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.
Can't argue with you chazro, no doubt they are high-level artists and I will look into them as time allows . But, if there is as many that have as much to say as Gonzalo it will be the biggest miracle since the birth of Jesus . Genius is a silly term really , it's a relevant term and just an easy way to express something . In essence , two of the greatest , Mozart and Bach , both said they were not geniuses but did the absolute best they could because they were overcome with , love, love , love .
Well thanks for saving me time acman, as always you’re on the ball !
All these guys are excellent players no doubt about that . But IMO Gonzalo is at a higher level than any one of them .I have no way of knowing, at least till the 14 of his CD’s I ordered yesterday get here , but I would would be surprised if he has any chart other than his heart and head . .
Gonzalo Rubalcaba may very well be the '1st among equals' in this group we're discussing but as I mentioned before, they all have very extensive discographies. They've all gone through 'electric' phases, big band phases, small combo and of course, solo phases. What yr doing, buying a grab bag of records is the best way to check ANY artist out as it's close to impossible to know what's up from a single recording. My 1st Gonzalo record is an import from Cuba, the GR Proyecto, he was a very young man and VERY deeply into the Return To Forever/Weather Report/Irakere sound. Very loud, electric, rhythmically challenging, and very exciting stuff. To get where he is TODAY, from where he started, lets just say he's had an outstanding, very illustrious, accomplished career and regardless whether its Fusion or acoustic, its always been excellent!
OMG , I will be walking on air for a week just knowing a little listener came to the same conclusion as the Great Simon Rattle in 5 minutes . Really not bragging folks , just nice to know 50 + years of paying attention wasn't a total waste !
In contrast to the softer (texture) and rounder Steinway sound which can be clearly heard in spite of the distorted recorded sound during the percussive passages. More obvious still is the commentary showing what an interesting, articulate and deeply spiritual individual Rubalcaba is:
Rubalcaba and Valdes. Yamaha pianos this time. Roughly (!) somewhere between the sound of Bosendorfer and Steinway, but not as good as either, IMO. With amazing artists like this it doesn’t matter much; but interesting nonetheless:
10 seconds into his "Caravan " I knew I was in the presence of a very high level of spirituality , in much the same way I feel when I listen to my morning Bach Cantata . To be honest the term I would use is God . To be there you must have true humility. Rubalcaba has it and expresses it in almost exactly the same manner as Bach did . His take on how music is related to those around you could have come out of the mouth of Schubert .
The lists I’ve seen rating university based Music Schools always have Indiana as tops, as you would expect . I was taken aback a bit to see how high the Frost school at Miami was , with that caliber of faculty I see the light .
The standard I are praying will be on one of the CD’s I ordered is " Indiana " , thought I heard a few bars of it toward the end of his playing .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KylY3vQv8Y4 The greatest American songwriters stuff reminds me of Bach .No matter how , with what or where you play it just comes out beautiful . Hope Toots was listening !
I do not believe
that jazz is about to die, ever, or that is encountering a slow death, gasping
for air.
I actually think
that, the more „modern“ and electronic music we have, the more space self-creates
there for a true jazz to breath and to live life in full.
Back in the past,
where musicians actually played their instruments, without the technology to
support them (or to play instead), live music was not unusual event to experience.
Mostly everyone played live.
Today. A true
chance for such wonderful music genre to stand out. Alive and improvising. Just
like in life.
mary_jo, dinner jazz is a silly term for the kind of “jazz” one might hear in restaurants; background music, usually played softly, intended to add an air of sophistication to the ambience in the restaurant (or other). Like “cocktail piano” it usually consists of ballads or pop tunes played in an insipid and unobtrusive style meant to not interfere with conversation. Of course, the diner is at the mercy of what the host or proprietor of the restaurant considers “jazz”.
**** I do not believe that jazz is about to die, ever, or that is encountering a slow death, gasping for air. ****
Aaah! The subject of much dispute and contention here. I could not agree with you more and many of the recent posts here prove your point. Of course, all art evolves as a reflection of current times while building on what came before. Personal opinions on the subject are, in great part, a reflection of a person’s personality traits and general feelings about the state of the human condition itself. Is the glass half full, or half empty? For some reason many find a kind of comfort in unreasoned negativity. Nice post.
I don’t listen to my favorite rendition of "Stardust", by Clifford Brown, unless I am alone because it makes me cry .No joke . King Cole , Sassy and Mathis , love them all .With Hoagy you just go from masterpiece to masterpiece to masterpiece .He did write lyrics for a few songs , lost my list though. Of course Frank Loesser etc had a LOT to do with it . My absolute Favorite is "Skylark" when Hoagy had the Great Johnny Mercer on the job ! But " Stardust" is a bit prettier . Thanks all !
Frogman, now I understand it, but you have certainly expanded my vision of ’dinner jazz’ expression. I agree with all what you have written. Thank you.
To all, I know I repeat a lot .I learned a lesson from a guy named Bach. They is no reason to invent something new until you get to the very bottom of whats already before you .If I did what I feel I’d have 50 renditions of "Skylark"on here for compare and contrast .I’ll try to be better in future for your sake .
I have this silly imprint effect like a newborn chick when first what sees, recognizes as a parent. Does not matter if the parent is actually a duck. The chick is devoted. Same here with, I would say, majority of favorite songs. Hard to change.
Mary_jo, both yours and Alex’s last two links have not been available. We will continue to re-post your music links when that happens. Don’t know why it just started happening ?
Acman, believe that that has to be something conected with policy of publishing rights on ytube. Some of the links that you guys post are sometimes also unavailable to me ( I see the name of the artist but ’content cant be played due to copyright rights in your country’ )
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