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.
Mary_jo, it's always good to hear from you, that's because you have such a refreshing point of view.
I'm glad you like Bobby Gentry; I've been in love with her since the first time I heard her voice when I was crossing that bridge. She's so authentic, "here I am", if you like me that's fine, if you don't, that's fine too, because it won't change a thing.
Here's another tune that I like, and I'm going to post it for us;
We were discussing the Blues before my trolley jumped it's tracks. I wonder how many people woke up with the Blues this morning. They woke up with the Tokyo Blues in Tokyo;
O-10, thank you for the song. The way she sings...going high and all of a sudden lowering the voice like she wants to tell you something very important but do not want anybody else to hear. Theatrical but not over dramatical.
Each one of her songs is a short story unto itself. "Fancy" is deep when you read it as survival and success. Morality will not put food on the table, nor a roof over anyone's head.
Isn’t this interesting? An otherwise fantastic singer; an icon who some rightfully consider one of the best, maybe THE best ever. Yet, this is not the song for her. What were they thinking?!
She sucks here...if I may say so about her. :--) I am used to the top performance when it comes to Ella.
I wonder about the way actors act. When they act well, is it because they act in a role that is very close if not totally similar to their nature (probably this) or they would perform well, if they are good in what they do, regardless of the role type...Same with the singers...
In that movie "Round Midnight" Dexter Gordon wasn't acting, he just walked on the set and continued his daily role in life as "Dexter Gordon", jazz musician.
Jimmy Heath -- LOVE LETTER with / Kenny Barron(piano), David Wong(bass), Lewis Nash(drums), Monte Croft(Vibes), Russell Malone(guitar), Wynton Marsalis(trumpet), Gregory Porter(vocals), Cecile McLorin Salvant(vocals)
Very well done. I would have liked a few up-tempo tunes, but, I listened to it three times upon receipt, it's very good. Excellent booklet with great photos and notes. Verve Label. Heath's last recording. Seems as if everyone is dying.
In regard to Ella; there she is, just clowning around with Frank Sinatra, and she probably didn't even choose the song. Something like that would hardly stand up to scrutiny; I wonder what she sounds like in the shower?
I’m sure she sounds a lot better in the shower; although I’d rather not think about it 😊. Actually, she “sounds” great, like Ella always does. Problem is as Mary_jo describes: she is totally out of her element. Even some of the greats have limitations dealing with certain styles. I don’t think they were clowning around at all. Having fun singing the song? Sure. Isn’t that the problem ‘though? It’s not a “fun” song. Quite the opposite, and that fact totally escaped them.
I submit some of the best music in my collection, and this bunch wants to talk about Ella clowning around with Frank for one minute and eight seconds, singing off key and not even getting the words right. I don't know the context to that episode, but she was most certainly not trying to win any contest.
Get over yourself, O-10 and chill; and look in the mirror as concerns posting bs. “This bunch” could say a lot more, but best left alone. The point was valid and you missed the point. Edit:
There's something about this record I really, really like. I know Gene Harris is supposed to be the star of the show, but there's something about Ray's playing on it that really speaks to me. The swing, maybe? I don't know.
If, at 93, I were still able to melt hearts with beautiful tone and playing sensitivity the way Heath does on "Fashion or Passion," I'd reach ecstatic contentment (if that makes any sense).
When Alex at first was sending me jazz, he was "afraid" that I might stuck on Koltrejn and Majls only. It seemed as it would be terrible mistake to know jazz only through the magic of these two.
Perhaps such think would not be that bad at all, meaning, one could listen this and only this, on and on...
Notes: The program here was the first to appear under Mobley’s name after leaving Miles’ Band. Also marked Morgan’s return to Blue Note after a two year absence. Blue Note Label. Rudy van Gelder Edition.
Rok's Mobley pieces had me wondering about Rudy van Gelder. Seems Rudy's last recording session was in 2016 with Jimmy Cobb's current trio, about 2 months before Rudy passed. We lost Jimmy last May, and it seems the 2016 van Gelder session became Jimmy's final release as well: "Remembering U," in 2019.
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