Very nice! And very interesting record in several ways. First, news to me that Delos Records has a Jazz wing. I particularly liked the originals; very interesting tunes. The rhythm section sounds fabulous. Loved their feel. Harold Land sounds really good as usual, but I did find him to sound a little dated in this context. Oldest player in the band; so not a total surprise. Nothing having to do with aging, just the “e” word again. Great record and glad to have heard it. Thanks.
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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Tonight at midnight is the beginning of a very special Jazz birthday weekend; even more so than past years. As every Aficionado should know, Aug. 27 is Lester Young’s birthday and Aug. 29 is Charlie Parker’s birthday. This year, Aug. 29 marks Bird’s 100th birthday. Every year, WKCR out of NYC’s Columbia U features classic, rare and bootleg recordings of both artists and fabulous commentary by DJ and Jazz historian/archivist Phil Schaap, 24h a day for two days straight. They are amazing shows for anyone who wants to geek out on either or both artists. This year, tonight beginning at midnight it will be 24 hours of both Bird and Prez. Aug 29 until 6:00 AM Sunday, Aug. 30 will be devoted to Bird; non-stop (!). Listen on line outside NYC. I can’t recommend this show (and station) enough. https://www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/story/charlie-parker-centennial-festival |
I became acquainted with Harold Land in 56, when I became acquainted with Max Roach and Clifford Brown; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt_fmhtePoc |
Thanks for the info on Prez and Bird. I tuned to WKCR and they were playing this tune, from this album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mNWm4Ax7k WOW!! Don't like this, git outta Jazz and Music. I actually have this tune on a Box set I have titled "From Spirituals to Swing" It's so precious, I'm afraid to play it. Thanks again. I'll be listening. Cheers |
Rok, I can recommend this album of Harold Land 'The land of jazz' from 1958. https://youtu.be/CSAr0cj8qGI https://youtu.be/WwgfB4-sHUo |
Today's Listen: J.J. Johnson -- THE EMINENT, VOLUME ONE with / Clifford Brown(trumpet), John Lewis(piano), Jimmy Heath(bass), Kenny Clarke(drums), J.J. Johnson(trombone). Nice Booklet, tells of Johnson's career progression. He would immediately seek employment elsewhere whenever the Jazz job market was in a slump. Serious family man. Once had the reputation of being a 'Mechanical' player. Blue Note, 1953. it could happen to you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOXg6ZfNabI get happy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQSs8G6iX4Y turnpike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOJ8Upt70aA sketch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnhB1lQYaok Cheers |
Since coming across this thread recently I haven't had much opportunity to drop in. I was just looking through the conversations again and really enjoying the back and forth. Have I missed any references to Monk and Mingus? I think Monk may be my favorite jazz composer. Otherworldly and down to earth at the same time. |
And Acman goes three for three. Loved them all. You can’t go wrong with Houston Person, ever!! The man plays music that all Jazzers like. Dewna DeRose: Very nice. How did I miss her. I need to get out into current players a little bit more. Person’s All-Star Sextet: He and the piano player were wonderful. The drummer, may have ’interrupted’ Person too much, for my taste. Mingus: Charles Mingus. What's there to say. Nice Clips. Thanks Cheers |
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What a fantastic concert with a great band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKxd7LoKs2M Sonny Rollins on the sax and Bass - Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Drums - Albert 'Tootie' Heath Piano - Kenny Drew Jazz bliss |
I must not have been listening when you heard him say that and as you know context of something said is everything. However, If Phil Schaap said it then it is true ☺️....assuming we know the context. I suspect he was referring to the early 40s, the early days of bebop. “Swing” began morphing into bebop in the late 30s when players such as Prez and Hawk started developing a style that was breaking the Swing stereotypes of simple harmonies and lyricism and toward the much more complex harmonies and rhythms of bebop. Hawkins’ 1939 recording of “Body and Soul” is considered a milestone in that movement. Then, as we know, Bird blew it all wide open in the early 40s. Keep in mind that it wasn’t until 1946 that a major record label would record Bebop (Dizzy’s band). All this, of course, coincided with the demise of the big bands. Most Swing musicians resisted and many were critical of Bebop at first (Pops: “Chinese music”), but by 1946 it was well established and, no, it wasn’t just Bird and Diz. They were the two main exponents, but there were others. Miles replaced Diz in Bird’s quintet and others such as Clifford Brown, Dexter and Rollins who by the early 50s had started pushing the music in yet another new direction. Hard bop came later (mid 50s) as, once again, the evolutionary movement of the music; an extension of Bebop incorporating elements of r&b and gospel. Re a comment you made recently: The advent of the 12” LP record made possible the “club performance” length (extended solos) recordings that are more typical of hard bop. So, while not knowing the context of Schaap’s comment, I think it could fairly be said that during the early transition period from Swing to Bebop as the premier Jazz style, and after hard bop was well established (this includes the present) that bebop was and is, relatively speaking, “seldom played”. Important to remember that, as we see even today, that the rise of a new style didn’t mean the total absence of the previous style. It is always a transition from the old(er) to the new with “hold outs” remaining committed to the older style and the younger and the more adventurous older players experimenting with or adopting the new. The evolution. Glad you’re listening. I’ll be listening again today as I have for several years. Please give us a report. |
For anyone listening, and for the record, this year, due to the WKCR studio being closed due to COVID, not all of the commentary is by Phil Schaap. Great, regardless. I’m looking forward to the extended programming of what is this year an eight day (!) marathon of Bird’s music through Sept. 3 with the the last couple of days looking at at Bird’s influence on the music that followed bebop. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE PARKER! https://www.harlemonestop.com/event/29228/wkcr-fmto-air-192-hour-marathon-broadcastincluding-a-120-h... |
Frogman, how can you say "Body And Soul" has any kind of relationship to "Be Bop"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUFg6HvljDE That was, now here is "Bird". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYQCwoas3rk Would you please tell me how that could possibly be some kind of milestone for "Be Bop". Not everyone has the ability to hear "Be Bop". Louis Armstrong couldn't hear "Be Bop", so you would be in good company if you can not hear "Be Bop". |
The reasons Miles replaced Diz in Bird's band had absolutely nothing to do with music, and specifically "Be Bop"; Miles couldn't touch Diz when it came to "Be Bop". Diz quit Bird's band because Bird couldn't get his "junky act" together. Miles was so nervous taking Diz's place that he asked Bird if he could quit every night. |
https://youtu.be/YPyMP4oBLCw Like clockwork. O-10, I am tired of arguing with you about the same topics over and over again; especially when you show absolutely zero interest in learning anything new and you inevitably turn a positive thing into something negative and unnecessarily personal. You understand far less about this music than you think you do, and claim to, and I find it a shame that you have no such interest. As I’ve said many times before, don’t take my word for any of this; try and do a little reading on these subjects. A good starting point is the fabulous program that I alerted all here to. You’re really missing out on a lot of wonderful information on the music and artists that you claim to so love; not to mention, music that you will otherwise never hear again. Btw, you’re welcome. Unbelievable. **** The reasons Miles replaced Diz in Bird’s band had absolutely nothing to do with music, and specifically "Be Bop" **** Nothing more need be said. |
Great program on WKCR. I need this, because, it's hard for me to get a fix on Parker. When I talk / think about the greats, I have an idea of time, place and personnel. Famous performances or recordings, record labels, tunes, supporting players, personal anecdotes etc... With Bird, all those things are a blank. In my mind he was like a brilliant nomad. I don't know if it was the times, a certain era in Jazz, or, is it that I just need to make myself smarter on Bird. The sound quality of a lot of his records suffer in comparison to later Jazz. That's part of the problem with me. But this radio program is great. Hopefully I will hear some records I can buy. On CD. :) Cheers OP, check it out. Great music. https://www.harlemonestop.com/event/29228/wkcr-fmto-air-192-hour-marathon-broadcastincluding-a-120-h |
As much as I am into recording quality, I can hear through bad recording quality with "Bird". When I was a child of maybe 7, there was a candy store a half block from our house, and between our house and the candy store, lived a young man who was an alleged "pot head". No one had air conditioning, and there was only the screen door between the outside and the occupants of each house. When I passed the house where the "alleged pot head" lived, I heard music like I had never heard before while he was entertaining his friends. I always "accidentally" dropped a dime in the grass in front of his door, on my way to the candy store, that way I could hear this music while looking for my dime. Although I didn’t know it at that time, I was getting hooked on "Bird", and I’ve been hooked every since; consequently, "Bird" isn’t exactly new to me. |
Rok, glad you are enjoying the show. Amazing stuff. Check in on that station as a regular part of a Jazz regimen 😊. They have great programming. **** or, is it that I just need to make myself smarter on Bird. **** We all do. There’s a whole lot to absorb with Bird. A true genius. He really was like “a brilliant nomad”. Every movement in every art form shares some things. There is a constant push toward something different and new; it’s the nature of the beast. In Jazz, players absorb what came before and weave it into their own personal vision of the music. Occasionally an artist comes along with such a degree of talent that they can make a much more dramatic move in that new direction and is able to establish a fully developed and mature style. In a way, the music itself has an inevitability about where it goes. It’s a never ending process. Bird was a genius, but even he built off what can before. Therein lies the answer to the question about Hawkins and Bebop; what he did with harmony in the music. |
Saturday: end of the road https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5AKiC7QLV4 rock me tonite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbXuQHXwdMU shake you down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc8wmLul3uw sexual healing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjlSiASsUIs can you stop the rain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt9yRFWvY8s power of love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlLsbL2LJKw love the one you're with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDFersmE8QU Cheers |
Today's Listen: Cannonball Adderley with Bill Evans -- KNOW WHAT I MEAN with Cannonball Adderley(alto sax), Bill Evans(piano), Percy Heath(bass), Connie kay(drums). Sort of like Miles merged with MJQ. Riverside Label, 1961. Notes talk about how Heath and Kay were brought in because they are used to playing 'difficult and subtle music', as part of MJQ. And Bill Evans is unexcelled when 'moody delicacy' is called for, and how Cannonball was burdened with the "The New Bird" label, until he was anointed, "The New Benny Carter". :) It could have been worst, "The New O-10"?? who cares --- george and ira gershwin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5yRYTzkuzY waltz for debby --- bill evans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acX3MhM_dpw know what I mean --- bill evans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vp-Z0odHTM toy ---- clifford jordan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRTvayMkaKg Cheers |
As I have stated, some can and some can not hear Bird's Bop. Even Bird with strings is a form of Bird's Bop. Whether they can hear it or not doesn't really matter because no one can play Bird's Bop but Bird. That soft smile that Bird had was really a sly grin, he knew what he brought to town didn't need a patent because no one could copy it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fPPkRI2vfk |
Frogman, jazz can be divided into two great time periods "Before Bird" and "After Bird"; that's BB and AB. The musicians who were before Bird even played differently after Bird. Charles "Yardbird" Parker changed jazz like no one has ever before or since changed the music; that's "Revolutionary" not "Evolutionary". |
Bird at his best; listen to bird, not the bad recording quality; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZASRGepLjc |
