All great for dancing, especially the Caribbean Queen, haven't heard that in ages. That far I can remember. :--)
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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Always good to see you here, pjw. Good luck with your new business; especially during this difficult time. Nice clip. Only listened to “Lester Leaps In” so far. James Carter taking no prisoners. Solo order: Golson, Carter, Ashby? If you have info, please confirm. Don’t be a stranger. Schubert, that’s interesting. When I click on the link it names the tune “People Will Say....”, but link won’t play. Couldn’t find Stitt’s “Foggy Day”. I guess we will have to settle for second best 😉. No strings 😱 this time. https://youtu.be/Vi4U3U5UN_k |
mary_jo, frogman and the rest of the gang I can assure you I am not "pouting" I have been busy working and trying to start up a new business.pjw, wish you successful start in these challenging times... Well, it is not about our OP. Few days ago, the whole this thread Jazz Af was removed, meaning erased. Eventually the Moderators brought it back. In that short period of time, when the thread was gone, Alex created a temporary one where you can check what happened: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/jazz-for-aficionados-removed/post?postid=1969580#1969580 |
fro, your second best stands for two: Art Pepper, Foggy Day https://youtu.be/ogZLd3Mc6U0 Wait... Better make it 3. I forgot Tenor Sax, Bill Perkins. |
Great arrangement! Very clever and very West Coast. Nice playing. My favorite instrumental version of that great tune. Fantastic feel. https://youtu.be/JwpD3-ojtqM |
Thanks mary_jo for the info on the tread removal. Great Art Pepper selection. frogman I will check through my disc collection tomorrow on that Golson recording. I just finished listening to this incredible Coltrane recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8XEmGhTm3A Btw Eric Dolphy plays bass clarinet on the double disc set I have. |
Rok, you’re right, I never did. I can’t recommend enough the set on DG by Gidon Kremer and Martha Argerich. I’ve been a fan of both Kramer and Argerich for a long time and these are terrific interpretations. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7936469--beethoven-violin-sonatas-nos-1-10 I was speaking to a friend recently who is a wonderful violinist and who is also a fan of the Kremer recordings and he also likes the Isabelle Faust recordings on Harmonia Mundi. |
Thanks Frogman. Presto seems to be a good alternative to Amazon, at least for Classical. They promised it will ship by the end of August!!!! Anyone need a good laugh? From a ’verified purchaser’ on Amazon, a Chesky CD by Macy Gray I was considering: " It well may be extremely well recorded,but be warned it’s still jazz!" He gave it a one star rating. And they say Jazz has no future. Cheers |
I posted this yesterday; my favorite instrumental version of “A Foggy Day”. Released in 1957. Listen to the intro by Garland: https://youtu.be/JwpD3-ojtqM Now, listen to this well known tune by Miles (?!). Recorded just a few months later in 1958. Same piano player, Red Garland (and same bass player, Paul Chambers): https://youtu.be/k94zDsJ-JMU Hmmm.....fee if fo fum. Do you suppose Miles shared his royalty payments? 🙄 |
Anyone need a spiritual lift? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-_v5PRZGXU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CmbTdMHfQw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLRT7bTKOvo for you Jazz heads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH84Nl_gxwc the man can do anything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUOTq_xGWpE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrJBlwhXHPg Cheers |
Oh well . I can still post my favorite piano version of A Foggy Day. From beginning to end there is a a river of sheer intellect flowing ! https://youtu.be/ObBVvsvWQH4?t=4 He had a PhD in keyboard from Oxford . |
rok , what LvB String Sonatas do you have now? There is a review of the Ten in "The Gramophone Newsletter" this month on net with Faust / Melnikov they claim to be better than my old workhorses . Gumiaux/ Haskil (mono) and Oistrakh/ Pires on Phillips in great sound . Worse , there is a heavy article by Rattle and Elder on how Orchestra’s might not make it through the present mess . Also the boys in Brussels may ban all Americans with estimate of 200 K deaths by end of year . |
The Grumiaux/Haskil is excellent and would have been another recommendation were it not for Rok’s preference for more “modern” audio quality. Carnegie Hall just announced that it is officially closed until mid January of next year....subject to further closure. The NY Phil and Met Opera have cancelled all performances through January....subject to further closures. As a result the Met Opera will suffer a financial loss of $150 Million. It is expected that the orchestra will see the retirement of 20% of its players. Just a couple of examples. It’s not good. |
Today's Listen: Jackie McLean -- LET FREEDOM RING with / Walter Davis(p), Herbie Lewis(b) Billy Higgins(d) Microscopic Notes. Talks about, "getting away from the conventional and much overused chord changes was my personal dilemma." Another one 'Chasin' the Trane'? But, he never actually breaks the orbit of bop. Only 4 Tunes. Packaged as CD-vinyl replica. Dimensions are larger than the CD plastic case. LP-like sleeve, and the CD itself is completely black on both sides, save the Blue Note Label. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RCeHiVLDlA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMNMQTHHmcg The more I hear McLean, the more I like him. Cheers |
Well I love my mono Gumiaux / Haskil , I like mono for 2-5 players . Fact , the Naxos Nishizaki/ Jando are very good , a given in that she is Japanese and he Hungarian .Can buy for few bucks vs the hundred bucks for Gumiaux / Haskil . If the Naxos was All I had , I could live with it and be happy .I have about a hundred Naxos , not a dog in the bunch . Re the mess , there are no words that can tell how bad I feel knowing I will never put my feet on German soil again . Or see my German buddy from our days at the U of Munster . An International Disaster for music and musicians is beyond all comprehension . "The best laid plans of mice and men ..................... |
In case I die from grief before the 4th , I’m putting on a song from one of the greatest artists my home and native land has ever produced . Fool that I am . I always thought it would make somebody a fantastic national anthem . https://youtu.be/BhJwXwXDijQ?t=3 Without this Lady the song would never been written ,God Bless you Kate ! https://youtu.be/yJ8L6vXigmI?t=3 |
Thanks, Rok. This too shall pass....we hope. Ray’s “America The Beautiful”. He really was a genius. Thanks, Schubert. https://youtu.be/xxA0Q1WTmXA |
I’ve just made my way through Time Life’s Jazz Masters series of Coleman Hawkins. Man, Django Reinhardt on guitar, and Benny Carter sets down his sax to pick up the trumpet. And so many other greats. Great era of Jazz. But gonna swap it out and listen to Miles now on his Columbia years. Tomorrow I pick up the 12 disc Miles during his Prestige years. That should be intense. Ain’t music grand!? |
Questions to The Frogman: These folks seem to be moving more than most. A lot more than say, Wien. You have any insight as to why? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUF9g9V-Ang&list=RDZ_hOR50u7ek&index=2 If this guy got a haircut, his career would be over!! The Pope is in the sweet spot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHqtJH2f1Yk&list=RDZ_hOR50u7ek&index=5 Cheers |
They are simply emoting. As you know playing a musical instrument is a physical act and it’s natural to want to move with the music to one degree or another. I find that players in some European orchestras tend to “move” a little more than in American orchestras. Now, and not meaning to get too “Zen” about this. Some pieces of music just seem to flow more at a particular tempo; arguably (but probably) the tempo, or very close to the tempo, that the composer intended. One of the many little mysteries in music performance. Obviously, some conductors sometimes have different ideas on tempo. I would say that Barenboim pretty much nailed the tempo sweet spot and he really got those Berliners grooving to Tchaik’s waltz. Having said all that, “”Waltz of the Flowers”! C’mon! Who can resist the lilt of a good waltz? https://youtu.be/f2_VsYfl2KU That was a very young (pre-haircut) and very energized Gustavo Dudamel conducting for Pope Benedict (2006?) As I think you know, I prefer to not to talk too much about my personal professional experiences here, but this relates to Dudamel and the COVID situation discussed previously: This past March I was in the middle of several days of recording sessions with the NY Philharmonic for an upcoming Steven Spielberg film of Bernstein’s “West Side Story” scheduled to be released in January of 2021 when all the COVID sh$t really started to hit the fan. The final sessions had to be cancelled and the project delayed (?). Dudamel was the conductor (with haircut). I must say that the guy is a huge talent to reckon with and very nice guy. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCv8JuXLJXzqy788R77XZIFDLm8XkAVEz |
Today’s Listen: Tuck and Patti -- TEARS OF JOY No notes to speak of, just track and production info. Windham Hill Jazz label. Minimum packaging. I remember when they were all the rage. 1988. Nice Music. Love the cover art. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ak-o7y1oK0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xYFsHg6SVQ tribute to Wes Montgomery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAJH9d0MxDU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH0miaFNsAM Cheers |
Since you posted some great classical stuff, I figured it would be natural to continue with Bocelli. https://youtu.be/5BDVvB7Xx1w Love is always the key. Always. |
Frog ,rok whoever . This is what the Berliners can do with and for a Maestro they love andknow is very sick,The joy on Abbado's face lights the Opera Hall in Palermo . Almost all their clips are less than 3 minutes now with their free digital stream . But even a little is a lot with the most fierce of all the 9th's . https://youtu.be/S5sB4B2lCaQ?t=4 |
Schubert, I have several CDs of Dvorak's 9th. I prefer 'New World'. Two with the Berliners, but with Karajan and with Tennstedt. My go-to would be Chicago-Reiner. Now on SACD, but I had the original on LP. Classical music just seemed to sound better when the giants, Reiner, Bernstein, Ormandy, Fielder, and Munch ruled the American classical landscape. I never thought of buying anything from European groups back in the day. How things change. Not sure if these American orchestras even record anymore. No sound like the 'Philadelphia' sound. Good clip of the Berliners. Cheers |
In the Good Book it is said "Love thy neighbor as yourself " and at the level of the Ten Commandments . We have a Neighbor , a good one , who has been one for centuries. In general we don’t pay much attention to her and she is a little more shy and quite than us . July 1st is her Birthday and she does jump around a bit then, as we do on ours. This is a slight look at her on her Birthday singing her song , quite love is and her peoples way . Her song is sung by what all of us would know as true Hero’s. They fight their battles in one of the most beautiful places on earth . https://youtu.be/naXSl7dOXNQ?t=3 God loves them as do I . |
rokm That Full Monty has me laughing ! Frog and mary jo . I really need opinions on things I’ve been thinking about some time .Corrections welcomed . 1.When a stone -cold Masterpiece is a duo or trio if a piano is involved it should be the instrument it was written for .Here, pianoforte . Should be all original everything if possible. Not for the sound as such but for what the genius was saying . My hears and gut feeling think this it ! 2. Very good female musicians , in trios or quartets, where there is another seem to get a balance between each other seemingly automatic . Need more Ladies . Starting with Berlin . https://youtu.be/vTz4fybXBR4?t=5 |
Wow! So, if I’m understanding your premise correctly the piano should be the primary (solo) instrument in this stone cold masterpiece. I suppose that from a compositional standpoint it’s possible to rethink it that way. Not so sure, though. One that came immediately to mind and speaking of Berliners, one of my favorite Berliners, the great Karl Leister: https://youtu.be/w1E77EGpgrk |