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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Nice! Thanks. Didn’t know they had recorded together. Going on the to buy list. Blades is the poet of salsa; beautiful lyricist: https://youtu.be/a1mREa7p1oA https://youtu.be/J463761hjng https://youtu.be/SfsusiORoek |
Much more than a Salsero, an interesting and beautiful record by Blades for anyone wanting to explore his music: https://youtu.be/OyRRSIIUrdY https://youtu.be/Cykj7jAYJbY https://youtu.be/XU7GmLBI148 Btw, acman3, interesting that you should post those great John LaBarbera clips to follow Thad Jones. Both part of very musical families. Thad, one of the great Jones brothers along with Hank and Elvin . John, one of the LaBarbera brothers along with Pat and Joe. Sadly overlooked here. Great tenor player: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lwzmTJzp_Myp2UEtfTo2cJMMGBpu4YdE0 Also overlooked. One of my favorite drummers. Last time I heard Bill Evans live, Pat was his drummer. This was the trio: https://youtu.be/OI8zUgR8czI |
Thought there might be some people here who would like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxmeimxpuLg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hegd4xNfRo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hegd4xNfRo |
I have a case of the "deep blue funk", and my doctor, Dr. Feelgood, recommended a triple dose of Jimmy Smith's smoking organ, we'll see how that works; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YpKGKF7_XY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYuqKiKJY_U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcZyQShweto |
I would like to take that dress for a long ride in that car along Lake Shore Drive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC80DiAsN_c (look up, don't look at that bumper in front of the car) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMakL3L2r-M That's one thing that gets more beautiful every year; North Shore Drive, or locally known as "The Gold Coast" because that's what it takes to live there; it was beautiful when I was a teenager, and it's still beautiful. I have photos in my album that I took at night of the Chicago Skyline along the lake, that are much more beautiful than anything I could find on "you tube". |
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This great Scottish percussion artist and even greater musician is stone-cold deaf and hears better than 99% of the human race ! https://youtu.be/IU3V6zNER4g?t=24 You won't hear a better clip ! |
Hey Rok, I bet you haven't heard this "Nica's Dream"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8Bd7UIJlPQ&list=OLAK5uy_kytgnI-F3NxBRZevCNR9D9Aeh1zotdWWU&i... |
No I have not, but I have heard Silver and Dee Dee. Like Ella, she can do more with her voice than most guys can with their instruments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GrfjdNhAZM And the man himself with quite a group. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UZqmNHLbxg This has to be the most recorded tune in Bebop. Cheers |
Rok, I bet that if I applied, I could get in the Guinness Book of world records for the person who has heard the most groups and versions of "Nica's Dream", and without a doubt, that was the best I have ever heard. Dee Dee and her band put everything they had into that performance; she put so much emotion into it that I heard and felt the essence of "Nica's Dream." |
Yes, she was awesome. She always is. She is also, always different. One of my favorites. We don't know how great and important she is. We will one day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwaWyLnkebU Cheers |
This is my favorite by "Zap Mama", and now we get to see them; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pUk3O81W1U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRp6sfYRXEA |
Please contrast the two performances of the same song. Note the differences in dress. It really does matter, and indicates volumes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2o-iDeCd50 With the old outdated folks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3C9L6VzOdY Cheers |
Zap Mama: The first one, with the bad video, was very good. reminded me of the CD we both have. The second one, with the decent video, was a just little too hip-hop-ish for me. When you see tank tops and baseball caps and t-shirts, noise is sure to follow. The turntable stuff did not fit with what I thought their music was all about. But it was also very much European pop. The sort of thing you would see on European TV. Remember Boney M? They are supposed to be fusing or merging European pop music with African music. The ones I posted on the other thread do that very well. Nice clips. Cheers |
These folks were all the rage in Germany during the Disco era, which lasted longer over there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta42xU2UXLA Cheers |
Chicago: When my youngest sister finished college, her first job was as a social worker in Chicago. She was in ’I will change the world' mode. After her purse was snatched for the third time, she quit. When she left, she left all her pie in the sky, Liberal ideals somewhere on the South Side. But still, it is considered one of the most livable cities in America. The good parts are very beautiful. Like all cities. Cheers |
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If you absolutely, positively, have to be in a band, this be it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfEU6YdlL5Y Cheers |
Rok, "liberal, conservative" is a truly foolish dichotomy, that's because it puts working class people in a camp where they don't belong. Let's try "good, bad"; "honest, dishonest"; "rich, poor (working class); those are better dichotomies. I'm going to take that "purse snatcher" liberal, conservative where you want it to go. First, the guy was poor, dumb, from one parent family (no parental guidance); let's face it, this guy didn't ask to be born; he woke up one day and there he was, in the middle of the ghetto, and if snatching purses was what he had to do in order to survive; look out world. My view looks at millions of people; people with good jobs don't snatch purses. People with good jobs are not homeless. I was in Detroit when people drove new cars, dressed elegantly, lived in very nice homes, and enjoyed the best entertainment. While dumb people were arguing over irrelevant BS, rich people were shipping jobs offshore. That's when one day, the working class woke up high and dry; what you see is what you get; tent city LA, crime city everywhere. |
Not that long ago you spoke about guys in the USA military. I am not here to judge anyone, we all know what almost every war is about or what eventually turns out of each war. If it's not the defense for the bare life that caused you to participate, it's mostly because of the politics on the highest level that pulled you in just to use you for the interest of the few, often painted over with the questionable morality and carefully coated with the false fight for democracy. However, there are things like duty towards one's country which one has to respect. As the soldier on duty, you are there to do for what you are sent for. You are not there to question nor one man’s authority nor nation goals nor to ask questions in general even though you probably have them. So I am talking here about these guys. The soldiers with the questions that every single human being should have if facing a war in any form. I attended a wedding ceremony not that while ago. It was small intimate ceremony. A small group was from Croatia and the other, bigger one, was of active soldiers from USA Air force, some of them with highest rankings in the service. Bride was Croatian but also serving military in USA. Needless to say, that I was actually in Croatia but felt like I was in the USA military base all the way through. But what strike my attention, were the manners of these USA guys. I haven’t seen that before. Not in that amount. And they did not play it, they were like that. As it is expected from the host, I wanted to show our hospitality, so was trying to be at the everyone’s service all the time but these guys excelled me. They were modest, polite, careful, helpful. Towards everyone with no exceptions. Showed me that I did not have to do anything but enjoy the ceremony. I was fascinated. Sadly, they were all married. I am curious to know the names of the jazz players with the best manners…who that would be? |
What do you jazz aficionado's think of the up tempo version of Moanin' that Mingus does on the "Blues And Roots" album. Pepper Adams on baritone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3smUEzIqiI Here is another version by the Mingus Big Band released in 1993 with Ronnie Cuber playing the baritone and some great work on the bass trombone by Dave Taylor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__OSyznVDOY Here is a very new jazz vocalist on the scene who just releases her second album titled "Love And Liberation", a follow up to he 2017 album "A Social Call" Jazzmeia Horn - winner of both the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition and Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, singing Moanin', I Remember You, and East Of The Sun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udvpSKCQDI4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGy5jPgLwzY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJyQ77Lwqnk |
mary jo, Combat affects everyone differently. War is decided when all hope for diplomatic solutions are exhausted.The politicians who make these decisions are never close to the "tip of the spear" I posted about how combat affected my father but nobody seemed to care or it was simply overlooked. Here it is again: **************My father, born in 1919 and passed away in 2009 was a veteran of WWII and it had affected him for the remainder of his life. He served in the 25th Infantry Division - Tropic Lightning and relieved the USMC on Guadalcanal. After the combat on Guadalcanal he was hospitalized for combat fatigue. He started to drink heavily and spent a lot of time in military jails for drunkenness and disorderly public conduct. After striking a superior he never saw combat action again. He did get an Honorable Discharge. After the war he was an alcoholic until 1966 when I was 3 years old my mother gave him an ultimatum - quit drinking or I’m divorcing you. He went to a V.A. hospital for 2 weeks for detox and then attended AA meetings and never picked up another drink until he died. He never spoke of what happened over there on the Solomon Islands. When I was entertaining thoughts of joining the military after high school he strongly disapproved and I never went in. This was in 1980. He was a regular in anti - war rallies and protests.********** 25th I.D. https://www.armydivs.com/25th-infantry-division Since my father never told me about where he was or what he did in the war when I received his Honorable Discharge document at Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego California I found on the document a simple 2 word explanation of what he did (I had to wait until he died to finally know). It read: Campaigns: Guadalcanal. That's when I was able to research which Army units saw combat on the Solomon Islands and which division my father was in. It was nice to see after hearing only the negative side of his story my whole life. |
Classic Mingus chart, pjw! What’s not to like? It’s always been one of my favorite Mingus charts in no small part because of Pepper’s playing on it. And, yet another example of why Booker Erving remains one of the most underrated tenor players. Great stuff! The version by the Mingus Big Band is also great and arguably even more exuberant. Ronnie Cuber kills; amazing player and probably my favorite living baritone player. Thanks for the clips. Question: your post suggests that there is a slower tempo version of Moanin’. The slower Moanin’ that I know is by Bobby Timmons and is an entirely different tune. Here is a FASTER tempo rendition by the Mingus Big Band (I prefer the slower version that you posted): https://youtu.be/xkXeMzRqkcY Extreme gratitude and respect to your Dad and your family for his service. |
81563 , War does two things to people , it makes them worse or it makes them better . Kicker is the better often takes a long time . Usually in about a 50/50 ratio for combat troops who are a small fraction of our Armed Forces in any modern war. I read your clip about your dad and was moved . Nobody who was not there can say if your dad was or was not wrong in the path he took , self -medication is very common among soldiers who actually are in combat .I was aware the 25th had a hard time of it on Guadalcanal . I wanted to say at the time he must have been a good man as he loved his son enough to keep him out of wars that were not necessary and did not require you .The fact he beat his addictions for the love of his wife and family is heroic in and of itself . May he rest in peace . |
Pjw, Frogman brought up a very contentious point in regard to "Moanin"; as far as I'm concerned there is only one true "Moanin", and that's Bobby Timmons "Moanin". My comment has to do with the title, not the music. Ditto on what Frogman said about the music. Jazzmeia Horn is truly fantastic; she captures the essence of the tunes she sings, and I will buy her music. |
pjw, your story is not overlooked, it is just that it is hard to answer on the story like that. Imagine two people who have gone through life tragedies. They sit next to each other in silence. They say nothing to each other but they understand all. Sometimes, no word can match that. I agree with fro and schubi. You should be proud of your dad. |
Thanks all for your thoughts on my father. frogman as I have listened to Timmons' Moanin' hundreds of times being a big Art Blakey fan naturally I compared it to Mingus' rendition which I have had the "Blues And Roots" album for 10 years or more now but have listened to Timmons' Moanin' 10x as much, being, as orpheus10 said, the one true Moanin'. And yes, I tried many times when I did listen to the Mingus Moanin', to see if I heard any similarities in the notes and melody. Of course I could not find any and so "assumed" , not having any scholarly musical background, that maybe it was the same song played at an up tempo (there are many jazz tunes in which this is true). Anyway I'm happy I now know for a certainty that they are not the same song. Maybe someone can post the sheet music on the 2 songs (just the opening pages) so I can see what is obvious to those in the music field. |
mary jo The USAF has very few people who ever see any combat . It is far more just a job than other branches and they make more money and are promoted more than other branches . Fact : The USAF is the greatest owner of Golf Courses in the world . When I was an infantryman(only real soldiers) near what we called the Air Farce base, we used to say to say if we had to do 20 years for a pension they should have to do 50 and it was not a joke . Of course , there are a few exceptions like 0-10 ! Try to get to a Navy Seal wedding asap . |
Rok, working class also refers to those who are unemployed and can't find a job; whether you like it or not, people all around this globe are going to do what they figure they have to do in order to survive; meaning, hookers got to hook, and purse snatchers got to snatch. I see now, the conservative view is "If you can't find a job, just be a good little boy and lay down and starve". It ain't going to happen dude. |
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I was in Detroit when people drove new cars, dressed elegantly, lived in very nice homes, and enjoyed the best entertainment.***** Cars, fancy dress, nice homes, entertainment. hmmmmm You forgot to mention setting aside money during the good times in order to send the kids to The University of Michigan etc... slight oversight on your part, i'm sure. Cheers |
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working class also refers to those who are unemployed and can't find a job***** That's true when the unemployment is a temporary situation. These folks have been 'unemployed' for generations!! Some have never known of anyone having a job. Never!! I wonder how many folks crossing the southern border have found work while these folks 'can't find a job'. Millions would be my guess. Cheers |