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.
Alex, that was a fantastic photo you submitted; all those people were in their prime, I especially liked Ray Brown's shoes, I had a black and white pair, plus a brown and white pair.
I just discovered that "Afrobeat" was a complete genre of music, I thought it was just used to describe a few groups. Here is a "Newen Afrobeat" concert.
You’re right, “Antidote” is even trickier with syncopations that are even more complicated. However, the tune is still in 4/4. When “trying to maintain 4/4 time” keep in mind that the downbeat of the tune is silent and the first note one hears (piano) is actually a syncopated note on the second 16th note of beat 1 of the first measure. The first piano left hand bass note that one hears (and later the brass and perc) is on the last 16th note of the first measure. Confusing matters even more is that the brass entrance of the same melody is a pickup note (16th) into the downbeat of the 5th measure of the tune. Stays in 4/4 the whole time. Classic Afro/Latin syncopation in which the “basic” 1,2,3,4 pulse is felt even though few instruments are actually playing on those downbeats. Nice tune.
O-10, I realize that I don’t have the great ability that you do to definitively define music genres, but I wondered if you noticed the uncanny similarities between the Kokoroco tune that you posted which I “wasn’t sure is Jazz” and much of the “Afrobeat” (Newen Afrobeat) music that you just posted? As an aside, to my ears Kokoroko is on a much higher level of musicianship; but, what do I know?
Frogman, I will be more than delighted to explain; first, they both are of the same "genre", and that is "Afrobeat". Newen Afrobeat channels the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He spent his life protesting oppression in Nigeria, his songs always have a message. Since I have been a fan of his music for many years, my ears are most receptive to Newen Afrobeat. Their music is actually more African than Kokoroko.
Kokoroko simply plays jazz with an Afrobeat. I don't hear an uncanny similarity between the two groups. Maybe others here, hear that same "uncanny similarity"?
It is foolish for one man to argue with another man in regard to his sense of aesthetics in music; much of the music posted on this forum makes my ears cry, but they like it, who am I to judge?
frogman, thank you for your detailed description. I have printed your post and plan to jot the syncopation down on staff. It's been so many years since I've read music I need to brush up, starting with understanding your explanation of "Antidote."
I'd like to be able to recognize the complexity of the syncopation within the time as well as you do.
O-10, they share the rhythmic foundation. What then makes one “Jazz” for you and not the other. Specifically, please.
And, btw, the only reason I’m asking any of this is that you reacted very strongly to my expressing doubt as to whether I would call it Jazz or not; as if I had somehow criticized the fact that FOR YOU it is Jazz. Hence the question.
This music is "sublime"; the definition of sublime is: Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe. Elevate to a high degree of moral or spiritual purity or excellence.
O-10, those are more genre definitions which, as you yourself said, mean different things to each of us. You mentioned they share the rhythm ece of it. What is it, specifically, that makes one Jazz and not the other FOR YOU.
It's quite possible that you don't hear what I hear; I hear music that's hundreds of years old, I hear music from the time slaves were being dragged across Africa, I hear the silence from the time slaves in the US were forbidden to have African drums, you can't hear that.
As for afrobeat, yeah that's definitely owned distinct style. It really started to come about in the early '90s with salif keita and Yusef n'dour. Although you could argue that babatunde olatunji was also at the forefront.
One of the things that a great recording artist considers is the order of the tunes on the record. This is one of my favorite records and there is something very right about the way the tunes, style wise and amount of time between tracks, seem to create a larger picture in total. The first half in particular; almost like the movements of symphony:
Frogman, there is an "under current" being added to this thread and you're adding it.
I left a link, an important link about "Charlie "Bird" Parker" and you didn't respond to that. Instead you decided to press on about this "jazz nothing" in regard to Afrobeat.
I'll post the link again in case any body decides to respond.
After that I posted two links about Nubya Garcia. Of course they were ignored, and you continued to press on about nothing, but the nothing was addressed to me, it seems you want to make this thread about me.
One of the things that a great recording artist considers is the order of the tunes on the record.
almost like the movements of symphony:
Excellent point. I was about to say something similar about some of this so-called African music, but did not. Some of that stuff is just the same thing from start to finish. No beginning, middle or end. The Duke said it all had a sameness to it.
Wanna know if you are connecting with the audience, just stop playing in the middle of the tune. If they applaud, you are in trouble. If they look at each other with a puzzled confused look, they were listening and connected. Anticipating the finish.
acman3, that track woke me out of a long-term stupor. Why have I owned Jack Johnson for so long but never play it any more? Fantastic funk rock. McLaughlin & Miles. Damn.
Jack Johnson kills. Great record. On that record was a young Steve Grossman on saxophone. After Brecker, my favorite of the post-Coltrane tenor players.
Btw, I should have provided more info for the clips posted above since YouTube doesn’t provide it.
The rhythm section on both Steve Grossman ”Some Shapes To Come” (1974 debut album as a leader) and “Terra Firma” (1977) is Jan Hammer/keys, Gene Perla/bass and Don Alias/drums.
The wonderful chart played by Benny Goodman was written by the great Chico O’Farrill.
I have also been getting into the three blind mice label. Incredibly well produced and sonically gorgeous playback. But more important, great piano trio jazz from Japan.
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