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.
orpheus10
rok2id:

Am I erroneously attributing this quote to you?  Could be I'm mistaken and it originated with a different poster-- my now 65 year old brain certainly doesn't work like it used to!

I'm not the type to spend my time on the Forum fighting with others so I'll just say I don't happen to agree with that characterization of Jazz (whomever said it) and leave it at that. 

Best wishes,

Stuart 







 
Am I erroneously attributing this quote to you?

No, not at all.  It's me, I just think it was some time ago.  Just curious.  Like you, I will fight no more forever, on these threads.

Cheers

Music is "subjective"; so I try to help people find what's right for them, and at the same time find what's right for me.

In regard to current events, "high end sound" is getting a lot cheaper, thanks to digital. I didn't say high end components, I said "high end sound". 20 years or more ago, those two were the same, but not anymore. Now you can get "high end sound" on a budget by purchasing one of the DACs that deliver a lot more than they did in the past.

"Analog" is still very expensive, that hasn't changed, and cheap analog is a complete waste of money. I'm saying all of this as a person who is deep into analog; however, when you compare the huge difference in cost, to a not so huge difference in sound quality, in my opinion, if you're in, stay in; however, if you're out, stay out.
'State of the art' sound comes very low / early on the price ladder.  Speaking of amplification, I would say around the mid-level ranges of Marantz, Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo etc....   All above this price range  is hype, voodoo, delusion, exotic design and materials, exclusivity, or all of the above.  All of which have zero to do with sound.  The most important component remains, as always, the room.

For my purposes, State of the Art means just that, the best it can currently be done.

Analog:   I agree, if you're out, stay out.   I would add, if you're in, get out!!

Cheers
The most important component remains, as always, the room.
i will not contradict this wise and experienced opinion...


Wise statement indeed.  At least there is some truth in the overall comment.  In a way, consistent with the mystery quote 😊.

Thank you Inna, I liked it so much that I listened to it twice.

It's good to hear from you, glad you are doing well.

Inna, as you know, we both like music that's off the beaten path, so to speak; here's some music that I hope is not too far off the path for you;


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m14ycwf8kbQ

I feel good this morning, my only thoughts are music, and I'm going to try and keep it that way. Here is some music that's new to me, and I hope you like it;


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E5oed4moFg


                 

Frogman, how familiar are you with John Hicks? I feel that I should be, but I'm not.
orpheus10, thank you. No, I don't have it and in fact I have not heard it before. My collection is small, only what I really like and listen to a lot.
You are right about dacs getting better. Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt sounds quite good and is great if you need music on the go.
A friend gave me a stack of old jazz CDs, one by Ron Carter.  Given the recent discussion of the duet with Bobby Hebb, I did a little searching and ran into this interview published by the Library of Congress:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKdP1ratv3M  (interview, not a music link)
O-10, not as familiar as I probably should be.  Great player based on what I’ve heard.  I heard him live once with Dexter Gordon and have him on a handful of records by Arthur Blythe and Curtis Lundy.

Frogman, you probably treasure all your experiences of seeing our most famous jazz artists live, the same as me.

Living in New York, I'm sure you've seen more of the famous jazz musicians than I have, but here in St' Louis we have had some very good jazz musicians that I saw often and talked to. Miles was not a St. Louis jazz musician, the same as Grant Green was. Miles was a New York jazz musician.

As everyone knows, live music is so much more rewarding than recorded music. Local pianist (and organist) "Terry Williams" sounded as good as Horace Silver to me when I heard him, which was every weekend for awhile at one of the clubs here.

I always came to the club an hour before he went on, to talk jazz. He showed me a portfolio of photos where he played piano for the famous musicians we discuss when they came to town and needed a keyboard player.

I was looking for something about Terry when I stumbled on this. The irony is; I remember almost every body and everything, but for the life of me, I can not remember Richard Martin, maybe he had a nickname they didn't reveal, but my memory is not as good as it once was; never the less, this article brings back a ton of good memories.


          https://stljazznotes.blogspot.com/2007/05/in-search-of-richard-martin.html

After reading this article for a second time, it's for certain that I saw and heard Richard Martin because I went to every last one of the clubs where  he played.
"Noodling" is a loose term that, when used in a musical context, usually means in short, noodling on any instrument is freestyle playing - where you explore seemingly random notes and rely more on trial and error and intuition than rigid musical systems and rules.

Frank Zappa had hundreds of compositions with noodling inserted within the melodic theme.

Sometime when I listen to Nina's piano, it makes me want to go to church, not just any church, but one of those small white churches with the tall spire that's in the "boonies", where every body knows everybody else, and you can feel the love.

Nina Simone was raised in the church, and she was trained to become a classical pianist; she is the only pianist who combines classical and gospel.

Pjw, when God created women, he didn't know when to stop, and he just kept on going till he created something that runs men crazy.

Here is one of the greatest jams ever in the history of jazz, and not only do you get to hear it, but you get to see it; these are giants of jazz all jamming together. What I like, is the way they look at one another with admiration;


          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdMRrezUhJw
Ahmed Abdul-Malik

JAZZ SOUNDS OF AFRICA

Ahmed Abdul-Malik(bass, oud), Tommy Turrentine(trumpet), Andrew Cyrille(drums) and a bunch of unknowns.

Two LPs on one CD.  'The Music of Ahmed Abdul-Malik' & 'Sounds of Africa'.
Recorded by Rudy van Gelder   1961-62  /  2003 remaster

hannibal's carnivals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWQvJU3gGps

la Ibkey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDh7uwMag78

don't blame me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWEX0uFdHLY

nights on saturn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC9qyV_RV9A

Cheers


"All Day Long"; I could listen to this all day long, and think of any other activity I could be engaged in "All Day Long" while listening. Life is good, but it would be a lot better if I was 50 years younger.

This is the "creme de la creme"; it don't get no better than this, all these performers were at the top of their game. (mine wasn't too shabby either when I first heard this)

This begins with a drum roll by Blakey, and Kenny B strumming on his guitar, before Lou Donaldson comes out blasting on that sweet alto of his (I love that tone). Kenny B. comes back plunking that most distinctive guitar before the most illustrious Jimmy Smith takes over. (I could distinguish these musicians by the sound of their instruments alone before reading the cover, can you?


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alqt77N0ne8


            
Pepper Adams Quintet

10 TO 4 AT THE 5 SPOT

Riverside / Original Jazz Classics   1958 / 1993

Notes: "One of the very earliest of Riverside's many noted on-the-job recordings.  The limited technology of the fifties made such "live" efforts risky, but the vibrant energies of young stars-to-be like Donald Byrd, Elvin Jones, and Pepper Adams turn this session into a forceful example of the values of capturing the sound of Jazz in its natural habitat."

hasting street bounce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O3LXGK3SI8

yourna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG7oqxSlAxY

you're my thrill 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp2wRyGxCuA

Cheers
Post removed 
I cannot believe there is no review of this album on amazon...

Curtis Fuller was a discovery for me thanks to frogman...

I listen many albums....

This one is the last but not the least...

2 trombones, a great pianist, and percussion, playing hard bop from a warm planet called " jazz unknown gem"

The sound recording is good....



Kai winding and Curtis Fuller: " Bone appetit"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z_gKeyo03M
The Adderley Brothers

THE SUMMER OF '55

Nat Adderley(cornet), Donald Byrd(trumpet), Jerome Richardson(flute & tenor sax), Julian Adderley(alto sax), Horace Silver(piano), Paul Chambers(bass), Kenny Clarke(drums)
Savoy / Atlantic Compilation  2CD set   1955 / 1995

Excellent account of the Adderley brothers journey from Florida to NYC.
"We didn't know what the hell we were doing.  We were just going to New York."  Nat Adderley is talking about the summer of 1955, when he was 23 and his brother Julian was 26.  They were on vacation, Nat from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Julian from his teaching job at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, where he was director of the band.

As they say, the rest is history.

with apologies to oscar, take 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjBbVyJRKis

willow weep for me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uopF-nx92fA

still talkin' to ya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP5JVDK6soA

caribbean cutie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjag8JUav1A

flamingo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsUeyvzMNWA

Cheers

FYI, go to 29:10.  A little known Jazz factoid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_1cLBobCUc
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley
and his orchestra. 21 strong!

AFRICAN WALTZ

Riverside / Original Jazz Classics   1961 / 1993

Notes: "In the spring of 1961, the pop music world was treated to one of the rarest experiences--an instrumental record conceived and executed by Jazz musicians, climbing into the Top 40 on the Billboard chart of top-selling singles. That was "African Waltz," arranged by Ernie Wilkins for Cannonball Adderley and big band."

west coast blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjWqkG24J3w

Stockholm Sweetnin'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiyQhVejmlg

this here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihHC_8E4_S0

african waltz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em8mbNTxhPY

Cheers
 Report this
    


In general, I'm not a big band fan, but that is one of the best big bands ever assembled; there are so many stars in that band.

I know I had it, but I don't think I still got it.

Keep up the good work.
A live performance at Carnegie Hall 1994. The band is excellent and represents old and new musicians for that period.

Vanessa Williams and Dee Dee Bridgewater enter the stage and exchange scatting at the 5:45 mark.

Betty Carter enters at 7:45 and starts a scat - trombone exchange with JJ Johnson.

(4) Now’s The Time / Ray Brown, J.J. Johnson, Jackie McLean, Joe Henderson, Roy Hargrove and all stars - YouTube
Just ordered these two albums and I think they are worth of your attention

Billy Taylor 'Uptown' from 1960. live at the Prelude...

https://youtu.be/jvXPWsBVBGM

Barney Kessel 'Red hot and blues' from 1988. with B.Hutcherson and K.Barron

https://youtu.be/5FGRRwvzzW4
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley

CANNONBALL ADDERLEY QUINTET AT THE LIGHTHOUSE

cannonball Adderley(alto sax), Nat Adderley(cornet), Victor Feldman(piano), Sam Jones(bass), Louis Hayes(drums)

One of the Iconic Jazz album covers
Landmark 1960

Notes: Cannonball’s third album. "One of the few Eastern groups to have played at The Lighthouse. They became the first non-cool group to record there.."

Cannonball, "non-cool"???  Even the cover photo is the definition of COOL.

sack o’ woe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N45hYXNu12o

azule serape
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j44fKJ-A6hs

exodus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DUplYvYLl8

our delight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCuuR6iHeR0

Cheers