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.
Also to you and frog, I must admit to not knowing Montoliu. Now how appropriate he was from Catalonia, Spain. So here's his take, a bit more bluesy. Guess that has been interpreted by more jazz musicians than I knew -
nice quiet ,contemplative clips you posted. I think the Chet Baker cut is from an album he did with guitarist Philip Catherine. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YECFPSxi4q0
frogman 1962. That was an early cut by Montoliu . I thought nobody could top his solo until R Rolland Kirk comes in on that stritch. The only other guy I know who plays stritch is Michael Marcus. I wanted to post by him but couldn't find a stritch cut. one more by Montoliu:
„Women are uniquely different from men, although I don't understand the difference, I appreciate it. Mary Jo, your selections display that difference in a way I can only listen and reflect on; they give us the feminine view of jazz.“
Maybe you intuitively feel that I am postin' the songs according to my emotions at the present moment so you call it 'feminine view of jazz' which is quite an interesting insight, dare to say. : )
And later you posted Nina Simone, who I also see as a strong and a striking singer with should I say a bit 'masculine' attitude. Quite good balance you gave me here.
Not a politically correct outlook, but I think some players do have in their playing what I would call a more feminine or a more masculine attitude; and it doesn’t always correspond with their actual physical gender.
A favorite pianist who, for me, has a decidedly feminine attitude in her playing. Love her playing! :
Xl ent MJQ cut. I have a sizeable MJQ collection but avoided listening to them with the excuses : too quiet, contemplative, no horns, etc. but I have come around to appreciating their artistry again. I probably h ave that cut and will search it out to hear on my stereo. Charlie Byrd:
Reports on the death of jazz may be greatly exaggerated.
Last evening I attended a concert I'd looked forward to for a couple of months since learning about it. Our symphony orchestra promotes a sub-set of concerts featuring jazz. I'm not sure how many symphonic music fans also appreciate jazz but I happen to be one. The program was also promoted by our local (college) jazz FM station.
The title was "Kind of Blue -- In Concert". The six musicians were led by local trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. Bios for the others identified many well know artists they'ed each played with but I was not familiar with these particular artists. Perhaps the best known was Roy McCurdy, the 82 year old (but still spritely) drummer who I should have remembered. They opened with three tunes Miles was well known for, "Bye-bye Blackbird", "'Round Midnight", and "Milestones", then took a break. When they returned they played the KOB album numbers in sequence. Each was of course recognizable but, being jazz, was interpreted individually.
But what pleased me as much as the music was the fact the 2,200 seat hall was sold out! Not only was it full but the applause reinforced the fact the audience knew the music. I found the evening stimulating and encouraging.
P Desmond & C Baker express the mood of that song so well.
Have not heard that RTF group in a while. I actually like that li eup better than the later CCDW group. Keeping a latin flavor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovV-Mum6T1Y
nsp, from that last post I also found this delightful trumpet player. Guess I'm guilty of not thinking of women playing trumpet after high school band. So my bad for that. Anyway, with a testosterone-less orchestra, ;^) -
nsp, Piazzola’s music is some of my very favorite. If you like Piazzola on flute and guitar check this recording out. This piece is not an arrangement, but music he actually composed for flute and guitar. Barrueco and Pahud are two of the best. Beautiful music and beautiful playing:
Appreciating pryso's testosterone - less orchestra (beautiful for eyes and ears) and following the nsp' latino rhythm but with testosterone - full orchestra:
I was visiting a professional musician who was in town, and happened to be a friend of mine. I asked him what artist he was into now, "Baden Powell", he told me.
I had never heard of Mr. Baden Powell at that time, so I asked him for a little run down on him.
My friend is no longer with us, and I'm reminiscing about that visit; although he was at the top of his game, and in town professionally, my visit was not fan to musician, but friend to friend. While we talked about records, the same as you and I, when we looked directly at one another, we could see the experiences we had shared; swimming in the public pool, going to camp together, and on and on, but never verbalized them.
I stayed quite a while, and when I left, I could see the relaxed look on his face; he just wanted to unwind with a friend and chill.
That was a long time ago, now I'm a Baden Powell expert; his Afro Brazilian rhythms are incomparable, they're rhythms found only in Brazil.
Glad to hear you enjoyed that show , there is nothing better then the live concert experience. Hope the sound was great wherever you were seated. Two female artists i think deserve wider recognition:
frogman Those cuts are beautiful, peaceful, tranquil. Here is my favorite version of Libertango--the first one that I heard. I have this cd in my large collection somewhere and will play it when I find it. Lol.
mary_jo, enjoyed Kovaks; thanks. A new one to me. I would bet that there are a lot of Billie Holiday records in her collection.
O-10, Baden Powell was the guitarist in the house band for a Brazilian tv show hosted by one of my very favorite singers, Elis Regina. I posted some beautiful Regina cuts recently. Beautiful player, Baden Powell; rhythm just kind of poured out of him in a very natural way.
Around 1975, I think. When was the last time we heard something this musically interesting on a regular television show? Great example of music with the spirit of Brazil (imo); very musically sophisticated country:
Imany ’You Will Never Know’ from her debut album ’The Shape of a Broken Heart’ which reached platinum status in France, Greece and triple platinum in Poland.
Also nominated in World Music Award for World’s Best Song and Best Video.
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