Schubert, we all see you, no use of erasing...;--)
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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I saw Frank Morgan at the Village Vanguard in the mid 80’s (1985?). Fantastic performance. Beautiful player with one of my favorite alto sounds once heralded as “the new Bird”. Sad personal story, as Rok points out. After hearing that performance I bought this record; his second as leader. It features along with Wardell Gray a trumpet player seldom mentioned, but deserving more attention, Conte Candoli: https://youtu.be/YV5RWI1ho6A https://youtu.be/8gaDwM9cgsc https://youtu.be/Dr1tMYyfwPU https://youtu.be/uJ3oIvQWk2U Interesting Abbey Lincoln record with Morgan as featured soloist. I find her singing style to be an acquired taste, but I like her unaffected soulfulness as well as her compositions: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvxWibFr0wiJqwclRsPZ_lQRbEP1EKiKB |
A few months ago someone brought up Kenny Wheeler and I mentioned having recently listed to his "Gnu High" album. I bought this when it was issued; now it's 45 years old. Sidemen? Just Keith Jarrett, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette. Not sure if I posted it then: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p096UTjQgeI&list=OLAK5uy_kjuLFvreynaECQ9oZxpaupvw5Y0iMkHRI |
I have a dilemma. As some of you know, my turntable/arm are being fixed/upgraded, and I've been vinyl-less for several months. Since I began frequenting the forum, I've become thrilled with being able to watch historic performances, using a simple bluetooth-to-RCA device to play them through my system. The turntable will be ready shortly and I have a VPI-17 cleaner on the way. I'll be back in vinyl bliss shortly, but I'll be losing the visual thrill. How do you all go about getting the best sonics when you play YT clips? I still want to enjoy everyone's YT recommendations, but the sonics are going to be a real let-down compared to my analog rig. Any suggestions for getting the best sound from the YT material? |
It features along with Wardell Gray a trumpet player seldom mentioned, but deserving more attention I didn't include this in my post, but it was / is in the notes: "...Still he(Morgan) fared better than his studio mate(Wardell Gray). Within a few weeks of the recording session Gray turned up dead in the Nevada desert, by most accounts directly or indirectly a victim of his drug habit." Really, Really sad, and what a waste. We can only guess what "directly or indirectly" refer to. Cheers |
I love this guy’s attitude!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMfzprf1Gg Cheers btw, The first classical CD I ever purchased was by Liszt. Even before I had a player. I listened to it once. Nothing like validation from someone who knows. The only Liszt I own. |
Rok, we're on different wavelengths. I'm already routing the YT material via bluetooth through a $10k combination of Classe preamp & amp and Aerial 10T speakers. There is no way a $99.99 Logitech computer speaker system is going to accomplish anything. Maybe I should find a different forum for this issue? |
My thinking is, the source is YT. 10k system, or not, it's YT. Logitech just keeps it simple. You sit in front of the computer, right in front of the screen and speakers, and enjoy the music. No mega-buck audiophile system changes the fact that It's YT. Same facts and logic applies to LPs / turntables. But I think you are correct, we are on different wavelengths. Cheers |
Funny, I don’t concern myself too much about ultimate sound quality unless I’m listening to LP’s or CD’s. Just me. To me, nothing comes close to the sound of my two turntable setups; the one in my main system, in particular. My CD players sound good also, but not quite. When I listen to YouTube it is mostly with iPad or iPhone feeding good earbuds when I need portability; or, feeding my Stax Lambda electrostatic headphones/tube energizer which sounds great....for YouTube. Only occasionally, during our Friday “family music share” do I play YouTube over my main system. Just me. |
Today's Listen: Charlie Haden / Hank Jones -- STEAL AWAY Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs Nice booklet with a lot of 'feel good' history as to the circumstances surrounding the history of each tune and it's origin and composer. All of very dubious validity. Albums like this always remind of Jelly Roll's statement, "Jazz is a way of playing music." Of course, none of these tunes were written as Jazz. nobody knows the trouble I've seen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3EeMC0g5g0 wade in the water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6h18ylQNro swing low, sweet chariot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ9rQX6woNA sometimes I feel like a motherless child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMlOHOBcEZ0 steal away https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRYGpwTwsyk Cheers |
Youtube Music allows you to stream at a higher bit rate. It comes with Youtube Premium I use HDMI out of my PC to McIntosh MX155 .It sounds pretty good. I also use Roku Ultra. can do Pandora Youtube etc also 4K stuff or anything on ROKU, and mind you , the choices on ROKU are almost endless. Of course my vinyl sounds better. |
Thanks O10, I don't think I'm going to need a better DAC than the one in my Oppo BDP-103, at least for now. This newfound fondness I have for watching and listening to historic performances is something that, for the time being, is, via the Oppo, going to be the best I can do. I might get a slight audio bump from Greyhound's suggestion of paying for the higher YT bitrate (in cases where it helps the original recording), but my dilemma will not be solved in the near future. I'll remain in two worlds for now: vinyl nirvana for pure listening, and the Oppo for enjoying the filmed performances on YT. Life could be worse! |
https://youtu.be/CNKAv1aa9IA Listen to the end: https://youtu.be/Jbs_-BobfOs Badass: https://youtu.be/hqb_QUsnKbg https://youtu.be/23sah6aWk3A 😊 : https://youtu.be/xAz_t2Ybvmc https://youtu.be/ZgcOTFNzw9A ” Personality is everything in art and poetry” - Goethe |
Today's Listen: The Jazz Crusaders -- LIGHTHOUSE '68 Wayne Henderson(trombone), Wilton Felder(tenor Sax), Joe Sample(piano), Buster Williams(bass), Stix Hooper(drums) Informative booklet tells of the band's recording history. Includes this: "Coming from a part of the country that did not spend a lot of time debating over what was Jazz, what was Blues and what was R&B, they dipped freely and seamlessly into all of their roots." Had to LOL at that. Dropped the word "jazz" from their name in the early 70s. Recorded 1967 eleanor rigby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZkh8UkDY7k oogo-boo-ga-loo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5wm8xBCM7A never had it so good https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWeAF8gNXLM tough talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvxsbyB7vLM Cheers |
Man, that tenor tone. Tough to beat. Ben Webster - "Solitude" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VihgeOi0Rn8 |
Today"s Listen: Harold Mabern -- AFRO BLUE The notes consist of Mabern being interviewed and asked to comment on each tune and singer. Includes this, "I feel good when singers say they love the way you play. That’s the highest compliment." -- Harold Mabern So, here is Mabern with a group of pretty good singers. afro blue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzCtVS8L4Q fools rush in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvLWQ25q31M don’t misunderstand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MgU9ePFmco billie’s bounce https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuEyeaXOJoI you needed me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7cQDZiU_AY bobby, benny, jymie, lee, bu(buhaina) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_hbKzognYE (the names of the Jazz messengers) Cheers |
Terrible news! I love Chick’s playing and body of work. Not his most important work, IMO, which I will post some of later, but still great and probably his most popular: https://youtu.be/sEhQTjgoTdU |
Ironic: "Return to Forever." We all do eventually, but it doesn't make it any easier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHDlEMZ-DT0 |
R.I.P. Chick Corea. Always a favorite of mine. From straight ahead jazz with Stan Getz to fusion with RTF. I had the privilege of seeing him live on multiple occasions. (27) Stan Getz - Sweet Rain (1967). - YouTube (27) Return to Forever ( Chick Corea) - YouTube |
Just received this album today. Still listening. So far its outstanding. (27) Lover Man (Live At Birdland) - YouTube |
@ brskie Putting "Like Minds" on the TT now: Great album. I have Methany, Holland and Haynes' "Question and Answer" as well. A trio with no keyboards. (27) Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes, Dave Holland_Solar - YouTube |
I got to hear Chick play at a private dinner years ago-- long story. Sad he’s gone. Here’s an obscurity that will soon be reissued so it is available at reasonable cost. It is fairly rare-- took me several months to find a copy. Milt Ward & Virgo Spectrum. Killer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNALO--tChU |
Thanks for that. Rare indeed. Carlos Garnett, now there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. Good stuff. Back to Chick: https://youtu.be/90oTlHmjNcM |
Today's Listen: Hampton Hawes -- BLUES FOR BUD Notes: A folded piece of black paper with his picture on one side and track listings on the other. 1201 Music Label. Originally on Black Lion Label. blues enough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5ZVGxanJFc sonora https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biqNaZ9ok8c blues for bud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1968cwTRVA spanish steps (take 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdBSVr7xMkY Cheers |
Corea's message to his fans: "I want to thank all of those along my journey who have helped keep the music fires burning bright. It is my hope that those who have an inkling to play, write, perform or otherwise, do so. If not for yourself then for the rest of us. It's not only that the world needs more artists, it's also just a lot of fun." |
This thread, just like the subject of the thread itself, has evolved, I think. Early on there would be many contentious arguments about what is and what is not Jazz. Personally, I am always mystified by why it seems so important for some to put up tall walls dividing the various genres that can fairly be called serious music. Of course there are extremely important differences between the genres. They are obvious and it would be silly to not recognize and acknowledge them, but there are also many connecting threads that are the result of the ethnic links going back millennia; our common humanity. Chick Corea, probably more than any musician I am aware of, was a great example of this commonality. His compositions and writing style, particularly his harmonic approach, demonstrate this “crossing over” very well. Here he is performing works by three of the many “Classical” composes whose works have had a deep influence on his playing and on Jazz itself: Scriabin: https://youtu.be/PO7gd1JtrCk Stravinsky: https://youtu.be/vGqLK8_SAHU Bartok: https://youtu.be/wjezsCO867s |
Today's Listen: Grant Green -- FEELIN' THE SPIRIT Some examples of Real Fusion. The notes say Grant even 'quotes' "Scheherzade." Recorded 1962. Herbie Hancock!!! joshua fit the battle ob jericho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO6wLotvrEw go down moses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKZclK8Bfm4 just a closer walk with thee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBqLwXZ6O5g sometimes I feel like a motherless child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkzB1GcUfFg Cheers |
I owned that exact same kind of suit you see Grant wearing on the cover of the album "Feeling The Spirit". I can tell by the lapel as well as the fact that it's a "black on black stripe", made by Kuppenheimer. I bought mine in 62, that album was recorded in 62. We might have bought our suits from the same store. I only noticed this fairly recently; he even has the tip of a silk pocket square, which was the style at that time. I knew I was one sharp dude when I wore that suit. As for the music, I rate it even higher than the suit; out of 5 stars, I give it 5 1/2. |
You and me at the dark end of the street... https://youtu.be/tzcdNwIkmYA Happy Valentine's day, boys! Happy Valentine's day, Rok! |