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 thought "dull mood music" pretty clear. But I can add more adjectives.
Boring, sleep inducing, uninspired "guitar twiddling" background music for calls on hold, elevator music, dentist office music.
Yes -- the language itself is undeniably clear. However, exactly which ECM albums might qualify for these adjectives is, to some degree, open to interpretation. While I’ve certainly heard music on this label that, from my perspective, fits such a description, I don’t know you well enough to presume which ECM albums fit this category within the context of your taste. That's all I was getting at.
@curiousjimI've listened to about half of "1961". Good record when one is in the mood for some quiet sounds imo.
Also KW's first album on ECM is "Gnu High". Very highly recommended. I think it was just reissued on vinyl. Backup group is Keith Jarrett, Dave Holland and Jack Dejohnette.
PM's first ECM album was "Conception Vessel". Haven't played it in a long time.
There's an ECM enthusiasts group on Facebook that's fairly active; for streaming, I follow it and try to keep a list of the recordings that look interesting.
@curiousjim Billy Cobham is an excellent drummer, whom I have had the pleasure of seeing live in a trio setting with bassist Ron Carter and Donald Harrison on tenor.
Cobham's first studio album as a leader, Spectrum, is one of my favorite jazz/rock fusion albums and on my desert island list
Listening to Recorded Live At Bubba’s, Sonny Stitt, Eddie ‘Lockfaw’ Davis, Eddie ‘Sweets’ Edison, Eddie Higgins wand more.
What a great group. What a great CD!
While I'll never qualify as an ECM fan boy, I do enjoy a select few releases on that label.
It's not all on the side of the spectrum you describe. For example check out albums by Dave Holland and those by Jack DeJohnette, if you are curious. There are far more knowledgeable ECM fans who may chime in.
Not trying to "convert" you, though. Each of us likes what we like. Nothing wrong with that.
I like the sound as well, but given the sparse instrumentation and lack of significant variation of tempos, can't help but wonder whether it would get a bit monotonous over the course of an entire album.
ECM is a prime example of using Spotify to check out music before spending money. I have not purchased an ECM release without listening to it first in a decade. Before that my ECM purchases were 50% good and 50% disappointing.
@stuartkyour quoted description of that album can be applied to a lot of the ECM releases. Some like that dull "mood music" I for one can't stand it.
There are three releases by this group listed in the Penguin Guide and all are highly rated with the one titled "Free Fall" receiving the highest possible "crown" rating.
I'd actually never listened to them, before. I like the sound as well, but given the sparse instrumentation and lack of significant variation of tempos, can't help but wonder whether it would get a bit monotonous over the course of an entire album. I guess it would fit a certain mood. Well worth checking out, though. Creed Taylor, eh? Who would've thunk?
With the idea of "less is more", here’s an interesting ECM recording. It was apparently produced by Creed Taylor in 1961, and remixed by the folks at ECM. The group is the Jimmy Giuffre 3, with Guiffre, Paul Bley and Steve Swallow. I haven’t heard the whole thing, but I really like what i have played. It’s a lot different than the group that included Jim Hall and Ralph Pena.
As someone once said "Just because the Blues is simple doesn’t mean it’s easy". Amen to that. The simplicity of the structure places an enormous weight on the skill of the improvisor. And by skill, I mean not only technique but the ability to tell a compelling human story with just a few notes.
@curiousjimBilly Cobham is an excellent drummer, whom I have had the pleasure of seeing live in a trio setting with bassist Ron Carter and Donald Harrison on tenor.
Cobham's first studio album as a leader, Spectrum, is one of my favorite jazz/rock fusion albums and on my desert island list
I recall it being a big deal, back in the 70’s, when that group emerged. I hadn’t yet heard those guys’ recordings with Miles, so it was all new to me.
Some here might be interested in this, from the bandcamp page, regarding the label:
"Red Hook Records is a new label launched in 2020 by former ECM producer Sun Chung. It aims to dissolve musical boundaries through the interweaving of musical genres and the exploration of intercultural collaborations".
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