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.
31,733 responses Add your response
frogman + Schubert I think this video gets it right and Ronnie Cuber is on it along with the aforementioned Pepper Adams, Gerry Mulligan, Harry Carney, and one you guys neglected - Hamiet Bluiett. Bluiett was a mentor of James Carter on the baritone and plays on Carters album "Out of Nowhere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAI8Ycj-_Bk Out of Nowhere (Bluiett is featured right out front in the first song) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg4PrVw1KaM I have this album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deK-ACbP89U A young Ronnie Cuber cutting it up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib4Y2vI5qlw |
acman3 if Benny Goodman is not considered the best clarinetist of all time he was certainly the most popular and quite a showman I have this album and this is my favorite song. Makes me want to jump up and dance while twirling my wife around https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NigiwMtWE0 |
Great Benny Goodman clips. Thanks all. Benny was wonderful. The whole issue of “best of all time” is an impossible determination. The context of where the music was at in its evolution puts it all in the only valid perspective, imo. Great comments and observations re recent clips posted. During Benny’s time the demands on players where very different in many ways. There was a different ensemble playing aesthetic and the softer sounding (than saxophones) clarinet could be featured in a big band or lead the reed section. As Jazz evolved toward the modern and electric it generally became more aggressive volume wise and players’ sounds evolved likewise toward a brighter and more aggressive approach (Pepper Adams/nsp). The clarinet didn’t stand a chance. Not only because it is not capable of the same sheer volume as a saxophone, but as Jazz evolved to a more harmonically sophisticated and challenging language, the clarinet’s poor logic in its key (fingering) system made the instrument much more difficult to play with the kind of harmonically extended approach to improvisation that became standard post-big band era. The saxophone has a certain logic to its fingering system that makes it much more conducive to the speed of bebop and the patterns-based Coltrane approach. In light of this, Eddie Daniels’ accomplishment is that much more impressive. He talks about this in the interview portion of the clip I posted earlier. Btw, Schubert, GRP records was known for being one of the first entirely digital record companies. pjw, let us know how you like the Thad and Mel records. Per your comment, it was such a different time (perspective): https://youtu.be/YsJScuVa_HI |
James Carter can play ANY reed/woodwind instrument but that is not the point. The point is he can play them all at very high technical proficiency. He may or may not be "the best" at any of them but he is on the short list and has won the Downbeat Critics Poll on a few of them. Clarinet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45hcOg5MNs4 baritone sax: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgl1D0T_rHQ tenor and soprano sax: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDDTA97Yf9o&t=382s alto sax: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIJPG6dCHeE flute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYcCkl6M7y8 |
Schubert was this the drummer In JC's band when you saw them? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U7gMDfrUNc I'm asking because his usual drummer for his organ trio and other projects going back 15 or so is Leonard King and not Alexander White who is on the kit in the first link JC with Leonard King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBJDuzovq7U JC also has another band called the Elektrik Outlet which is the group playing at the Blue Note next month and features Alexander White on drums. Funny thing is when I saw JC at Birdland back in April as the James Carter Organ Trio he had White replacing Leonard King on the kit that night also and the billing for the show listed Leonard King as the drummer. Maybe King was feeling under the weather or something. Elektrik Outlet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX7wX5aQ3bE |
81563 , I'm 99% sure it was White , had no hat on but was about his build with close cropped hair .Sure wasn’t long haired Leonard and was younger . I had heard Leonard before but never seen either guy . Both can sure play . Was few minutes late with parking , if there were intros I didn’t hear them and was way back anyhow .Still was fun .
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Schubert here is JC's organ trio with Branford Marsalis and here its definitely Leonard King on the kit. A great performance by both of these saxophone masters! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwn8zskWw3U |
acman3 Marcus Strickland is great especially his older recordings. Some of the other greats under 60 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfuW_Q7LfCY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usVFfVl-org https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unRHCRsbJM0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_jV_S4rHBs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dIKITfN_VI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0uIR1aaFbo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_317YOBfMZQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdLCoLVRCmk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDYsvpgOBOo |
A favorite under-60’er. No flash or excess; just great sound and thoughtful story telling with just the right amount (for me) of attitude: https://youtu.be/rYfZY89Y0MI https://youtu.be/W87KWRewAas |
pjw & schubert I have a $50 dollar pair of outboard speakers I previously owned that I connected to my new computer purchased in JAN. I don't use headphones just a personal preference. I don't do ANY serious listening on my computer , I have a dedicated 2 channel stereo system where 99% of my listening happens. But it keeps costing me money! |
pjwI did not get around to posting any Hamiet Bluiett this time but did include something previously when we were posting baritone players.I was introduced to his music from work he did with the Mapleshade label I like him a lot. I also like a guy named George Haslam but could not find what I wanted to post. I have been listening to J Carter more about him later. |
Here’s one of my favorite young artists , this is a spur of the moment piece with one of the Greatest Jazz Masters , never met , zero rehearse , he 79 her 18. A true and genuine treasure nsp, I get you . But to me listening to anything anybody goes to the trouble to post on here is serious listening . |
frogman I have a couple of Vincent Herrings recordings. Definitely one of the greats under 60. In my post I wrote here are "some" of the greats under 60yo. I couldn't list them all. Thanks for adding Herring. I also have this disc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqnAsALMqQ4 |
Another one I missed. He was one of Jimmy Heaths favorite students https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBSTUvLg6Y8 |
Vincent Herring with Jeremy Pelt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsxCCFc5MFA By the way the aforementioned saxman Marcus Strickland has a brother who is a drummer. E.J. Strickland with some pretty good saxophonist's including his brother Marcus on tenor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWeUHRB6Nok |
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The Jazz albums I keep coming back to after numerous years:
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pjwBeen Listening to James Carter's the Real Quiet Storm. From the first note on baritone of the first cut what a great sound he produces. On all instruments. Very strong tone, excellent improvisation. He also owes a little debt 2 some of the Blues shouters from the 50s / 60s, like Gene Ammons. Eddie lockjaw Davis, Arnett Cobb. James can really make his horn Shout with a strong Blues feel. I bought this CD because it was mostly standards and a good introduction to JC. But The first original cut I listen to is my favorite on the album so far. |
nsp The more you listen to James Carter the more you will like him. Sure he likes to show off and honk and squeal popping his lips off his mouthpiece and such. Wouldn't you if you had the talent he has. He also has an excellent ability to play ballads and blues that are simply gut wrenching and stay within the norm. Many dismiss him because of his Jimi Hendrix like pyrotechnics on the sax but they don't know what they are missing. He has a 3 night residency at the Blue Note NYC if you are interested. Listen to his solo from 8:35 - 10:20! then go back and watch him play restrained and within the song as a member of the Amazing Keystone Big Band. Or just watch the whole video from the beginning! Another thing to look out for at from 3:15 - 4:45 when Stochelo Rosenberg, the gifted guitarist from the Netherlands is playing his solo, JC starts swaying and dancing to his rythm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKrLGzkH2-I |
schubert the Dragonfly DAC you recommended has received excellent reviews but I prefer my ARC DAC/Headphone amp combo. Mind you I listen to it off my laptop into my Sennheiser HD 650 headphones but this is not my preferred listening method I have to do this because my house is small and humble and my wife and I agreed I could have one listening session per week, on Friday, which usually lasts from 6pm - 12am. This is done on my high end surround system switched to straight 2 channel with R and L JBL full range towers and JBL R and L subwoofers. I switch to surround ONLY when I am listening to a multi channel SACD or DVD audio. |
I would not know, is it true or not, but somebody said... https://youtu.be/IZ-w_IKGRFM But,than again, I had a girlfriend who would come to my place and used to say, ’play me something, as long is not jazz or sad music’... |
A favorite little known tenor player. Beautiful player with a gorgeous tenor sound full of nuance. Never hits you over the head and lets the listener lean into the playing to hear a beautiful sense of logic and depth: https://youtu.be/VnLfgzdya2U https://youtu.be/kbky4ga69Zc And can tear it up when called for: https://youtu.be/uMm9PGIb5GI |
Ihttps://youtu.be/3gBKZ4f6eOc I don’t know how well or not this artist is today , first time I heard him was on car radio yesterday . From what I could find he seems like a classy player , easy on the ears .original but takes care of business as well . Ditto;https://youtu.be/nimGB414ABM Phil Woods come into 2nd piece about 13:15 . Grace sings on this as well . Very sexy IMO . |
With his wisdom and great heart and soul I am sure " Satch" would/did love this magnificent homage to him . One of the best drum solo's ever filmed and the trumpet player is from Mars . Teared me up . https://youtu.be/ekyQmQ7JKy4 |
alex I have been divorced once. Very costly!! frogman - Rich Perry is smooth indeed and I had never heard of him. Thanks for that. I now have all the Thad Jones & Mel Lewis sessions you recommended plus one more from a later date Monday at the Village Vanguard. Schubert the orchestra with Grace Kelly is outstanding. The highlight for me though was Billy Cobham's drum solo. I have all of his recordings while he was with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, all of his solo recordings, and many more of his collaborations with various musicians. One of the greatest drummers of all time IMO. And I do not plan on Leaving Long Island until I retire 12 years from now. I have property in North Carolina. Heading south. |
alex this goes back to you. The wife I divorced was Brazilian. filmado no rio o baterista é fantástico (Filmed in Rio the drummer is fantastic) - Neil Pert Here is another great drum solo filmed. Then again Neil Pert is also one of the greatest drummers of all time. The last minute of the video is a trip with the large monitor behind Pert showing various clips of jazz musicians, swing dancers, 50’s era cartoons and vaudevillian scenes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE_wOizsGYw |
Wonderful Teddy Edwards who sadly passed away several years ago. Very nice record, Schubert. pjw, speaking of Thad and Mel, Rich Perry has occupied one of the tenor chairs in that band for about twenty five years; post the recordings that you just received until the present. Great player! https://youtu.be/2AElgt5NwI8 |