****Coltrane's LEO: The CIA uses that tune at Gitmo.****
Trane-boarding! :-)
Trane-boarding! :-)
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.
31,498 responses Add your response
"Besame mucho" is one of the most beautiful Latin tunes, IMO; and I really like this version by Evora. The tune is not Brazilian at all (although Evora is from Cape Verde a Portuguese ex-colony); and, while the tune is often thought to be Cuban (since it was written as a Cuban rhumba) it was actually written by a Mexican composer. Here is the composer herself playing it: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kIJZSs2gxdo More often than not it is performed as a Cuban "bolero". This is a beautiful rendition in that lighter style: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C-0geZkFHKE BTW, on the Baden Powell clip the flute that Rok asks about is simply an alto flute; a flute in the key of G, being larger and lower in pitch. The reason that it looks so different is that some models of the instrument are made with a curved head joint. The length of the tube is the same, but by curving it the player doesn't have to reach out as far to reach the keys; they are particularly popular with women who don't have as long a reach as men. |
Acman3, thanks for the Sonny Rollins clip. I too love that record. It's really amazing how two icons of the tenor saxophone can both be so influential and yet so different. If I was forced to pick my favorite desert-island tenor player, Sonny would probably be it. I find this record particularly interesting because there are many times when I wonder if, because of his choice of rhythm section, he always felt like he was a little bit in Trane's shadow and tried to play like him. I don't think that playing free or "out" came as naturally to him as it did to Trane, but he sounds fantastic as always; and no glue (piano)! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gActLqZZX68 |
In a lighter vein: All these cuts appear on the CD "Jazz in an R&B Groove". Excellent recording. SACD. Everyone should have it. Every track is killer. Houston Person, has been accused on occasion, of being a great sax player! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWfIhwTv9M8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gs_CL7fLkQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO2Q_YuC3PM Cheers |
This one should have you laughing out loud for real! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO2Q_YuC3PM Cheers |
Rok, once the full impact of that video hit me, it almost brought tears to my eyes. This is the first time I ever saw all those stars together, making some of the best jazz that's ever been made, on one of the best jazz albums that's ever been made. Jazz performances are like snowflakes, they can never be duplicated. No matter how many times the title track "Moanin" was made, and no matter who made it, none of them can compare to that performance at that time. Each "jazz classic" is a part of my history; that was released just before I joined the Air Force, and no one knows better that you about the good times a young service man can have. That album could serve as the soundtrack for a movie of my life at that time; while there was some "Moanin", there were also quite a few "Bettys" that came along to brighten up the day. And to think Lee Morgan was not yet 21 when that album was made, is an indication of his musical accomplishments that were to come. Enjoy the music. |
In case you didn't believe your ears, maybe you will believe your eyes. Clarke just has to be the most laid back bassist in Jazz. Reminds me of the Ferrell clip. I wonder if McCoy is not thinking, "Damn, and I thought Trane was weird!!" But he is amazing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiI2ZHmxPPo Cheers |
Rahsaan WAS amazing! One of a kind. I think McCoy (and Rahsaan) were definitely channeling Trane in that performance. McCoy with chord voicings reminiscent of his work with Trane's Qt., and Rahsaan with......Well, let's have some fun. Now that you are noticing connecting phrases in solos (Morgan/Golson), can you tell what tune Rahsaan quotes in his solo that is the dead giveaway that he is thinking "Trane!"? Hint: the tune Rahsaan is playing is in 4/4 time, the one that he quotes is in 3/4 time (waltz); which makes the quote that much more interesting. In fun only. |
The OP's favorite singer, singing his favorite song. The whole thing was wasted on that crowd. That audience was in dire need of a few 'aficionados'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agp2on83hrA It must be hard to perform when so many seem disinterested. Cheers |
Nigel Kennedy, Another customer of the exclusive tailor, utilized by our OP, Spike Jones, Roland Kirk and Wayne Shorter. Great Music!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4RAyVLEEtw Cheers |
A terrible shame. And to think that he died because the doctors at the hospital where he was taken thought that the diabetic coma that he was suffering was a reaction to substance abuse since he was, after all, a jazz musician; they then waited for the drugs to "wear off". Like a strange new cuisine; strange flavors and too hot, but after a few bites you understand and appreciate it: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CmdhSq5Hp6w&list=PLE59E566FD18327CA |
This is why the big band guys did not like having girl singers out front. They instantly became just the boys in the band. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaf0oPqtp8U Interesting and informative. I love these guys! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfPUmIIlmGU Cheers |
*****Like a strange new cuisine; strange flavors and too hot, but after a few bites you understand and appreciate it:***** I have been trying since the 60's. I bought a lot of his music thinking I would grow into it. It does not sound near as strange as it used to sound. A guy once told me it was great music to play while reading 'Naked Lunch'. :) I'll get there. To my ear, His 'At the Five Spot' is more assessible. Cheers |
I completely understand. I'm not exactly constantly running for my Dolphy records when I can listen to so many others. But, man, that solo in that Mingus clip is so out and bizarre that I can't help but love it; or his solo on Nelson's "Blues And The Abstract Truth". What would life be without Rocky Mountain oysters? :-) |
Roland Kirk was one of the most unusual, inventive and creative musicians ever; he drew inspiration from old music and musicians to make new music, as well as play instruments I've never heard of, and play three or more at the same time. "The Delta Rhythm Boys and the foxes by a landslide". Who said life was fair? Anita O'Day is the jazziest jazz singer ever; she sang a song I've never liked, but when she sang it, it knocked me dead. The lady got style; the way she walks, talks, everything about about her says she is one jazzy lady, did you dig the way she scatted on "Tea For Two"? "Afro Cuban All Stars", I'll get back to you on that one. Frogman, could you lead us into new Cuban music and musicians? Enjoy the music. |
Today's Listen: Benny Carter & Orch -- FURTHER DEFINITIONS On Saxophone, we have Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Charles Rouse and the ever present Phil Woods. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSsOPdJBRPo I don't recall Phil woods being on my CDs when I purchased them. Now he's on them all! Really a great CD. Cheers |
Brazil is really a very fascinating country in regard to African rhythms. I try to get to the source of these rhythms in Africa, but they no longer exist on the continent they came from, they only exist in Brazil; an example of that is the "Capoeira" rhythms in Brazil, it's a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music, and is sometimes referred to as a game. Here's Capoeira: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8xxgFpK-NM What I like best about Capoeira music is the Berimbau, here's Baden Powel with Berimbau: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n1R86mC6aA Here we have "Virginia Rodrigues" accompanied by berimbau, her voice even sounds like the instrument, but with a profound sadness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx2E5F_VYkA Enjoy the music. |
O-10, Afro Cuban All Stars is a great place to start; I will let you take the lead with that. Their great sound is, overall, more traditional than this band, NG La Banda, who were responsible for literally creating "timba", the hottest musical style in Cuba right now being a mix of the sounds of traditional, salsa, rumba, American R&B and even hip-hop. They were formed by ex-members of the very influential band Iraquere. Smoking hot rhythm section (their drummer is incredible) and very interesting and prominent horn section writing. (It should be noted that "salsa" is really not a native Cuban creation, but a style created by the ex-patriate Cuban community in the US along with the Puerto Rican and Dominican communities, with traditional Cuban music and dance forms as the main ingredient): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ditQMDiW8gw |
Nice to see a request for modern Cuban Latin Jazz recs! There so much new, exciting music being created by my Cuban brethren I could easily make a long list but I'll just rattle off a few: Elio Villafranca & the Jazz Syncopaters - The Caribbean Tinge - Recorded live at Dizzy's (Lincoln Center). Manuel Valera & the New Cuban Express - Expectativas - The band was nominated for best Latin Jazz album 2013 Grammy's. Pedrito Martinez Group - The band, led by white-hot first call percussionist Martinez (the man has played on so many records by others!). Their premier album is produced by Steve Gadd, smokin'! Maestro Paquito D'Rivera, his discography is in itself a primer on Latin Jazz styles, has just released - Jazz Meets the Classics - another live recording from Dizzy's. A terrific record. Lastly, I'll most enthusiastically recommend Alex Garcia's Afromantra - This Side Of Mestizaje - this is a great Jazz record, certain to be on most critics best of the year lists! I'd have posted videos but I'm not at my computer, there's tons available on these 5 artists. Just as Jazz is a small word for an immense universe of music, Latin Jazz is a small term for an immense body of work. Made even more so when you factor in the different countries like Spain, Brazil, Columbia, etc.that all have thriving Jazz scenes happening. To the uninitiated, it's just a conga playing behind someone doing standards, but it goes so much further than that! |
The Alpha and Omega of Cuban Jazz. The 'new' stuff can't hold a candle to this. One Frenchman's opinion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IujAxx7rjEE Cheers |
I don't necessarily disagree with you; but, remember O-10 said "new Cuban music". If that is the style that you prefer, there are better examples (the singing, for starters, is pretty weak on the Bauza clip); more to come. For now, here is another example of new Cuban music; this from one of the most interesting and accomplished young Cuban musicians, a recent arrival to the US: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifrobjkrg3c This one's for Acman3. Interesting performance in that like most traditional Cuban music the repetitive piano "montuno" is the "glue" that keeps the implied pulse together. In Cuban music the beat, as strong as it is, is often implied. IOW, there is often nothing playing on the actual beat; it is felt strongly, but the rhythm instruments play around the beat in syncopation: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kUQv_nxDmuo To understand just how deep the level of rhythmic command in this is, is to understand the core of Cuban music. It may not seem like much, but this is incredible: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YXpxsXC4Tdw |
I had never heard of Dafnis Prieto or his music before. You can hear the cuban rhythms, mixed with post bob. Very talented and interesting. Thanks Frogman! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9MaVKACKhM |
I've done everything possible, except chain myself to a post, in order to stay off my political soapbox, but no longer can I restrain myself. In regard to Cuba, I was sitting on my duffel bag awaiting orders to deploy to Florida during the Cuban missile crisis, consequently, I know more about it than most people; but it's way past time to drop that hatchet, and a sack of other hatchets in order to resume normal relations with Cuba. That's affecting all of the poor people of Cuba, as well as the poor people here. Everybody should be tired of silly politics that's only benefiting the "very wealthy", and harming even the upper middle class because they depend on the lower middle class when they're in business, or need to sell something. Thank you for enduring my rant. |
*****Brazil is really a very fascinating country in regard to African rhythms. I try to get to the source of these rhythms in Africa, but they no longer exist on the continent*****8 They don't exist there now, because odds are,they never did. Music in the West created and played by people of African decent, does not mean the orgin is African. Just like in the U.S. People are forever trying to connect the Blues, Jazz and Gospel with Africa. There is no connection. It's all indigenous to the US. Interesting clip. O-10, you really have eclectic taste in music!! Cheers |
****They don't exist there now, because odds are,they never did. Music in the West created and played by people of African decent, does not mean the orgin is African. Just like in the U.S. People are forever trying to connect the Blues, Jazz and Gospel with Africa. There is no connection. It's all indigenous to the US.**** Rok, if what you say is true then just about every authority on the subject, historian or musicologist, is incorrect; that's quite a claim. Are you kidding me?: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VT2J1Ot9N5c Who do we believe? Rok; or jazz master Randy Weston?: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S3L-lG_qmo8 |
Two pieces of good advice: 1. Never believe anything written / spoken by white people, about black people, and their history and culture. 2. Never believe anything written / spoken by black people, about black people, and their history and culture. And no, I did not make a typo in #2. When its come to race, everyone has an agenda. The central theme being what I call "feel good history". Every other group has an "Old Country", so black folks want one also. Every CD I own by Weston has some so-called African theme, if nothing but the clothes he wears on the cover. But I never hear any African in the music. He is just trying to create history out of thin air. Even Ellington went around the Third world trying to find the source of certain music, and found it all to be much ado about nothing. He cut his tour short and came home. Africans take their cue from, and are influenced, by AMERICAN / WESTERN musicians, not the other way around. If Blues, Jazz etc... was from Africa, it would still be there. The African contribution to music centers around the Human Voice. In that area, they are unmatched! They have a sound that no one else can duplicate. Some of this African stuff is sort of like 'Indian" music we used to hear in the western cowboy movies. When the soundtrack played 'Indian' music we knew they were coming. Did Real Indians really play that music in their villages? Or were we just conditioned to associate it with Indians. Same goes for oriental and Latino locations. The music told us the location. Was it legit, or Hollywood? Same with "African" music. Esp the Drum nonsense. The best percussion I have ever heard comes from Cuba and other latin American countries. Just one Frenchman's Opinion. Cheers |
Re: rok2id's comments about African influence in Jazz. 1st, I got a good laugh from them. Than I'm like; "do I answer? Nah, don't go there". Talk about selective, revisionist logic! But, whatever floats his boat, there's no use trying to dialog with someone who....nah, I'm not gonna go there. You guys have a good day!;) |
Yours is certainly a provocative stance; and, worthy of consideration. Here's the problem for me, and many others: The African influence in Caribbean music (since we are focusing on Cuban music right now I will put the subject of jazz aside) is there to be heard; it couldn't be more obvious. Did you listen to the clip I just submitted of Liberian drumming? The similarity to rumba and salsa could not be more obvious. I agree that when it comes to race everyone has an agenda; including, in some cases, a purported lack of agenda. The purported lack of agenda becomes even more relevant when there is a natural resistance to analyze the subject matter; in this case, music. It's that pesky N&B thing again; no matter how hard we try, we can't get away from it if we are going to do anything more than listen to and enjoy music without commentary trying to be be factual. ****The best percussion I have ever heard comes from Cuba and other latin American countries.**** No one is disputing that. The point is that we are talking about INFLUENCES; the African influence. You are correct in that it's ludicrous to say "Cuban music came from Africa"; it's also ludicrous to say that "Cuban music" would sound anything like it does today had there been no African influence. ****Did Real Indians really play that music in their villages?**** Of course they did. Well documented and lots of sources to read about it. No disrespect intended, but do you, at least, read the available literature on this stuff? There is no question that Hollywood and other commercial powers often inflate and distort what we are talking about; but that doesn't change the reality of the influence factor. I find it hard to believe that you have never heard anything like this, but check this out and tell me that it is not plausible, and likely, that the silly "Indian" themes that we hear in the old Westerns were greatly INFLUENCED by native music like this (notice the use of the minor pentatonic scale; THAT is what gives the music it's melodic character and it's "Hollywood" sound) [URL]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yec542aOIzM[URL] Cheers. |
In the so-called African dispora, the relationship with African culture and the connection to Africa varies by country. Much more Afro-centric in Brazil. Less so in the caribbean. Most of that, is 'contrived'. In the US, the African connection does not exist. Some contrived attempts were made during the 60's to 'create' a connection, mainly as a reaction to racism in the US. Also as a show of solidarity during the civil rights movement. Growing your hair long and wearing a dashiki does not an African make. I could write a thousand pages, but you guys are smart, you do the math as pertains to the music part. If you have any knowledge of the slave trade in the Americas, you can figure this out. I stand by all my comments. The 'Indian' recording? I assume that was a joke. Sounded just a wee bit too polished. Besides you only saw / heard that sort of thing within the village. I was speaking of certain portions of the soundtrack. No chanting, just a full-fledged Western orch playing. Cheers |
Rok, in order to understand my specific comments in regard to Africa, the berimbau, and capoeria, we have to focus on the history of "Bahia"; but first, I would like to respond to some of Frogman's comments that are related. There is no doubt that many different kinds of rhythms, and drumming that existed in Africa, no longer exist there, but can be found in other places. How is this possible? Before slavery, Africans were living all over the continent in villages, if they lived far away from powerful countries and tribes, they lived in peace; but when slavery put a price on African heads, powerful countries, and tribes captured and sold them. Different villages had different drumming and rhythms, they were exported west, first to Cuba, which was "the board of trade" for slaves, and then to wherever their final destination was to be. Things that were unique to many villages, no longer exist on the continent of Africa, but they can be found where those slaves final destination was to be. For my specific comments, we have to focus on the history of "Bahia". It was a center of sugar cultivation; integral to this was the importation of a vast number of slaves; more than 37% of all slaves taken from Africa were sent to Brazil, and processed in Bahia, and that's another reason for the unique rhythms that can be found in Bahia, but not in Africa. I don't mean for this to be a diversion, our focus is still on Cuban music. Enjoy the music. |