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.
That’s the point of what I wrote above. There aren’t any. I have heard Sanborn play in more straight ahead settings as part of special event TV shows (including his own late night show years ago), award shows, etc. He can work his way through a set of changes more complicated than in most Pop tunes, but It’s not his forte. It’s kind of the reverse of the way that, for instance, Lee Konitz playing in a one chord funky groove would sound….kinda weird. The genre doesn’t need much of that boundless harmonic skill, it needs a certain attitude and sound. |
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David Sanborn is the most imitated alto player in the Pop/Jazz-Funk-R&B style, Not an improviser on the level of harmonic sophistication of the recently mentioned alto players. However, in a funky setting he is the best. One hears a tone and general attitude that is clearly borrowing from Sanborn from countless alto saxophone players in genres that lean more to Rock and/or Smooth Jazz. Not a put down all all. He has tons of what pjw recently referred to as (great) “emotional improvisation”. Playing stuff that leans to bebop, that highly stylized, acerbic tone of his sounds a little out of place and unwieldy. But, man, playing a Pop ballad or funky back beat he is the greatest.
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@pjw81563 Thanks for setting me straight! I did not realize Sanborn had recorded so much as a leader and sideman. |
Check out David Sanborn (really!!) on this Gil Evans track: https://youtu.be/CAD8CqYCGwQ?si=dQkU5w2NMCW_784x
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Great alto players mentioned. Other favorites: Gene Quill: https://youtu.be/Um1k6O8gsFw?si=515Zhzir5_MdE_so https://youtu.be/He8AiFTPNcA?si=AgNvERd7c3lEdTgq Lee Konitz: https://youtu.be/LAufCG4rH6o?si=l3fXh4vpS2ym6Cex Charlie Mariano: https://youtu.be/-aVKk6LHvmA?si=NeNBR-zSxTHAcml4 Charles Macpherson: https://youtu.be/YnHM3VxpJTk?si=tGI_yCCnoj3LCPtb NEW BLOOD: Miguel Zenón: https://youtu.be/xajjEh8MyDk?si=kDDMKBZm-EEXqr2j
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Hal McKusick has been mentioned before, too, but, still...
https://youtu.be/cIluf1jyMys?feature=shared https://youtu.be/8bC5kYno7e4?feature=shared
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Reposting, but its on subject... Lenny Hambro
https://youtu.be/AiPm3Wy6OAE?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/i0UoVb52teI?feature=shared
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"JEEP" There is technical improvisation and emotional improvisation and I would nominate Hodges as one of the greatest at emotional improvisation. What a classic "bluesy tone/feel", something that Cannonball Adderly displays as well. Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges "I Got it Bad" (1958) - YouTube Cannonball Adderley Sextet - Work Song (Jazz Scene, 1962) - YouTube Jeep's Blues - Duke Ellington 1956 - YouTube
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As you can guess i am half the time in the world scene jazz not only on the North American jazz scene ...The world scene jazz is bigger and very creative ...
Who could say that there is no great Portuguese jazz composer and player ? Here a pianist who is creative as the greatest one and who has no great debt to Art Tatum or Bill Evans because he did not try to imitate them anyway ... Read his wikipedia entry ...Bernardo Sassetti... he died at 42 years old alas! I own almost all his albums ... As an appetitizer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMj6Ad0JngM
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Frank Morgan and Art Pepper have 4 things in common. They both belong on the list of greatest all time alto players. They both had ongoing heroin addiction problems throughout their lives. They both spent a substantial amount of time in prison. They both overcame addiction and made monumental comebacks!
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A great group of alto players. I am an Art Pepper completist and have well over 50 CDs of Pepper in my collection. Jackie McLean recorded 3 albums in the 60s that are on my desert island list. Kenny Garrett and Vincent Herring. I have seen both live numerous times. I have a fairly large collection of KG albums and my favorite of them all is this live session. It features Pharoah Sanders and a very enthusiastic audience. KG discussing the album Kenny Garrett : new cd 'Sketches of MD' w/ Pharoah Sanders - YouTube The opening track "The Ring" . KG and Pharoah playing "the head" in unison. 01 The Ring Kenny Garrett，Sketches of MD - Live at the Iridium，Jazz Saxophone - YouTube Do you have this album?
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Yes, Parker’s innovations and technical virtuosity influenced not just every saxophone player, be it alto, tenor, soprano or baritone, but also every instrument played from the 40s through the 21st century. Paul Desmond and Sonny Stitt belong on the greatest altoist list for sure! |
Frank Morgan, great player with very interesting life story... https://www.allmusic.com/artist/frank-morgan-mn0000173007#biography https://youtu.be/yp8x-aoU3z4?feature=shared https://youtu.be/CnwBiCimaCc?feature=shared https://youtu.be/pK3pVKDr0Us?feature=shared https://youtu.be/Amz4g-EpmUA?feature=shared https://youtu.be/c4gruji_J6s?feature=shared
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I dont even know their name but they seems promising ... Thanks stuartk , i will investigate... 😉
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I’m not a horn player, so cannot comment on who’s "best". 😊 However, I know who I like! Four of my favorites: in order, Kenny Garrett, Vincent Herring, Art Pepper, Jackie McLean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdF-iNLw2WY&list=OLAK5uy_nzRDhTQsYxrCuBNAomx-pAqToHlmWhfYg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn03wa67zKw&list=OLAK5uy_n2S-VDqt5glXBqlg6cVlLra0XN1zkYIo8&index=2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejswK8CS8S4
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?? Anyway...The best alto player? who's your favorites? Here is a few of mine Cannonball Adderley Quintet feat. Joe Zawinul (Oslo, 1969) NRK (c) - YouTube Art Pepper - Kongsberg Jazzfestival 1980 - YouTube Duke Ellington and his orchestra in concert 1969 Solo for Johnny Hodges . - YouTube
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Who said Polish jazz cannot be interesting and creative ? Not me ... 😊 Adam Pieronczyk Quartet: El Buscador https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lxOtpqj3la5YCZOtn50hDwUSPQWp5We0A |
Last night I listened to this Charlie Rouse album live at Bimbo's 365 Club. Rouse would die of lung cancer just 7 weeks after this recording. Introduction and a couple tunes. Some Words About Monk (Live at Bimbo's 365 Club / San Francisco, CA / 1988) - YouTube In Walked Bud (Live at Bimbo's 365 Club / San Francisco, CA / 1988) - YouTube Blue Monk (Live at Bimbo's 365 Club / San Francisco, CA / 1988) - YouTube |
@curiousjim Thanks for the suggestion. I do not have any of his albums, but that particular one I've listened many times. For some reason it can be often find in many audio shops, or at least at ones that I've been into. Now as I think, I have only one album with jazz from japan...I believe that there are many others, but never found enough time (or will) to explore that directions. I am not streaming and I try to buy every cd that I like, so sometimes finding ones to buy takes me more time than finding some that I like. As I have expand my collection with years, the albums that I wish to buy are becoming less frequent, but more difficult to find and more expensive...I know, I know, but I just do not care about digital content...
@stuartk dark and moody...try this...posted before, Eddie Costa https://youtu.be/_Dygr7RaXsI?feature=shared https://youtu.be/M-8mI5W-0Hk?feature=shared
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Matthew Shipp has a lot of recordings. All good, but almost always challenging. Very underrated!
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Just purchased a very rare OOP Phil Woods CD Live at the Five Spot 1957. The seller is located in NYC so I should have it by this weekend! It is not on Spotify but maybe you all can check Amazon HD, Tidal and Qobuz. Here is the track list That said, Check out Phil blowin' hot and cool on this live rendition of A Night in Tunisia Paris 1960 Phil Woods Big Band - Blue Note , Paris 1960 '' Steeplechase '' + '' A night in Tunysia '' - YouTube Phil on playing with Charlie Parker |
I was never aware of that concert until I read the new Sonny Rollins biography recently. That concert was an attempt at by Milestone Records, of whom Rollins, Carter, Tyner and Foster, were under contract with at the time, to replicate the success of another jazz super group VSOP. The idea was good but it turned out to be just a one off as Rollins, who was very aloof at times, could not/would not come to a mutual agreement with Milestone, Tyner and Carter to create more concerts and recordings. What as shame as there are some gems on that session. It was only released and re issued on vinyl LP format and I am very happy the complete concert is on You Tube. I listened to it a few times since I was made aware of its existence and started research it.
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Bingo! It seems interesting and i like this piece a lot ... Thanks my friend ... I will investigate... 😊
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Listening to The Andy Page Quartet, Mobius. @mahgister , you might like this. |