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

Another of the OP's favorite performers.  Hated this tune. (SGB)

 

Cheers

I must admit that this album was discovery to me...than I saw who plays on it, among others...Art Pepper, Bill Perkins, Jimmy Giuffre, Victor Feldman, Scott La Faro, Mel Lewis..

 

 

Guitarist, Mary Halvorson - Amaryliss

One of the best jazz releases of 2022.

Progressive, but not avant-garde.

 

 

Mary Halvorson had 2 great releases in 2022.

Her 2nd, is Belladonna.

It is more in the chamber-jazz mode. She is a pretty creative musician.

 

 

James Carter at Birdland NYC Friday March 03. He never fails to light up any venue. Going to the 8:30pm show.

 

@curiousjim 

You are a lucky man!

Saw JC many times but not since the pandemic. Waiting 3 plus years for tomorrow night.

Jazz lost an icon today and I was privileged to have seen him preform live

 

RIP Wayne Shorter.

Man I would have loved to have seen him in the sixties!

Or with Weather Report in the Seventies!

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Just this moment, Lee Morgan's "Search for a New Land" came up in my Qobuz queue. Wayne's sax work woven into that piece ... man I could just cry.  

Speaking of Wayne Shorter, I was  listening to Weather Report last night.

RIP

Just wanted to try a planar phone.

 

HIFIMAN HE400se $109 (amazon)

A steal at this price

The cable is ridiculously short

I ordered the aftermarket coiled cable

Not for bass heads

My HD660s phones play 10 times louder at the same volume setting.

Comfortable. Not Sennheiser comfortable, but not bad.

 

Cheers

 

In the Spirit of Ntu - Nduduzo Makhathini

Corridors - Kendrick Scott

 

Two very interesting takes on jazz.

Looking them playing under masks is a such dystopian sight...sorry, I just could not pass that scene...I could not even watch the clip...

@alexatpos 

I was at Birdland NYC last Friday to see James Carter. I am happy to report that they were not making it mandatory to be vaccinated to enter and Carter and his band were not using masks. About 75 in attendance and I only saw masks on a few oriental people.

 

Paul, glad that you have enjoyed the show. Still,it seems like very few people went to see it? Is it always like that or just recently?

I had no idea that you needed a prood of vaccination to enter some place? We had nothing of a sort here.I know that you cant enter the US without it (as strange as it may sound, today, still?) In general, I am in constant dilemma, to quietly mind my own business, or to scream out loud when I see such things. In any case, my perception of the world and people has changed in the last two years because I saw some things that previously only read about it...and wonder...

at sfjazz center, where i recently attended a couple of shows, they no longer check for vax status, nor are masks required

that said. masks are offered at every entrance for those that want them to wear during the performance

performers on stage do not mask (they never did, even earlier in the pandemic when audience vax status was being checked)... the venue is very large, recently built, has an excellent hvac system with presumably modern levels of air filtration

@pjw81563 

I’m glad you had a good time and I’m glad things are getting back to normal. Last weekend, we went and saw a three piece band. They were okay, but never gonna go platinum 😉

@alexatpos I think the seating capacity at Birdland, counting barstools and tables, is about 150 but I could be wrong. It was crowded that night so maybe more then 75 (I did not walk around counting lol)

@curiousjim Thanks I had a great time. I used to go to at least 6 shows a year before the pandemic and this was my first show in 3 plus years.

 

Not too many jazz artists will ever have albums reach platinum sales status.

Beautiful rendition of the ballad Laura with guest soloist James Carter and guest conductor, a jazz icon, Lennie Niehaus

magnifique!

 

Listening to Charlie Haden - Jim Hall, Live From The Montreal International Jazz Festival (1990)

Despite beeing called Zoot, he is 'contender'...album, by album, just realised that I became a collector...