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.
31,726 responses Add your response
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That guy on the stairs is pretty darn good. The song he is playing was written by the Flamenco master Paco de Lucia. And I agree with Schubert the guy on the stairs is better then a lot of "mainstream" guitarists. Paco: Entre dos aguas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oyhlad64-s |
I ain’t fan of Amy but schubi and pjw made me do it... My first choice was on Nina and No good man but the lyrics where he is bad but she still longs for him are outworn and off, so, here is the right alternative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-I2s5zRbHg And since I am not fan of perfect and steril sound either https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DZ-V8VEWsQ |
Wonderful Paco de Lucia clip, pjw. Wonderful groove and Paco’s usual brilliance. Loved that. Nina’s conga player would have done well to listen to and learn from Paco’s amazing bongos player. Not exactly a fan of Amy Winehouse either, mary_jo, although she was one of the more interesting female pop voices to come around in a while. On the subject of tempo: while there is always a bit of wiggle room in either direction, it is often felt by players that sometimes a tune has THE perfect tempo at which things seem to “lock in”. Winehouse’s studio version of “You Know I’m No Good” gets it right even if it has that sterile studio sound. The live version is faster than the studio version and loses some of that nice “I’m No Good” feel. Considered by some to be the greatest bongos (and all Latin percussion) player: https://youtu.be/9Z6nAKIQyBg https://youtu.be/Zp0O_bhF-wo |
pjwSo that Tyner box set is 7 lps total. I'm interested as I only have "Inception" on sacd and I don't want to buy each cd one at a time. Was wondering if you have any "Smalls Live " cds. from NYC club I picked up two titles recently less than 10 dollars each and I like the music and sonics. Have you ever gone to any shows there ? Seems like a small intimate club. |
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On the subject of tempo...yep, agree with you Fro, the studio version is perfect as I’ve said, but although live version is not, it is more dear to me. Precisely due to "lost parts"...The lack of studio interventions is obvious. This does not mean that I would not admire the perfection in some other song - it’s just that in this particular piece, the deprived strength in live performance suits me more. It just hits the "song message" to the center. |
Second nature to hear whether a piece is locked in once you are tuned in for it . Fantastic example of a string player who is tighter than two drums is Cynthia Phelps, Principal Viola of NYP . Some clips on You Tube .. Not hard to hear why he is tops in bongo land .My lame brain lies to me when it says to play both melody and beat at same time requires 4 hands . |
Cynthia Phelps is a monster musician and all-around lovely person. More on the subject of tempo and so my comment is not misunderstood. Tempo is simply how fast or how slow a tune is played and is a choice made by musicians which has nothing to do with whether it is a studio or a live recording. The slickness and “intervention” of a studio recording or the potentially looser and more raw quality in a live version is an entirely different issue. In the case of the two Winehouse clips I think that if the live band had played the tune at the slower tempo of the studio version combined with the looseness and less controlled feel of live it would have been best of all. Although subjective to a degree, certain tunes just seem to lock in at a certain tempo more so than at other tempos even when the difference is very subtle. I have a real soft spot for this record and I’m sure I have posted some of it before. One of the very first jazz records (well, it’s really a Brazilian bossa/samba record) I bought many years ago featuring the great Cannonball Adderley playing some beautifully lyrical and melodic improvisations: https://youtu.be/69uh2T1TtTY https://youtu.be/PA0G2Uz9tfo https://youtu.be/iudyMkulp-I |
I’ve heard there is a healthy jazz scene in Nashville . If this "locked" in Granny is any example they are telling the truth ! https://youtu.be/HsJavr4AI5M P.S Frogman, every time I hear Phelps I think of Ray Still , monsters of a feather I guess . |
Not meaning to belabor the point about the “perfect” tempo and being “locked in”, but.... Say what one will about Frank Sinatra, but although he was by no means my favorite singer his phrasing and feel for picking the right tempo were stellar. “Fly Me To The Moon” is a song that he practically owned. Compare the tempo of the Nashville granny’s version with Sinatra’s classic recording of the tune. Exactly the same! And locked in as Schubert points out. Coincidence? https://youtu.be/l7XPg-CacMs Too fast; not nearly as locked in: https://youtu.be/qVCgf6_M7i4 Ray Still!!! Anyone who wants to hear fantastic oboe playing should check out Chicago/Reiner “Rossini Overtures”. Amazing oboe playing. |
"Tempo is simply how fast or how slow a tune is played and is a choice made by musicians which has nothing to do with whether it is a studio or a live recording." Not necessarily. In the controlled studio conditions, the tempo is usually perfectly controlled, which is not the case with the live performance where it can differ. At some point the musician can lost the track. Since it's alive, it cannot be corrected, what is played is played. But I was not thinking on the tempo precisely, when mentioning the "lost parts" in the live performance, I was referring to the perfect and clean sound. And yes, although one can argue about it and it's merely the matter of taste, I agree that certain tune fits particular tempo. The lullaby for baby will be surely performed in a slower tempo. By the way, some very nice tunes you posted. Sinatra nails it, Diana not (God forgive me). Do you think that she does not have any chance in nailing it 'cause using faster tempo? Could it be done like Sinatra does it but with the tempo that she is using? An example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ_4cRG8B1g |
Since Beegie aka granny has another clip on You Tube titled " Tribute to Sinatra" I doubt if its a coincidence . I love to hunt out these little known pro musicians , Krall must be worth a 100 million and she could not carry Beegies music .I love her quick head bob to the "boys in the band’ as if to say good job guys .Also , the European jazz scene, right now it is smoking hot in Spain, Italy , Poland and points east . Sinatra was arrogant end of story .I hear the arrogance behind the beauty and don’t like it , someone like Tony Bennett is pure beauty . I love that . |
No argument intended, mary_jo. In a studio setting the tempo is “controlled” only when a “click track” is used; which is not always the case at all. Even then the tempo is a “choice” that is made. Taken a step further, good musicians will use the click track as a reference only and will play subtly “around” the mechanical “beat” that is heard in the headphones. It is true that a click track is used primarily on commercial and pop recordings. The vast majority of the classic jazz recordings that we have discussed here have been done in a studio and none used a click track; they were essentially “live” performances in a studio without an audience. The whole point of my comment was, as you said, that certain tunes work best at certain tempos. Can Krall nail it at a faster tempo? I don’t know about Krall “nailing” anything, but yes it could be done at a faster tempo. But... Believe it or not, I was on THE A train when I read your post and listened to Ella’s clip. Not sure about the meaning of it in this context. |
frogman In the Adair and Sinatra versions of "Fly Me to the Moon" for me the thing that "locks in " the song is their impeccable sense of swing. That ,along with the tempo makes their versions right for the listener. I give credit to Adair's trio members for locking in the tempo solidly. Krall tries to impart her own different sense of swing in the lyrics on her number which fails , especially in the middle and end of the song. I always feel it's difficult for a singer to cover a song for which another ( Sinatra in this case) has done what most consider a definitive version and her attempt to make it her own falls short. |
Keep posting mary_jo. Re Krall: Not a fan. I find her deliveries bland and pretty much the opposite of what I consider “nailing” a tune. Sorry, it was just a gratuitous dig. No point in getting on the Krall bashing bandwagon. Much more productive to discuss Sinatra who was undoubtedly a great singer. So is fillet a great cut of beef; but, give me sirloin any day. I agree with Schubert. For me, there was a quality in his singing (not nearly as much in a young Sinatra) that makes me feel like he felt he was doing the audience a favor by singing. The simple joy of singing of someone like Bennett is not there for me. Just me. https://youtu.be/kP1F7_G4Adc |
frog , re Still .I worked with a guy who was a student of Still . According to him one of the first things Fritz did when he got to Chicago was to fire Ray . After first few rehearsals he knew Ray was the anchor of the band and would remain so .Kaiser Reiner would have none of this .Thank God the union went to court and Ray got his job back . |
nsp, I have about a half dozen discs of live at Smalls sessions. Off the top of my head the 2 Peter Bernstein sessions are really good. I have never been to Smalls. https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Bernstein-Quartet-Live-Smalls/dp/B004O0VDEO/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=peter+b... https://www.amazon.com/Bernstein-Goldings-Stewart-Live-Smalls/dp/B005TMGY6I/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=pete... The price on the second disc is ridiculous. Good thing I bought it when it was first released. |
frogman There is no doubting Sinatra's talent but I think he exhibited a swagger or cockiness in his singing that some may not like. And he was not always the best interpreter of a tune. Case in point : Sinatra and Bennett performing Body and Soul : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ls9rNtD_Ms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6I4MNubkUQ Myvote goes to Tony hands down, which do you and other members like? |
You know mine . I saw a show , PBS I believe, where it showed everybody with him as they made his "Duo" recording . IMO by far the best song was with Aretha . As it ended, he paused and then said to her softly "Was that good" ? She rolled some music up and smacked him over the head as she said something like "you know dam well it was " .In a loving way of course . He was very kind to everyone on that in a manner that could not be faked .Was even nicer to those who had less talent as he did his best by them as well as he did with great stars . A True National Treasure in every way . And a hell of a painter ! |
Agree completely. There is an expression used by musicians when speaking of a player’s sound and of certain equipment’s sound that says “it’s (he/she) got the smile in the sound”. For me, Bennett has the smile in his sound; a certain feeling of joy of singing that seems to come from the heart. Now, I certainly am not in a position to know what was in Sinatra’s heart, but whatever it was it seldom made me smile. I realize that “Body and Soul” is a song that speaks about loneliness, but still.... Moreover, and along the lines of Schubert’s story re Bennett/Aretha and Mary-Jo’s “controlled” studio environment comment, listen to Sinatra’s singing beginning around 3:30 and especially when he sings “surrender”. Terribly out of tune. No producer or md would have had the audacity to say, as is normal, “Hey, Frank, I think you’re a little flat; try it again”. Speaks volumes. |
Speaking of...I appreciate the work of any musician. The efforts done on the way. If I don’t like the performance, I prefer to keep the opinion for myself. Mostly. But it looks like, if I spend some more time here, I will quickly lose that. I have already started with Sinatra, although he is, beyond any doubt, great singer. I do not mind his arrogance, it suits him well, some people can obviously afford it. But if I have to say that he is my type in complete, could not say that. Prefer more exposed intimacy, meaning vulnerability. Something what Chet does despite the lack of the skill and often wrong tune, mildly said. His delivery and Sinatra’s ability. What a killing combination that would be. If I must compare Sinatra and Bennett, my vote here goes to Sinatra. Bennett seems like a good, normal guy. I guess I seek for abnormalities in art. A not ordinary kind. Somebody might think otherwise and that’s fine with me. Joe Williams Just the way you are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK0szA1yltM What’s new? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0B9IzTGlus Get out of my life woman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyYiUgwLiN4 |
pjw That 2nd listing Bernstein, Goldings, Stewart i also have it was my 1st Smallslive purchase. Bill Stewart is perhaps my favorite drummer/ musician of the current generation. I've actually met him once. I purchased it at a reasonable price . I don' get where these listers on Amazon come up with these price gouging offers. Are they serious? |
A very long discussion on vocalists funny I was listening to Astrud Gilberto last night. And she was asked by Stan Getz to stand in and sing while the band was waiting for the "professional vocalist" who was arriving a day or 2 later for the recording session. Well you know how that ended up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DudoQ_yx0yo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMX6E68qJAg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5QfXjsoNe4 |
nsp. It's not a matter of like or dislike . Anything you see/hear with Bennett is a divine gift that is done one way, with respect and love of what he is doing and whoever he is doing it with , He is a transcendent human being,a gift to us all.I thank God that I was blessed to live at the same time he has . |
mary jo. As you know most women love a bad boy . I hope somebody looked at the high school band at the Barcelona Jazz Festival I posted . Joel Frahm is a power-house saxophonist who was their soloist He said that high school band was the best ensemble he ever played with , he can’t watch the film anymore as the the two young vocalists make him cry . If you do, watch his face in the background , its that of a loving father! |
Hope nobody will be offended, but Bennett somehow does not touch me. I could try to explain it better, but his singing I find to be ’light’. I have one his album, with B.Evans, but did not listened it much. Is it a tone, or a lack of expression (imho), but I just could not develop an affection for his singing. I tryed, just to add, in my defence. I respect Sinatra, but like Dean Martin more. Than again, Sinatra ’at the Sands’, with Count’s orchestra is a great album. He was perhaps arogant, but seems to have feeling for self-irony https://youtu.be/tro3r_DKDdY Of course, we have mentioned Nat King Cole and J.Hartman, but maybe Lou Rawls was not mentioned often... https://youtu.be/PFcmcH1DN2k https://youtu.be/INKTkkLNAdk |
Listening now and the hour is just about right.... Illinois Jacquet ’Round midnight’ from ’The bues, thats me’ album,r.1969. https://youtu.be/Ixc2BNuTURM https://youtu.be/Mo4bkJDhD3g |