Finns consider that paying attention to someone you do not know is both a waste of time and bad manners . Period !
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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There are many similar clips, from airports and shopping malls, with professinall player disguised as ordinary folks, playing piano, but the next clip is kind of funny, because its Billy Gibbons playing on the street corner in Finland and nobody seems to pay any atention... https://youtu.be/YHUQNxggT_k |
This UPS guy is giving piano lessons in what looks to be a train/transit station. An amusing video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY8FS9NhrBc |
A younger Tom Harrell with Phil Woods I listened to the whole clip. I must say it was an outstanding live session with all the band members showing great musicianship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k61gChXwLQ0 |
nsp I have every Jeremy Pelt album and another great and overlooked player that appears on that recording session "Soul" is saxophonist J.D. Allen. I have 5 of Allen's albums and I rate them very high. Great straight ahead jazz - not "gimmicky" or "exploratative" Here is the J.D. Allen trio live at the NYC winter jazzfest. Hard charging improvisation from 0 - 30 minutes then some beautiful ballad/blues playing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEzMEnTxc2Q Another overlooked but excellent sax player who Jimmy Heath called his best sax student is Antonio Hart. Hart was Heaths student at Queens college and Heath said his dedication to learn reminded him of a young John Coltrane. Hart would practice for hours on end. I have the following disc and it is definitely a winner with Hart joining Roy Hargrove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhregGDddnY&t=2002s Another Hart disc I have: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjiWG6BF2M |
acman3 & frogmanI refrained from buying any Wynton music four 20 plus years as I did not like the context or musical style he was playing in. At the time I was going through a strong "avant-garde" period. Over the last several years I have been purchasing the jazz at Lincoln Center titles and I've been enjoying them. frogman I have to agree about w y n t o n s playing I never felt he stretched it out harmonically like other like other modern players do. I'm not sure but I think that was a personal choice of his.I guess when you have the major record contract(Columbia) and you are the face of the new wave of jazz players you are going to come in for some criticism for sure.Although I don't think Branford received the same level of criticism as the two brothers took different paths or different musical roads in their output and careers.I like Tom Harrell also I don't think he's that well-known. I have been listening to his recording "light on" lately. I like his piano player Danny Grissett. |
nsp, I agree with acman3; my opinion of Wynton’s IMPROVISING also has softened. As a trumpet player he has few equals; some might argue, no equal. As a bandleader he is great. As an educator and advocate for jazz, particularly its roots, he is fantastic. He has become such an important personality in jazz that I think the “beef” that many critics and players had/have has become rather moot. The beef was that the level of attention, notoriety and fame that he received was considered by some as not being deserved relative to the quality of his jazz playing. The feeling was that his playing somehow lacked soulfulness; that it was dominated by feats of virtuosity and, as older players like Miles would say, “he doesn’t say “sh$t”. I agreed to a degree. While I acknowledge that this is a subjective thing, I was seldom particularly impressed by his “story telling”, but the gorgeous sound and amazing command of the instrument usually held my attention. My opinion on this has softened because I think he continues to grow as an improviser. The solo on the Ruben Blades clip is a good example. I must say, however, that there are other current trumpet players that I find more interesting. Tom Harrell is a favorite. Not too many players can play an extended solo without the help of a rhythm section. His time feel is so strong that one almost doesn’t miss the bass or drums. His command of harmony is so good that one can follow the changes of the tune without the help of a harmony instrument (piano or guitar). Beautiful warm sound: https://youtu.be/Gw5bXS5VZcU |
Nsp, I am one of the people in the past on this thread, who did not give Wynton his due. Much of my problem was his stanch neoclassical approach to Jazz music. This is Jazz and this isn't. I think you can tell where I am on that. We mentioned if everyone took his approach the music Jazz would be in a museum. There was never any doubt of his musical ability, and how darn good his bands are. This is a long thread and as is the case with long threads it tends to repeat. An opinion someone has 3 years ago or even a shorter period, may have changed or hardened. Mine on Wynton has softened. I do have most everything he did till he started putting out 3-4 records a year, around 2000, and I lost track. I still pick up the stuff I don't have. I even have 'Blood in the Field'. I think now you have to be looking for something wrong to find it with Wynton. Anyway, now you have an idea of what Frogman was referencing. |
nsp, With the organ trio that JC always plays with live going on 8 plus years: https://www.amazon.com/At-Crossroads-James-Carter/dp/B005HWUC04/ref=sr_1_1?crid=BMNGPEYWK3DZ&key... Leonard King - Drums :http://leonardkingdrums.com/ Gerard Gibbs Hammond B-3 :http://hammondorganco.com/artists/organ-and-leslie-artists/gerard-gibbs/ This album really cooks. Its the same trio plus 2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_of_Nowhere_(James_Carter_album) |
frogmanI know what you mean because I ran into some Flack from someone on this site regarding W Marsalis recently.I have always heard that Wynton came in for criticism from Jazz critics and writers. Can you explain what their beef was with his music? Was it the fact that he was more traditional in his playing and writing rather than being someone who push the envelope? I have always appreciated his writing and playing especially in theLCJO. |
pjwA t one time I owned Blood on the fields but could never really warm up to it. Sold it. I recommend CitI Movement or the Live at the Village Vanguard sessions by Marsalis based on the samples I heard on Amazon. Thanks for the James Carter cuts. I will check out his back catalogue for more purchases for my collection. I think you recommended one of his organ Trio discs? |
nsp, JC seems to me like he is completely happy and satisfied with the way things are. He is most at home on the stage. He dances when he plays his sax. He dances when his drummer or another in the band takes a solo. He communicates with the crowd with words and facial expressions. Maybe he will go into the studio soon as you said it couldn't hurt. He just loves what he does. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ_cnJp71BA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTW-l7RXRNc |
pjwAlmost eight years without putting out a new recording seems unusual. Maybe he is not signed to a record label now? I think most jazz artists make their money from touring and playing live. But if you have a working band a recording getting airplay wouldseem like a good advertisement to draw people to your concerts /Club dates. And vice versa: patrons who attend live concerts might buy a current recording of your group supplementing your income. |
I found this gentleman recently and have been very impressed. Huge catalogue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQxJbRG7mo8 |
nsp I think you will be satisfied with any James Carter album. I have all of them. Only thing is he has not put out a recording as a leader since 2011. I sat and conversed with him at the bar in Birdland after his first set but I did not want to put him on the spot and ask him why he has not been in the studio. He does appear as a sideman on 30 or so other albums including one by Wynton Marsalis but I think he has not been in the studio to do anything for quite a few years now. He does continue to tour and do jazz workshops globally. I was thinking of buying this suite written by Marsalis that features Carter. https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Fields-Wynton-Marsalis/dp/B0000029GF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KAHRCANZKAZQ&... |
Same lady plays flute with John Clayton on" Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" . She plays the clarinet as well . https://youtu.be/bah7kzOeumA |
This lady is a FANTASTIC saxophone player .https://youtu.be/NRLvMhz89UQ?l Not hard on the eyes either . |
81563, I don’t really know what the best college BB is, but If I was 18 and looking for a jazz school my butt would be on its way to North Texas ! https://youtu.be/NGQvP3Buv60 |
So happy to see lots of love for the great NEA Jazz Master Mr. Jimmy Heath or "Little Bird" as he was affectionately called by his peers. Jimmy wrote this composition for his Idol and teacher Dizzy Gillespie. Jimmy also was enamored with Benny Carter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwfdD4zcpKA NEA member Jimmy Heath https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/jimmy-heath?hl=jimmy%20heath This is one of his first albums as a leader - 1961 IIRC. Riverside label. Orin Keepnews signed him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca_iv6V8-dg |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWbGXbKNu8o pjw I'm glad I'm glad you posted Kenny Clarke F Boland BB. I posted something by them a short time ago but didn't think anybody was interested because I didn't get any response. I have a lot of big band music in my collection but IMHO the KCFB big band is the best. I have all of their music on vinyl. Another of my favorites link above also highly recommend "Latin kaleidoscope " by them |
https://youtu.be/WRe_eLjwJA0 Makes me very happy that Jimmy Heath agrees with me ! If I could only have one saxophone piece from one LP this one of Jimmy’s would be it .https://youtu.be/41eDU9CBK8Y |
AMEN to the Great Jimmy Heath !Look at the just plain joy on his face as whips those Germans in shape( not that they needed it) .Can only come from a life well-lived ! https://youtu.be/8nOhQAHNBQ8 . P.S . look at the respect on the saxophone sections faces as the old man solos . And there ain’t no weak sisters in the German radio big bands , |
pjw, in no way did I mean to suggest that I think Wynton has been “overlooked”. Quite the contrary. In fact, the tremendous amount of attention that he has received (deservedly, IMO) has been part of the reason for some of the cynical criticism from some. He is a formidable contributor to jazz in many respects. However, his playing as a jazz improviser has received quite a bit of criticism including from some here; hence my comment. Btw, I agree about Heath. I posted a fair amount of Jimmy Heath a while back, but he deserves much more. https://youtu.be/rbufxZe8550 |
frogman I have always liked Wynton as a player and arranger/composer. He is the main reason there is a Jazz at Lincoln Center. I do not think Wynton has been "overlooked" by anyone who is anyone in the jazz world. And the majority of jazz aficionados are also aware of his contributions to the jazz world. That distinction, IMHO, belongs to the great Jimmy Heath. JH is a fantastic player of alto, soprano, and tenor sax as well as flute plus he is a terrific arranger/composer and is recognized as such by his peers in the jazz world but he did slip under the radar of many jazz aficionados. |
Beautiful Isbin, mary_jo. Effortless musicality. Loved “Fellini”, pjw. Thanks both. Wynton Marsalis’ playing hasn’t always gotten a whole lotta love here. Check out his solo on this. He’s on fire. Particularly impressive for being in a genre not usually associated with him. Ruben Blades is fabulous as always. https://youtu.be/hqpJH6p6Z2g |
mary jo, Thank you so much for introducing me to Isbin I was just about to post one of my favorites of Francy Boland and your post caught me off guard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNPGa-JVv-I The second and third movements are just as good, IMHO |
Those are good ones fro, from others too, off course. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYNsYz-nOsI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1024bA4iU5w Following your recent conversation, about the differences between guitar types, I want to paste here the link of this classical guitarist, Sharon Isbin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N77zyOXfIU If you google a bit about Isbin, you will probably bump into her documentary (she is very well covered on YT) where she encounter short meeting with her friend who gives her an electric guitar to play. They both laugh in the process where Isbin also explains that she spends all her time playing classical guitar only and considers she still doesn't have enough time to explore all the great possibilities that classical guitar offers. That off course, leaves no room for the practice on the electric guitar where she admits she is not good there at all (!) By the way, Isbin is founding director of the guitar department at Juilliard, a multiple grammy winning classical guitarist, etc., etc.... |
My favorite rhythm section. Miles’ ‘60s rhythm section with the great Freddie Hubbard. I love everything about this record: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL84EB0EC94DB33611 |
https://youtu.be/8y06NSBBRtY Eisenhower made the greatest speech ever made by an American President warning us.No one listened and now it is too late . .The entire 16 minute Farewell Speech is of course on You Tube ,anyone who had not heard it in its entirety would do well to listen to its all . He was the last real Conservative President and will be the last . In many ways he was the first one . |
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Seems I was wrong. If we cut our military budget in half we would still be number one followed closely by China!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJkMdiwXnwU |