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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Today’s Listen: Cannonball Adderley -- BOHEMIA AFTER DARK This was originally a Kenny Clarke recording date, but the performance was so dominated by the the Adderley brothers, it is often reissued as a Cannonball date. Your chosen instrument is destiny? This is the first recording by the Adderley brothers after their arrival in NYC from Tampa. Talk about taking the place by storm! Recorded 1955. Notes: ......"These savoy classic masters, captured mere days after their arrival, testify and confirm their status among the Jazz elite. This is the sound of Jazz, circa 1955." bohemia after dark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtVVeaQiCwE late entry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e3bd7u2FzE hear me talkin’ to ya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXtjkHyf7Vo with apologies to oscar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE9MmUZHXBA l be together again (recorded 1956) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXNzgfA8zhg Cheers Cover art is so, not-Jazz. |
I like Brother John... Cannonball - On Green Dolphin Street https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CW6cZmvxnI8 I did some research on the song... https://phish.net/song/on-green-dolphin-street/history https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/books/2001/apr/22/fiction.sebastianfaulks https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/48448/on-green-dolphin-street-by-sebastian-faulks/978037570... From the book Nothing living should ever be treated with contempt. Whatever it is that lives, a man, a tree, or a bird, should be touched gently, because the time is short. Civilization is another word for respect for life...Elizabeth Goudge, Green Dolphin Street |
Elizabeth Goudge, Green Dolphin StreetApparently there are 2 novels. The first was authored by Elizabeth Goudge and was published in 1944 and adapted to a film in 1947. The song On Green Dolphin Street was composed by Bronislaw Kaper and Ned Washington (lyrics) for the film adaptation of Goudge's book Plot: 2 sisters fall in love with the same man. The second novel, same title, was authored by Sebastian Faulks and published in 2001 Plot: Wife has an affair. Ned Washington's original lyrics: On Green Dolphin Street Lyrics |
Inna and Mary - yes, even though I have to judge through my own system, the Nagra/Kharma system seems beyond nice. And if you have to ask how much... 30 years ago I fell in love with the Artemis Eos speaker at a friend's shop. I'd never heard the sound of a violin reproduced so convincingly. Alas, they were beyond my budget. I always appreciate super systems but am still thrilled by my own run-of-the-mill high end set-up. It keeps me from coveting! |
Grant’s playing on his version seems a cut below his usual excellence. He seemed tentative. Am I off base on that? Anyone? Bueller?Grant sounds like Grant. Sonny Clark's comping is second to none. Sonny died way to young and was never given the accolades that he rightfully deserves. Sonny and Grant’s timing and phrasing when playing is like telepathy between them. (37) Deconstructing Grant Green - YouTube |
Keegiam, stay true to your inner soul; I knew Grant personally, I saw him every weekend in a small bistro in St. Louis before he had recorded with anyone. I have almost everything he recorded. That compilation was not released until 97, after both Sonny and Grant's death. While both Sonny and Grant are two of my favorite jazz artists. I sold that compilation shortly after acquiring it. |
@keegiam Here is the version to get. I have it and the sonics are really good. Grant Green - The Complete Quartets With Sonny Clark (1997, CD) | Discogs There are plenty of reviews of the remaster on the internet. Not one bad review in the bunch. Or you can buy the 3 separate original recording sessions on LP or CD. The LP’s I have seen are reasonably priced not so the Japanese CD remasters. Here are the 3 albums Originally issued and titled "Nigeria", "Gooden’s Corner" and "Oleo". If you buy the double disc on the link above you will not be disappointed. As I said earlier the Grant Green and Sonny Clark pairing was divine. You can hear the "telepathy" between them as they play their unique takes on all those standards. You can pay 20 bucks for the aforementioned CD compilation or 100 - 200 for the individual albums. Either way this music should be in any "Jazz Aficionado" collection. BTW they also played together on the session "Born To Be Blue" a quintet with Ike Quebec on tenor sax, Sam Jones on Bass and Louis Hayes on drums joining Grant and Sonny which can be purchased separately. The songs on BTBB are not on the 2 disc comp. (1) Born To Be Blue - YouTube (1) Someday My Prince Will Come - YouTube (1) If I Should Lose You - YouTube |
@Keegiam There is also a quintet with Grant Green and Sonny Clark released as an Ike Quebec album titled "Blue and Sentimental" Same personnel as Grant Green’s "Born to be Blue" except Paul Chambers place bass on tracks 1 through 7 in place of Ray Brown who plays on track 8. On the title song Blue and Sentimental Grant Green plays rythm Guitar which is something he seldom did. The song starts with Green opening in a rythm structure then Ike joins in on the sax. Green plays a nice lead solo as well. Take a listen. (1) Ike Quebec - Blue and Sentimental - YouTube |
pjw, I liked all three of the GG pieces you posted better
than "On Green Dolphin Street." I also heard some of the
Green/Clark interplay you mentioned on "Someday my Prince will Come" and "If I Should Lose You." I plan to check out more of the pieces in the compilation on YT before deciding whether to put it on my list. Prez really added class to the "Blue and Sentimental" you just posted. Sweet. |
How's the swing factor on this piece? "Lester's Ideas 1937-1938" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hQMM4Rl4NI |
As far as the "Complete Quartets" compilation the original 3 albums that comprised the compilation were recorded in 3 sessions on 23 December 1961 titled "Nigeria", 13 January 1962 titled "Oleo", and 31 January 1962 titled "Gooden’s Corner" There are a couple of different "speculations" as to why Blue Note shelved them until after Green’s death in 1979 when the 3 original albums were released in Japan on LP. Some say Van Gelder was not happy with the way Green’s guitar was recorded. There was a problem with guitar distortion that manifested itself on the original analog tapes. Another reason is that the 3 albums were all comprised of standards and not the Blues/gospel/funky Green albums that were popular sellers. However these quartet sessions are the only ones in existence where it was just Green and Clark sharing solo’s without the brass on the 2 sessions with Ike Quebec and this is what makes them unique and important and "must haves" in any jazz collection. Not to start an argument with our distinguished captain of the Jazz Police Orpheus 10 but his "review" that the compilation needed to be sold which would imply he considered the sonics sub par flies in the face of all popular opinion. I have nowhere read a review that the Blue Note remaster sounds poor. As a matter of fact, our local "audiophiles" over at the Steve Hoffman Music Forums concur that the Blue Note CD remaster cleared up the distorted and muddled sound of Green’s guitar and that the newer LP release of the same compilation on the Tone Poet Re - Issue Series sounds great but not head and shoulders above the CD. Here is the link read the whole page if this interests you and may very well help decide whether or not you want this unique music in your collection. ’Tone Poet’ Jazz Reissue Series* | Page 376 | Steve Hoffman Music Forums Grant Green: The Complete Quartets with Sonny Clark album review @ All About Jazz keegiam here is Grant Green and Sonny Clark "Nigeria" Tone Poet release. I'm not an LP man but these are said to be excellent pressings. Nigeria was release on 28 February 2020. TONE POET AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE SERIES CONTINUES IN 2020 - Blue Note Records |
From the Steve Hoffman Music Forums thread: NorthNY Mark said: ↑ Listened to the first side of Nigeria last night (without having seen the last few pages of comments until now). I was struck by a number of things, especially on the second track. Number one: this performance blows the roof off the freaking house! Man, these guys were on fire at this session! Number two: The sound is unfortunately riddled with overload distortion, not just from Blakey, but from Green as well. Reading comments about non-fill, I would almost have wondered if some might not be mistaking the overload distortion for surface flaws, except that one commenter got a pristine replacement. I also wonder whether this overload distortion may have been the reason the release was shelved for many years, because it certainly isn't due to any lack of conviction in the performances. Number three: Aside from the distortion that I assume is on the master tape, the sonics are great, with dynamics that make you feel like these guys are playing in your room (and, as I wrote before, threatening to blow the roof right off).Man, you sort of mirrored what I was going to write here. This is an amazing album, particularly It Ain't Necessarily So. This may be the best single cut of Grant Green's career, and perhaps his best solo. If I wanted to give an example of what Green does best, I'd play this cut. And yes, the exhortation from Blakey is great to hear. The Complete Quartets of Grant Green w/Sonny Clark 2CD set sounds really good. And they have tamed a bit of that distortion on the CD set. On this LP, the transients and dynamics are untamed. You much more greatly feel the pluck of each note of the guitar, yet hear the slightly greater nuance of the individual notes of the phrasing. Blakey's drums have even greater impact. But the sizzle of the cymbals and even sometimes Green's guitar overdrive the LP. And some have mentioned the cymbals on the MM 33 of Maiden Voyage vs the 45. They have cited that the cymbals on the 45 sound more rounded, more relaxed, less bright and harsh, more natural. I'm wondering if doing this at 45 would help, or at the very least, cut this lower on the SRX vinyl. My copy is otherwise virtually perfect. No warble that I could detect, no ticks or pops, and pretty quiet vinyl. And overall, a great album. |
Frogman, that Bill Withers number may be one of the best combos of funk and soul in existence.Speaking of funky while I was perusing my Grant Green collection I came across this song on one of my disks titled "The Original Jam Master Volume 1 Ain't It Funky Now" (1) Grant Green - Ain't It Funky Now - YouTube |
Since we seem to be on a Cannonball binge: "Work Song" (1963, live) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmwsQ_dHrFM "Jazz Casual" (1961 - note Joe Zawinul on PIANO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi0OMG4xAko "Jeannine" (1962, live) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN1SwOdbdBU "A Night in Tunisia" (1958) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iTFfTt0jN4 |
Nice jumpin' guitar trio piece: Grant Green, Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell. "Blue Mist." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p95lksHE5U |
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The last time I saw Grant Green, I was kind of embarrassed because I didn’t recognize him; this was when he was performing and pushing his "Live At The Lighthouse" album. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=live+at+the+light+house+grant+green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV-BNauQuH0 It was on the sidewalk in front of the club where he was performing. That was because the last time I saw Grant up close and personal, he had a full head of hair and he was a lot thinner, like the picture on this album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19Hjt7a_hVc Him and that group gave the most fantastic performance when they presented the "Live At The Lighthouse Album". I can say that the best live performance that I ever saw and heard from Grant Green was the last time I saw him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmQoxng2YC8 |
Last night I was listening Sonny Stitt, so I played his music this morning as well, but on different albums and it happened that Grant Green plays there too. Reading previous posts from Paul was nice coincidence. This albums should not be neglected, when talking about funky side of Grant Green. Don Patterson with Sonny Stitt (and Grant Green) 'Donny Brook' https://youtu.be/Za_N4Hhbs_s same line up album 'Brothers 4' https://youtu.be/_mJ910_ZvN8 again same line up, but album is from Sonny Stitt /Soul People https://youtu.be/LR8DctPXbb4 By the way, I like and have the S.Clark/G.Green album-compliation. Its not much you can do soundwise,it is what it is, aldo I prefer Blue Note before the later remasters, but there are some remasters that are quite good (and not so good) but, that could be said for 'original' editions (on cd) as well |
PJW, I had a conversation with Grant during intermission on the sidewalk in front of the establishment where he was performing. Someone came up to me during intermission and said Grant wanted to speak to me out front. I have to tell another story in order to put that conversation into context. My cousin was my best friend, he lived a charmed life; although he had his faults. On his lunch hour, he would come into my front door, out the back door, over the fence, into the back door of the ladies house next door. When it was time to go back to work; out her back door, over the fence, into my back door, out my front door, and back to work; he called this "His nooner" After he died, after the funereal, after everyone had left, I was sitting on one end of the couch, and his bereaved wife was sitting on the other end. She turned to me and asked, "Did my husband have any other women." With the straightest and most sincere face I could muster, I said, "Not to my knowledge". She seemed so relieved, a serene look came over her face. My reason for telling you all of this is that you got to know when to lie, and when to tell the truth. Grant asked me a question about a person, I told him the truth. He reacted, "You're lying", turned and walked away. There I was, left with tears. But long after, when I absorbed what had taken place, I realized, that when he was alone, Grant cried because of what I had told him. |
For O - "Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams From comments related to this recording.... http://https//youtu.be/ViAsMZhJX1E Thanks for sharing those memories. |
I just received the LP "The Phantom" by Duke Pearson, and it's absolutely fantastic. Before I go on, I want to say that I'm not one of those "Digital vs Analog People". Good analog costs thousands of dollars more than digital, and is ten times more trouble; if it sounds better, it should. I'm sure the CD sounds very good as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO0-mfey2BM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-BZNzLmS88 Just got this, and already I think it's one of the best albums in my collection. |
From the "ain't got it, git it" file: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtVKq5dDdFs&list=PL07e7vUgxpIU7Ncqx-WlZSjc9xkMdW8MS&index=2 Use caution if you have some wussie audiophile speakers. Playing this loud can cause them to catch fire and burn your house down!! And unless you have this CD, no, you have not heard this music before. Cheers Didn't hear any 'wood', but does not matter. |
Gil Scott-Heron 1974. Interesting combo of funk with flute as the main instrumental feature. "The Bottle." Not as funky as Frogman's Withers cut, but still worthy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkSFBcjOKHY |
Jimmy Smith 1958 laid-back funk. "The Sermon." Check out this line-up: Jimmy Smith - organ Lee Morgan - trumpet Lou Donaldson - alto sax Tina Brooks - tenor sax Kenny Burrell - guitar Art Blakey - drums https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3X5J_wGHrw&t=179s |
"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?” Ghosthouse, the song that makes me most aware of time is "Speak Low". Speak low when you speak, love Our summer day withers away too soon, too soon Speak low when you speak, love Our moment is swift, like ships adrift, we´re swept apart, too soon Speak low, darling, speak low Love is a spark, lost in the dark too soon, too soon I feel wherever I go that tomorrow is Near, tomorrow is here and always too soon Time is so old and love so brief Love is pure gold and time… More I relate many songs to my personal experiences, maybe this song more than most. "Time is so old and love so brief Love is pure gold and time a thief" Does anyone think of that fact when their young? We´re late, darling, we´re late The curtain descends, everything ends too soon, too soon. My one regret is the fact that I was not more aware of all of those things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxB2hZ8tB8M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iWHd1n1s8E These ladies were aware of those facts. |
Za Kraljicu Jazza It is Saturday night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRLPGQDWJUk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbXIACxwWbo takes me back to ( Uijeongbu, Korea, 1976) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOPYn1l1pvw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyxKtz6Z07Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfFZ2n2xvQE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgG6SU8L-dI Cheers |