Even worse than loneliness is to not recognize who one’s true friends really are; all the while looking in the wrong places.
More Kurt Weill:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JXtY_APMKWA
More Kurt Weill:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JXtY_APMKWA
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.
31,723 responses Add your response
Thanks for the Getz/Tjader recommendation, pjw. I do have that record and it’s a good one. Besides the great playing, it has always been interesting to me because the opening cut “Ginza Samba” is kind of a preview of what would be the focus of Getz’ recordings beginning a year or two after that recording date. As you know, he would do a lot to bring the sound of Brazilian music to Jazz audiences. Beautiful player. I could name several favorite Getz records in return, but I suspect you have them all. So, here’s two things by him that are less known and might be interesting; one, an oddity (for Getz). I love this record by Abbey Lincoln. I find her singing to be a bit of an acquired taste, but love the honesty and absence of affectation in her voice. Getz as a sideman is wonderful as always: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9MQotWj8GZ4&t=0s&list=PLkaK5DhzmyNmqcem4wEBmPZVjVl3lYKdE&i... The oddity: I came across this by accident. I read a review years ago that mentioned that Getz was featured on this record by “Huey Lewis and The News” (!!!) and I had to check it out out of sheer curiosity. I could not imagine Getz playing in this kind of setting. He sounds great! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WweW3A2GMdc |
frogmanIt took me several listens but I got it. K Weill's is conveying the "essence" or mood/feel of the song through his interpretation.You never said it was the "best" and also hinted at his limitations. It's not easy to get past the age of the recording, his limited singing abiluuty and his accent.Obviously orpheus10 could not. It's his loss . |
Mary Lou Williams; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Lou_Williams Rok, I would like for you to focus on her early years; she taught herself to play piano, I don't know where we read this, but her mother would not allow professional lessons. There is a special reason that I mention this. We did not discover her until a couple of years ago, that was 2016. I didn't bother with her music because she predated "Bird"; therefore she could not be hip. I most certainly was not into the musicians of her generation. All the assumptions I made about Mary Lou Williams were wrong; no matter how late a mistake is corrected, it's better late than never. Now, I just can't get enough of her music; although I put her music down for awhile, I've picked it back up. Almost every artist I can think of is a little like some other artist, or uses a similar riff or something, but she's so unique as not to be like anyone, and the fact that her music is still "cool", is really amazing. I think the fact that her mother forbade anyone else to teach her music, established this individuality. Rok, why don't you peruse your collection, and post some favorites, and then I'll do likewise; besides, the jazz queen of Croatia wants to hear some of your music. |
"and she was friend, mentor, and teacher to Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Tadd Dameron, Bud Powell, and Dizzy Gillespie." All the musicians I idolized, she taught; can you imagine that. In 1945, she composed the bebop hit "In the Land of Oo-Bla-Dee" for Gillespie. "During this period Monk and the kids would come to my apartment every morning around four or pick me up at the Café after I'd finished my last show, and we'd play and swap ideas until noon or later", Williams recalled in Melody Maker. I have never read where Monk chased after anybody, but there he is with the kids every morning. She was super heavy; I can't believe how modern her music is. |
orpheus man, you reminded me of a friend that I once had. Out of 10 words that I would tell to him, he would think that at least 5 of them were pointed against him in a certain way. He never asked me what I wanted to say nor he was interested in explanation. He just heard what he wanted to hear. Could not beat that. Similar here, luckily in a milder form. I wrote that I liked Rok’s posting and failed to emphasize that I liked your postings too? And you immediately felt bad? You are fast on the trigger. I haven’t commented Mary Lou ’cause I did not have enough time to listen her in peace. Left that for later listening. Besides, I do not have to like all the music that you post, do I? Some of the postings are more and some are less my cup of tea. Only maybe if Alex posts a telephone book claiming that it is good jazz, I will probably like it or will catch myself thinkin’ do I like it, but that’s another thing. Don’t say this to Alex. However, I do appreciate all the contributors here. Do I really have to say it out loud to make it real? Stay tuned, post some good jazz and relax man. I will be "silenzio stampa" for a while, ’cause have some things to do what will require lot’s of time and discipline from me. p.s. I promise that I will listen your Mary Lou |
nsp, indeed. Re Boland/Clarke: My favorite iteration of the great Francy Boland/Kenny Clarke Big Band was from the period when they had both Johnny Griffin AND Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis on tenors. Their tenor battles were legendary. This is one of my favorite cuts on a record from that period and which features Lockjaw playing what for me is (no hyperbole intended) one of the most amazing tenor solos on record. Love Lockjaw! Very interesting player who combined the sound, vibrato and inflections of the great swing players with an advanced and modern harmonic concept. Talk about sense of swing and funky attitude! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc-Qx5rAPVM&t=0s&list=PLyHn3f7-9IUI19SPDErYxaIdiEd4SD-fm&i... ”Griff’n’Jaw”: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gY0F7UclYA0&index=8&list=OLAK5uy_k96cR7Wh9Ins34UWWm1ZL7nHXMNlr... With Dizzy. Ronnie Scott on tenor; founder of the famous “Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club” in London. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qMOYZs_vUy8 |
frogmanI like Albert Dailey's comping supporting Getz as it is different and mayb he moves Getz to other choices in his playing.this version is a faster tempo for the song than I like but still a good version. For me Dailey's solo stands out it's inventive,he searches for new melodic ideas.There is a big band KC FBoland version of "Invitation" that I tried to post twice but it didn't play.Wow!!! Glad to find another fan of KC FB BB. They are my #1 favorite BB. I have all their lp's and cds .Very popular in Europe, but not in U.S. as they never toured here."Sax No End" is excellent lp (great cover), buf not anywhere near my favorite. I think the album's music gave a strong nod to the swing era as did some of their earlier work but later lp's had rich,modern orchestral wtiting from Boland with great solos from an all star lineup.I will post something when I have more time and if I can find it. |
Today's Listen and Lesson: John Coltrane -- BOTH DIRECTIONS AT ONCE : THE LOST TAPES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIv4elylwsA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erlJD3Qo50c Recorded in 1963. Released in 2018. WTF, you may ask. 2CD set. The booklet is almost as compelling as the music. It gives the history of these recordings and an insight into the record business of that era. The record labels used to record and hoard the music, not releasing it until they felt the economic / market situation was most favorable to their bottom line. Coltrane, and others, would complain about fans wanting them to play their 'latest' hits, when in fact Coltrane had moved on. They were asking for music he had recorded years previous, but had just been released. When Impulse was bought by ABC and moved to LA, many unreleased tapes by Coltrane and others were thrown out to save on 'storage costs'. Makes a man want to cry. We have these recordings because of tapes Coltrane gave his ex-wife, Naima. If not for that action, all of this would have been lost, along with the countless gems that were thrown in the trash to save a few bucks. LESSON: Do not let outsiders control or define your art. Cheers |
nsp, good and well reasoned comments. I don’t disagree about Dailey’s comping and your point is well taken. Maybe it is, as you point out, the fast tempo that I’m reacting to and makes me feel there is a stylistic clash between Getz and Bailey. I’ll give it another listen. Do post some of that FB/KC BB. Thanks. |
Today’s Mary Lou: Mary Lou Williams -- MY MAMA PINNED A ROSE ON ME From the notes: "At one time in my career, I felt that the Blues or Boogie-Woogie were Kindergarten music...a style of music and playing I should be ashamed of........But then I made the great discovery that all the music, even up to Coltrane and beyond, was based on the Blues and the Blues feeling. Coltrane had this feeling of love in all his music.......... Mary Lou Williams. Gives added credence to: No Blues, No Jazz, Know Blues, Know Jazz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvUy3_D0t24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58L0IFhw7CU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihOq2nAeVYA Cheers btw, Cynthia Tyson on the first track. |
We discovered a gold mine of music, when we discovered Mary Lou Williams. Her music is not the same stuff warmed over, it's something brand new. We both know how old the blues is, but you ain't heard the blues until you hear hers; it causes me to spiral into the inner recesses of my mind, and let the lives of the people who created the blues flash before me. She is the most individualistic musician I've heard since Mingus. That was in 59 when I first heard Mingus; you have to put things into their proper perspective; nobody had heard anything like Mingus, and we didn't know what to make of him, but I had to keep playing Mingus over, and over. Now, every time I hear the same tune by Mary Lou, I hear something new; that's when you know you're listening to a gifted artist. |
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=homVZSEqkyo http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Nb3et3rxA frogmanI don't think Getz had a problem with Dailey's playing because I knew they recorded an lp of duets ,of which I included 2 songs. On "Confimation" I hear the same effect where Dailey's comping does not seem normal to the ear but it works. Is it possible he is comping in a different place than others might do and this seems to set up a potential clash between them?On "Spring Can Hang You Up The Most" I find Dailey's underpinings very sensitive and seems to fit Getz like a glove. Of course I can't say enough about Getz his solos are beautiful. |
frogman & nsp, Great Getz links. A couple were new to me. The KC FB BB is new to me. I found the Lock/Griffin recording here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I062LV2/?coliid=I1YDGBM0NFRWMC&colid=2MJEFFF7AFXNS&psc=0 No disc available just Mp3. Manteca with Dizzy I believe is on this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H9HWR8/?coliid=I2KP1JS2NFKVTY&colid=2MJEFFF7AFXNS&psc=0&re... I guess a lot of the KC FB BB records are out of print. I did find this though and a couple of other discs but that's it for the listings on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ZDXV7I/?coliid=I1DONXFZNXWUD4&colid=2MJEFFF7AFXNS&psc=0&re... |
Good sleuthing, pjw. I may have to get that video with Dizzy. Thanks. The KC/FB BB as you probably figured out was made up of many American players who had made a home in Europe around that time. I always hear a certain energy and vitality in that namd’s performances that I like very much. Just speculation on my part, but if there might be something to be said for being a big fish in a small(er) pond this might be a good example. What I mean is that I sometimes wonder just how much attention (and personal growth as a players) excellent players like Benny Bailey and Sahib Shihab would have experienced had they not moved not to Europe where they weren’t competing with the likes of Hubbard, Pepper Adams and others. Of course, powerhouses like Clarke, Griffin and Lockjaw could compete with anybody. nsp, great Getz/Dailey clips. Both new to me. Thanks. No clash between the two in either of those clips. I don’t doubt Dailey’s ability in the least; he’s a great player and on those two cuts he plays in a way that I feel is more complementary of Getz. I listened to the “Invitation” cut a couple more times. Getz was, when all is said and done, a traditionalist with obvious roots in Swing. He was obviously much more than just a swing player, but I always hear the inflections, vibrato and suave tone of swing players even though his use of harmony could be extremely modern. In that “Invitation”, when I hear Dailey’s comping (especially as the tune progressea) with thick dissonance rich chords I somehow want to hear a more modern sound concept from the tenor. Add to that the faster tempo and it feels a little frenetic. Still, great playing from both and I’m probably putting too fine a point on it. For me, a piano player who was a beautiful complement to Getz and could move in and out of modern and traditionalist sensibilities seamlessly was Kenny Baron. Here they take the tune at a more relaxed pace. Works better for me. Terrible recording; sorry: https://youtu.be/T-AFxpI9Joo I may have posted this recently https://youtu.be/WCe83Q-3GQk |
Today’s Mary Lou: Mary Lou Williams -- ZONING Excellent, informative booklet. When you consider what she accomplished, and especially, WHEN she accomplished it, you can only imagine what might have been. A true giant. Sadly most of her music did not make it to CD. Rosa Mae https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7omc3pc2cg Intermission (Zita Carno on the second piano). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usTI1yNKMwI Holy Ghost https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFnt8VcK8Sk Cheers |
All the music on that CD was written by "Mary Lou Williams", and that's my most significant point in regard to her music; she is the complete package, it also remains contemporary. This music is so refreshing; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yfqBhxqwZA |
Sitting here yesterday nodding between consciousness and sleep, with you-tube on auto, found myself in a dream state when these tunes came up. Took me back to a simpler time. I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwkwjOd7MCU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vltC-O7PDYQ Cheers |
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Help!!! I'm stuck in the 70's and can't get out!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v1J-kGxXds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pulI3in1UgI Cheers |
Rok, I met Maynard Ferguson once; he was nailed and just goofing around at one of his friend's joint. It was fun to see a big time musician just having a good time; his friend even got him to blow a few high notes just for laughs. Rok, that was a simpler time; it's why both of us have been in the same frame of mind. I have both of those tunes; "Feeling Good" and "Rise" on my play list. These are the best of times for the rich, and the worst of times for the working poor. The rich have always had it good, but they had to endure poor people being able to enjoy life to some extent as well; now there are few smiles on very few faces; this pleases them, when there are no longer any smiles on any faces, they will be content. Those two maynard ferguson albums are a must have for me. |
O-10, Glad you liked the old stuff. It was a fun time. People put down a lot of the music, but at least it was good for having fun. What else is the point of being young? Sort of like disco. It's so 'hip' to bash it, but we all loved it. I just don't know what to do with my 14 Nehru jackets.(assorted colors) I once heard Maynard being played on a stereo system outside in the PX parking lot in Furth, Germany.. We thought it was a real band and ran to the music. Turned out to be Maynard, on LP, Sony flat driver speakers and Phase Linear amps. Wow! I bought the LP that same day. Cheers |
Rok, I'll buy all the medallions you wore with the jackets. It's raining, dark and dreary where I am; a good day for reminiscing; without a doubt, the 70's was the best decade for me; nobody seemed to be uptight about anything, people were making a decent living. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvUQcnfwUUM |
Orpheus, somehow it seems to me that this song would me more suitable than the one you have posted last (in the summertime)... https://youtu.be/TYIl6n_SRCI |
I only brought up Sahib Shihab because it has most of the KC/FB Big Band, and Pwj was looking for vinyl. Sahib was also an excellent composer. https://www.discogs.com/Sahib-Shihab-Jazz-Joint-Vol-2- Companionship/master/289271 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeQhDyVGldjuLO7ywxs-SZ9-wBl4Seq_r |
frogman Yes Getz came up in the swing era and did retain stylistically from that early learning. And yes when Dailey is providing diffferent ( dissonant) chording you would expect the tenor to respond but it was probably difficult to get Stan out of his stylistic tendencies. But within his style was he ever so good. The Huey Lewis cut was different for Getz but probably because the music was written that way. He is only recognized by his tone. Here is another example where he deviates stylistically somewhat. In fact the music was written for him but not in his style as Boland wanted him to play differently. We have been talking about Getz and the KC FB Big Band . How about both together!! http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pCGg11AHT4o http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s_Nr6U0SGgU |
Wynton Marsalis -- UNITED WE SWING (update) After receiving this CD and listening to all the tracks, I have concluded that Wynton tends to take Inclusion, Diversity and PC, just a little bit too far. There are several artist on this CD that don't play Jazz and don't 'swing' in any genre. I sometimes think that Willie Nelson has made it his life's ambition to destroy Jazz and Blues singled handed. He should stick to country. He's great there. Also, Audra McDonald was wasted. Surely they could have found something to suit her awesome talent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zOlugtNz0k But thru it all, the band cooks. The best band playing today. Cheers |
This number will conclude my trip down memory lane of hot fun in the summertime on the dance floor in the 70's. Anyone who can remember the name of the steps that were done to this tune, wins the grand nostalgia prize. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBG3qpYj5DU |
For the sake of clarity only, I assume that the reference to “the Lincoln Center” in this discussion refers to “Jazz At Lincoln Center” only which is but one of eleven (!) resident Arts organizations that make up “Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts”, the leading Arts organization in the world. I can understand how someone might consider pairing Willie Nelson with Wynton’s band as trying to “fit a square peg in a round hole” (even Eric Clapton wasn’t quite round; imo) and I don’t disagree, but in case anyone is not aware of all the fabulous work that LC does in the arts, I felt that it was important to clarify. I’m sure it is not the case, but if the feeling is that LC in general ”delights in trying to fit a square peg in a round hole”, I would love to know on what basis this comment was made. Not looking for any controversy here, only clarity for an important arts institution that deserves it. http://www.lincolncenter.org |