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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.
31,712 responses Add your response
Beside trains I like to reminisce about Christmas Trees, all kind with all kind of decorations. What are your favorite? In the early 60's I seemed to be on duty a lot where they had these aluminum trees with the spinning color wheels. There was always Christmas music over the PA, and these trees were everywhere. During quiet times, I liked to stare at one of them changing colors, and let my thoughts take me wherever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ6or_lPxrk All kinds of Christmas decorations for the tree, and everywhere else; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOb4jLxT21c |
Pjw, I know you have this album, it's what I'm listening to at the moment. Peter Gunn was one cool dude; he wore Botany 500 suits, I wore Botany 500 suits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7s-JZ_BSSM From the album "Shelly Manne & His Men - Play Peter Gunn" (1959). Drums - Shelly Manne; Piano - Russ Freeman; Vibraphone, Marimba - Victor Feldman; Saxophone [Alto] - Herb Geller; Trumpet - Conte Candoli; Bass - Monty Budwig. |
That's a great Shelly Manne album I have the twofer version. Merry Christmas OP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuZMY30TIJM&list=PLpPg4PQ9cbF2r3Ha1HIWnr-ghiHcOWjcq |
pjw, I think I did answer your question. But, let me try it this way: The short answer is NO, I don’t think that Morello would have gotten “best drummer” had he not been part of Brubeck’s group; a very successful quartet with hit records. But, this doesn’t take anything away from his skill or contribution to Brubeck’s quartet; or, that he could be considered “best” for that particular quartet. Personally, I think that this is the criterion that was used. It is unlikely that he would have been part of some other quartet with as high a profile. What this does for me is to reinforce my feeling that those surveys are far from definitive. Sometimes they are political and subjective at least to a degree. You mention that they are very popular magazines. “Popular” will always have some degree of “pop” in it. |
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https://youtu.be/-RJJwk-Opw4 Charles Brown... Orpheus, those paintings are made by E.Hopper.This is his probably most ’famous’ one, or at least most ’used’ painting.Now, take a look at it and tell me that you dont hear the music in the background?What song it would be? https://www.widewalls.ch/edward-hopper-nighthawks-painting/ |
pjw, realizing YOU didn't say Morello was best, only reported that he was a poll winner, I will say he is overall my favorite drummer. That's different than being "best". I don't have the musical knowledge to rank drummers. But there are several others I respect and enjoy. So why is Morello my favorite? Simply because he produced some of the most inventive and enjoyable solos I've heard. Many highly rated drummers (based on basic time keeping?) just don't hold my interest the way Morello could. I posted this before but offer it again as a great example of my point. Amazingly the liner notes reported he was suffering from the flu that night! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LBZJk5Kfgw |
Merry Christmas pryso Castillian Drums is one of my favorite drum solo’s. That live version at Carnegie Hall is a classic. I like the studio version on the "Countdown: Time In Outer Space" as well. It is a well thought out solo that seems to have a "theme" to it. As I mentioned in my previous post Morello could certainly play in time. One of the best at it. It may seem like a simple thing to do but its not. Here is another favorite drum solo of mine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxkIvmjQ_FI |
There are and were so many great Jazz drummers. Certainly Morello was one of them. My favorite drummers all offer something that no other drummer does, a personal signature. I always know who it is after just a few bars. Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, Peter Erskine, Chad Wackerman, Terry Bozio, Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd. I'm sure everyone who loves the drums has their own list. |
Here is something I posted a long time ago. I saw Dave Brubeck not long before he left us. Near the end of his career, I was fortunate enough to see Dave at a free outdoor concert; it was blessed by a most beautiful, golden Fall day at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows outside of Belleville, IL. I recall seeing a limousine driving up the winding road to the amphitheater where Dave would perform. His long hair was completely white, and he looked far too dignified for a jazz musician. I followed his entourage to the top of the hill where there was a lone piano in the center of a stage. Many of my old friends that I hadn't seen for 20 years or longer were in the crowd to welcome Dave on what was to be his last performance. Although we saw and recognized one another, this was Dave's day, not an old friends day, and we wanted to spend it with him, alone in a crowd; we politely failed to acknowledge one another. The awe and admiration this crowd felt for Dave was palpable; we found it was hard to believe we were seeing someone who had long outlived his peers; we were teenagers when we first saw him, and now we had our own teenagers alongside us to witness this event. There was no fanfare; Dave went directly to the piano and began playing music suitable for the modern dancers in gauzy pastel dresses who would perform. Everyone was spellbound from the first notes, it was more about who was playing than it was for the music, which was for the choreography of the dancers. While Dave Brubeck was a giant among giants when compared to his peers, the thing that sat him apart was his long and exemplary life as a person; when comparing great jazz musicians, that's about as rare as "chicken lips". This was my unforgettable day that I spent with Dave Brubeck; now to his music; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncL4sOPgv_o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbdEzRfbeH4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3eimKbIdHU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_lOqfke3yc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHdU5sHigYQ |
Brubeck: Interesting music. Jazz??? A different question. Cheers btw, if you didn’t at least play with the best on occasion, how can you even be in consideration for ’The Best’. That’s like Ali fighting us Aficionados, knocking us all out in the first second of the first round, then declaring himself ’The Greatest". Well, maybe 3 seconds in the case of the OP. Cheers |
On youtube there is a video where Miles Davis is being interviewed by Bryant Gumbel and he talks about how he doesn't like the word jazz for his music and even discusses that he believes there is no more jazz anymore it's just social music at this point. While Dave Brubeck's music was not Blues oriented, everyone called it "Jazz". "A rose by any other name is still a rose". Good music by any other name is still good music. |
All right, no peas. If Morello is integral to Dave Brubeck's sound, how did the Brubeck band become so popular with Joe Dodge? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwr40kJLydk |
acman3 Do you have the Dave Brubeck album "Live At Oberlin" with Lloyd Davis on drums? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NPzdNpXr_4 Both Joe Dodge and Lloyd Davis were more then capable drummers but not on par with Joe Morello. As far as Morello being "integral" to the Brubeck sound I think on the Time Out album and the follow up albums in the 60's he certainly was. All Music: Dave Brubeck's defining masterpiece, Time Out is one of the most rhythmically innovative albums in jazz history, the first to consciously explore time signatures outside of the standard 4/4 beat or 3/4 waltz time. It was a risky move -- Brubeck's record company wasn't keen on releasing such an arty project, and many critics initially roasted him for tampering with jazz's rhythmic foundation. But for once, public taste was more advanced than that of the critics. Buoyed by a hit single in altoist Paul Desmond's ubiquitous "Take Five," Time Out became an unexpectedly huge success, and still ranks as one of the most popular jazz albums ever. That's a testament to Brubeck and Desmond's abilities as composers, because Time Out is full of challenges both subtle and overt -- it's just that they're not jarring. Brubeck's classic "Blue Rondo à la Turk" blends jazz with classical form and Turkish folk rhythms, while "Take Five," despite its overexposure, really is a masterpiece; listen to how well Desmond's solo phrasing fits the 5/4 meter, and how much Joe Morello's drum solo bends time without getting lost. The other selections are richly melodic as well, and even when the meters are even, the group sets up shifting polyrhythmic counterpoints that nod to African and Eastern music. Some have come to disdain Time Out as its become increasingly synonymous with upscale coffeehouse ambience, but as someone once said of Shakespeare, it's really very good in spite of the people who like it. It doesn't just sound sophisticated -- it really is sophisticated music, which lends itself to cerebral appreciation, yet never stops swinging. Countless other musicians built on its pioneering experiments, yet it's amazingly accessible for all its advanced thinking, a rare feat in any art form. This belongs in even the most rudimentary jazz collection. |
Bobby Hutcherson takes us on an intriguing night in Barcelona; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8_boHB478I |
I don't think I have posted this guy on this thread. Anyway, it's worth a second look / listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCtpnw7tncs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ-UxxftTQw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCC1EEmJlo4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJmgg3ol1MY Cheers |
Under rated https://youtu.be/Ys2lzTa6a8k?t=2 Must have heard under rated . . https://youtu.be/FSbP6ZhfPs0?t=2 |
It is really Paul Desmond who is the stand out artist of the group. A lyrical saxophonist with incredible control of the instrument. I do not want to say anything interpreted as bad about Dave Brubeck but he is not a pianist that takes me to other places like McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Monk, Chick Corea and Andrew Hill. I'm sure I am forgetting a few. If you asked these guys who influenced them them most they would say Art Tatum. I think from just a historical perspective every jazz lover should listen to Tatum. Some of the later Pablo records were recorded quite nicely. |
pjw, Blakey certainly rates high on my list as well. I'd not heard that track before but it reminded me of this classic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHKyVJ5YfNU o10, you had better judgement than I did. I've told this story before but don't remember if it was here or another site? Close to the end of his career Brubeck was scheduled to perform with our local symphony orchestra. A couple of audio buddies, knowing I liked Brubeck, as if I wanted to get tickets. Unfortunately I declined, thinking his age would prevent a good performance and I wanted to remember him as I'd heard him earlier. Well my friends did attend and raved about his performance, as did local media reviewers. My loss I missed one more chance to enjoy his artistry. :^( |
My favorite album by Brubeck is "Jazz Impressions of Eurasia". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ieHdRYGCdg&list=PLOwzQWJ2V2l0oebQssik_mQau6jdq94Sp |
The music on this one is nice, but not as nice as the video; it's spectacular, I'll have to watch it again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDQCtUaZJRQ |
Actually, pjw, I didn’t. It was an honest question; would not have asked it otherwise. It wasn’t clear to me from what you had written what your feeling about it was. In fact at first I thought that you might have been implying that Morello wasn’t deserving of the accolades. Thanks for clarifying. Personally, I don’t put too much stock on those “best” lists. |
frogman All of the "best" lists I have read, in jazz as well as other genres, are in my POV way off. As pryso stated upthread Morello is his favorite but does not claim he is the best. I feel the same way about my favorites. In other words I will never get into a debate over "who" is "best" at "what instrument" I enjoy my favorites. |
Mary_Jo,Hvala ti rok, that is very kind of you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too. A song for you https://youtu.be/e_1nagBrG54 |
We all have different aesthetics when it comes to drumming and drummers; here is my ultimate drummer; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2z7R2UI27E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXaIo6IxBWw |
Rok, yes, without a doubt. While some piano and bass players are very flexible and can play well in a variety of styles, some are (were) great in one or a narrow range of styles, but were weak in other styles. Dave Brubeck or Hank Jones (just two examples that come to mind) would have sounded all wrong had they replaced Herbie Hancock in Miles’ 60’s quintet. Milt Hinton would have sounded just as out of place in Coltrane’s quartet instead of Chambers This is not just a subjective thing. It is also an obvious generational thing. As great as players like Brubeck and Jones were they did not have the modern harmonic approach, nor were capable of playing that way, that players like Hancock did which is one of the things that made Hancock a great fit (appropriateness) for a musical setting like Miles’ where they always stretched the harmonic boundaries; as opposed to the much more traditional and “inside” harmonic language of Brubeck and Jones. On the other hand, it’s doubtful that Herbie would have sounded quite as appropriate playing in Brubeck’s quartet. It was Brubeck’s particular style and feel that, along with the other CHOSEN players, defined Brubeck’s sound. Or, do we think that Brubeck could have played Herbie’s “Watermelon Man” with the kind of funky swagger that Herbie plays it with? Doubtful. Same applies to bass players. Can one imagine Bill Evans’ trio without a bass player like LaFaro, nor those after him, which were improvisers on a level far beyond that of most bass players up until then; and, who because of that ability were able to help develop the “conversational” style of piano trio playing which has become pretty ubiquitous? All this is why there is “best” anything in Jazz. Context is very important. Like our OP, I like Art Blakey, in the context that he was strongest in: band leader, or the usually upfront drumming style that he played with. He wasn’t one to make the kind of “stealth” or more “behind the scenes” musical contribution that works best with some music. Would this music have as much impact with Blakey instead of PhillyJo? Would certainly have a different feel; which would then impact all the other players and their own contributions: https://youtu.be/NjMl1tjXJNQ What about here, instead of Tony Williams? Personally, I don’t think it would work at all: https://youtu.be/RhmSYvilvJ8 Classic, and often mentioned, example of a player thrown into a context that he was not ready for. The great Tommy Flanagan totally out of his element; to the degree that he can barely keep up and then just stops improvising and just comps to the end of his chorus: https://youtu.be/30FTr6G53VU |