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.
On their Remembrance Day, the Cenotaph is the center of all the ceremony. Royals and all that. But, I was always amazed at the number or old timers that march. Esp the Marines and the Parachute regiments. Once, always.
I bought this CD back in 1995 : The Wonderful World of Three Blind Mice One if my very favorite Jazz CD I went searching for a backup just in case. I found one on the internet for $365.00!! awhile back
Yusef Lateef "Live at Pep's." Go global. Lateef was the best at melding the music of the far east with American jazz and blues. It doesn't get much better than this.
<<In this light, old recordings seem more real and more attractive to
folks who appreciate live recording and therefore music with certain
"faults"...
>>
Absolutely. Rudy van Gelder enriched my musical world like no other. These are 60 year-old recordings that are captivating and mesmerizing.
To my hears a jazz trio or quartet sounds better in mono .Which is why a old mono recording is often 4 times as much as its stereo version among hard-core collectors . acman , your Lateff stuff is outstanding . Some mostly straight ahead stuff . https://youtu.be/IHpng3K7BZA?t=7
rok, your "Guantanamera" clip is one of the best I’ve seen and heard. Must be a lot of " Bob Dylan’s "in Cuba !
I did not know the children could march .Teared me up that we really don't much care .Serious ?Why do we retain the shuffle that passes for what real soldiers do.? https://youtu.be/ni0xPZ2ACYk?t=2
Wow, that Walking blues featuring Keb’ Mo’ is excellent! Video too. Imo, whoever made it, did the good job. Keb’ Mo’ is awesome, the other guy Chris does not fit my picture, being too expressive. I always thought that blues should sound simple, earthy and kind of raw...well at least the blues that I imagine in my head...
Your boys on parade. They come from the largest Battalion in the German Army. Some companies active, some not. All stationed in Berlin. I guess they do this very, very often.
rok , my idea of real soldiery marching was those Black Watch troops.Never had much use for toy soldiers like those German "Wack(Alert)bataillons .
First time I came back from Berlin I was assigned to "Old Guard " 3rdInf. in DC . Went to CO and asked to be sent elsewhere . He said , fine , if you don’t want to be here we don’t want you. In a month I was in 11th Air Assault at Benning . Perhaps only unit in Army you didn’t have to be in .
Loved the “Guantanamera” clip. Thanks for that. In case anyone doesn’t know it, there is an interesting story behind what is probably the most popular Cuban song. The melody was composed by a popular radio show host back in the 40s (30s?) who would set the news of the day to the tune. The song as usually known and as heard on Rok’s clip took off in popularity when verses from a poem by Jose Marti were set to the tune. Jose Marti was a Cuban poet and renowned author in Latin American literature who became a national hero as possibly the foremost leader of Cuba’s fight for independence from Spain. Just one of many wonderful Jose Marti quotes and applicable to the subject of this thread:
I just received this box set, 3 CD, Billie Holiday -- THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION. Good sound quality and good selections, but, no ’Fine and Mellow’.
In the notes, in response to the critics, that said her lifestyle had harmed her voice, Ms Holiday said: "Anybody who knows anything about singing says I’m for sure singing better than I ever have in my life. If you don’t think so, just listen to some of my old sides like "Lover come Back" and "Yesterdays", and then listen to the same tunes as i have recorded them in recent years."
**** Are you saying that technique and phrasing, trumps the voice ****
Precisely. I might take “technique” out of that sentence. What I believe she is saying and I agree completely is that to an artist on that level, “singing” (or playing) is more about the delivery; the phrasing, the color, the emotion. She takes far more chances with all of those in the later versions of the songs. On the earlier ones, along with a voice that had far fewer warts, the delivery is much more straight forward hence less interesting.
**** Within reason of course, ****
Again, precisely. The technique can deteriorate to the point that the artist can not execute and deliver the message. I don’t think her voice ever got to that point. Perfect technique can’t make up for lack of artistry, but great technique AND artistry is something special. Her artistry kept growing even when the technique declined. The greater the artistry, the more that technique can be sacrificed. She was awesome; always “compelling”.
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