I’ve been a Chesky fan for years! All of his recordings are first rate and some make my soundstage grow well beyond my speakers.
Have you heard The Hi-Fi Collective?
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.
30,874 responses Add your response
What a great jazz swedish pianist can do with 3 albums :
Inspired by swedish melodies : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j23q5WTDXg4&list=PLnQJF3Qi_4_A1sxJ9O8sIpxKOTsGoe_Ya&index=39
Jazz Inspired by Russian melodies : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvNks1oAjhE
More traditionaL BOP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca3WsHtuHM0
very original too |
I never used an equalizer because i never needed one... I bought my Hidizs dac to serve the K340 and i needed his internal equalizer like the tone control for the K340...I did not want to buy a sophisticated EXTERNAL equalizer, because the task was simple and easy to do around 1000 hertz... I dont used any equalizer with my other headphone and i never need the equalization nor the tone controls really for them...All those years my tone controls were almost unused save by curiosity trials... In my room i did not need an electronical equalization either and anyway i did not want to invest big money in a good one .... I needed a mechanical equalization which i created with a grid of mechanically tuned 100 Helmholtz resonators distributed in some location in bundles to improve the relation between my ears listening position each speaker of the Mission Cyrus 781 in relation with each ears and the room pressure zones distribution... The K340 is one of the most complex headphone ever designed, with his two cells and his inner dual chambers with the 5 Helmholtz tuned resonators and a transformer for the crossover point ... It reacted to the source and too any change negatively or positively very strongly, any modification , mechanical , electrical or acoustical impact the soundfield impression... Single membrane headphone with no internal resonators, as most headphones are, are more previsible in their output... The K340 has aged and need care to reach his optimum... It is not a simple headphone, it is a pair of speakers for the ears, it is why i needed tone controls too +equalisation to optimize them for my own ears... Even the choice of pads thickness and density is critical, i tried five pairs... 😊
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@mahgister
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The AKG K340 is a very particular headphone being Hybrid... I did not need to use tone controls in my speakers room nor with my other headphones... But the K340 need a boost around 30 and 40 hertz and around 12,000 hertz... It make it even better... It is because the two cells are more responsive...I never need equalization with my speakers or my other headphones too... With the K340 i need to increase for some Db at 1000 hertz... My ears said so... and the Harman curve too... I am not a "purist" audiophile... I use my ears ... And i serve the K340 , he do not serve me; but he serve my ears...
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I was surprised to learn the Sansui had such EQ controls. I figured, given what you've discovered and commented upon RE: "embedding" systems, that EQ wouldn't be something you'd utilize. I use a Schiit Lokius occasionally, usually to reinforcing lower mids and/or rolling off highs with bright CDs. Although it involves extra cost -- requiring two sets of interconnects-- I value the added flexibility this set-up offers when it comes to tone-shaping. Still, the more dialed-in my system becomes, the less I use the EQ. I have no experience with LTA, but I've yet to encounter anything but positive remarks about their products, here on the forum. |
Yes i use them because a boost in the deep bass and in the higher highs boost the two cells working and i equalize with my dac a dip at 1000 hertz... With the microzotl though i will not be able as a pre-amp it will nullify the tone controls of the Sansui AU 7700 and as an headphone too... The tone control of the alpha are very refined , those of the Au 7700 are very good, alas! my alpha had no separation between the power amp and the pre-amp as the Au 7700... Only most costlier alpha give it... 😁 I hope the Zotl 2 is as good as the reviews... Even at bargain price it cost me a lot... 1,600 US at least ... And it is a bargain with remote and linear power supply...2,000 thousand less than the microzotl3... It is a violation of my rule : audiophile experience for the less wealthy citizen which stipulate a system max cost around 1000 bucks... 😊 I succeeded to do so till now with speakers or headphone... But i was curious of the slave ZOTL about the way it will serve the King K340...
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Nardis ("Nar-This") with Brad Mehldau (p), Matt Brewer (b), and Antonio Sanchez (d): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMacgXW_tSA Recorded 2015 (2014?) |
Masabume Kikuchi with two of the greatest jazz drummers Elvin Jones and Paul Motian.... (1) Hollow Out (full album) - Elvin Jones & Masabumi Kikuchi (1977) - YouTube (1) Paul Motian - 2011-03-12, Village Vanguard, New York, NY - YouTube |
Thanks for the appreciation... You are a "connoisseur"... 😊
The AKG K340 is my audio king , i bought the zotl for it... The M-Audio AV40 , i bought 12 years ago , is a masterpiece at peanuts price under only one condition : a very small corner ( i used foldable screen ) acoustically prepared for it...If not i discarded it as without interest 12 years ago....The room was too big and i had no acoustic understanding at these times... Hopefully i kept it... For casual listening it is perfect...I used also "minerals" on my connections... Some think i am a "tin foil hat"... 😁 With all that i enjoy with 100 bucks speakers a soundfield as good if not better than most headphone... But the tonal timbre and space representation and deep bass with the K340 is no match for my little speakers even if they are so good i am astounded by my 100 bucks 12 years old purchase... I listened non stop for the last 2 days to refine my acoustic installation ...
Yes i have this village Vanguard series i listened often... Evans is an artist i vouch only admiration but i am not alone...
Here i prefer to recommend to all unknown or under the radar musicians... I dont think that miles Davis , Chet Baker, or Evans need me and everybody know their name.... Monterose for example i even never read his name and it is interesting ...
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@mahgister That Sansui AU7700 is a beautiful vintage integrated amp. Your headphones are also vintage. And I just saw a review for the Microzotll2 here and it looks awesome as well. (1) REVIEW: Linear Tube Audio MZ2-S - YouTube And I agree that acoustic room treatment and speakers/speaker placement is very important. Those M Audio speakers have great reviews. Keep me posted when you set up the MZ2 and have a listening session. Do you have the Bill Evans Complete live at the Village Vanguard box set? Its his awesome trio with bassist Scott Lofaro and drummer Paul Motian. Enjoy the music! |
I listen now on two medium: My chinese sabre dac linked to my computer and with the M-audio AV 40 2 way self powered speakers in a completely acoustically dedicated corner... It beat most headphone with imaging , just enough bass ... It is for youtube casual listening.... Sometimes my files... I listen more seriously on my AKG k340 headphone powered by my Sansui alpha and a Hididz Ap 80 pro, with battery powered which decrease noise floor level , with a huge internal files bank ( no computer link then ) and an equalizer necessary for my K340....This dac is a stupendous bargain for what it give me... It is sold as a dap but i use it fixed on my desk... 😊 Now i just upgrade with a dedicated headphone amplifier Microzotll2 at bargain price + remote +linear power supply, , with the choice to use it as a pre-amp of top quality for my Sansui AU 7700, because my K340 may need this power... I will decide which is better : the pre-amp + sansui amp or just the microzotl2 as headphone amp... I receive it tomorrow... I enjoy audiophile sound at low cost... My system will be way under 2000 bucks.....and very satisfying... Acoustic is the key for speakers... For headphone i disliked them all save my K340.... 😁
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Thanks, @mahgister Am enjoying your suggestions... Some may be challenging to find on CD but I will look. Arturo O' Farrill +1
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Can I ask you the model of your new 1000,00 headphone amp/pre amp. Is it also a DAC? I use this 100 dollar gadget Amazon.com: Qudelix-5K Bluetooth USB DAC AMP with LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, AAC (Dual ES9219 3.5mm Unbalanced & 2.5mm Balanced Output) : Electronics which receives the audio through Spotify I have close to 250 playlists. My phone, a cheap Samsung lower tier (350.00) smart phone, is used as my digital audio player (DAP) and sends the music files via blue tooth to my Qudelix DAC/AMP. As you can see in the photo on Amazon, the Qudelix has 2 outputs. One is a 3.5mm unbalanced and one is a 2.5mm balanced. I use the 2.5mm balanced for my headphones which is the Sennheiser HD650. The 3.5mm I use for my Soundboks Go portable speaker. SOUNDBOKS Go | Portable Bluetooth Performance Speaker I use the headphones occasionally and the Qudelix DAC/AMP performance far exceeded my expectations. Although the Quedelix receives audio from my DAP via blue tooth signal I use a hard wire to connect the headphones or speaker. I use a 2.5mm balanced Audiophile Ninja headphone cable Custom Headphone Cables ⋆ Audiophile Ninja and for the speaker a generic 3.5mm male to male interconnect. The majority my use of the Qudelix is with the speaker when I am working. I drive a tractor trailer semi 8 - 12 hours per day/night and the audio using the Qudelix and Soundboks go is amazing. A little lacking in the mid range which I fix with the Qudelix on board PEQ and the Soundboks Go EQ. You could try out the qudelix and if you do not like it Amazon Europe probably has the same 30 day free returns as Amazon USA. Yes I spend hours on the road listening to music while making money...... |
This one is not from Japan jazz... purely American and stupendous... It is Monterose sax in a club playing for 2 hour 24 minute with the crowd noise in the background...It is not an annoyance, it add to the atmosphere in fact... Chuck D'Aloia is an excellent guitarist with Monterose here... Relaxing at the extreme and very good... Only a simple night in a club well improvised... i enjoy it from yesterday .... Thanks to the Monterose lover here... I have it only on youtube but i can now listen music on youtube with My litlle speakers in a small acoustic corner 7 feet by 8 by 9 with diffusive devices and my chosen minerals on the powered speakers and computer terminals... ... It is amazing.... Audiophile who know a bit of acoustic could live with 200 bucks self powered 2 way speakers... Waiting for my 1000 bucks new headphone amplifier-pre-amp , i feel a bit like an idiot who had made a useless purchase...It will be better on my k340 headphone yes but.... 😊 |
I am in love with Mary Nakamoto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8pX3kOxCYk&list=RDEM5wWHB8y3wKSd_MQQP2CqDA&start_radio=1
I had also many albums with Junko Onishi |
This double album with many different musicians from japan unknown here is stunning... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD36KIbA9dA&list=OLAK5uy_lRIsKWNhn9T5xOEMfCt1ryTAz6N_MBydE
This double album with other unknown here japan musicians is no less stunning..
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There is many very refined musician in Japan....I love them all... 😊
Eiji Kitamura clarinet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dtkyv5SR6I&list=PLnQJF3Qi_4_A1sxJ9O8sIpxKOTsGoe_Ya&index=25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irllT_v6uuU&list=PLnQJF3Qi_4_A1sxJ9O8sIpxKOTsGoe_Ya&index=26 |
I like this... and it’s reasonably affordable on CD, no less. Thanks, @mahgister ! Any chance you might list some other Japanese Jazz CDs you like? |
To thank you all , a masterpiece you probably dont know... 😊 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqvMGE9xzT8&list=PLnQJF3Qi_4_A1sxJ9O8sIpxKOTsGoe_Ya&index=33 |
Wow !
I listened this album long time ago...It is a masterpiece...
It is masterful fusion...
Ali Akbar Khan is a legend...And Handy know it and he got it.... Great musician... I dont like fusion so much by the way... This album is an exception... ( i must be a purist or a snob ) 😊 Indian and persian music are very sophisticated music and my favorite... On par with jazz... Thanks I must now look for Monterose and this one... At all cost... But i just upgrade and bought today a 1000 dollars amplifier servant for my King K340 or a pre-amp for his servant Sansui... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQGkMVdKxEY
My wife will kill me for any album this week...She manage the books not me... 😁
I just finished my acoustic corner in the basement with cheap but good small self powered box... The sound quality of these little box was unknown to me and i bought them 12 years ago... Why ? it is the first time i dedicated an acoustic location for them... Audiophiles who throw too much money are deluded, ACOUSTIC is queen... I listen to these speakers for all all your suggestion ... And believe it or not i dont regret now any of my past way better speakers... Why ? ACOUSTIC...I learned about acoustic in the last 7 years... I never listened to my Tannoy in a real optimal acoustic... People will think that i am a fool because i prefer my 100 bucks little box to my legendary Tannoy... People dont undertstand the power of acoustic... It is easy to decipher across all audio thread...
Anyway the gear serve music not the opposite... With acoustic optimization less may be better... 😁 |
OK... more on intonation. When the guitar player on that Handy Monterey album plays two notes that are "rubbing up against one-another" in a blatantly out-of-tune fashion at around 13:36, my ears/brain instantly rebel. I like "Karuna Supreme" a lot. Might have to buy that one. Charlie Mariano was another who shared Handy’s fascination with Indian music. The LA Jazz station I listened to in the mid 70’s used to play "Hard Work". I’ve heard worse worse singing than Handy’s on "Blues for Louis Jordan". Nice sax playing on that track. I’ve always enjoyed the Blues. |
OK -- it only takes seconds to hear the difference. I like both but when listening to McLean, I'm not focused on his intonation, wishing it were less sharp. A poorly intonated guitar can drive me nuts but I don't have perfect pitch. On the other hand, for me, Dolphy's playing is akin to taking a swig of milk only to realize someone's spiked it with vinegar. I find it fundamentally unpleasant. For McLean, I enjoy: "Left Alone '86" (w/ Mal Waldron), "Jacknife", "Let Freedom Ring", "Dynasty", "It's Time", "Action" and "Consequence".
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Speaking of alto sax players and obscure/unrecognized musicians such as J R Moterose, I think you can put alto sax player John Handy in both of those categories. I really enjoy a lot of Handy's albums as a leader, and his playing on various Charles Mingus session dates. One of his albums, Live at Monterey Jazz Festival, is on my desert island list. The release with the 3rd bonus track Ole Miss (Anatomy of a Riot) Live at the Village Gate is the one to get. The two songs from Monterey (1) John Handy - Monterey Jazz Fest (Full Album) - YouTube Bonus track at Village Gate (1) John Handy Tears Of Ole Miss Live At Monterey Jazz Festival - YouTube And a nice blues track featuring Handy (not to bad) on vocals (1) Blues For Louis Jordan - YouTube And Handy expanding his horizons with Asian Continent musicians @mahgister may enjoy this album which features Handy on the alto sax combined with 2 eastern musicians playing the string instruments Sarod and Tanpura with a 3rd playing the percussive instrument Tabla. (1) John Handy, Ali Akbar Khan - Karuna Supreme (full album) - YouTube
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I am a big Jackie McLean fan. 4 of his albums are on my desert island list and I believe every jazz aficionado should have these 4 in their collection. Here they are in order of their respective recording date. Bluesnik 1961 Let Freedom Ring 1962 One Step Beyond 1963 (April) Destination Out! 1963 (September) That being said I myself can hear the slightly (to my ears) sharper pitch McLeans alto sounds then many of the other alto greats. It is reasonable to say that if I had a long career in music playing in a music ensemble, small or large, jazz or classical, this subtly sharper playing would become more of an annoyance especially if it is not in harmony with the melodic chords the rest of the band is playing. A small jazz ensemble comparison example showcasing the alto saxophones of McLean followed by Phil Woods:
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@stuartk, just about any Jackie McLean recording is an example of his tendency to play very sharp. I’m in no way suggesting that this is a deal breaker for me, nor that it should be for anyone else. It is just that I personally find it annoying at times. He was a great hard bop player who had a lot to say musically. Some listeners are more sensitive to, or concerned about intonation issues than others. In answer to your question, just about any of his recordings are good examples of what I refer to. This is the first one that came up when I searched Jackie Mac on YouTube. He is very sharp. Notice how, on the first tune, the piano (as usual) sets a pitch (intonation) baseline. Jackie comes in and he is on a different pitch “plane” than that established by the piano. Notice how when Bill Hardman comes in on trumpet after Jackie plays how there is a sense of relaxation because his general pitch falls back in line with that of the piano. Jackie’s is considerably higher. This creates a sense of tension that is musically uncomfortable (for me). There are many references on line to this tendency of Jackie’s if you search “Jackie McLean intonation sharp”. My point about Dolphy was that, for me, Dolphy’s manipulation of pitch was deliberate and an expressive technique. Also, he often played “outside” the harmony of the tune. This can be confused with playing out of tune because of the dissonance that playing outside any given chord’ s harmonic envelop creates. Two different things entirely. On the subject of Woody Shaw. I have posted this at least twice before. One of my favorite records with some of my favorite Woody Shaw. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nqeyHFph6j7oela51Da3lb7b-OemqwN6M |
You’re welcome! If I could listen to one trumpet player, it would be Woody Shaw. Fortunately, there are many recordings by him to enjoy. Jazz that focuses mostly on rhythmic vamps without the addition of strong melodic content tends not to hold my attention. On that D. Byrd recording, what I hear is mostly groove and "atmospheric" colors. Or, if you prefer, It simply doesn’t speak to me.
RE: the samples: The first I like best. The second is cool-- very Bluesy. I have to be in the right mood but for that mood, I dig it. I don’t consider it Jazz, so I don’t bring the same expectations to it as a listener as I do Jazz. I prefer Richie Havens’ version of the third tune. I’m not big on choirs/massed voices, in general. |
It is frogman who recommended me Woodie Shaw 2 years ago ...😊 he is with Louis Armstrong and Chet Baker my three favorite trumpet of all times... Very different musicians... I discovered many albums but i listen till now not to all of them...😁
This album real title is : "in my own sweet way".... Not "the organ grinder " which is the title of one of the song.... |
Thanks for this unknown Shaw in my personal country....
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@stuartk , re Donald Byrd, is it the link pjw posted that you do not like, or his music in general? Just in case, few well known pieces...
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