I'm relatively new to jazz (about 3 years) and was fortunate to amass quite a few (several hundred) records from a variety of artist from a local ebay seller. They were from his dad's collection, and nearly all were in NM condition. Sadly, he passed in December or early January. But as I am going through them, I am finding some artist I really love. Lately, I am really getting into Kenny Drew and Calvin Keys.
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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**** Very creative, but with no relationship with the tune being played. **** No relationship?!!! Seriously? With respect, you are then not listening enough, or you don’t understand some basics. Starting with the fact that in a good bass solo, like any other good Jazz solo the same chord progression (the harmony of the tune) is used to improvise. There is no difference, no matter the instrument. The limitation is not with the bass or the bass player, but with the listener and the need for musical cues that are more obvious and make it easier to know what is going on. Been to a live Jazz performance lately? Notice how some in the crowd will sometimes applaud before the player (any instrument) has finished his solo, thinking that a simple pause (space) in the playing means that the solo is finished? The more astute listener knows that it’s just a pause in the solo in the middle of a chorus and waits to the end of the chorus to applaud. A solo always goes to the end of the chorus. Every tune has it own unique harmonic progression (chorus). Relationship. **** Yes indeed. Remember all the great actors of the silent screen era that could not make the cut to talking pictures? **** Huh? That had nothing to do with the SOUNDs of their voices, but their ability to act vocally as opposed to physically. That’s exactly what I refer to. It’s not the sound (tone), it’s the ability to tell the story. Hey, what better tribute to our OP and the history of this thread than a good debate /argument? 😊.
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My burden is great.
Drummers and Bass players could be considered the most important people in a Jazz band. Their role is crucial to the performance. They are not expected to solo. That is not their role. Think of all the greats, Mingus, Ray Brown, McBride, Ron Carter, Blakey, Jo Jones, Higgins etc.... How often are they leaders? Even when their name is on top of the album jacket, the reviewers talk mostly about the piano and horn players. Blakey known for bringing along young players, Mingus for his composing, the others for who they play with. The are support players. No one buys Mingus albums to hear him play Bass. No one buys Messenger albums to hear Art play drums. They wanna hear his latest horn player, or the Messengers as a whole. Exceptions to this are the 'Showman' drummers. Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa are examples. But what they play is not Jazz, is it.
Cheers
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<<Currently listening to the album Balanced by Jan Harbeck Quartet.>> You mentioned Balanced and I’ve never heard it before, so I found the album in HR and started playing it, but I couldn’t get past the third track, (Silver String Valley), the sax sounded like a crunchy brown paper bag! Is it just my system? It’s about 6:30 pm here and sometimes my power is horrible, so that’s why I’m asking. Jim |
Scott La Faro playing on album of Victor Feldman from 1958. I think that here you can hear his 'way' of playing as well (not only with Evans) Acaman, I use cd player (usually the best I can get my hands on, now a Burmester 089) Pc audio or streaming is not for me and the proper vinyl rig, along with all the albums that I have, would cost me a fortune..but I agree about the sound ...
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@curiousjim It definitely didn't sound that way to my ears, I made it through most of the album that night as well! |
Acman, this is my third Burmester player, I really like their sound, had 001, than 061 for a while, bought another 001 and now 089. Also had a Dcs Puccini with clock and Metronome 2s. Dcs is terrific machine, but as I listen almost only jazz, older production, it was ’too much’ on many albums, It showed all imperfections in production and that bothered me when I was listening, Burmester is ’better’, very revealing, but somehow menages to extract music only (if that makes sense) and leaves the imperfections of production a bit more hidden than Dcs. Still, If i could afford it, would like to have all my music on vinyl and some very good turntable...but, yesterday bought 8 albums for a total price of 50usd with shipping....thats impossible with records....anyway, enough of this ’audiophile’ talk... |
Having many of these albums in my collection and all excellent choices, we seem to be over looking a lot of great more contemporary recordings. Just off the top of my head, I'm not in front of my collection. Tom Harrell: Number 5 Chris Potter: Lift Brandford Marsalis: Trio Jeepy Tim Armacost: Live at Smalls Michael Brecker: Tales from the Hudson Hiromi: Alive From the 80's but still contemporary, Wynton Marsalis: Black Codes from the Underground Just my two cents. Great thread.....
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Hey all, This is bugging me. @christianb5s4 posted an album by the Jan Harbeck Trio, Balanced. So I listened to it and in the third song, Silver String Valley, the sax sounds like it’s very over modulated. I described it as sounding like a crunchy brown paper bag. Christian said it sounded good to him, so at first I thought it was my power, but I just listened to it again this morning and it sounded the same. Both times, it was played at less than 60-66 dbs, so not loud. Thanks |
@curiousjim Yes, I just streamed it from Qobuz via Roon and it was unlistenable. You are not alone. If someone told me I had a damaged speaker then immediately played that track, I wouldn’t have argued with them. As soon as I switched to a different artist all is right with the sound again. Definitely a bad track and I can’t believe the artist would have released it like that. Are you using Qobuz? Maybe the problem is with them if you are. |
Hey Alek how are? Glad to see you posting here again. I have a question about your Burmester 089 belt driven CD player. When it hit the market in 2010 it cost 30k. Knowing you I figured you puchased yours used for a fraction of the original cost. Having said that the belt must have failed by now being 13 years old. Did you or the previous owner replace it? Here is the 2010 stereophile review of the 089. |
@phogdan Welcome to the JFA thread! A few of us listen to a lot of the new jazz artists including myself. One of the benefits is the recording studio/audio engineering is way better now then back in the day making the original source, be it digital or vinyl, superior (in most cases). I see Hromi is on your list. I have all of her CDs and saw her live twice. Her latest release, in 2021, titled Silver Lining Suite, features Hiromi with a string quartet sans drums/percussion. It is a new direction Hiromi took for this one session and really shows her virtuosity on the piano. Hiromi don’t get much love here but a few of your other choices get a lot of attention on JFA especially Wynton M. |
Interesting discussion on streaming. Which do you think is superior Qobuz or Tidal. They are both superior then spotify, which I, use and I might just subscribe to one of them. I have been using Spotify because I drive a semi and am on the road 8 - 12 hours a day and it is sufficient for the noisy atmosphere. |
Lol, I wish there was streaming when I drove! I can’t answer your question about Tidal because I’ve never used it. I’m using Amazon HD and Qobuz and there are several differences between the two. As an all around product, Qobuz is the best. Amazon has some quirks, but had an easy to use software. Anyway, if you’re listening through your phone to your truck radio, you are probably not going to hear much difference between any of the services, as long as you’re streaming CD quality or better. Does Spotify still stream at 128 MP3? |
I think the KBPM differs on Spotify - some songs are louder and more detailed depending on the source. But 90% plus sound just fine to me considering the atmosphere. And I dont use my phone via auxillary input on the truck stereo. Phone source then I use a JBL Party Box 710 laid up on my sleeper bunk in back and sounds really good and detailed. I can use the optional 3.5mm aux jack on the JBL or connect via blue tooth and I have not noticed any significant difference in quality between them. |
@pbogdan Spelled your name wrong got it right now check out the response I left you above post @ |
Paul, will keep it short, but you can write me on fb. Burmester is cheaper in Europe,than in the States, so aldo still expensive, its not out of the reach for 'normal' people. The 089 model is still in the production, unchanged, as far as I know, as are many other their gear. I bought mine almost two years ago, from 'friendly dealer' as a store demo, with good discount, of course. Previously I had 001 twice, also belt driven model and had no troubles with it at all, for years . Burmester is known for providing care and service for discounted models as well and is very well built.In time when cd's in general, along with players, are considered as 'obsolete', I wanted something that I could continue to use for years to come |
A lot of people, when buying/listening to Joe Henderson music, typically concentrate on his first 5 albums recorded on the Blue Note label and rightly so as all 5 are masterpieces. However, Joe's output between 1970 through the late 90s are some of his best sessions. Experimentally stretching into many world influences, new takes on standards, civil rights movement themes and even a big band. Joe has turned into one of my favorite artists and, in the words of our OP, deserves repeated listenings constantly in our must listen rotation. Here are 2 of Joe's songs from his take on Gershwin's Porgy and Bess opera. Chaka Kahn vocals on 1st tune and Sting on the next
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Will do |
@acman3 A few of Donald Byrd's albums, Royal Fush, Free Form, Blackjack and Slow Drag really showcase the talent of Billy Higgins
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