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.
nsp, I will look into getting tickets for the Chick Corea show. I can't believe a giant of the jazz world is playing at a small venue in the suburbs of Long Island an hour east of NYC! I will also check out that 3 disc session you mentioned which I was not aware of.
I agree with your assessment of Art Pepper's early playing and later playing. frogman also made the same assessment up thread.
Schubert I highly recommend the following 2 disc set since you are obviously a huge Sonny Stitt fan (as am I).
mary jo, if you are bothered by "a thin line between fiction and nonfiction", then I suggest you don't read Mingus' "Beneath the Underdog". That certainly stretched credibility, but I found it highly entertaining none the less.
So instead, maybe a bit of his music, an early version of this one -
pjw Not sure where you read the comparison between Eddie Higgins and Bill Evans? I have at least 10 albums by Higgins and really like him but I agree with Frogman that Higgins touch and sound is similar to Evans but his improvisational solos to me are much different. Higgins stays a little closer to the original Melody while Evans usually spins out lyrical lines and stretches out more harmonically. I haven't listened to frogman Evans Higgins Cuts but will do so when I get a chance.
I will post some cuts from the Chick Corea Trio album when I get a chance. It's a great chance to see Corea and who knows how long he'll be performing.
pjw. of course I was way out of line with the Coleman crack . I know every one on here is smart enough to know that and even I know Coleman is a very fine player . In English lit to do something that dumb for effect is called " literary license "
nsp, I read the Higgins - Evans comparison on Wiki (not the best source):
Eddie Higgins's delicate tone and conception were often compared to those of Bill Evans, one of the most influential and successful jazz pianists. He mostly played bop and mainstream jazz music throughout his career. Higgins was at home playing melodies with swing-like feeling. His melodies had groove and swing-feeling without being superfluous. Such swing-feeling of Eddie Higgins was also often compared to those of Oscar Peterson and Nat King Cole.
Schubert I know it was a tongue in cheek comment about Stitt/Coleman and so was my reply that's why I put the lol in there. That was a funny analogy you made.
pryso, I have not read "Beneath The Underdog" so I cannot compare.
I am an avid reader. I often read 2 books at the same time and as soon as I'm done with one I read another. I like boxing biographies and musicians as well. For history I read military books with an emphasis on the second World War - first World War - American Civil War - and ancient Rome.
pryso returns with a vengeance! That clip of the Mingus big band is without a doubt one of the best things that I have heard here recently. Thank you for that. Anyone who still thinks Jazz is dead is not paying attention. Awesome! Welcome back.
Speaking of George Coleman and Miles. One of my favorite things with Coleman. My favorite rhythm section of all time and which would later be part of my favorite quintet of all time:
frogman , Can’t get the Pavane out of my being , put the piece I think most like the way Ravel would of wanted it on Classical Music Afiicionados .I assume you must of played it .Richter in Moscow , 1954 during an epidemic .
Japan to the rescue !Found as good a Pavane as I'll ever find from a giant I had forgotten . Seiji Ozawa and the uber- wonderful winds of the Saito Kinen .
nsp, another killer from Liz, the lady is addictive ! https://youtu.be/38mjw81spec?t=4 She’s on my bucket list(almost empty)She is North America once till last of year , But Toronto is as bad as NYC .Nov 10th near Graz, 2nd biggest city in Austria , one of best towns in Europe and not touristy . Got enough Lufthansa miles -hmmmmm. 50 Euros hmmmmmm.
Schubert, That version of "Old Man" is a wonderful alternative to the Neil Young song I have heard on the radio for over 40 years now. I wonder if she has an album with that song on it.
Gorgeous playing by Richter. Thanks for that. Re how the composer himself would have liked it: always an interesting question and not always what one might expect.
Gorgeous! The young lady playing the opening horn solo is a friend and currently an “Associate” in the Met Opera orchestra. Lovely player. Beautiful interpretation. As an interesting aside and arguably irrelevant performance detail: American players often struggle a bit when performing with orchestras in the East and Germany where orchestras tune to A:445; quite a bit higher pitch than the American tuning standard of A:440-442 (she’s ever so slightly under pitch). Speaking of German orchestras, and I make no comment on the interpretation of the piece, considered by most horn players the current “king” of the instrument. Stefan Dohr, principal in Berlin:
Yes, a neighbor American horn player in Madison who played 30 years in SWD Radio Symphony told me Hermann Baumann helped him with that . Dohr sounds like he could play it as a solo. You have a nice looking friend,in the clip I thought she was an All-American Girl looking lady.BTW , the large and lovely inside hall they built at Tanglewood has Ozawa’s name on it . Your friend could get a job with the SPCO and its half as expensive and twice as nice here ! We have a violinist who quit the NY Phil for SPCO .
Frogman , please, pretty please , when and if you have time watch the 25min clip I just made on Classical Aff. titled "The Pride of My Hometown" . As a classical player I'm 99.9% sure you will enjoy it !
frogmanI listened to your posts of "You Must Believe In Spring" by Evans / Higgins. It pretty much proved the points that we discussed.Eddie Higgins story: from an interview he did about 15 years ago Higgins revealed that he was offered the piano chair in the Jazz Messengers band back around 1960. He told Art Blakey he wanted to think about it for a day. Higgins at the time had a regular Jazz gig where he lived and a family including two young kids to support. He was torn between the great exposure and the opportunity to play with Blakey and the other top Jazz Messengers. But he was also concerned about fitting in with the band as he did not even drink or smoke and most of the band members were hard drugs users. He also had heard that when the band got paid the drug connection got paid first, then the hotel bill was paid and if there is anything left over the guys in the band were paid.Since his Kids were young and he had a family to support he didn't want to go out on the road. He decided to turn it down and Art Blakey was surprised.
I know you live I know you live in Upstate New York but this may be Chick Corea his only appearance in this area I'm not sure of his itinerary. I thought you might be interested.
The first link to Higgins' "Soulero" I really like. On the first song the first 50 seconds piano solo sounds like classical not jazz. I have just 2 Higgens albums with him as a leader - "Haunted Heart" and "Dear Old Stockholm" but I will be buying "Soulero" for sure. I enjoyed "Time On My Hands" as well.
The Roger Kellaway song also sounded a bit classical. If you listen to the bass and percussion in the rythm section throughout the whole song it can be translated and used in a classical setting. Kellaway's piano playing can be described as "jazzicle" - did I just make up a new word?
Great story of Higgins encounter with Art Blakey. I had read on Wiki that he turned down the offer but with none of the details you gave.
Thanks for the info on the Lizz Wright album.
I still cannot believe Chick Corea is paying a venue that is a 15 minute drive from my house. I saw the Return To Forever reunion tour in 2007 but had to drive to go to the United Palace Theater uptown NYC for that.
schubert I am really enjoying all these Lizz Wright posts. I am a little disappointed because when I went to search her recording output I have not found a jazz oriented CD. I was looking for another Jazz singer but I'm not sure that's the direction her recording career has taken. She's so good I still might buy one of her other CDs. If anyone finds anything she has done in the Jazz field let me know.
Paul and Nsp, glad you like it. Also, both of you have posted earlier some new guitarists, for me, that I liked, but never got to thank you,please forgive me for that,but lately you all have been very productive, so many posts,its hard to even read and listen to all, yet alone to answer, the conversation is unwiding so fast, when I wish to reply I am already 3 pages late. (pure excuse, I know,ha)
Nsp, could not open the Kellaway link, again that regional thing on ytube. From what albums are those compositions?
Take a listen on that Fred Kaz guy,I have only that album, but he seems interesting, perhaps Frogman could tell us whats 'wrong' with his playing, why he is not more known? (i am not sarcastic)
Paul, here is another 'jazzical' piano player (also mentioned before)
Great video, Schubert. Proud as you should be; great organization. I have followed the goings on at SPCO for quite a while; ever since NJSO lost Hugh Wolff to them several years ago. Not that I was much of a fan of Wolff, but it signaled that SPCO was moving and shaking. The hall looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Alex, I will offer some thoughts later when I have some time. Perhaps a better place to start re Kay is to hear from you what it is about his playing that you think makes him stand out and should have made him more well known. Thanks.
Frogman,to me Kaz seems to be very much in command of his instrument and his choice of music and its execution on this album (and on year 1960) sounds thougtfull,but playfull,with 'twists and turns' that are interesting to follow which may not be the case for lots of music of that era,if talking about the one with soul or blues foundation. It reminds me on Eddie DeCosta,as hee seemmed to play somewhat untipical music too.
I just listened to all 3 songs off of the Fred Kaz album "Eastern Exposure"
I like the groove of the first song "Ameer" but the other 2 songs I found nothing "catchy" in them to keep me interested.
All Music site lists only 4 albums with him as a leader. I did some research and apparently Kaz started working in Hollywood in the early 60's. Here is the story:
Thank you for your time frogman. Digital can’t reproduce that hall , at full cry ,as the principal said , the strings have a sheen and the winds are like a mountain spring . You hear a round tymph and can hear a slight snare swish or a singer minus mike in the highest seat in the hall . I usually tell knowledgeable classical fans its a bit like the Concertgebouw because I knowif i told them it is better they won’t believe me .It has the lowest prices of any major American Orchestra ,+ 2 kids get in free, that and their outreach is what I’m most proud of and why I send then money .
Well, Alex, that explains why I couldn’t find the album you posted in his credits. Please note that in your post with the clips you wrote Fred Katz, not Kaz; that was the beginning of the confusion. Anyway, not a total loss for me since I was able to rediscover Fred Katz. Re Fred Kaz:
The crazy thing is that there are a lot of parallels between the two different players. Both were film composers, both Classically trained and how they started, and both had an interest in Eastern music.
My earlier comments about his piano playing also apply. There is nothing “wrong” with his piano playing. He certainly has good “command” of the instrument as you point out, but I don’t think he is an exceptional piano player nor stylist. He has a certain swing feel and general approach that is not, as you say, rooted in the blues; what some, fairly or not, refer to as “too white”. As with Katz I find his compositions more interesting than his piano playing which is good, but not anything that I would consider exceptional. In the clips you posted the compositions are the focus, IMO. In fact on the third clip, “Sand”, there is not one single note that is improvised; it is entirely through composed. Still, interesting musician. I’m glad to have learned about him. Thanks for that.
alex don't feel bad the same thing happens to me sometimes. the forum moves too fast for me to catch up!!The cuts I posted for Don Friedman were from Oliver Nelson's "More Blues and the Abstract Truth. as a habit I check my music videos to see that they will open prior to posting so I know they were good here. Don't understand why they were blocked maybe it's a legal thingI will post more Don Friedman playing later when I have time Fred Katz was a cellist who was in Chico Hamilton's group from the late 50s. Is Frogman thinking that was the guy you posted? BTW--- Don Friedman studied and play classical music until he was 15 so if you hear classical influences it's understandable. I'm not a classical fan so I would have nothing to compare it to.
frogmanI listen to all three Fred Kaz cuts & I would have to agree his compositions were more interesting then his solo playing. Didn't seem from his bio that he pursued a Jazz career. if you get a chance to listen to the Bobby Henderson Cuts Alex posted I was wondering what style he was playing in. It's old school I wasn't sure if it was stride?
Did I miss it, or has there been no discussion of the new Coltrane album "Blue World"? OK hard to say much until one hears it but I expected to find talk of great expectations. ;^)
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