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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**** fro, you are enterin’ my space... **** 😊 Isn’t it interesting how the subconscious works? I was the first to post “Desmond Blue” quite a while back and at least once more since. One of my desert island records. Is it possible.....? Could be. https://youtu.be/i1i1X51un-I Btw, the image of Woody Allen having an orgasm is a bit much to contemplate 😬 |
Today's Listen: Kenny Dorham -- AFRO-CUBAN with/J.J. Johnson,Hank Mobley,Horace Silver,Art Blakey,Carlos Valdes and others Excellent Booklet with great Pictures. Tells of Kenny's long years of paying his dues, playing with all the big stars, but always in the background. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7myLXPUBB_w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMI9bpIMKZc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DTd6Sqjrns Cheers oooops, almost forgot, Richie Goldberg on Cowbell |
Btw, the image of Woody Allen having an orgasm is a bit much to contemplate 😬Perhaps I can help with an image... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isrd7E5nzIQ :--))) |
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alex, The Paul Desmond MJQ combo works for me. Eddie Costa I like the last link with the piano and vibes combo mary_jo, I scored a 9 out of 10 on your test. I answered #10 wrong. I agree with pryso's take on Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers being a "class room" for young jazz musicians. Notable trumpet players who recorded with the Messengers are Clifford Brown, Kenny Dorham, Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard. frogman, I must have skipped over your Desmond Blue post. Your right about being able to comment on everybody's posts. It don't work.. |
To my hears sound like these guys heard Jazz Messengers and Mil a time or two. Good bunch . https://youtu.be/mOxa-oMdiRQ?t=4 I lie , Damn good bunch ! Check that brass . Dam, Warsaw is nice this time of year , let me check their gigs , 3-4 non-stops from Chi , still got 160,000 on United Miles ...hmmmm |
An interesting rendition of "Take Five" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn27IcAapPI Benson was "locked in" |
I don’t know pjw , that sounds too R&B for that clean piece IMO . Something like this. Less picking and more different rhythms . https://youtu.be/7_5RUMCl0Gs?t=1 |
I'll take this one over both of those; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqHEWPgBRmE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3FNfxW7j0o |
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“Take Five”: I must say, I’m with Schubert on this one. One of those tunes that is very difficult to cover in a way that makes as strong a statement as the original. I don’t dislike the Puente “version”. It’s exciting, but it is “Take Five” in name only, imo. The main musical signature of the tune “Take Five” is that it is in five; five beats to the measure. That is what gives the tune its quirky rhythmic feel. Puente does the tune in 4! Completely different rhythmic feel. Kind of strange actually, to hear the familiar melody superimposed over a different rhythm. https://youtu.be/7i6vcmXdJMM All kidding aside, hard to top, or even equal this one: https://youtu.be/vmDDOFXSgAs Here’s a different take on “Take Five”: https://youtu.be/hhq7fSrXn0c |
Hadn’t listened to it, Schubert. I guess you hadn’t read my comment to pjw about “no comments” 😊. My take: Not a bad player. While no Desmond “dry martini” tone and style, he has a nice sound and does a good job of playing in five which is the “stealth” difficulty of playing the tune. The difficulty is that it feels very unnatural to most players to play, let alone improvise, in five. Much more comfortable to play in the much more common 1,2,3,4/1,2,3,4 etc. type of rhythm. Imagine having to march instead of 1,2,1,2,1,2,1,2 etc., this way: 1,2,1,2,3,1,2,1,2,3 etc. He plays to Dave Brubeck and his rhythm section as they themselves recorded the tune. The backing track that he plays to is Dave Brubeck’s actual recording minus Paul Desmond’s saxophone which was electronically edited out. Then he plays EXACTLY what Desmond plays including Desmond’s solo, note for note. Then, after he plays Desmond’s solo he improvises his own solo over Morello’s recorded drum solo and that is when things get a little murky. Not bad and as much as he tries to stay in the style of Desmond he can’t help let some Smooth Jazzisms creep into his solo. So, in short, I’m left with the feeling of “what’s the point?” An example of a promising young player honing his playing. Interesting comparison: “Take Five” with Joe Morello: https://youtu.be/tT9Eh8wNMkw “Take Five” no Morello; Alan Dawson on drums: https://youtu.be/8V9VSxn2F9M |
Nice groove on the “Zemeo” clip, O-10. Reminded me of this (posted a while back). One of my favorite fusion bands: https://youtu.be/sF9kW-8NPqs |
I had the feeling he was a young guy feeling his way at times , that;s what I liked about it .I was never all that thrilled about Take Five in the first place. I thought it was note for note at some places but it never dawned on me that they were editing . Thanks . I've said it on here before that I got to sit and listen to Morello rehearse for an hour with my wife's niece on piano . Just the 3 of us . Great memory of a great guy . |
Yet another "Take Five". This time with Morello outside the Brubeck Quarter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-744pFNJkUg |
More beautiful music from the same album; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u30UomifaOs&list=OLAK5uy_ki6wUPDaNpp9p7yaz505SkudorI_y6NuY&i... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MwHpOfNvu8&list=OLAK5uy_ki6wUPDaNpp9p7yaz505SkudorI_y6NuY&i... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqwHYgyugC0&list=OLAK5uy_ki6wUPDaNpp9p7yaz505SkudorI_y6NuY&i... |
For those who have wondered, these Dutch guys are similar to how Mary Jo sounds as well . https://youtu.be/IkOfKmGWdnU These guys are doing her theme song . https://youtu.be/6qHja9i9C4Y?list=RD6qHja9i9C4Y&t=1 |
Pity that my android for some reason crushes each time I try to watch YT, I would love to hear those Take Five renditions since I enjoy that piece a lot and listen often - at the dramatic Take Five drum part I use my invisible blue drumsticks, pound drums in Take Four rhythm and tap my fictional cymbals. Don’t you do the same? With different drumstick colours, of course. |
I’m on a one of the most religious countries in all of Christendom kick this year.Jesus is actually more important than Santa ! https://youtu.be/EPfS6AaL4ds?t=2 I don't speak Polish , no need, the messages on their faces and voices are crystal clear . |
Little shorter. This is what a Polish Church in rural Poland really looks like on Christmas Eve .Been there, seen that . Better be there a hour early if you want a seat . People stand outside the Church if necessary ! https://youtu.be/jkpc438Rz7s?t=12 |
schubert, thanks for those. I believe I have family ties to Poland, although Ancestry shows Russia in some links. I suspect when my great-grandfather lived there (1800s) the boundary may have shifted with some regularity. And it does not even agree on the family name, I found four different spellings so far. For me it takes more than a tree to put me in the spirit. My decades in SoCal were just not the same, although I was able to travel to be with family many years. Now I relocated and in fact it is snowing here tonight. So, may everyone’s holiday season be merry, bright, and healthy. And may you find new jazz to enjoy -- this site certainly has helped me do that. ;^) |
Birelli Lagrene fan here. Monster player who can play in any style. I got to know his playing from one of his electric fusion recordings. A Django disciple he is a fabulous “Gypsy guitar” player as well as a a great straight ahead player. I liked that “Isn’t She Lovely” clip, Schubert. Very nice tenor player who, like most tenor players, of that generation owes a whole lot to the great Michael Brecker. https://youtu.be/2yfQN8-tVlQ |
Exactly frogman , I thought of Brecker few minutes in . I love that term Monster player . Good as it Gets .That switch from Gypsy to straight ahead he often does is wonderful, hear much of jazz in one man , just a joy ! Re : Wolff , I almost said he was Mary Jo’s boyfriend , but thought better of it . |
Thank you prysol !I put those clips on Poland with the idea if they were something to even one person, I’d be happy .Millions of people recorded as Russian are actually Polish from when Russia controlled 1/3 of present day Poland . I’m 3/4 Scottish and I/4 English . If I was 100 % Polish I would be proud to be from the most Christian people in Europe . |
More Bireli Lagrène. I have to admit that for me he gets awful close (but not quite) to the “too much of a good thing” line; but, hey, the guy has a lot to say. Amazing virtuosity and talk about wide scope! https://youtu.be/AmmujItUffs https://youtu.be/GJMc8rWlY48 (Django’s “Nuages” and Bird’s “Donna Lee”): https://youtu.be/Zs_qP1vT3Cw R&R guitar informed by real Jazz chops; not the bs of some: https://youtu.be/6ROlGn_dZuo |