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.
As you know I'm a big Lou "sweet papa" Donaldson fan having seen him live to many times to remember and I also hung out with him.
Many people do not like stretched out jams - they say they get repetitive and ruin the song. IMO this depends on the listener and the players.
I happen to really enjoy "jam sessions" and the two Donald Byrd/Kenny Burrell songs you chose really cook. (of course I have those two discs :))
If you like great stretched out jam sessions with outstanding musicians check out the 5 Gene Ammons titles I suggested on the previous page. Here are a few from those albums:
It seems that there is a fundraiser campaign for Kenny Burrell
.@JazzFoundation has confirmed the legitimacy of the @GoFundMe campaign for #KennyBurrell. We're doing what we can to help out this great musician who has given us all so much. Sharing the link here to let Blue Note fans everywhere know he needs our help
alex, Unfortunately for Mr. Burrell and a half million families (2.5 million children) this has become an epidemic in the U.S.A.
If we cut our military budget by 50% we would still be one of the top 4 countries in the world Instead of number one, which we are now but IMO this is not necessary.
That money slashed from our military spending would provide free healthcare for all and fix the homeless situation with lots of money to spare.
Unfortunately and sadly this will never happen as the U.S.A. policy will continue to remain fixated on our military power. Sad isn't it?
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 .
Following your recent conversation, about the differences between guitar types, I want to paste here the link of this classical guitarist, Sharon Isbin:
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....
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.
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.
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.
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 ,
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
pjwI borrowed a James Carter CD from my library, JC on the set. It's a mixture of originals and standards. Based on listening to this CD and listening to samples online I've just purchased my first James Carter CD the real quiet storm. It's on its way.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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