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.
pryso, good catch. Corea recorded Children’s Song #1 on two other occasions. Once with Gary Burton on a record called “Crystal Silence” and a group version on the classic record “Light As a Feather”. Perhaps that is were you heard the song previously. Then again, perhaps you have heard Bela Bartok’s “Mikrocosmos” series of piano pieces (intended for beginner pianists). Corea is a big admirer of Bartok and Mikrocosmos were the inspiration for his “Children’s Songs”.
pjw, your account of the pilgrimage was very moving .Thank you ! The only one I ever made was to Schubert’s grave in the Central Cemetery in Vienna , doubled when I saw Brahms lay next to him and Mahler few meters around the corner .
As my wife and I were standing there in prayer, two Japanese couples showed up . The two men had huge amounts of flowers on in their arms which they put on, with heads bowed, on Schubert’s grave . . Then after five minutes or so, one of the men prostated himself on Schubert’s grave and cried like a baby .Unique day!
Pity, I do not have quite many memories like that...but since my job often brings me to Vienna (Wien) in Austria, I have visited there Schubert’s Geburtshaus (the house where he was born) and a house where Mozart used to live (he lived on several addresses in Wien). At the places like that you should not touch anything, I mean, you can watch it but it is not allowed to touch it... I could not resist no to lay my hand on the famous piano and was moving slowly with the hand over it’s top, while walking forward...like kids do. Felt good.
From the same article: "On the EIU’s index, which ranks 140 cities on 30 factors bunched into five categories—stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure—Vienna scores a near-perfect 99.1 out of 100, putting it just ahead of Melbourne."
Vienna offers so many opportunities and on top of that looks absolutely gorgeous. I could easily picture myself living there.
Schubert, if you dont mind me (sort of) answering, I would choose Italy, for a country to live. Austria is certainly beautiful as well, but I would say that Italians are litlle bit more relaxed and open toward other people (I should not generalize, but still...)
Paul, or others, if you ever decide to visit this part of the world, let me know, would be glad to show you around.
Today, with booking com or arbnb platform its quite easy and cheap to find stay almost anywhere and transport is not a big cost either
Loved that live clip with Dizzy and Stitt, pjw. Swinging their a&&es off as they say. Thanks! And the audio quality really IS good. Too good? Did anybody catch what Gus Johnson says at 3:09? He and Ray Brown kept looking to their left. I wonder who she was? 😘
True alex but there is no CITY in Italy as clean and safe as Vienna .And people are friendly as well. Though Berlin is my love , I wouldn’t argue with UN on this one .
81563 , I wouldn’t be that hard on rok, I don’t know if he went to West Point ,but even if he did not , he has that outlook . It’s very hard to get away from the indoctrination given to create a warrior mind .
I don’t know if I could have if I had not graduated from university after a war instead of before it . And Vietnam was so stupid nobody with any intelligence could buy it .
"I wouldn’t be that hard on rok..." pjw, I must agree with schubi on this matter. All could be just a role from rok's side. An actor's part in a play. We all do that sometimes, more or less, in different plays of course. Set role aside for a while and you get a person. Among just the two of us, (;--)) I am sure he has nice sides.
Nsp, after reading your thoughtful post, I feel compelled to respond.
If things were "Normal" in this country, I could stay on the subject of jazz, but everything is very abnormal in regard to the working class in this country, and anyone who can't see it has blinders on.
Back in the 80's, I donated my time as a technician to get a TV station for the homeless going. During that time I observed "who" was homeless. Homelessness is a lifestyle for "Winos"; naturally they were present; very very few, what I call "normal" people were homeless, and when they were, we helped them get jobs, and their own dwelling.
People with mental problems should be in institutions, not wandering the streets homeless.
In the 80's, I also sold "The American Dream"; that's a nice home in a nice suburb where the kids could feel free to play and ride their bikes without fear of a stray bullet.
A job at any of the auto manufacturing plants, or aircraft plant would qualify one for this dream. You have no idea how important that dream is. That dream has become obsolete for far too many people in this country.
I like the way the jazz conversations are going, but since my mind is going in other directions, there's not much I can add; but I do enjoy reading the posts, and possibly buying some of the music.
Tomorrow is the great and under appreciated organist Larry Young’s birthday. Coltrane influenced, he broke the typical mold for organists by incorporating Coltrane’s modal language. One of my very favorite recordings. I’ve posted it previously, but worthy of a revisit. Amazing lineup; Young, Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson and Elvin Jones:
That is true 0-10. but on here we are just a hand full of people enjoying jazz. The odds of anybody changing their mind about politics is zero.This is a Republic, in no sense of the word, a democracy . Every one who wants to know what you say already knows what you say and those who don't never will .
In a country where the Supreme Court ruled a corporation is a person with all the rights of any person , unique to the world , and their lobbyists write most acts of Congress there will be no change ever . Your fighting the good fight and I admire you for that . But I'd rather see you back off the stress which can shorten your days . God Bless you .
Schubert, people have fought more hopeless wars than this one.
"In a country where the Supreme Court ruled a corporation is a person with all the rights of any person , unique to the world , and their lobbyists write most acts of Congress there will be no change ever ."
Well said, Schubert. I would only add that the assertion “never will” is not necessarily true. This goes to why I have refused to comment on politics on this thread for quite some time; although I did so early in the history of the thread. I won’t comment on politics, but since I care about the thread and it’s subject matter, I don’t mind commenting on the “process” of discussing issues here.
The problem as I see it has been, not that there is disagreement, but that those with a differing point of view, or that choose to not discuss such matters on a music (!) thread are often demeaned and presumed to be uncaring of others, unsympathetic to their plight, having blinders on, etc., etc. Assumptions that are completely inappropriate and often off the mark. Were this not the case and if respectful and open minded dialogue were to ensue, some points of view just might be changed. Otherwise, as has happened here time and time again the effort becomes self defeating.
I make NO assumptions about your points., I wasn’t even thinking of you when I wrote .
My point is they are irrelevant , as are mine, in a Republic structured like the USA . I agree this is not a place to talk about it . As I said , scientific study after study shows the odds of any adult with deep,convictions is highly unlikely to change then .
Well, then my apology; it sure looked that way in the text. What you say about the odds may be true, but I’ve known some who have changed their deep seated views; and not always in the “expected” direction. Still, even it true, it is no excuse for not showing respect and having a modicum of tolerance for a different point of view. Unless, of course, anyone of us considers himself all-knowing and infallible.
Schubert, you have encapsulated the biggest parts of the problem: A. this is a corporatocracy, B. As you put it "deep seated values"; as I interpret that; you might as well be talking to a block of concrete.
On the other side of the ledger, we have multitudes all over this country who are enduring the worst hardships in my lifetime, and I’m an old man. People are living in third world conditions, whole cities full of them; I feel their pain. In the richest most powerful country on the planet.
There is one group we’ve left out, and they’re the one’s who were living on "The Gold Coast" when all this misery started; they have actually moved on up to beyond my comprehension.
When primarily jazz musicians were heroin addicts, the only cure was prison, but now we have young people all over this country addicted and overdosing. Is prison the answer for them?
Lets talk about the people who don’t want to discuss these problems (to exclude everyone on this thread); the politicians want us to believe everything is just "hunky dory" since they’re doing just fine.
As a person who is aware of when and how the multitudes were fleeced, and being a witness to the incredible suffering that’s going on all across this country as a result of that fleecing, I am compelled to do my part in exposing all the factors responsible for this hell on earth that many are living.
Slavery was the best thing that ever happened to Black folks. (got them out of Africa) (a green card was not an option in the 1600’s.)
Jim Crow was the second best thing that ever happened to Black folks. (a parallel and separate society that led to great achievements in music, sports, and literature. Against all odds. This would include Jazz.)
Since history cannot be changed, what is the point of whining about it ad-nauseam.
Slavery and Jim Crow are also the most enduring crutches ever!!
The ’swooshing’ sound you hear, is people from every part of the globe, doing what ever it takes to get into this country. By hook or by crook. And all they see is opportunity at every turn.
Several weeks ago, a man fell out of the wheel well of a jet coming in for a landing at London’s Heathrow airport. Of course he was dead and a block of ice. From Ghana I think. Outside for 9 Hours at 33,000 feet, at 500+ miles per hour. -60 degrees I think. Anything to get the F**k out of Africa.
Cheers
Btw, folks continue to die by the thousands each year, trying to get to Europe from North Africa, by crossing the Mediterranean in rubber boats. And pay thousands of dollars each for the chance. Maybe a 'Thank You Jesus' is in order, instead of the whining.
Jazz and female Jazz/Standards singers have dominated my collection, listening and live performance attendance for many years. Most/many of the artists you could name I enjoy and own, but that said and done, Dinah Washington is not considered in the same company as Ella, Sarah and many others...but in my real world listening time she more than holds her own.
*****
but in my real world listening time she more than holds her own.*****
I agree. I have always felt Ella was in a class by herself, and she may well be, but, I'm not sure she is at the top of class when it comes to Jazz. Absolutely 'perfect' voice, but maybe her repertoire was not as JAZZY as I would have liked.
Ginger Baker had a wild life. Anyone else watch the 2012 documentary "Beware Of Mr. Baker" will understand Baker’s wild ride through life. I’m surprised he made it to age 80. May he rest in peace.
That Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, and Max Roach were three of Baker’s biggest influences, does not surprise me. You can see how much he idolized Blakey in that drum solo duel recorded and transferred to VHS with poor tracking. I wish some engineer could clean it up. Baker was also heavily influenced by African tribal music and its rhythmic beats. He called Africa home on a few occasions.
Baker recorded some half dozen jazz albums in the 90’s
From "Coward Of The County" with a young James Carter on tenor sax and bass clarinet:
My bad frogman, I should of said something taking you out of the picture writing below your comments . I just had everyone in general and 0-10 in particular in mind .
rok, to a considerable degree we can change History . Trauma roles down,even heavily in DNA , from generation to generation and they are known ways to change that by treating young children , Very little IS done because it is expensive and not wanted by powers that be in a divide and conquer society. Most of the work has been done , including clinical , at Cambridge , Stanford and John Hopkins . In historical time , "jim crow" was born the day before yesterday and the civil war an hour before that .And slavery IS more traumatic than combat . Nobody sold a soldiers dad, mom , wife and kids down the river ,to be never be seen again , in any American war .
.What is your take on deserting the Kurds who did much of the heavy lifting against ISIS ?
Great clips, O-10. Context is important for the player; just as it is for, and influences the PERCEPTION of the player by the listener. As you say, Pepper always sounded great, but I don’t hear anything IN GENERAL that makes me feel that Adams, the player, sounded better as a sideman than as a leader. For a player of that caliber that would be a first since, as a leader, a player will have more freedom than he does as a sideman and would be playing with a rhythm section that he feels most comfortable with. I do agree wholeheartedly that some leaders do bring out the best in players, especially young players in need of “schooling”. Just my opinion and only for the sake of discussion.
Case in point. I came across this live version of “Three Little Words” while posting the “Urban Renewal” clips. Obviously this is just one example and arguably irrelevant. Clearly not Byrd nor Mingus, but Pepper as sideman with the Bill Evans Trio. I was surprised how hesitant and not fully engaged he sounded:
Not so much . It seems natural for you both to think at different levels . Which is neither better or worse , just different . As the man said , it takes all kinds .
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