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.
I like that record a lot. Yes, different, but still Horace Silver all the way. Very melodic with Silver’s typically funky grooves. Different for a couple of important reasons.
David Friedman on vibes. Different sound for Silver. Not just because of the sound of vibes, but also the way Friedman improvises. Another important reason that it is different and is not shown by that clip is consistent with the choice of Friedman for the record: Three of the cuts on the record feature the Brecker Brothers who played in a very different style from most of the horn players in Silver’s bands up until then. Two great players whose styles were Coltrane influenced and informed by their experiences as fusion players and in Pop settings; also a departure from horn players in Silver’s bands until then.
Just finished listening to it on my main rig. I have that CD. Are we sure it's a Silver CD? I listened for his piano, and have come to the conclusion that he is not that great of a piano player. Not in the same sense as Oscar Peterson or Gene Harris. He seems to just pound on the piano with both hands simultaneously. Tyner does that a lot also.
Pleasant enough, but not the Silver we know and love. He's over shadowed by the group.
Unusual Blue Note personnel and cover art. Recorded in 1972. RvG edition remastered in 2002.
This is the best group ever on this thread; that's because we are all aficionados of the first order, meaning we like jazz, and we know jazz. Not only that, but we have diverse opinions and can express them.
There are many people who watch this thread every day but never post; it's because they don't have the ability to express themselves in the written language. One such individual posted who said he had been watching this thread since the beginning. Naturally, I asked him why hadn't he posted. Although his answer was vague, it was apparent he hadn't written anything in a long time.
After I queried him, I knew that he was a "jazz aficionado" whether he could write or not. Rather than reveal the obvious, I continued to ask questions in hopes that he would continue to post, but he stopped.
All of us know that it takes some effort to compose your thoughts and put them down in a fashion that others will get your message. Although it's easier for some of us than others, it still requires effort.
I believe some people are frightened off because they see how well we communicate and don't think they qualify, or that it takes too much effort; but the amount of hits this thread gets verifies my thesis.
I want everyone to know how much I appreciate their participation, and my New Years resolution is not to get off track so much.
Frogman I might be the OP, but everyone knows you're the "top dog" on this thread. That's because you have the ability to define and communicate what we're thinking.
You just did it in you're last post. I knew that I liked that record, but I didn't know all the reasons why, and you followed up and put them down for me.
Everyone appreciates all your musical knowledge and writing skills.
Rok, I don't have to express my musical ideas about that album because Frogman did it for me.
For me, that is most certainly one of his best ever. I'm a Horace Silver aficionado as well, and no one knows better than me how radically different that is from anything he has ever done, but that doesn't change my opinion one iota in regard to whether or not that ranks among his best.
We have been communicating long enough for me to know your fundamental concept of what is and is not jazz; I call it "the Wynton Marsalis concept". Since this is way outside those boundaries I understand your conclusion.
It’s (27th man) certainly Jazz, just not this kind. Here, damn, he’s still banging, sort of, but, he and the group are more in tune with the music and each other.
Rok, since my philosophy is to "accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative", we shall forget about the 27th man and focus on "Cape Verdean Blues"
Horace Silver - piano Woody Shaw - trumpet Joe Henderson - tenor sax J.J. Johnson - trombone on tracks 4 - 6 Bob Cranshaw - bass Roger Humphries - drums
Excellent. Silver even played a little piano. Blue Note and the artist they recorded were a National treasure. Those were the days. Thank God we have the recordings.
27th Man: I like it. Very nice playing and tunes. It was not typical Silver. It was just different. Things can be good and different. After all, I bought it. Hard Bop Grandpop also. :) Like you, I like all things Silver.
Cheers
Btw, 'Bonita' is the name of a very small town in Louisiana I always drove through on my way home from Texas to Mississippi.
I'm still on Cloud 9 from chance scoring of a mint LP of "Cape Verdean Blues" on Friday whilst looking for Thad 's "Detroit New York Junction on Amazon !
rok, While at a how to call in Arty for Infantry week at Fort Still I was talking to the Major in charge , about what I forget , in any event he said " The only good thing in Texas is the road to OK and points north " . Guess that includes the "sip" .
I don’t remember , I was working night and day . I had three MOS’s, one of which was Tactical Commo Chief . Which was why I was there to teach . Extra 60$ a month . Stand up, talk up, for 2 weeks go to Dix and Air Force it to Rhein Main .Best class I ever had, by far, was my Top’s master class on maneuver of clerks working up drafts .
**** I could never take Toots and Zoot seriously as Jazz musicians. ****
I hope you refer to their nicknames only. If so, I know what you mean. Not nearly as serious sounding as Fathead, Dizzy, Cleanhead, Jug, Lockjaw, Scoops: or, of course, the best nickname of all, Frog (Ben Webster) 😄
I’m still laughing, laughing at myself. I actually thought Zoot and Toots were their real given first names. Don’t I feel like a jerk. hahaahahahahha
Just goes to show you that, an artist should not use, or have a ’nickname’, until they have reached a certain level of fame and notoriety.
***** Not nearly as serious sounding as Fathead, Dizzy, Cleanhead, Jug, Lockjaw, *****
Do I detect the well known, and dreaded, Frogman sarcastic wit?? But actually, you are correct. All are perfectly acceptable in the Jazz / Blues tradition. Just like, "Muddy", "wolf man", "B.B." , "Sonny boy" "cannonball" etc......
Every time I see the word 'Zoot', I think of one of the OP's suits.
Diz, sounds like a bad ass trumpet player. Toots, not so much.
Thanks for the JBL clip. Awesome!! I noticed they played real music to demonstrate them. Most high systems on you-tube do not stray far from the solo guitar. They like to hear the strings vibrate.
If I had the room, I would find the money. I see they are big into horn loaded designs now. Now, to hear a high end system play Mingus' 'Hog Callin' Blues'. That will be the day.
Out of all the nicknames, the worst was "Fat gal"; I believe it contributed to him becoming an addict.
In regard to those speakers, K-horns have the same drivers. As a matter of fact "Klipsch" used that same combination of drivers in 3 different models, La Scala was the one I liked.
Right now, I'm listening to what I consider the ultimate group ever;
Everyone who was Someone -- THE FIRST ESQUIRE CONCERT recorded in 1944. mono.
The Notes certainly reflect the time in which they were written. They felt it necessary to point out that Red Norvo was the only white performer. All others being ’people of color’.
"The leading role of black Jazz musicians was first pointed out in the USA by the magazine ’Esquire’. It was here from 1944 to 1947 noted Jazz "experts"(mine) were each given the opportunity of naming their favorite performers in each instrumental category"
Goes to say that all the all-star winners would then give a concert at the beginning of the year. This is the first one. performed and recorded at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. First released on U.S. Army V-disc shellacs. V for victory.
What bothered me in WW II ( movie "Red Ball Express" ) and even more in Vietnam , because you were always behind enemy lines , was most truck drivers were black.
Aside from Infantry and Huey crew member , being a truck driver was the best way to get killed .My first job on the day I landed for 2nd tour was a month of being a Platoon Sgt in a Truck Company as they had no Transport Senior NCO on hand.Up at 4 AM go to docks and eat there while the entire artillery ammo for the 4th Infantry was being loaded into our trucks , truck 150 miles straight up dirt mountain roads , unload , and 150 miles back to docks at 7 PM.Seven days a week .
As I always did I was in 1st truck, my driver had been in the Army longer than I had , a good soldier doing a vital job and he was a lousy Specialist 5 which is next to nothing in Army . I told the CO he should be a Staff Sgt.and what I/he got was a blank stare . In another Company 3 drivers were killed in a ambush 2 days before I went back to my Infantry job in 4th ID.I was never more scared than doing 300 miles a day exactly like ducks in a shooting gallery at the fair .
If I was was running the Army every driver would have got a Silver Star and the ranks they had been denied .
Credentials are still intact; those individuals who were still performing after "Bird" came on the scene paid homage to the "Bird man" and changed their style accordingly.
Hawkins and Pettiford are very well represented in my collection; this was after they paid homage to "The Bird Man". I have the others, just not as much. Everyone changed somewhat after "Bird".
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