@Frogman
Yes I got the pm. I read the OP’s post, but did not respond, had errands to do. When I returned this evening, the post was removed.
It was a strange post.
Thanks
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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@astewart8944 @acman3 Gents - I’m curious what you like about Julian Lage’s playing and music. Not trying to be a provacateur at all...just wondering what you hear in it. He’s new to me and I did check Modern Lore (though not extensively, yet) along with the track, Atlantic Limited, that acman3 provided. In keeping with "contemporary" jazz, I’ve been enjoying Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, (live) "Random Acts of Happiness". The opening track, My Heart Declares a Holiday is a good place to start. A bit Phillip Glass-ish. Full album here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lbIbbHWn1O3n1EdBRRKcfUhWzvF3jaZCM |
Lage can play anything, but doesn't overplay. He stays within the framework of what the song is about. He has been following the Bill Frisell Americana route, but sounds to me quite his own man. Also, I enjoy the people in his Trio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCRjd9rYl78 |
Nice description of Lage’s style and I enjoyed the clips. Whenever I have listened to him (not very often) I always think Bill Frisell, but not as “heady” or intellectual as Frisell. I like the attitude in Lage’s playing and he’s an interesting player. There’s a certain easy and understated vibe that is very appealing, but the guy has some serious chops when he cuts loose. The subject of bluegrass came up here recently. For me, Lage seems to find a comfortable spot between the way some of the great bluegrass/country swing players (the “pickers”) improvise and the jazz players whose playing is more rooted in the blues. A lot of words to say what I think acman3 meant by “Bill Frisell Americana Route”. Great clips all around. |
@ghosthouse Thanks for asking about Lage. I agree with @acman3. Lage can play, it seems, almost anything effortlessly, without showing off. And acman3 is correct; his tone is great. He gets quality sound out of his electric instrument without silly effects, like a jazz master should. But he also excels on the acoustical guitar, which is to be commended. There is nothing to hide behind when playing in this manner and he shines without over amplification. He composes quality songs, many of which appear built to be ear worms. He can do more than play lead--his accompanying work in the Gary Burton Quartet is beautifully done. |
@acman3 @astewart8944 @frogman Gents - Thanks for your insights. I had posted a lengthier response but it didn’t go through. No energy to try and reconstruct it (to your benefit, perhaps!). At any rate, I think I hear many of the attributes you (pl.) mention. I read the Wikipedia entry on him and am impressed. I appreciate jazz artists whose creativity is built on a solid foundation of academic training. Spent time with Modern Lore last night. It’s not an immediate "must buy" for me but Lage does seem to have a very individual approach and is an interesting player. I like that in the first video Acman posted there’s no monster ego on display and his playing seems to come from a very serene place. Not a must buy to me at this point in listening because his compositions seem a little loose and unstructured. I’m missing a "focus". This could reflect "subtlety" on his part and/or the need for more listening on my part. Regardless, thanks for the tip on him. |
Two more young players doing some interesting things. Gilad Heckselman: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zuDk_HEZkVY https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8W8G1p0Z9nQ Jonathan Kreisberg: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s5WXa_B37LY https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_9MxdO83M5s |
@acman3 Yes...not too much from Bruford on Tidal. That live recording, Random Acts of Happiness is on Spotify, however. I subscribe to Tidal and Spotify. USUALLY prefer the SQ on Tidal but I'd swear, SQ on Spotify Premium has improved over the last year or so. Don't know Bruford/Earthwork's discography that well so can't say for sure whether any of the compositions on Random Acts are new (i.e., not previously released). I think many/most are from earlier studio albums. For me, new to Bruford's jazz, it's a good intro - well recorded too. |
I hope he’s doing ok. Since we’ve been on the subject of guitar players, how about this? Probably the OP’s favorite player and who, after Miles, probably the most discussed musician here. While Grant Green’s recordings Idle Moments and Green Street are generally considered his “best”, my favorite work of his was with Sonny Clark: https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLea9tj3kSsQZtVj0-CkwSc5__ymviBDTC&v=_ZnpcbnXSes |
I've posted this before, but we have new 'members'.... Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kassell, together, live.... https://youtu.be/_4jMQNJFPO4 |
Stan Getz & Eddie Sautner - Focus https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLfOleD7-7Oj90W890D0puroQgM7yTR-0P¶ms=OAFIAVgF&v=qAyrdl.... Im putting these here for lack of another place to post them for all to hear: Astor Piazzola - Zero Hour https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLK-eutyZMAleP1purAmyN9sp5nDKYbl4e¶ms=OAFIAVgB&v=_rEr5Z... https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLK-eutyZMAleP1purAmyN9sp5nDKYbl4e¶ms=OAFIAVgC&v=MLD9n7... Kip Hanrahan - Pinero https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1F8gTONeAaM |
Very eclectic trio of clips! The first two are two of my favorite records. The third by Hanrahan is new to me and by one of the most interesting producers out there. I didn’t know much about him except as the producer of Piazolla’s “Zero Hour” which you posted and some comments about him in the press. That will have to change based on what a little research “Pinero” has revealed to me. Very interesting personality in music and very worth checking out. Thanks! |
Frogman, Kip Hanrahan and I both went to The Cooper Union, a school for art architecture and engineering in New York’s East Village, in the 70s, when the East Village was cool. He studied sculpture. I was a painting major. Kip is an Irish Jew from the South Bronx, that’s how he ended up in Latin music. I’m Polacko-Rican, that’s how I ended up drawn to Latin Jazz. Astor Piazzola also lived in the East Village. I saw Astor perform at SOB’s in 1988. I knew Pinero briefly, having lived upstairs in the East Village tenement (do they still call them that these days?) that The Nuyorican Poets Cafe was founded in and that Pinero hung out in. I’m still friends with some of the surviving founders. Kip lives in North Carolina these days. The music has been and is still a struggle financially for him. |
I started watching Bosch on Amazon Prime. It's ok but was really inspired by some of the jazz that's used in the series. His character is a fan. I went into Glenn Poor's Audio in Champaign and was literally blown away by Miles Davis' Kind of Blue. I left the store with the MoFi Kind of Blue Box set. Absolutely soothing to my soul and now can't get enough. |
Not music, but a book review about a great jazz vocalist -- Sarah Vaughan -- https://www.stereophile.com/content/book-review-queen-bebop-musical-lives-sarah-vaughan |
I posted this previously, to deafening silence as I recall :-) Re-posting because it's Ms. Vaughan sharing vocal duties (wait for her to appear at ~1:10) on a beautiful Creme/Godley song from their Consequences album. Hope you enjoy it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nk4lhxKK6k |
Thanks ghost, I’m glad there is still someone else out there. Here’s another Sarah. When I started buying jazz albums I joined the Columbia Record Club, something like 10 or 12 LPs for pocket change. "After Hours" was one of my initial choices. I also picked up a couple of other decent ones -- Miles’ "KOB" and Mulligan’s "What Is There To Say?". Can’t say now I remember all the others but that was a pretty strong start. ;^) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAwSrc4u6z8&list=RDIAwSrc4u6z8&t=20 |
Thanks for that. Sarah has the voice for which the cliche "smoky" was invented...or so I think. It has a lot of "texture" to it. Did you listen to "The Lost Weekend"? Thought it would be interesting to compare styles on one of the greatest songs ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVNiubIXHf4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XivELBdxVRM Yeah...the quiet on this thread is a bit concerning given O’s health issues. I owe him a lot for the great intro to jazz he has provided here (even if I didn’t always enjoy much of it!). The exposure has absolutely affected my "taste" going forward. Thanks O. Hope you are able to return soon. Later, Pryso. Ciao |
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Wow, that Sarah and Ella comparison was certainly interesting. I got a real "smokey" vs clarity reaction, even on my iMac built-in speakers. But apparently the irony was that Sarah died of lung cancer. And yes, I certainly hope that o10 is simply resting up. OK, I'm not always wanting to read all his posts, but his heart is in it and his jazz contributions make it all worthwhile. |
@pryso Yes...I hear the same thing. Very different styles (not to mention different "voices"). To my ear, Sarah's voice is more complex with more character. Acman's link further underscores that. She tends to slide into pitch on some notes, I noticed, whereas, in addition to that dictional clarity, Ella is a little more directly on pitch. Didn't know the manner of Sarah Vaughan's passing or I might have looked for a different adjective. Wiki says Summertime is one of the most heavily "covered" popular songs. Would be interesting to continue the exercise to include versions by others. I saw Nina Simone, Billie Holliday and Maria Callas all did versions of it. Janis too! Ciao |
Nature abhors a vacuum.... So, in the absence of anyone posting, I’ll take the opportunity to post this bit of musical excellence: Bruford/Towner/Gomez "If Summer Had Its Ghosts", Track 2 Never the Same Way Once. Best I can tell from the All Music Guide credits that’s Ralph Towner on piano (who knew!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmDHWFhbRqc |
@rok2id Okay. A pretty easy to understand personal preference for Ella over Sarah Vaughan or any other female jazz vocalist - I get it. Making that preference some kind of universal truth is a different matter, however. What about her puts her in that (superior, I assume) category compared to anyone else. Right now, as written, your post is neither persuasive or illuminating. Limiting the comparison to their two renditions of "Summertime", for me Ella is like a glass of chilled Chardonnay, while SV is more like a full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. There’s room in the world for both, of course. |
