"She makes Miles, Trane, Monk etc... seem like fly by night flashes in the pan."
I've been listening to jazz for my entire life, and I will testify, "You got that right!"
I'm not sure I have that one; if not, it will be corrected.
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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*****piano was her life, she didn’t just play piano.****** I get that, I just thought you were going to compare her performances to those of my favorite divas in some way. You know me, I want to know who won? I think it was Dee Dee and Ella in a blow out. But I do love Nina. She sings a lot of what I would call Folk music. And since she often sang about current events, some of her music can sound dated now. My favorite of hers is "New York goddam". Cheers |
Schubert, I'm glad that you share my love of Carmen. I have a number of pristine LP's by her that I enjoy immensely; that was when she was young and very beautiful, but as she aged, she gained weight and became less beautiful; what was she to do,drive a cab? (but I'm not as handsome as I once was) Never the less, we can still celebrate a young and beautiful Carmen McRae; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_R9AGDvXe4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYRrcCjLiGA |
Today's Mary Lou: Mary Lou Williams -- LIVE AT THE COOKERY Recorded 1975. Nice booklet with pictures and history. The notes point out that Mary Lou has lived through all the eras in the history of Jazz, and played the new music of each era. She has lived and played through 90% of the history of recorded Jazz. She makes Miles, Trane, Monk etc... seem like fly by night flashes in the pan. This is my favorite CD of the ones I have by Mary Lou. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SEL9r11fvg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=titcI_y8LVw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rez4rZ-Dnxc Cheers |
Rok, you have provided enough for me to state my point. Irvin Mayfield is the pianist for Dee Dee's version of that song. Nina Simon is her own pianist. Ella Fitzgerald's pianist was John Lewis, one of the very best. Nina Simone's pianist was "Nina Simone". All the other "Diva's" had other pianists, while Nina Simone was her own pianist. My point is, Eunice Waymon had no intention of becoming a singer; she was playing the piano at a lounge to earn money for piano lessons when they told her to sing. Simone's music teacher helped establish a special fund to pay for her education.Subsequently, a local fund was set up to assist her continued education. With the help of this scholarship money she was able to attend Allen High School for Girls in Asheville, North Carolina. After her graduation, Simone spent the summer of 1950 at the Juilliard School, as a student of Carl Friedberg, preparing for an audition at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Her application, however, was denied. As her family had relocated to Philadelphia in the expectation of her entry to Curtis, the blow to her aspirations was particularly heavy, and she suspected that her application had been denied because of racial prejudice. Discouraged, she took private piano lessons with Vladimir Sokoloff, a professor at Curtis, but never re-applied to the institution. She took a job as a photographer's assistant, but also found work as an accompanist at Arlene Smith's vocal studio and taught piano from her home in Philadelphia. (Thank God her application was denied) To fund her private lessons, Simone performed at the Midtown Bar & Grill on Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City, whose owner insisted that she sing as well as play the piano, which increased her income to $90 a week. In 1954, she adopted the stage name "Nina Simone". "Nina", derived from niña, was a nickname given to her by a boyfriend named Chico, and "Simone" was taken from the French actress Simone Signoret, whom she had seen in the 1952 movie Casque d'Or. Knowing her mother would not approve of playing the "Devil's Music", she used her new stage name to remain undetected. Simone's mixture of jazz, blues, and classical music in her performances at the bar earned her a small but loyal fan base. All the other diva's had outside pianist, while Nina Simone was her own pianist, and according to my ears, she was one fantastic pianist; that's because before she sang that first song, all she ever did was "play piano"; all she ever wanted to be was a "Classical pianist". |
Two of my favorite divas are Ella and Dee Dee. It's hard to find the same song from Nina and other folks. A lot of her songs were 'message' or protest songs. Dee Dee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sOygJsLDc4 Nina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCuu5fOEB3Y Ella: Nina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5q9YGj3hNw Cheers |
Orpheus, I like the first link of a younger Nina Simone. Her vocals are ok on that one. Her piano playing was always good.. The second link she is older and it shows. You can hear it in her singing. Piano is still the same. Throughout her entire career Simone's vocals never really did much for me. Just never grabbed me deep in my gut like Sarah Vaughn or Julie London. I found her voice to be a little to much on the rough side. I'm not sure why but her voice does not make me feel subdued and mystified. Simone is always listed in the top 10 or 5 on any top 50 female jazz vocalists you can google online and that says a lot about her prowess as a singer. That being said, everybody hears things differently and on my list she would be higher up. It’s a voice we’re supposed to hate. Gloomy, uninviting, and hoarse. Overpowering and booming in the low register, rocky and rasping when high. It’s often unstable, fluctuating within both pitch and timbre. Yet it’s these imperfections that make a voice so beautifully Nina Simone....Prescilla Bajomo. Entire text here:http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/30957/1/nina-simone-s-complex-voice |
I'm going to compare Nina Simone to the most beautiful and best jazz diva's of our time, and I want you to give your opinion. I have a point to make, but not until after your evaluation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Y11hwjMNs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPovfFpX56k I'm not going to make any comparison, I'll leave that to you. I just posted two versions of feeling good, for you to compare. Try to pick two versions of the same song; one by Nina, and the other by your favorite diva. I have a surprise valid point to be made after you have made comparisons and evaluations. Nina was going downhill toward the end, so picking something at a bad time is a clear foul and wont count. Lets give ourselves plenty of time for this; tomorrow afternoon sounds like a good time to conclude. |
"Dr John memorably described James Booker as "the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced." Why did so many jazz genius's have to be junkies; it didn't help them to play better, no junkie would ever tell you that lie, but it's common knowledge according to the public. Even if they were not musicians, they would have still been junkies, but that's another conversation. |
There never has been, nor will there ever be, anyone to compare to "Nina Simone"; she is in a category of "One". In the beginning, I heard her artistic merit, and her virtuoso on piano; in the end, she conquered with raw power; her voice grabbed, and held you in it's vice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow6fQbpUli4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PMriloy62o A song has a life of it's own, the same as any human being; that is, if you can hear into the song and really know what it's about; this song is about; "It ain't over until I say it's over, cause I put a spell on you" This is three different versions of the same song, and I can hear the essence of the song on all three different versions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1AE_bCoPSI In that second version by Nina, the guy on guitar nails the spirit of the song. Since it's "Screaming Jay Hawkins" song, he can do whatever he wants to. |
An added plus is that it’s a great sounding record. Unfortunately, Ray’s records are not always that great sonically in my experience. Not that it matters all that much since the music is always so strong. https://youtu.be/wB-KN4Ojjbk https://youtu.be/-xBm5GRofeQ With the great David “Fathead” Newman on tenor: https://youtu.be/OLHKTZnfTbU |
Speaking of good ballad players and singers. One of the great ballads players and one who had a penchant for reciting some of the lyrics of a song before playing it: https://youtu.be/CrvWtdBOQW8 |
**** The best version, or our favorite version of a song does not necessarily have anything to do with artistic merit, but when that song affected us personally, and who first expressed that emotion in the song.**** A very personal call, obviously; and I wouldn’t assume that those criteria apply to everyone. Personally, I couldn’t say “does not necessarily have anything to do with artistic merit”. For me, for any version to be a favorite it has to meet a certain standard of artistic merit. That’s not to say that “most” artistic merit will make it my favorite; but a version lacking artistic merit is unlikely to be a favorite no matter the memories it may conjure up. Just me. |
Betty Carter has such a beautiful voice, I love her and that song with Ray Charles. The best version, or our favorite version of a song does not necessarily have anything to do with artistic merit, but when that song affected us personally, and who first expressed that emotion in the song. Carley Simon did it for me on her album "Film Noir"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtlyEE9QCUI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZmCJUSC6g&list=RDmQZmCJUSC6g&start_radio=1&t=71 |
Caterina Valente's music reminds me of the beautiful "Victoria Gomez". I sat behind Victoria in the 6th grade, and her long silky braids fell across my desk. Have you ever seen a puppy look at another dogs tail, and unable to control his fascination, he had to play with it? I don't mean to compare Victoria's braids to a dogs tail, but there they were, laying across my desk; I could not control myself, I had to play with them. She turned around and gave me a look that would curdle your blood. When you're in love, any look is better than no look at all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jsw1R-TNUc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxcjwdC1HlE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twoagPvLILY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iWO0b6PTxQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnpGtOhgc1o |
Beautiful “Every Time We Say Goodbye”, pjw. Incredibly tender playing from Chet. You know, as I think about it, it’s really not at all surprising that Chet Baker was also a singer. It has long been recognized that many of the great instrumentalist ballad players (some are better ballad players than others) listen and pay close attention to the phrasing of the great vocalists. When I hear Chet play a ballad this way I feel as if he’s singing. There is less of a disconnect between the horn and his physical being compared to other players who sometimes pay more attention to the mechanics of playing the horn. Simple, direct and with vocal like inflections and timing. Quite beautiful. Thanks for that. This is one of my very favorite vocal renditions of that beautiful song from one of my desert island recordings: https://youtu.be/qkXYqUB-9NM |
*****I don't expect Mary Lou Williams music to affect everyone else, the same as it affects me.***** It might not, nor should it. Music is private. I just finished 'conducting' 'Bolero' and '1812'. At volume. I hope no one was watching. Glad you enjoyed Mary Lou. Her history is almost as compelling as her music. Gives "Against all odds" new meaning. Cheers |
Rok, I've listened to all of Mary Lou's music that you have posted, and I found it to resonate with me in a fashion I don't quite understand; it's like a childhood memory that I can't quite recall, but it makes me feel good to try and think about it. Even her versions of the most common tunes, like "My Blue Heaven", are so uniquely different, that they become brand new. Mary Lou Williams has added much to my musical enjoyment. |
Every Time We Say Goodbye.... Chet Baker & Paul Bley duo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP02sgYrHsw Chet Baker & Caterina Valente duo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knPLl_tVgRY |
Today's Mary Lou: Mary Lou Williams -- ZODIAC SUITE Recorded in 1945. Sound quality awesome. The notes give a short synopsis of the Zodiac signs, and the person she had in mind when she wrote each piece for that sign. Examples: Gemini -- Paul Robeson, Libra -- Art Tatum, Scorpio -- Imogene Coco Taurus -- Duke Ellington & Joe Louis etc..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXveXHcVsrI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDqngdGw7Dk Interesting Concept. Cheers |
A song that used to belong to Billie Holiday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3C9L6VzOdY Been posted before, but you really can't get too much of this. Cheers |
Some great playing on this album by Jeep and Wild Bill Davis on the organ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUe650EIK78 Les Spann: guitar and flute! Sam Jones: bass Louis Hayes: drums I have all of the Johnny Hodges/Wild Bill Davis recordings and the newer remastered discs sound great. Grant Green and Kenny Burrell play guitar on 2 of the discs |
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Today's Listen: Kenny Barron Trio -- BOOK OF INTUITION https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYwxQ1RsDYQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpxqmHImTTI I think he likes Monk. Like Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris, this man does not make bad recordings. Cheers |
Why would Nubya Garcia be playing at a Coltrane, or Miles concert? If Miles or Coltrane were 25 today, and had the influence of the past 50 years, they might sound like Nubya, or Kamasi, And I hear both Coltrane and Miles in there playing, plus many more influences Coltrane and Miles never considered. |
Mary Lou Williams music is magic to me, and I don't quite no why. Since I can't explain it, not even to myself, I just chalk it up to another one of the mysteries in my life. How many times have I heard "The Man I Love"? More times and versions than I can count have I heard this tune. Why is Mary Lou's version the most special for me? I don't know. I'm just happy that I discovered music by an artist that I had written off as not being "modern", because she was not of the generation of Bird, Miles, Monk, and etc. |
*****Should I expect you to like it just because I like it? I think not.***** You think right. Everything and everyone is judged by what and who went before them. Going back in time, suppose you had tickets to a concert featuring Miles, or Morgan etc..., and Trane or Henderson etc...., and when you got there you heard and saw what was on that clip. |
Today's Mary Lou: Mary Lou Williams -- SOLO RECITAL MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 1978 I could not find the complete album on you-tube but I am sure these cuts are from that album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktmyulf11sQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r37m0ptgbXc notes by Hentoff skimpy and no photos cheers |
I just stumbled across some music that I like and intend to buy; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUmNtpJpm9o Should I expect you to like it just because I like it? I think not. |