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 have no idea what to make of your latest links... or is this, perhaps, the idea? Are you playing the role of "Dylan" with me as "Mr. Jones" ??? I prefer "Blue Serge" but it’s my nature to compare and categorize. . . If you enjoy both, more power to you! How is your DiMeola exploration progressing? |
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Sorry @acman3, that is a definite no for me as well. FWIW, my wife walked by and said WTF? So that’s another no. While I am the music lover in the house, neither one of us likes the disjointed cacophony that others do. |
OK. Sophistication was a poor choice of words on my part as it’s hard to pin down. Let me try to say it another way. I enjoy cooked garlic, in moderate-to-generous amounts, as an enhancement to various dishes. I even like it raw, in tzatziki, for example. However, do not enjoy it raw, on its own. A platterful of raw garlic has little appeal, let alone an entire banquet table. All I hear from Brozman is an unending stream of raw garlic. BTW, the authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz adored this stuff. They admitted they weren’t sure it was Jazz; they called it "European Improvised Music" and left out Jazz artists to ensure there would be sufficient space for it and no doubt, to also ensure it would be known far and wide that they were among the hippest of the hip. I don’t believe in "formless art". Without form, there’s no content and chaos is no substitute for content. Others will, of course, disagree. |
Can you imagine a band with John McLaughlin and Larry Young? It was called Lifetime and the drummer was Tony Williams, who led the band... no issues of keeping up. Can you imagine a band with John McLaughlin and Jaco? It was called Trio of Doom and the drummer was, yes, Tony Williams...again no issues with keeping up! Can you imagine a band with Pharoah Sanders and Sonny Sharrock?! The drummer was none other than Elvin Jones... you know he didn't have any problems keeping up! The same could be said of The Mahavishnu Orchestra... Billy Cobham had things well under control. One of the highlights for me of seeing the Dave Holland Quintet was when everyone was soloing at once and I couldn't tell where the "one" was. I was always amazed by Billy Kilson -- no matter how rhythmically complex things got, he remained the calm at the center of the storm. Of course, Elvin was renowned for the same capacity. |
Hadn’t heard about his heart attack. Let’s hope this isn’t the end of his playing days. As you probably know, Brignola doesn’t only play Bari. However, on the session with Holland and DeJohnette Bari is the sole horn. This is also the case on "Flight of the Eagle". I agree re: the comparison between Connors and Johnny Mac. I recently picked up Connor's "Return". Have you heard it?
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Plus 1 Bill Conners. Great guitarist not as recognized as others we have been discussing but just as good (not as good as McLaughlin though!) I do hope Di Meola recovers 100% from his recent heart attack. From what I have read about the type of heart attack he had he is lucky to be alive.
I must say they have not received the love I give the others I mentioned but I have endless hours to listen to them both while I am driving my semi and I will do so. |
What-- no love for Nick Brignola or Gary Smulyan??? I enjoy DiMeola’s acoustic playing. I saw RTF on the Romantic Warrior tour and much preferred the acoustic portion of the show. Wish I could have seen them early on, with Bill Connors.. For Bari, try "On a Different Level" and "Hidden Treasures" For DiMeola, "Rite of Strings" with Clarke and Ponty is terrific. I also favor his trio work with J McLaughlin and P de Lucia. The live ones are better known but the studio release which I believe is simply titled Guitar Trio is also very good. |
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Great find! I had never heard of this. For more great baritone players check out Ronnie Cuber, Pepper Adams, Serge Chaloff, and Hamiet Bluiett. Cuber Adams Pepper Adams - Urban Dreams - YouTube Chaloff Body And Soul (Remastered) - YouTube Bluiett |
Plus 1 Other great baritone players that I'm sure you know Ronnie Cuber Pepper Adams 19/11/1957 - Pepper Adams - The Cool Sound of Pepper Adams - YouTube
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@curiousjim , @pjw81563 I can’t help but wonder, as was the case with Emily Remler, whether "heart failure" was also a euphemism for drug OD in Leo’s case. |
Trombone can be fascinating soloist... I learned it slowly... Steve Turre is my favorite for now...😁 Trombone had something coming from the sax and from the trumpet sound, it sound less sensual than sax can be and less intellectual than trumpet can be , an optimal mix of the two for my ears ...😉😊
This album is top recording and very pleasant to listen to.. Hiroshi Suzuki - Cat (1975, 2007)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqvMGE9xzT8&t=1562s Curtis Fuller : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z_gKeyo03M&list=PLZi-mftVo5aFzRaLq7aHESIHJJ-DG8TYU&index=5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BlHRPXPx-4&list=PLZi-mftVo5aFzRaLq7aHESIHJJ-DG8TYU&index=9 Bob Broockmeyer ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhFb2pHD1CM&list=PLZi-mftVo5aFzRaLq7aHESIHJJ-DG8TYU&index=3 J. J. Johnson - J Is for Jazz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0ZngiezWSg&list=PLZi-mftVo5aFzRaLq7aHESIHJJ-DG8TYU&index=2
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One of the albums I listened to last night was this Leo Parker session recorded on the Blue Note label in 1961. Not one dud on this album. Leo was a superlative baritone sax player who succumbed to heart failure at just 36 years old. Leo P̲a̲r̲k̲e̲r – ̲L̲e̲t ̲M̲e̲ T̲e̲l̲l ̲Y̲o̲u̲ ’B̲o̲u̲t̲ ̲I̲t̲ ̲(̲1̲9̲6̲1̲)̲ - YouTube |
I have tickets for Al Di Meola for Friday, October 27. I just saw that he had a heart attack at one of his European performances. I assume he will be taking a sabbatical while he is recovering. I think the date I have tickets for will be postponed/cancelled I have not received any notice yet. |
Now here’s a potential treasure-trove -- a bunch of Bobby Hutcherson’s Blue Notes, all in one place on YouTube! It’s claimed to be "complete" but there are clearly titles missing. Still, there’s a lot to explore for anyone who hasn’t already had the pleasure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcsTckW6BnI&list=PLOhBqh2oUOMFLf3kOhj-ckr1oDszZJBPP |
Plus 1 Russel Malone on these 2 sessions. Check out the personnel on both! Jimmy Cobb Jazz In The Key Of Blue - YouTube
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@curiousjim I drive at night and I love it. Nothing but other trucks/trailers with some cars mixed in. No A hole lost/on phone/speeding/driving to slow idiots to deal with and no traffic. Just me, the music and the road..... Last night I listened to more Oliver Nelson. Have not heard one bad song from his repertoire, small ensemble or big band. Oliver Nelson Orchestra |
Thanks @ho249 I have to run some errands, but I’ll definitely check him out later. |
I listened to “The View From Here” and liked it. Also listened and liked “Candid Kyle” https://youtu.be/7zmi2LJqfrQ?si=ZoR_kSRdKl2lOrWq Live version of the first song. |
I got my CDL in 1980, drove mostly straight trucks until about 15 years ago when I changed jobs for a company that everything from pick ‘‘em ups to drill rigs. I gave up my CDL 3 years ago because my neck was so bad I couldn’t take hours of bouncing.😟. But the three things I miss are driving at night, listening to music and podcasts and stopping in the middle of nowhere and seeing the Milky Way! |
My goal in jazz and in music explorations in general is to reach a CORE of 280 musicians, so great for me that i will listen to them once a month on average till my death...
I suppose i can at max listen 10 musicians or composers by day, for 7 days x 4 weeks=280...
Why?
It is because for me intense repeated listenings of a piece from a musician and composer that move me emotionnally, intellectually and spiritually is more powerful than novelty by itself.... it is necessary to discover new musicians but i must balance it by my devotional sacred temple altar choices.... Many new musicians interest me for leisure only one time but not enough to really move me for various reason....
For sure my numbers are not exact, i only used them to describe what i look for and who i want to put on a new altar in front of with i wanted to pray...
i do not differentiate anymore, musicians, composers or cultural styles... only matter music be it this or this :
Perhaps some people are like me too ?😁😊
My post do not negate specifics of any style as jazz , they are all interesting as unique language and discourses...I love jazz especially and it reflect in my hours ratio listenings a bit ...
But i look for the best for my hearing soul and it is IMPREVISIBLE...
I dont know why a jazz album will impact me so much at the end and why...I can know some objective reason but the impact weight is not reductible to reason or musical knowledge at the end ... Because Bach matter as much as Miles Davis or Ali Akbar khan...
Then listening music is also to embark in a journey to investigate our own ocean soul variable levels ...
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Sounds to me like you’ve made a wise career move. I was a bread baker for many years, which was very satisfying but like construction, hard on the body. I’m familiar with "Gatemouth" but not "Gator Tail".I will check out the links you've posted.
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Sounds good and I have it cued up for later this evening. <<I found this recording inadvertently, by Kyle Eastwood: https://youtu.be/ApnMxGkF2TQ>> Good find |
@pjw81563 , great stuff! I just discovered Gator last week from the all knowing YouTube algorithm. Found his album on Qobuz with Pat Martino and was off to the races. Thanks for the links. I’m constantly amazed at all the great stuff that is out there that I’ve never heard - amazed and grateful for each new discovery.
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@stuartk Upon graduating high school I started working in the construction field in Long Island NY and eventually started a framing business. I was a framing contractor and sub contractor for 30 years. 4 years ago I decided to retire from the construction industry (comfortably) as I was no longer physically able to climb around all over a house for 8 - 10 hours a day. I went and got me CDL at age 57 and drive a tractor trailer now and I am very happy. I could not just sit at home and driving the semi gives me hours of listening sessions undisturbed while making money as well. Currently pulling a 53 foot flatbed loaded with construction materials to Home Depot, Lowes and many other businesses. Last night while on route I listened to Willis Gatortail Jackson and Pat Martino as well as Pat Matino's own albums as a leader. The Gator Tail sessions are really soulful combining elements R&B, funk, soul and gospel music while the Martino sessions are more straight ahead jazz but some songs harken back to his younger days "making his bones" with "Gator Tail" Rare live footage of Gator Tail on the Ed Sullivan Show. Willis 'Gator Tail' Jackson live on Ed Sullivan - YouTube Gator Tail with Pat Martino Willis Jackson with Pat Martino - "Gator Tail" - YouTube A few of my favorite live Martino albums. I believe they have all been recently posted. Oleo (Live From Yoshi's, Oakland, U.S.A./2001) - YouTube Goin' to a Meeting (Live at Blues Alley) - YouTube Pat Martino - El Niño - YouTube Studio Martino |
I’ve lived in NY, Mexico, So Cal, Maine, Oregon and since 1998, Nor Cal. I’ve always wondered what it would like to stay in one place one’s entire life and whether that might impart a certain sense of rooted stability. I’ve known folks for which this seemed to be the case but no doubt, it depends upon the individual. We were in Guadalajara one year only, as I was viewed as a "problem student’ at The American School and was told not to return after 9th grade. My parents moved us to San Miguel de Allende, which at that time (1971) was much smaller and much less popular than it eventually became. I enjoyed living in both locales, although my school issues continued and I was sent to a private school in Sedona, during which time my family were victims of a home invasion, which prompted a return to the States. Upon graduating HS, I worked in restaurants, where my Spanish proved a valuable asset. I’ve only been back to Mexico once and on that trip was much more aware of the poverty than when I’d been an adolescent, which significantly affected my experience as a tourist. I still have opportunities to speak Spanish from time to time, although my fluency has greatly deteriorated. I never developed a taste for Tequila -- when I was a teenager down there I was more into drugs than alcohol. Sorry for the long-winded response! Yeah -- Tijuana Moods" is a good one! |
You moved around a lot. I was born 60 years ago in Babylon, Long Island NY. I have lived here my entire life. Always a 1 hour drive to NYC. I have been to Mexico many times (I have a sister living in San Diego since 1980). I like tequila and I know the history of Jalisco province in Mexico of making the best mezcal's and tequila's. How long did you call Guadalajara home? Speaking of Mexico Charles Mingus - Tijuana Moods ( Full Album ) - YouTube
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Wow! thanks for your attention and kindness... I will listen to it .... I dont have this album.... 😁 😊😊😊😎😊😊😊😋😊😊😊
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