Thanks for all the great suggestions! I have the Ben and Peterson album and the Hawkins one, but the rest are now on my list and will be enjoyed by the end of the week!
Thank you again!
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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It’s probably the best part of retirement 😁 Yeah until recently, I’ve been listening to jazz just a very small amount. YellowJackets, Weather Report, Earl Klugh, Bob James, Rippingtons. But as far as the Rabbit Hole I’ve jumped into head first, OMG, so many names, so little time. I’m listening to Horace Parlan, Up & Down. A great album IMO. He has played with many, but I’ve only found a small number of albums where he’s the main man. |
I was privileged to experience the D. Holland Quintet live 4 times. Some of the best live music I’ve heard, ever.
Full video show by the Quintet (w/original drummer Billy Kilson): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvG8B39_Alc
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@curiousjim , re Ben Webster...try to find these ones, I guess they are classics... Webster and Tatum https://youtu.be/KJifh-S2Hw4?feature=shared Webster and Hawkins https://youtu.be/ASrLKqVFhKI?feature=shared Webster and Zawinul https://youtu.be/oIv3lM_ksLY?feature=shared Webster and Peterson https://youtu.be/OniFXJLCiQQ?feature=shared Webster and Associates https://youtu.be/VRxSgiksP6Q?feature=shared Webster and Edison |
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@curiousjim I understand, no apologies please! No jazz police around here... |
Is that on ECM? I've lost track of when he started releasing music on his own label. There are at least two D. H. Big Band releases. I caught that group live Yoshi's but actually prefer his Octet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ml9D7Hlf9I In any event, it's hard to go wrong with D. Holland! Here's a link to his discography from his website; https://daveholland.com/discography/
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Yes -- the language itself is undeniably clear. However, exactly which ECM albums might qualify for these adjectives is, to some degree, open to interpretation. While I’ve certainly heard music on this label that, from my perspective, fits such a description, I don’t know you well enough to presume which ECM albums fit this category within the context of your taste. That's all I was getting at.
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@curiousjim I've listened to about half of "1961". Good record when one is in the mood for some quiet sounds imo. Also KW's first album on ECM is "Gnu High". Very highly recommended. I think it was just reissued on vinyl. Backup group is Keith Jarrett, Dave Holland and Jack Dejohnette. PM's first ECM album was "Conception Vessel". Haven't played it in a long time. There's an ECM enthusiasts group on Facebook that's fairly active; for streaming, I follow it and try to keep a list of the recordings that look interesting. |
I bet that was a great show!
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The above wasn't exactly a detailed description of what you like/don't like, so I'm confused by your comment about what you made "clear". Is "Soulville" one of the eleven?
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While I'll never qualify as an ECM fan boy, I do enjoy a select few releases on that label. It's not all on the side of the spectrum you describe. For example check out albums by Dave Holland and those by Jack DeJohnette, if you are curious. There are far more knowledgeable ECM fans who may chime in. Not trying to "convert" you, though. Each of us likes what we like. Nothing wrong with that.
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ECM is a prime example of using Spotify to check out music before spending money. I have not purchased an ECM release without listening to it first in a decade. Before that my ECM purchases were 50% good and 50% disappointing. @stuartk your quoted description of that album can be applied to a lot of the ECM releases. Some like that dull "mood music" I for one can't stand it. |
There are three releases by this group listed in the Penguin Guide and all are highly rated with the one titled "Free Fall" receiving the highest possible "crown" rating. I'd actually never listened to them, before. I like the sound as well, but given the sparse instrumentation and lack of significant variation of tempos, can't help but wonder whether it would get a bit monotonous over the course of an entire album. I guess it would fit a certain mood. Well worth checking out, though. Creed Taylor, eh? Who would've thunk? |
The Yuko Mabuchi Group/Trio is very good IMHO. (1) Yuko Mabuchi - Plays Miles Davis (2019) - YouTube (1) "So What," Yuko Mabuchi Trio - YouTube (1) "GIRL TALK" The Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Los Angeles 2017 - YouTube
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With the idea of "less is more", here’s an interesting ECM recording. It was apparently produced by Creed Taylor in 1961, and remixed by the folks at ECM. The group is the Jimmy Giuffre 3, with Guiffre, Paul Bley and Steve Swallow. I haven’t heard the whole thing, but I really like what i have played. It’s a lot different than the group that included Jim Hall and Ralph Pena. Here’s a link on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4EjAwetGTd02wpbCzBIuUf?si=0rGadnZ1TgKMhYBtZegxRA Hope the link works. Album is called "Jimmy Giuffre 3, 1961"
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At the end each musician is unique passed some artistic level... I had my own preferences but this has nothing to do with who is the best... More about a soul quality that correspond to me more than of the always gifted musicians virtuosity ... Sometimes less is more ... I just listen Gene Ammons right now...I like his rythm and phrasing blues ... |
@curiousjim Billy Cobham is an excellent drummer, whom I have had the pleasure of seeing live in a trio setting with bassist Ron Carter and Donald Harrison on tenor. Cobham's first studio album as a leader, Spectrum, is one of my favorite jazz/rock fusion albums and on my desert island list (1) Billy Cobham - Quadrant 4 - YouTube The trio I saw (1) Donald Harrison with Ron Carter & Billy Cobham - Seven Steps to Heaven - YouTube |
If you haven’t yet heard his first Blue Note "Night Dreamer", why not begin there? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mJS8HXbYn4&list=OLAK5uy_mAu9NiVToftZRqogZrSMeqo_FN3v5-hu0 Or for something completely different: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G85Qa0cnKRk&list=PLHsZtZLpiZPfHDJJBQf5irTiY9lXYCz0E
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A short lived "Jazz Super Group" V.S.O.P Tony Williams is the featured musician on "Birdlike" One of a Kind (Live) - YouTube V.S.O.P. QUINTET 「So What」 - YouTube Joe Henderson replaces Wayne Shorter on tenor on this reiteration of V.S.O.P VSOP The Quintet Reunion / Eye Of The Hurricane (1986) - YouTube
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Some here might be interested in this, from the bandcamp page, regarding the label:
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