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.
31,621 responses Add your response
I can tell you liked that other Yoko's music about as well as I did; some things I just don't get, and that was one of them. This Yoko is sounding so good, I had to play her again. I hear real roots jazz, certainly not "stereotypical", plus she is most certainly new to me; therefore, I will have to put the Yoko Miwa Trio in the best new jazz I've heard recently, that must be added to my collection; she's genuinely fresh. Sonny Rollins and Don Cherry is a side of Don, that I've never heard before, but this was before he went into his "world music" phase. It's all good. |
The very best music is that which has withstood the test of time and repeats; no matter how many times you've heard it, it still sounds good. Such music in my collection that exists, I will share it with you; The Jazz Crusaders, "Young Rabbits" is such a cut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA7f9HIXox4 Another one by the same crew is "Freedom Sound"; that reminds me, I don't have enough of this good music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Jb72PZAls Enjoy the music. |
You know you like it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mshJwa4aXrM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThsSe6pLlJo Cheers |
2016 was such a lousy year. Bringing back memories of better times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0RRSBoOfsg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wG6Cgmgn5U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrRhkY9CIz8 Cheers |
Killer Jeff Beck and Imelda May. One of my favorites and sexiest singer around (works for me!). Girl can sing: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_HKYMhgsso https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8rJBg0pkFyI Happy New Year all! |
It's so interesting how I've changed since I began this thread; it's like the old self looking at the new self. The old self was open to any and everything, while the new self is not nearly as accommodating as the old self. Let me explain completely; I have been influenced by other threads on this forum such as analog, and to a degree, various other threads and audiophiles. This forum offers the "jazz audiophile" a smorgasbord of new information that can be included in his pursuit of higher levels of enjoyment; records are where it's at, but not "audiophile" records, the records that are already in a "jazz aficionado's" collection. I am absolutely astounded at how much more music can be retrieved from those old records. While I will still entertain any new jazz being presented, my pursuit will be spiraling in on the classic, mostly deceased artists that we have already discussed. When I began to improve my rig was when I began to hear more; like the RIAA curve for example, it's different on different labels. Presently I don't have the funds to pursue such esoteric differences in records, but this new found knowledge is intriguing, especially when you consider how it was different on Prestige, Decca, and other various older labels. Since this is a "New Year", I thought it might be important to introduce the "new me." Happy New Year! Enjoy the music. |
I knew you would have something to say about that; maybe not. I got a new cartridge, paid more than I could afford, but my old records are sounding brand new; almost anyway, still got some clicks and pops here and there, but I keep running across records I haven't even played, and that's always fun. Since I quit buying records, probably about the same time you quit, they're all old records,but they sure sound good, and I got more of them than I realized; anyway I'm like a kid who just discovered a new toy. Enjoy the music. |
This is one of the albums that was like new, and I don't remember it; that's always fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TMd3-Siamc |
Today's Listen: Les McCann -- LES McCANN LTD. IN SAN FRANCISCO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15nuTmg7rNo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Bd1WnSRgo A nice enough album, but nothing ground breaking here. I don't know if McCann is searching for the next "Swiss Movement", or I just judge everything he does by Swiss Movement. He does try hard on all outings to please his audience and get them involved. I applaud him for that. The clips are of the two tunes I liked best. It's that sort of album where the fast stuff, played LOUD, is the more satisfying. I lost focus on the standards. I missed the horns of Swiss Movement. Cheers |
Although I most certainly liked the music, I wouldn't rush out and buy the album. Think about it, if you were one of the people in the audience, you would have had a very special evening. No artist produces one album after another as good as his best. At the moment I can't think of any artist I could rely on 100% of the time. This came on right after Less; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coHUt4si8Oo That was right on time; "Sweet memories of better times, when I was much younger of course". That makes me glad I enjoyed those times when I did, because I just can't see a whole lot to enjoy now. Then I felt safe and comfortable in the city, and no way would I live way out in the burbs where you could hear the grass grow. Now, I like the sound of the grass growing. Enjoy the music. |
My two songs for the moment; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QJyyznbqUg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKIrqC2QUvg |
Today's Listen: Dee Dee Bridgewater -- KEEPING TRADITION She just has to be the standard when it comes to female Jazz singing. Band is great also. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2svuvsYlzlc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWtT-I-8_eI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMUoPect67c Cheers |
Jafant, I've wasted as much time as I'm going to waste in an attempt to move forward. Now that I have resolved that issue within myself, every evening is an enjoyable event; especially since I've made some improvements, and the jazz masters never sounded so good. To quote that great philosopher "Forest Gump", "That's all I have to say about that". |
New for 2017: Gary Smulyan,"Royalty At Le Duc". Smoking baritone saxophonist; the best on the scene today. Ralph Towner, "My Foolish Heart". John Abercrombie, "Up And Coming". Peter Erskine. I've heard he has a new one coming this year. Should be great from this great drummer of "Steps Ahead" and "Weather Report" fame. Steve Slagle. Same. Very interesting alto player who usually stays behind the scenes. |
Out of the many female jazz vocalists, I don't recall anyone mentioning Dianne Schuur. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkFeiXkq1qM This is "The Man I Love". |
Fortunately, new musicians are judged on a different basis from the way I judge them; I compare them to the masters, and that's somewhat unfair, but so be it. New musicians are judged by the needs of the populace for "live" entertainment, and that's the basis by which they are judged. An example of a group that did well in New York, that get's a "what tha---" from me, is "Kid Creole and The Coconuts". I have a record of theirs that I'm sure is like new because I never play it. I liked their first hit; http://us.napster.com/artist/gary-smulyan That was Dr. Buzzards Original Savannah Band, and then they changed to "Kid Creole and The Coconuts" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC658OJpclE My point is; I want to sit in the sweet spot, listen and go on musical journeys, while other people want to go out and be entertained; that's good for new musicians, and I'm glad for them. Enjoy the music. |
Is it epiphany or regression? At the risk of casting pearls.... From Takeshi Nishimoto's "Lavandula": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGEeRgiQsXE&ab_channel=TakeshiNishimoto-Topic Might not be jazz and if it is, sure ain't old school - but it's beautiful. Greetings in the new year. |
Lavandula was nice; it definitely takes you on a musical journey, and it most certainly is not "Stereotypical". some might say it's not "jazz"; so what, either you like it or you don't, and I like it. Takeshi Nishimoto is someone I've never heard of, nor does he sound like anyone I've heard; that's good, it makes me want to hear whatever else he has to offer. Thanks for a good clip. |
Very pleased to hear your take on it as a musical journey, O. After I posted the link was thinking exactly that and how it related to your earlier post. The whole LP does indeed make for a nice musical journey. Master Nishimoto is a superb tour guide. The entirety will be worth your while, if you are so inclined. Personally, it took a while for me to get my head around it. Couldn’t make sense of the individual compositions initially. It kept drawing me back though...maybe ’cause the sonics and textures are so appealing. Anyway, some things really do get better with repeated listening. |
In regard to "regression"; presently, I'm attempting to stay in a steady state of "mellowness"; that is the same frame of mind I have always preferred; maybe I'm regressing back to that. In regard to music, I just ordered a CD, "The Diverse Yuseff Lateef" because my vinyl copy was too noisy. I thought about replacing Grant Green "Idle Moments" LP, but since they're asking "50. bucks, my old LP really doesn't sound that bad; "equanimity" sounds like a good word to express my attempted state of mind. (it's fun to use a word when You're not quite sure what it means, lets look it up) am-webster.com/dictionary/equanimity Both "equanimity" and "equal" are derived from "aequus," a Latin adjective meaning "level" or "equal." "Equanimity" comes from the combination of "aequus" and "animus" ("soul" or "mind") in the Latin phrase aequo animo, which means "with even mind." Equanimity | Define Equanimity at Dictionary.com Sounds close enough. My old music is still sounding very good in rotation with anything new that I acquire; I don't know if that's regression or not; I'll let you make the call. Yes, I am so inclined and will place that CD on order. Enjoy the music. |
Hey, O - good luck getting the Lavandula CD. First run sold out at "Sonic Pieces", the Berlin label he records on. 2nd edition was produced but their on-line shop is closed until Jan 25. I did find a downloadable version available at Junodownload (WAV, FLAC, ALAC & AIFF) if you roll that way ;-) otherwise you'll have to wait for the Sonic Pieces store to reopen. And don't believe that mention of "we're closed but you can buy our stuff at ANOST" if you click on <<Purchase CD>>. Can't tell you how much time I wasted looking around the ANOST site for it. http://www.junodownload.com/products/takeshi-nishimoto-lavandula/2243115-02/ http://www.sonicpieces.com/sonicpieces018.html |
w/respect to "mellowness". Frogman had turned me on to Pat Martino. Came across his El Hombre (Rudy Van Gelder remaster) - debut from 1967. It is very good BUT I also this evening stumbled onto his 1998 Stone Blue. VERY impressed with this one. Especially the remake of "Joyous Lake" it contains. Sax (4:30) and Piano (7:50) solos are excellent. Don’t know the other musicians, maybe you do. Personnel Pat Martino – guitar Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone Delmar Brown – keyboards James Genus – bass Kenwood Dennard – drums, percussion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBsyQmorCIM&ab_channel=aseaoffaces |
Ghosthouse, when I pay money, I want something I can hold in my hand. I tried that way before, and 1 out of 3 worked properly. As you stated, you've got (WAV, FLAC, ALAC & AIFF). This is compatible with that, but not the other thing, and when all that stuff gets all mixed up in your computer, the poor machine gets confused; so much for that. Enjoy the music. |
O - I know what you mean about the tangible thing. With the download files, you can of course burn them to a CD if you want. I'm holding out for a physical CD myself so will let you know when the Sonic Pieces on-line shop re-opens. @jafant - check out those couple of Pat's I mentioned. Very enjoyable. |
Rok, I know you're dreaming of some newly discovered Blue Note killers from the 60's, but if they were not released, there is a very good reason; it explains why half the "newly discovered cuts" on Mosaic ain't weren't worth squat; they should have left them in the vaults under double lock and key. There were so many "killers" to come out at the same time, that some of them slipped past unnoticed; you can peruse "You tube" and find them by selecting your favorite years; they came out on all the labels. Once you make these discoveries, post them so we can all; Enjoy the music. |
BLUE NOTE A story of modern jazz; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRCWHWQoIIY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNAjQBOP-lU A few Blue Note jazz artists couldn't read music; of course all the most famous could read music. Jazz artists who couldn't read music didn't go around with a sign on their chest stating that fact, but it was a fact, and how they could jam; they played with the most famous Blue Note artists and also made albums of their own. Jazz is primarily expressing what you feel in the jazz idiom of that time. The cities were so much different in the 60's; I thought the South Side of Chicago was paradise; South Shore drive, the lake; Chicago was the hippest city in the world, so much live entertainment; violence seemed to be restricted mostly to the West Side, and although gangs existed, the South Side was jazz land, not gang land. I always lived in the city, never far from the action; within walking distance of live entertainment, I loved it. BLUE NOTE JAZZ has the feel and movement of the city; Chicago, St. Louis, New York, but not LA; it had a different feel and movement; notice how different West Coast jazz is from BLUE NOTE Jazz. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aeVlQtsaFE&list=PLKMUFgFPQJ9xkZMmJODD29vJUoWlCa_1G It's only been since this thread that I diverged. It was when I realized that I was making a job of trying to find new jazz that it happened; but good music is not isolated to jazz; music without a category can sound good. Enjoy the music |
Today's Listen: Gene Ammons' All Stars -- THE BIG SOUND All the sax players solo on 'The Real McCoy' I am sure all you aficionados can determine the players in the correct order. :) Love the flute playing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcCuEkphSvU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B04DP0aofc Cheers |
Rok, that is one fantastic album that I don't think I have, but must have it. "Paul Quinichette" is someone we haven't discussed enough. I remember a long time ago, I was kind of on the outside of a conversation between The Big Boys; "Heavy jazz aficionados", and I decided to jump in with something about "Paul Quinichette", and I pronounced it like it's spelled; before I finished a disc jockey corrected me with "You mean Quinishay, don't you"; since that time I have never forgotten how to pronounce his name. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9u6Mu3nmdE&list=PLUu75SmcBfnbR4qecbbYwZtIYUw_LWAza This recording quality doesn't sound worth two cents; I hope the CD is better if I get it. This is the "new jazz" I'm going to focus on. Enjoy the music. |
Today's Listen #2: Gene Ammons and his All Stars -- GROOVE BLUES I got this one along with 'The Big Sound'. Same lineup as 'The Big Sound'. Recorded the same day, or over a couple of days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUEyIv6KXPs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks2NxO8xNYE Cheers |
Rok, I have that one; I recall that's the way he sounded at the clubs, and on the juke box in the late 50's and very early 60's. He is one of the very few artists that you can't go wrong with; at the moment I can't think who the other one is; they're just that few. I must have his last albums in the early 70's, because these are the one's after a style change; they were more serious. Now that we can get all the old albums that I don't have, I see no reason to waste time and finances on most of the other stuff. Of course if anyone else find's something exceptional, that will be icing on the cake. Let me know what you find available by Quinichette. I'm really enjoying your music tonight. |