Frogman ,I listened to your Becker @ Co "Madame Tolouse" a half dozen
times , perfection itself by all !
Almost unreal talent , almost hard to believe .
i
times , perfection itself by all !
Almost unreal talent , almost hard to believe .
i
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
Pjw, it's funny you should mention that LP by "The Messengers"; it's playing right now and I hear Bobby Timmons, Lee Morgan, Bennie Golson, and Jymie Merrit a lot more than I hear Blakey; you tell me what you hear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teF-8IqFIh4 |
Glad you liked that, Schubert. That was one of the greatest tenor fronted quartets in recent times. Michael Brecker was a genius and is so sorely missed. Putting personal style aside he was probably the greatest saxophone virtuoso that has ever lived. Very good Piazzola by the Italian Quartet, btw. Thanks for that. https://youtu.be/2MPQCV_nUiI https://youtu.be/tjpjGSr38d4 |
The real deal for a listener like me is is Brecker brought the rest of the guys up with him . I’ll leave Calderazzo out for the simple reason I don’t really get him(my bad) , but Peterson was even better than usual ,which I could not believe , ditto for e dui . I think there are lessons to be learned from this .A Miles Davis could put the fear of God into them , but a Brecker brought God to the party .Music( or anything else) can’t be that transcendent if love is not in the room . |
Here is the great man himself , a composer mind you, playing one of his works with the other serious band, like the WDR , in Cologne . I would think any lover of serious music can hear serious genres can blend and blend well . https://youtu.be/VTPec8z5vdY Adios Nonino essentially means "Farewell ’ , he composed this very soon after his father, also a great bandoneon player, passed .I like to think that’s why some of the music is Angelic . You can see him go into pure grief for his father about 5:20 , teared me up .. |
Way back in the day, when they sang this in my Church, I would inch just a little closer to my Mom. :) They knew how to put the fear of God in you. HUSH!! somebody’s calling my name. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVxm7g8xbE4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqYuBfg20Tc note the 'rhythm section' It's all the same thing indeed. Cheers |
frogmanThe Don Cherry Gato Barbieri cut you posted a short time ago with European musicians reminded me of their collaboration on Blue Note. I wonder if Gato fully embraced the free jazz movement or was it something he just dabbled in as he was coming up and developing his career. Because after 69 or 70 he pretty much discarded. That Style and I don't think he ever went back to it. you are the first person to get me to listen to an Albert Ayler piece of music completely from start to finish. I think this was because it was a standard "Summertime" which he had to stick closer to the melody. He is one artist that I never really cared for. I find his tone grating to the ear. HIs mournful , emotional quality of playing always come through but he is one of those out players I never liked. |
pjwNot to worry buddy Rich's place in jazz history is firmly cemented. They can think whatever they want. I've already stated that my taste changed towards Buddy Rich the more I listened to Jazz that doesn't make his contribution any less meaningful. I give him much credit for keeping the big band tradition alive and well for many decades up until his passing in the late 80s. Not too many others can say this.You should buy that small group recording with Tatum and Hampton that you posted. That CD refutes any argument that buddy was not able to play subtly and quietly behind other players. |
Claus Ogerman and Michael Brecker "Cityscape" Songs in order as they appear on my disc: 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfHZrugDhUU 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfHZrugDhUU 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejw7sL5LXSI 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm5rvlmEskI 5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbC3co9h49w 6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEeYXu9AaPE |
Glad to see that Ralph Peterson is being mentioned and posted I think Schubert posted him first. One of my favorite drummers who has carved himself out a great career as a leader and also a sideman. He just put out a tribute album to Art Blakey. It's Ralph Peterson and the messenger Legacy it's up on YouTube I'm going to try to post it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcyEJdIpaLQ |
To all those who read the recent discussions on Wynton Marsallis’s future effect on Jazz on here. I made my monthly pilgrimage today to Barnes and Noble to pick up "Gramophone" , established in 1923 and the Bible of Classical Music( I buy Jazz times too ) . On the cover it said "Nicola Benedetti records Wynton Marsalis’s music" ). Despite her name ,Benedetti was born and raised in Scotland and is Scottish to the core . So much so she took a year off as one of the most wanted jetset classical violinist in the world to master the fiddle rep. of Scottish folk music. . An heroic act because the fingering etc is far different . She is THE greatest exponent of genre blending in the Classical world and the most dedicated to educational outreach . She has recorded Wynston’s Violin Concerto ," Fiddle Dance Suite" with the great Philadelphia Orchestra / Cristian Macelaru Decca 485 0013DH The magazine devoted 4 pages of thought between her and Wynston . a lot along the lines discussed here at times (unusual) . Review is long and deep, ends with "Honestly , its hard to believe its written down at all ." And these reviews are the most respected in the world .Its the August edition as American edition is always a month late. Seems worth 12 bucks to anyone interested in Wynton to me . |
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Nice, indeed! The amazing Michael Brecker, composition/orchestrations by the great Claus Ogerman who graced the recordings of none other than Oscar Peterson, Billie Holiday, Bill Evans, A C Jobim, George Benson, Wynton Kelly, Freddie Hubbard, Cal Tjader, Jimmy Smith, Johnny Hodges, Stanley Turrentine and countless others. Our esteemed Schubert recently pointed out the shame that is the lack of appreciation among “Aficionados” for the great arrangers/orchestrators. Btw, I don’t recall anyone here, or anywhere, calling Cityscape “Jazz”. Once again, the pitfall of pointless attempts at strict genre definitions. Some notable work: https://youtu.be/qA4BXkF8Dfo https://youtu.be/FnSsnVeguZA https://youtu.be/G1QjyskJ9jw https://youtu.be/wgssRuMfF5E |
The only two that I am aware of that come close to being comprehensive: https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/95rxk4bt9780252040405.html In a different genre, but some spill over: https://www.amazon.com/Sound-Broadway-Music-Orchestrators-Orchestrations/dp/0199790841/ref=nodl_ |
acman3 & frogman, This is one of my favorite improvisations over an orchestra as well. Clifford Brown with Strings and the Ogerman/Brecker Discs I always play them back to back. I notice some subtle similarities in the soloing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Aww9lWwYlY&list=PLUJ7V33M1wR3JLVPbCEBiR3_1PNP7zaOT Clifford's leaving of this place so young was a tragedy. His brief stay here gave us all the pleasure of hearing a truly great virtuoso and lyricist on the trumpet, that IMHO, no one has ever equaled. |
keegiam, Tony Williams was a virtuoso. He left us too soon. This Kenny Dorham session, with Tony Williams on drums, is one of my "go to often" discs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDETNk20Vkc&t=16s |
acman3, I almost missed upthread your posting of Art Pepper’s "Mucho Calor" As you may know by now I am an Art Pepper completist. Do you have any of the newer live series released by Art’s wife Laurie. They are called "Unreleased Art" and released under her "Widows Taste" label. Here is one Art wrote for Lauri that knocks it out of the park: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdBAfzYiz2E Laurie Pepper: http://straightlife.info/widowstaste.html |
Schubert, Ralph Burns was fabulous and is one of the great orchestrators that was part of the genre “spill over” that I referred to. You may find this of interest. http://jazzprofiles.blogspot.com/2018/04/ralph-burns-fine-art-of-jazz.html |
pjw, great stuff. Clifford with Strings is a classic. Not quite with the level of magic on Clifford’s, but here’s another one that I enjoy. Bill Russo arrangements: https://youtu.be/TF6HIL4W6V8 https://youtu.be/BGEUjSt1JBw Tony Williams: where to begin? |
frogman, I was not even aware Cannonball had a session recording with strings. listened to both songs you posted and I disagree with you assessment that its not as magical as Clifford with strings. To my ears they are both equally magical one displaying magical talent on sax, the other on trumpet. I am logging on to Amazon now to see if I can buy that Cannonball disc. |
Glad you liked it; it’s a good one. Here’s another favorite. Interesting and adventurous orchestrations from the great Eddie Sauter featuring Stan Getz: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfOleD7-7Oj90W890D0puroQgM7yTR-0P |
Here’s another one with Getz that is very interesting, if very stylized. The use of voices along with orchestra is a bit of an acquired taste for some. Composed and arranged by Michel Legrand. For me, it is very evocative of the sound of French film scores from the 1960’s or so. I can imagine a couple speeding along a narrow mountain road in their Citroen. Getz, as usual, kills on this: https://youtu.be/2pQEsJGmXYk |
Acman, that was different, and I liked the title. The last time I was in Chicago, I stayed at the Holiday Inn on North Shore Drive, where Ahmad was appearing; he was fantastic as usual. I didn't even go to the Southside, didn't feel like crying. No that was not the "stereotypical" Toot, Toot; keep em coming. |
I love that kind of stuff frogman . I know personally that a lot of classical players love jazz and vice-versa . Like if both of you went to Indiana you both went to same classes etc. Even more so in Europe . Which is why I’ve made most of my posts from Germany where I still know a little about the scene . I read an interview of one the most up-coming younger classical violinists , a Chinese lady, recently . At 14 she turned down a full ride at both Julliard and Curtis for the German offer where everyone is trained as a chamber music artist and you are moved about from year to year to different schools . At 14 she said this,"The Americans want to make me a soloist but the Germans want to make me a musician " . |
Pjw, I really liked that "Art Pepper Unrealeased". All of those musicians sounded like they should have been famous, but the only one I knew was Art. I was in LA club hopping about the time this was recorded, and I heard a lot of artists who sounded like they should have been famous. I discovered there's a big reason for that, they didn't have to leave LA in order to make a good living, and in order to be famous as a jazz musician, you had to hit the road. That album is on order. |