Curiousjim, unfortunately I am not aware of any cd’s of bootleg recordings. Several things on YouTube.
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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One thing appear to me and i just begun to listen to Brecker... His sax mastery musical control is good to the point of being embarassing or shaming for others .... I never hear so much surprizing variations with so much fluidity from any other sax player i listened too... Thanks frogman... This does not means i cannot appreciate other musical style gesture of Igor Buttman or Wayne Shorter or Sonny Rollins etc...Musical gesture style is not linearly related to virtuoso control levels , it is constrained by them for sure, but music has a life of its own ...It is the reason why there is no absolutely better musician over all of them in jazz ... Too much possible expressive gestures repertory learned in so many musicians different body and personal story .... There is also another point, nevermind the genius of any musician, the way his sideman work with him and underline his phrasing and sustain it and were inspired in their own playing make an album session great... It is evident with Miles Davis "kind of blue" which is not the best jazz album ever, there is no best ever, but in this album the SYNERGY between the players parts is astoundingly good... Then it is the same conditions for any musician in jazz so great it is, he will need to play and inspire others... Listen to my favorite Pat Martino album... "Formidable"... Here too the synergy is so much good that for me it is equal to "kind of blue"... Martino drive the other players to their best as Miles did ...By the way as " kind of blue" " formidable" album are not necessarily the best albums to decipher the specific artistry and virtuosity of Miles or Martino but it is great album to look for and understand why and how they inspire other musicians to play at their top... The reason is simple : the geniuses as Miles and Martino serve the other musicians and dont use them as replaceable servant but inspire them to go at their maximum level ... We feel it ...
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@frogman Thanks. |
I had a feeling you hung out there. Besides the Breckers who else did you see there? I will check out the Dreams band. I like Blood Sweat and Tears and really like Chicago. Terry Kath was such a gifted musician. Not going to post any of their songs on a jazz thread though... I listened to these 3 Michael Brecker albums in their entirety while on the road last night. All 3 albums are really good. Brecker's improvisations on the tenor are superlative. Michael Brecker - Itsbynne Reel - Don't Try This At Home (1988) - YouTube Brecker plays the EWI on tracks 1, 4 and 5, Don't Try This at Home Two Blocks from the Edge 別冊MMJazz ＃217 Two Blocks from the Edge(Michael Brecker) 都会の香りのカッコよさ！！映画のシーンの様 - YouTube Tales from the Hudson
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Personally, I wouldn’t call the first ten years of M Brecker’s output “crappy”. It’s a matter of the style of the music which we may or may not like. The playing however was always on a high level. It is true that most of his output during the 70’s was in a rock/funk vein and some of it I don’t like, but some of it I do like. One of the brothers’ earliest higher profile projects was as members of the band “Dreams”. A very influential band that predated “Blood Sweat and Tears” as one of the very first Rock bands to use a horn section and to incorporate elements of Jazz. The horn section, unlike the more popular band “Chicago” was comprised of players that could really play and improvise well. 1972 (classic, for Breckerfiles): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lt_4E4HyOCJF73AOuJ_rGREDww_W3tWjo&si=orKNqtsuKk5VgJgS What’s not to like 😊?: https://youtu.be/jhDl4IDfYOg?si=zq3UzkjCVxshLwAC pjw, I went to Seventh Ave. South many times and heard the Breckers and others there. Great place!
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I would not ,at my age, force myself to listen to music I don't like. In the past I have listened to music til I got it. Not anymore. When I said I liked Zorn, I only had 10 or so recordings I have collected over the years on CD. They have now released everything he has put out. Over 200 records. I doubt I love everything he has done, especially with him being so adventurous. Good on y'all for giving him a chance. My brother wants me to go with him to see Jr. Brown. I'm not going. I 've seen him and for some reason he wears on me. It Happens. |
On the thirty two albums of Zorn it seems i cannot love more than 4 or 5 ... The rest may be interesting but not enough for me to keep them in my love list... The Album with Jamie Saft throw me toward him , and i discovered few albums of Saft as true gems... ( 6 albums) I prefer classical jazz, sometimes i venture out of it but it is way more difficult for me to fall in love then ... Zorn is really interesting... But interesting is not falling in love... After the 6 albums of Saft i love , i now explore Brecker who really is a sax master ... Evident at first listening ... I will not fall in love with many Brecker albums in fusion or piop for sure... But his jazz albums will probably hit me at the heart it seems already with 2 listenings...
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The 70s decade was the worst by far when it concerned jazz music/artists. Michael Brecker was 21 in 1970 so I can see how people can look back on his first 10 years of preforming as pretty crappy. Especially jazz people (listeners and artists). In contrast, even though the 80s was still a bad decade for jazz as a whole the jazz purists of old and the upcoming artists like the Marsalis brothers and Jeff "Tain" Watts, among many, were slowly getting back to the roots of swing and blues instead of funk and disco. Even the great Sonny Rollins tried infusing "disco influenced grooves" into his 70s albums and they were pretty bad. Jeff "Tain" Watts never released a "cheesy" album. The same can be said of the Marsalis brothers. Those 3 artists have some really great recordings with each other and with others. Look at this 1982 example of how the Marsalis brothers "made their bones" Jeff "Tain" Watts'1991 debut album, Megawatts, a trio, is one of my favorite trio sessions. Megawatts 1991 featuring "Tain" with bassist Charles Fambrough and pianist Kenny Kirkland. Fambrough also played bass on the Art Blakey session I used as an example for the Marsalis brothers. This IMO, is what a straight ahead jazz trio that swings as a whole along with excellent comping and soloing sound like. Branford Marsalis 1986 album Royal Garden Blues Branford Marsalis - Royal Garden Blues - YouTube Wynton Marsalis 1983 album Think of One An outstanding Jeff "Tain" Watts album with Wynton and Branford Marsalis, as well as altoist Kenny Garrett contributing. Watts composed "The Impaler" which he also played in a trio setting on his Megawatts album. Jeff "Tain" Watts - The Impaler - YouTube Trio version Michael Brecker has a great rendition of Watts' "The Impaler" on his 1998 album Two Blocks from The Edge but I cannot find it on You Tube but I found Brecker playing "The Impaler" with none other than John McLaughlin. Michael Brecker with John McLaughlin - One Night in Monte Carlo - The Impaler - YouTube One last addition (I could not resist!), Branford and Wynton Marsalis with Art Blakey playing live in 1981 at 7th Ave South, a jazz club owned by Michael and Randy Brecker. @frogman Did you ever hang out at 7th Ave South?
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Thanks a lot @frogman I appreciate very much your musical erudition and necessary context knowledge... It help us a lot... Wow almost 900 albums...many where is a side musician but... I spot already only 32 in my research but all as main player ...
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Another favorite. May seem a little “lite” on first listen, but absolutely gorgeous saxophone playing. It was also one of Michael’s favorites: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0hWpfLjtwxRrrhkMSbsZUEyrXwDz9HRd&si=kXeHAV_k1qJRtgPd |
A few thoughts about Michael Brecker. First, the notion that to possess supreme technical prowess as an instrumentalist necessarily means that the player does not bring enough emotional content to the music is false. Likewise, the notion that players who don’t possess this level of technical mastery, or who choose to not flaunt it, are necessarily lesser musicians is also false. However, it is true that technical prowess gives a player options and possibilities that are not available to a player with limited technical skill. But, as they say, the proof is in the pudding. Sometimes all it takes is one note to tell the whole story. Ask saxophone players who was probably the greatest saxophone player ever, from the standpoint of technical prowess, in any genre, and Michael Brecker will get the most votes….by a long shot. Incredible command of the instrument and all its possibilities. If may seem heretical, but yes, even more so than Coltrane. But, this obviously doesn’t tell the whole story. As great as Brecker was he was sometimes criticized by Jazz diehards (including Jazz players) for letting too much of his Pop/Fusion experience color his straight ahead Jazz playing. I think this was a valid criticism particularly in his early career. This stylistic “color” became less and less of a presence as he got older and developed a stronger and stronger individualistic straight-ahead Jazz style. The Brecker Brothers band albums were reflective of the trend in the overall music scene toward Fusion which began in the ‘70s and I agree with @curiousjim that some of the material was a little too “urban-hip” for my tastes. This trend in music actually had little to do with the Jazz scene, which as sadly losing a lot of steam during the same period. The brothers and their band brought a Jazz sensibility and complexity to what was essentially pop/rock/funk material. My favorite Brecker Bros. record was their very first. One which included Dave Sanborn. Michael and Randy Brecker were two of the busiest session players ever. As horn players probably the busiest on their respective instruments. Along with their “more serious” work as Jazz players in their and others’ projects they played on countless Pop records as soloists. They could do it all. And they made a great deal of money doing so. To get an idea of just how busy Michael was, check out this discography. Note that the list that the link opens to is in alphabetical order and the first page is only recordings “A-B”. Scroll to the top to open the subsequent pages. Astounding! http://www.michaelbreckerliverecordings.com/CompletediscographyA-B.html
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I normally wouldn’t post an algorithm suggestion from you tube but this I had to share with you good folks. This is: THE GREAT VOCAL JAZZ LOUNGE, with Denise King, Silvia Donati, Claudia Zannoni and Patricia De Assis. The vocals, musicianship and sound quality of this video is killer. There’s jazz and Latin jazz standards with even some Samba jazz not to be confused with Bossa Nova at the end which surprised me. Please do take the time and listen to this entire project. Thank you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egnc_VfJ3Lc
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Do you mean there is a difference in style when Michael Brecker play alone and when he play with his brother ?
I stumble on a "fusion" song i did not like much instead of jazz did you mean this ?
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You are right for sure and me too i prefer original albums... But i did not know Brecker and you know already him , and i stumbled on it on youtube... I like the idea to cover some instances from many albums in a first move... 😊 Anyway when i love a musician i grab even some compilations... I had some with my Chet Baker collection for example... 😁 Brecker brothers seems very original musicians ... I will grab more ....
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I try to stay away from "best of" and "compilation" albums while using Spotify because I want to know the source of each song. What was the original album it was on, what year was the album released and other details. I try to keep my playlists chronological so I can follow the artists career trajectory and, subsequently, his or her progression and changes in style/substance over the years. Here are a few Michael Brecker live recording dates. 1987 Live at Fabrik, Hamburg, 1987 - Album by Michael Brecker | Spotify 1995 Live in Helsinki 1995 - Album by Michael Brecker | Spotify 2001
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i just stumble on it on youtube... It is a begininng for me ... I will go for it.... The very best of Michael Brecker ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URlrJrNjeTs&list=OLAK5uy_l6QIZc7UFY0kTkD5jcgKUWddtE6HJjE7s |
The same could be said regarding poetry, dance or abstract art. This is not a culture that prioritizes the arts, unless it’s the "art of the deal". Fortunately for me, my parents appreciated art and music and did their best to nature such appreciation in their kids. But it’s best not to disclose such information, unless you want to risk being labelled an "elitist". Oh, and I don't understand it, either.
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I am amazed by the sheer potential numbers of really great jazz albums i never heard of... I come here for information and it is successful for me... Thanks to all ....😊 But it is very hard to cope with all amazing propositions in the same month ! we must choose... 😂 I choose Brecker brothers for this month after Jamie Saft last few weeks... ....I must say frogman recommendation help a lot to pick the right one... I am a classical and world music amateur but also of jazz... I dont understand why jazz was so low and so less loved in the music charts... Most people received no musical education then a bit too sophisticated line is put aside... We dont appreciate enough what a treasure music could be way more than leisure... Especially now... We are lucky....
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curiousjim, impossible question to answer. As a leader, Tales From The Hudson is up there with Time is of the Essence and, of course, his last album Pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is fantastic and I love it in part for sentimental reasons….if you know what he was going through battling the disease that ultimately killed him. A very sad event in the music scene. Then there is the question of favorite solos. So many , on so many different album s including the Fusion and even the Pop stuff. His work with Joni Mitchell is incredible. James Taylor, Michael Franks, Paul Simon, on and on. Then there is the issue of favorite tone. His tone evolved over the years. Always great, but definitely different over time. I have a soft spot for his early sound. This is the first recording of his that I ever heard. In High School, I’ll never forget when my band director brought this in for the class to listen to: https://youtu.be/l-b_h8i9eWU?si=MVWU47ryewSCAUih
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I had said that meaning that even if we dont favor a genre or style a lot there exist anyway many exceptions... I dont favor fusion as such but i own dozen and dozen of more than just good fusion music...😉 I dont like klezmer but Zorn has created some interesting music inspired by it ... I listen musicians more than genres or styles....😊 There is no music, only musicians... 😁 |
Hey @frogman Michael Brecker is one of my favorites and a couple albums are on my regular playlist. Out of curiosity, what’s your favorite album of his? |
You’re welcome both. It was said that one of the reasons that Brecker practiced so much was that so many other tenor players copied his style that he felt that he needed to stay one step ahead (😉). One more. This one featuring both Grolnick and Erskine. And if one great tenor isn’t enough, Bob Mintzer/Michael Brecker “Twin Tenors”: https://youtu.be/c1lbJw-JVZI?si=AM8SzrxinT8VKoxq BTW, on the tunes with only one tenor it is Mintzer playing.
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Stop it already! We are all posting music, as are you, that some of us never listened to. I listen to all of your suggestions. Like this Jamie Saft Quartet - Blue Dream (Full Album) - YouTube
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How could I (almost) forget McCoy Tyler’s “Infinity” Featuring Michael Brecker?Outstanding! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0071F7B5F1DB1ED1&si=RUlYjstJr2IfI8ZN |
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l85qqhvqGAA36q_ctKF3ZoE3cqpktgknc&si=pRQjmjpXtf7qM9s0 https://youtu.be/cc2x_WEUUKo?si=pfNQGh673HdGOL7E https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMD9X0rJLX6asW3xLgbPH69mSoF1_HKO8&si=amzwck6sMX8DrIJN
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The presence of Pat Metheny on electric guitar on Michael Brecker’s “Tales From The Hudson” may be a deal breaker as far as not being “all acoustic”, but it is certainly modern mainstream. Fantastic record with an amazing cast of McCoy Tyner, Joey Calderazzo, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Pat Matheny. A must hear. As a sideman in an all acoustic setting: Chick Corea “Three Quartets”. One of my favorite records. Mel Lewis, “Mel Lewis and Friends”. Hal Galper, “Reach Out”
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RE: drummers, it may well be a misapprehension, based on the limited examples I’ve heard but my impression has been that Gadd is a bit "flashier". I wonder if anyone in the audience at that L. Ronstadt show had any clue whatsoever re: what sort of player Grolnick was. Can you recommend some M. Brecker recordings that are in an all-acoustic, mainstream Jazz vein? |