Jazz for aficionados
Once upon a time, there was a lady who wished me love, her name was Gloria Lynne; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tgh5BOTCuM In that same general time, there was another lady who sang the best "Misty" I've ever heard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1INhj10CiCE I play a lot of both of these ladies late at night; they give me the sweetest dreams. |
It was on the weekend, and I was sitting at the bar of my favorite watering hole, drinking Johnny Walkers Black with a water back, when a party of gentleman at a large table behind me caught my ear. They were having a grand old time and as the night progressed, they got a little louder, as men having a good time are prone to do. That indicated there were no ladies present and they could really let their hair down. They must have been somewhat important, because the owner of the establishment joined them from time to time. I wasn't close enough to hear exact conversation, but I did hear a challenge, "I bet you can't do it"; that's when a gentleman rose up with a trumpet in his hand; he looked like Maynard Ferguson. Although he stood quite confident with the trumpet in his hand, his attempt at Maynard Ferguson's legendary high note was a wash out, but they all had a belly aching laugh. As it turned out, the guy who failed so miserably at hitting Maynard Ferguson's legendary high note, was the man himself. It seems that he and the owner had been buddies in Vegas. |
o10, for your interest in current women in jazz, would you say Melody Gardot belongs on that list? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKDj-OVJ6hc Also your watering hole story about Ferguson was not surprising if it was toward the end of his life. How many elderly horn players still hit the high registers in their later years? |
Maybe he had one too many that night 😊. Maynard, three months before he passed. He had the famous double high C that day. (But, he probably should have left the tune for Luciano 🤪) https://youtu.be/StX1Xx9qM3U |
Frogman, thanks for your very informative response. I remember reading about dissonance when I was 'studying' music from my book, which I seem to have misplaced. I listened to the tune again, and it almost seems as if the band and the singer are performing two different tunes. Can you post a clip that demonstrates dissonance used in an effective way? Can a song end on a dissonance chord? Cheers |
Pryso, yes she is on that list; this is just one of the tunes I like by her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPFZDrqzWII |
Staton and Lynne: I remember both of these singers from way back in the day. The Staton LP was one of the first my brother got from a record club. I spent a lot of time staring at that cover. Remember 'Misty' very well. I also remember Lynne and that song. Now, maybe you understand why I am stuck in the past, because that's where the good stuff lives. Nice clips Cheers |
No Frogman and Pryso, this was not toward the end of his life, and someone was paying him and his band very well to hit the high note at that time, which is why he was in St.Louis. I just don't remember who. Under the conditions I saw him, he might have needed somebody to keep that barn still while he hit it with a bass fiddle. |
Kenny Wheeler is much more to my liking then Maynard Fergusen. Wheeler recorded quite a few albums on the ECM label which were brilliant. He was always accompanied by the great bassist and composer Dave Holland on those ECM sessions. John Abercrombie was present on some of them as well. All fantastic musicians. Here is Wheeler live with Palle Danielsson on bass instead of Holland but Abercrombie is present. Pretty good rythm section the drummer has a nice solo starting at the 10:40 mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU27KZiNOJU Here are a few of his ECM studio albums which I have and the sonics are excellent which is the norm from ECM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p096UTjQgeI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y5RMfMbntk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCDBFl6Yc2c |
More Kenny Wheeler. He had great command of his instrument and also very lyrical as these songs will attest to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbP709Cn4mE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zo6IbnrwJw And live 3 years before his death https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOEjmBNddjY From Wiki: Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, (14 January 1930 – 18 September 2014) was a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. from the 1950s onwards. Most of his performances were rooted in jazz, but he was also active in free improvisation and occasionally contributed to rock music recordings. Wheeler wrote over one hundred compositions and was a skilled arranger for small groups and large ensembles. |
Kenny Wheeler's music has the precision of a highly skilled and schooled musician. While it's extremely interesting, it's at times devoid of emotion as compared to "old school" jazz. That's not a bad thing, just my observation. Extremely competent musicians hold my interest because of their mastery of chosen instrument, but I'm rooted in the emotion of "old school" jazz, it usually tells a story related to the human condition. As competent as these musicians are, will this music stand repeated listening? That's one of the criteria by which I judge music. Does it stand repeated listens with you? |
orpheus10, I like Kenny Wheeler. Not all of his output/songs but most. The Albums I purchased I like. And I do give them repeated listens. To me many of his songs are "rooted in emotion". The majority of his repertoire is not rooted in "the blues" like "old school jazz" but that’s what I like about it. As I have stated multiple times on this thread my favorite Trumpet player is Clifford brown followed by Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Lee Morgan and not necessarily in that order. I am sure you like these 4 players because their playing, for the most part, is rooted in the emotion of "old school" jazz. My musical tastes vary as I like many genres (except country and hip hop) and they also vary within their respective genres. If your musical tastes are basically jazz music from the swing to bebop to hard bop period of 1930 - 1970 (I am aware of this because you have repeated many times on this thread when you bought the "new stuff" when it came out you wasted your money and realized your old stuff was way better) and current renditions of the 30 - 70 "golden era of jazz" compositions its cool and I know where your coming from. Miles Davis’ output from "In A Silent Way" and forward was not rooted in the emotion of "old school" jazz but I like it. There is plenty of "emotion and blues" in the following Wheeler song for my ears https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHejwS-Cgcs I guess I’m basically saying everyone has different tastes and its all good. |
I guess I’m basically saying everyone has different tastes and its all good. My musical tastes vary as I like many genres (except country and hip hop) and they also vary within their respective genres. I could have made both those statements because their true for me as well. Here's one of the places where I go when I wander off the jazz reservation; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgHSGPBVpQE |
"Here's one of the places where I go when I wander off the jazz reservation" orpheus10 if that's the case what are your thoughts on Fela Kuti? Here is one I really like which has captions describing the music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_D-Hh0hglk Its a long song but believe me the journey is worth it. |
Great Fela Kuti live performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr8oRpA2SpE For the Fela uninitiated: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fela-kuti-mn0000138833/biography |
The thing is I can listen to Fela and then listen to this next: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZBlqcbpmxY And then this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpKB6OZ_B4c I too leave the "jazz reservation" on occasion. |
Back to jazz in keeping with the thread theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM2YKTmGHBQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAHE8LIbyzo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x6Vq2OsdFM |
o10, this slips in some country you might enjoy. I bought the CD after seeing it on PBS years ago and still like it a lot https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&p=rhythm+country+and+... |
Rok, for me, Dakota Staton has a certain energy that makes her unique among all the Divas; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBw-w_jql4g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peWwRw6CrNM |
Recently it has come to my attention that we have a "wealth" of female jazz vocalists, past and present that we have not paid enough tribute. I would like for us to remedy that by posting any female jazz vocalist that you think we have neglected. I will begin with Casandra Wilson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KKiR4NumaE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iisdJ0wAv_Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB1HK-rlVig |
pjw, I just thought of a funny story about Miles music. I ran into Vernon Davis, Miles brother, (ages ago) and I asked him if he had Miles latest album? He looked me straight in the eyes, and asked very flatly "Do you"? I cracked up, because he knew that I was "old school" which meant that he knew I didn't have Miles Rock oriented album, but I'm thinking, you're his brother, you're supposed to buy his music anyway. Love only goes so far, but Miles himself understood that very well; he knew that the people who loved him, would not love his music after he changed, and he didn't expect them to. |
Casandra Wilson: You don' t know what Love is: Way too slow. Distorts the song. Check out Etta James and Miss Holiday. Black Orpheus: Nice enough, but even through she is from Mississippi, she is hit and miss. As if she is searching for her place in music. Billie's Blues: Great!! A lot of the impact goes to the arrangement and the band. But she nailed it. All we need is a CD full of stuff like this. Nice clips Cheers |
One of the great Blues Classics. Does not have quite the same impact when sung by a woman. Song by Son House, another great from the Delta. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFvnT0X9eFQ Cheers |
Almost two different songs. bass alert!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=theMDrkhLN0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9vEKTRLnUI Cheers |
Rok, I agree with you, Casandra is quirky, but I like her anyway. In the beginning, I didn't care for her because she messed up my favorite songs, but after listening to her for quite awhile (after you buy a CD, what else are you going to do with it?) I got used to the "Casandra Wilson" treatment to everything she sings, and I no longer compare her version to the way the song is supposed to be sung. No, she's not trying to find her way, she done found it; she's quirky. |
In keeping with O-10’s “great female vocalists” theme: We have looked at many great female Jazz singers and more will surely be posted; some who definitely deserve more attention. There is a type of singer who can be rightfully called “cross-over” singers of a sort. They are not, or certainly are not considered to be, full-fledged Jazz singers in the usual sense, but they have a fantastic way of delivering a song; of telling a story. They take the back seat to no “Jazz” singer in their ability to deliver the goods....in a particular way and particular style. They are the great musical theater vocalists. For me, “great” is reserved for those that (again, for me) don’t cross the line into a kind of over the top caricatureness as some musical theater vocalists do. Their acting background certainly helps in their ability to tell the story. Some of them are also fantastic vocalists in the sense of control and sheer beauty of the voice. Rok has previously posted some Audra McDonald who is definitely in this category. Barbara Cook was one of the very greatest. Amazing singer: https://youtu.be/WHloHH9KwQc (Some further thoughts re “dissonance” forthcoming) |
Barbara Cook: She does have a great voice, and surely has that ’Broadway’ vibe. We always give credit to the Blues and other genres for their influence in the creation of Jazz, but maybe Broadway and the ’Great American Songbook’ deserves a lot of credit for the growth and sustainability of Jazz. Because a lot of a Jazz, is ’borrowed’ from other genres. Nice clip from a lady I was not familiar with. Cheers |
Amandla is an album by jazz musician Miles Davis, released in 1989. It is the third collaboration between Miles Davis and producer/bassist Marcus Miller, after Tutu (1986) and Music from Siesta (1987), and their final album together. The album mixes elements of the genres go-go, zouk, funk and jazz, combining electronic instruments with live musicians. This is the last album I bought of Miles music after the change. While it's likely that I'll buy more of his music from an earlier time period, it's very unlikely that I'll buy any of his music after this time period. Miles stated in his autobiography, that he knew his original fans, that includes people he loved and who loved him, would not be buying his music after he made a drastic change from his standard jazz. He also said a lot of them were probably not even buying records anymore. The bottom line is, that made no difference to his bottom line, or his relationship with those people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs45871s9DE&list=PL6B0V2FKgTzLFKcaNInJhBnvrlnkJ8Gpc pjw, this one's for you. |
"Jacintha" is a beautiful songbird from Singapore. I've selected some of my favorites by her; this is one of them, "The Boulevard of Broken Dreams"; This song, like so many songs, is a very sad short story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpgBgaR01Mk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxSs9p1IBvs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWO7PyDl7Ks |
orpheus10, I have 2 of Jacintha's albums I bought at the same time around 10 years ago after hearing her voice, which I agree, is beautiful. They are "Lush Life" which contains the song from you first link. Your following 2 links were great selections which showcase her abilities as a jazz vocalist. I also have "The Girl From Bossa Nova" in which she sings beautiful renditions of Bossa Nova classics. Here is one from the Bossa Nova album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWl22wlGR9U Lat night I listened to Ben Webster's album from 1959 titled "The Soul of Ben Webster" - one of my favorites in my Webster collection. It is definitely "old school jazz rooted in the blues" Here is the longest song on the album and a classic which as you would say bears repeated listening's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj--aO61TN8 |
pjw, we are certainly in harmony today; both of those are boss and on my shopping list. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQJybhk47xU Mundell Lowe on guitar is someone I haven’t heard in awhile; I’m quite familiar with all the artists on that album, and they’re sounding extra special. I definitely don’t have enough of Jacintha, that will be corrected. I was wondering the same thing about Alex and Mary_jo? |
Sometimes it seems that you can't really hear a song until you've sang it. It's only after you have experienced the emotional depths of the words can you hear the song. "The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" is such a song; I'll try to illuminate what I mean. Here's the setting; Gigolo and Gigolette, prior to their chance meeting, have lost their hearts to the one and only true love they have ever known, but even if they're an empty shell, life goes on. While they both are attractive, they know that even that will be coming to an end before long; life for them is whatever they can get out of the moment. When they take a kiss without regret, they're thinking of someone in that broken dream that they left behind, but each kiss without regret, is about whatever exhilaration they can get out of the moment; these kisses merely ease the pain of broken dreams. Both of them are singing a song and dancing along, but their souls are in an old Cathedral town where they left their broken dreams. I walk along the street of sorrow - The boulevard of broken dreams - Where Gigolo and Gigolette - Can take a kiss without regret - and so forget their broken dreams. You laugh today and cry tomorrow - When you behold your shattered schemes - And Gigolo and Gigolette wake up to find their eyes are wet with tears that tell of broken dreams. "Here is where you'll always find me - Always walking up and down - But I left my soul behind me in an old cathedral town" The joy that you find here, you borrow - You cannot keep it long it seems - But Gigolo and Gigolette - Still sing a song and dance along - The boulevard of broken dreams. [REPEAT] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpgBgaR01Mk&list=RDmpgBgaR01Mk&start_radio=1 |
pjw Interesting that you had posted something from Fela. O10 & I had discussed him very briefly earlier this year. I have been listening to him for 40 plus years. I was buying his albums way back when it was tough to find them. HIs music is enjoyable on more than one level. It's danceable but also the solos are interesting to listen to even though it's not strict jazz. A couple of points not in the article you posted. I had read that Fela was influenced by Miles Davis and Sly and the Family Stone. He was poised to make a US tour and break out as a star over here sometime around 1980 when he was arrested at the Nigerian Airport for having more than $5,000 on his person which was apparently a crime there. I actually wrote a letter through Amnesty International to try and help get his release. HIs breakout album of the time , was excellent I will post it if I can find it online. But unfortunately he never became a star over here. |
O10 that story you told about miles brother not buying his music was funny.!! the cut you posted by Miles sounded to me like later day weather report which I don't like. To me there was nothing original there I think I stopped buying miles albums after his first comeback album sometime in the 80s . I think the title was star people. Although I did see him in concert the year before he passed and it was terrific. |
pjw & o10 I really like Jacintha, I have several of her cd's .She really sounds great on SACD. Will po st something tomorrow . Here is my favorite version of " Boulevard of Broken Dreams" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t24xDweUX7M |
Aside from the very well known jazz divas, we have neglected many female jazz vocalists, maybe we can remedy that. Rebecca Pidgeon, I like this CD; it's very well recorded. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngrnfIhT1JU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RMTEWsGGEg Leny Andrade sings "Maiden Voyage"; this is the first time I have ever heard words put to Herby Hancock's famous tune; it's boss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B2WicKm0dc What female vocalists do you have in your collection that we haven't heard? |
