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.
31,572 responses Add your response
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Mary_jo, fortunately, or unfortunately whichever the case may be, no one can ever change history.Nope, you were right, titles do have meanings. It is just that I chose not to "suffer" that long by living too deep in the past. It's just not worth it. Life is not that long. Past is by definition, past. In spite of the good suffering song. ;--) p.s. I killed romance again, I know. Is there a song on such theme? :--) |
And I like Yenne. Not because everyone else is disliking her (ok not completely but in a way) but because I see her differently. I see her entire process of creating that piece, I see her and HER connection to the music and it is beautiful. Her style of playing is joyfull, listeners do not imagine autumn theme to be joyfull. The nature that was just a while ago, full of colours and abundant with light, looks now like there is no life in it. That has to be sad. Yenne ignores that and brings to us her vision of fall where leaves are endlessly falling, swirling and dancing as if the end will never come. Thank you Yenne. |
Frogman, sorry, due to the time difference, I was in bed already... Re Yenne...Funny, while I was listening and posting I remember thinking 'is this really jazz' because the way she played it.....and yes. with your words, when looking to her again, I would agree.... Re Kessel, for me, he played it kind of ’too hard’ (is it my expectation that prevents me in hearing it in another context, I could not say) but I prefer version of Joe Pass more, of all posted here. Two different versions by Art Pepper https://youtu.be/Kwlcgkhuxv4 https://youtu.be/RK4WlatYV38 Here is one with Chet and Paul Desmond...not my favourite, they are ’too busy’ to me.... https://youtu.be/Gsz3mrnIBd0 Schubert, ’hands’ of a piano player... https://youtu.be/mADxQjfxL54 |
Very nice exchange of ideas and clips of the different versions of the beautiful tune “The Autumn Leaves”. Thanks to all for your thoughts and contributions. Great versions of the tune. As points of interest which may put the song in a more complete context: Usually attributed to the American song writer Johnny Mercer whose songs feature prominently in the Great American Songbook, Mercer only wrote the English lyrics to the song. The song was written by the Hungarian composer Joseph Kosma with lyrics (in French) by collaborator Jacques Prevert for the film “Les Portes de la Nuit” (Gates of the Night, 1945). Speaking of song titles and their meaning: the original title of the song was “Les Feuilles Mortes”. The title translates to “The Dead Leaves”. To me, a subtle but interesting distinction in the feeling (meaning) that this title suggests compared to the English title. This feeling, IMO, is reinforced by the feeling conveyed in this scene from the film. This was the first time that the tune is heard in the film. Not exactly light and joyful: https://youtu.be/L1XJWNewsbA First commercial recording of the song (with the seldom heard introduction): https://youtu.be/mGWv8lTTcTY Of course, there are many different ways to interpret a song and Marija points out how Yenee reimagines the original feeling of the tune, but I think there is value in understanding the composer’s original intent; if not necessarily always having to honor it. Speaking of technical matters (the uninterested can stop reading 😡): aside from being a great melody, the main reason that the song became so popular with Jazz players is that the harmonic chord progression of the song is a series of what is called a “II V I”. Notice the distinctive movement of the first four notes of the melody and how often that motif of four notes is repeated in the song. Every time that those four notes are heard, the underlying harmonic movement is a II V I. That sequence is the “meat and potatoes” of harmony in Jazz and just plain fun to improvise over. It is like flour, yeast and water to a baker; it all starts there. |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE88Q15AprM It's not my fault that I couldn't forget her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkBOXMRIud4 That's what she told me many years ago, and sometime I still see the shadow of her smile. |
While exploring "Autumn Leaves," couldn't pass up sharing this Ben Webster/Oscar Peterson gig from '72: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5IaMdhVBFo |
Graciously
posted by frogman on the new "prodigies" thread (which is flopping), and
well worth sharing with you all here so it doesn't just vanish into the cloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wglNPGzrQ&feature=youtu.be Also found this stage performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXZqYFDFgT8 |
My guess is that you may like this photo, Frogman https://www.nighthawknyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/MDQ-Newport-66-7PNH.jpg |
Now , this is a lady who REALLY knows how she wants to play her guitar !https://youtu.be/SKQG-JGyn7U?t=3 Mother Cotten was a North Carolina girl and wrote the Iconic picking standard " Freight Train". . To go through he life would take all day , IMO she was at the National Treasure level. She wrote this at 11 and sings this at 90 . I think her voice is beautiful . https://youtu.be/g8UN_6AUgCw?t=1 |
Mary_jo, the subject of our conversation was the title of the song "If I should Find You Again", and my interpretation of the title, and your reaction is to my interpretation of that title.It's mathematically accurate. :--) |
Today's Listen: Charles Mingus -- CHANGES TWO with / same as before black bats and poles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH7IFAIwmj8 orange was the color of her dress, then silk blue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rL-Zz0pm90 for harry carney https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wmp2PYbKGw Great stuff. As 'modern' as Jazz should be. Cheers |
Alex, I do indeed. The greatest! Awesome pic. Thanks. Schubert, left handed AND upside down. Her way without a doubt. Wonderful feeling in her playing, Loved the Webster/Peterson, Keegiam. Thanks. Rok, I’m embarrassed to say that I had never heard that Mingus record. Thanks. “For Harry Carney”: Amazing. Love them musical quotes (George Adams)! Any takers? As 0-10 says, genius. |
Rok, IBM has warned that every aspect of logistic movement of vaccines is hacked down to a tee by world best hackers . Canada was also smart enough to move everything with military and will start right after Christmas. In charge is a MajGen who was NATO boss in Iraq.Heard him on CBC saying he will commence dry-runs next week on land , air and sea. Sounded like a sharp Gen. to me. If you see Gus, tell him I would not move a small fridge without at least 28 troops . |
Canada and Vaccine: We will have to wait and see. They put their money on the Chinese vaccine, thereby being late to the queue for the American vaccine. As usual, they want to be treated as part of this country when it suits them. I see a merger between the two countries in the future. The only sensible thing to do. The General is an impressive officer. Looked and talked like he worked in the Pentagon. :) Cheers |
Sweet - 1957, Ben Webster's "Soulville" with Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis. Webster's tone: always thick, sometimes husky, sometimes raunchy. I could go on & on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZhmuUhcn9k |
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Rok, Canada has X billion $ of Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca and is looking at Johnson & Johnson . No Chinese. Will get theirs few days after US starting with about 1/8 as much , same as their population compared to us. Anything can happen, but hard to see them united with US . Canadians are quite patriotic but not very nationalistic . Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Louis Armstrong -- LOUIS ARMSTRONG PLAYS W.C. HANDY plays on SACD players only. Excellent booklet with history of each tune, and some wonderful photos of W.C. Handy. I think ’yellow dog’ refers to a rail line. It’s in several blues songs. Velma Middleton -- vocals st louis blues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us7bSkCQhkM yellow dog blues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZmYBXVJlPc hesitating blues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu6AiLULr3o loveless love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUDyhNf6uRs beale street blues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTVaLAvKg_E Cheers Don't like this, get outta Jazz, and stay out!!! |
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To my hears Billy Taylor put out the best piano-violin piece I know about . https://youtu.be/yLDragmGnFY P.S . THIS IS A FANTASTIC CLIP than anyone will LEARN FROM !! |
Schubert, funny - this thread definitely leads to more outlay. Like Rok's recent posting of Mingus' "Changes Two." Already scored a still-sealed 45-year old copy of it yesterday (not necessarily a great idea I know, but if warped the SOTA vacuum will tame it - once I get it back up and running). We could all spend our moolah in worse ways. |