jazz "community", I suppose. |
@jafant If you have not yet, check out Discogs. See link below. Looks like the original CD release year was 2004 in Sweden. That release available from a US seller for $115. A Canadian release (1986) is much more affordably priced. US release date was 1996. Of course, this assumes the Discogs release history is complete and accurate. Good luck. https://www.discogs.com/Arne-Domnérus-Jazz-At-The-Pawnshop/master/244008 |
Thad Jones / Mel Lewis: This is one of my most recent buys. Two CD set and an outstanding booklet. This time we have Hank Jones on Piano. Sir Roland and the Sax section were awesome on The clip by The Frogman. When I hear saxophones playing together like that, I always think of Ellington. They didn't sound like his band, but the Duke had an awesome reed section. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHDX4Ds5Kp0 BTW, listening to music like this, Jazz-Jazz, can be addictive to Fusion Followers. Next thing you know, you'll be calling folks 'noise makers'. Just a friendly warning. The Frogman: great clip. I have found a way to open your stuff. Cheers |
Thad Jones was a very innovative arranger and exploited the saxophone section with long sinewy saxophone "solis": the section playing long harmonized musical lines. Great conductor, he was in the "performance mix" more so than most big band leaders with the way that he shaped an arrangement by controlling and cueing the dynamics of the band. One watches him lead the band and it's almost as if he is part of the rhythm section with his body movements and handclaps, all the while shaping the dynamics of the performance. He got his start as an arranger while a member of the trumpet section in Count Basie's band. Not only was he a great arranger he was a great trumpet player: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IL78WhqILZQ The Vanguard jazz orchestra has been a cornerstone of NYC's Jazz scene for decades keeping Thad's flame alive and where the best current players can be heard. Some of my favorite saxophone writing by Thad: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4MSMgwknQlI Great clip of the Thad&Mel mini-documentary, btw. |
@jafant There is a near mint 1986 release of JATPS in the Discogs marketplace for $21.50 + $3.50 shipping. The seller, "youkall", has a 100% rating. Here’s the link to it. https://www.discogs.com/sell/item/362284812 |
Article about Miles Davis from the WSJ. A neighbor and fellow music lover sent the link. It might be of interest. http://www.wsj.com/articles/miles-davis-quintet-freedom-jazz-dance-the-bootleg-series-vol-5-review-1...= |
Imo, some of the most sublime music ever recorded in any genre: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ju02Q2dfYDw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=thCsu5ZvPlo And, a propos current events: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qMPdRgYLDDw |
Found this nice 3 piece set of Dexter Gordon. Solid all the way 'round https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woVHjtWaVoY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfmiRnPjLCA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVEA6dLRbOs |
It has been so long since I posted on this thread that I was wondering if I should knock on the door and wait for somebody to let me in. Never the less, moving right along, I will share with you some of the hippest jazz of the 50's'. This CD is titled "Miles Davis, Jazz Showcase"; this CD trains the spotlight on Miles working with an array of musicians, including Thelonious Monk, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Max Roach, and Horace Silver; plus there are more; it's a compilation of "Prestige" albums he made about that time. I remember this as a time when Miles was known primarily to the hippest jazz collectors; the ones where unmistakable fragrances wafted through their screen door in the Summer time. (no AC) What prompted me to post this was the fact I didn't immediately recognize it. (as you know, my computer play list goes for 24 a day, and music is always emanating from the speakers) It's not at all unusual for me not to know who the artists are. While I was sure about Miles, I thought the guy on piano was Monk, but it was Walter Bishop. Sonny Rollins and Charley Parker both were on tenor saxophones; now you can see how I blew that one. I remember the cover on this LP, but that was a long time ago; it's possible I made the same mistake even then; "who's on first", I mean who's on tenor? This music is so "righteous" that it expresses a particular time, a time when I would have aided those who were causing the fragrances to waft through the front screen door; I would never let a friend down. This entire CD is so complete; once you get in that time frame, you're locked into the music. Each cut reminds me of old friends engaging in a conversation; music after each solo fits so well with whatever was played before it, and before you know it, you have listened to the entire CD. What a pleasant way to pass the time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COw0fe7OBqc Enjoy the music. |
For you Jafant, here is more Miles Davis; this is the first Miles, the original Miles; there are so many Miles Davis's that you would think he might have a "Replicator", Calvin, as in "Calvin and Hobbes" had one. I knew more people that knew Miles than you can shake a stick at, including his brother, but I never met Miles. While all the people who loved Miles didn't love all of Miles music; it was like with some of his music, "You can stay, but that music got to go", and Miles knew this; he even mentioned it in his book. The music I'm presenting is that of the first Miles, the music that the people loved, who loved Miles Davis; he kept all his eggs in one basket at this time. This is from "The Modern Jazz Giants" on the Prestige label, and the musicians with him are certainly jazz giants; we have: Miles, Milt, Monk, Percy Heath on bass, and Kenny Clark on drums. These musicians are so compatible; they even go to the same parties; I have pictures of all of them in Nica's photography book, "Three Wishes". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McLt-OaNzNk This music is ageless, it will never get old; it's the music I listen to while reminiscing about settings where this was the background music; Paris at a Bistro maybe, but no matter where, I was always surrounded by super hip people. It don't git no better than this. Enjoy the music. |