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

@pjw81563 

listening to Sonny Stitt,  Blows The Blues.  In my humble opinion, it’s wonderful!

@curiousjim

I know, as does everyone else, about the Heroin problem at that time.  I just don't think one of the founders of Blue Note would pay artists in drugs.  That's a felony.  Why risk all he had built, by being in effect, a drug pusher.  You pay them in dollars and let them find a 'source'.

The whole thing sounds like a tale told by someone trying to explain why their career never went anywhere.

I can just see some record company exe throwing a few 'bags' in front of Miles or Mingus as 'payment'.

 

Cheers

@stuartk 

Anyone here ever read "Straight Life" (was there ever a more ironic title?) by Art Pepper? 

 

Yes I read Straight Life by Art and Lauri Pepper and its a great book.

The whole thing sounds like a tale told by someone trying to explain why their career never went anywhere.

Or Alfred Lion could have been "feeling him out" to see if he snatched up the dope,  and then agreed to any contract that Lion proposed in cash....

 

@rok2id 

So Blue Note started in 1939 and Simmons first record came out in 1966.  Maybe times were tough at Blue Note. Maybe Simmons felt wronged and that was his way trying to get even. But with man’s inhumanity to man, nothing would surprise me.

And I doubt they’d want to get cash machines like Mingus messed up.

@ho249 

After seeing your post, I’ve been listening to Ralph Moore this evening.  For someone neither one of us has ever heard of,  he has a bunch of really good recordings online. Tonight I listened to Three Score, Round Trip and Oscar Peterson meets Roy Hargrove and Ralph Moore.  

Thanks for the tip!

@curiousjim 

Have you listened to Thodoris Kotsifas “Conception Of Thought”? It’s available on Qobuz- you may like it.

@curiousjim My pleasure! Thanks also to Korry Cook at KSYM radio for playing the record. Cook is a very good drummer, by the way.

@stuartk 

Thanks to the Penguin, yes I am. He’s on my ever growing list.  So far, the only album I’ve listened to is Ends And Means, but I will definitely be going back for more.

@designsfx 

I’m about half way through Conception Of Thought and I am enjoying it very much.

Thanks for the suggestion.  Hearing new to me music, keeps it all fresh.

@curiousjim

Haven’t heard that one.

BTW, another excellent record featuring Ralph Moore is Kenny Barron’s "Other Places":

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kenny+barron+other+places

I will attempt to restrain myself from bombarding you with further suggestions, as the Penguin has ( I presume) already provided you with a ton of options! ;o )

 

 

@stuartk 

Lol,

Bombard away. You have given me hours of enjoyment. Oh, I haven’t received the second book yet, but @900 pages it should be a snap to read.😁

@curiousjim 

Well, OK  -- if you insist!  Sticking to the Ralph Moore theme, here's a live JJ Johnson date with a killer group of sidemen: 

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

JJ Johnson: Trombone

Ralph Moore: Sax

Victor Lewis: Drums

Bass: Rufus Reid

Piano: Stanley Cowell 

 

i go on listening to my Sipiagin collection...Here he play with a german saxophonist leader...

This one album is very good to my taste... On my new improved 4 inches self powered speakers in their acoustic corner in my basement and celestial in my K340 headphone...😊 My audiophile heaven is in a basement corner... 😁

I like hammond organ very much as in this album ...

Jazz at his best for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9BkxUeMqZQ

 

I go on also with Wayne Shorter but for now i cannot recommend one in particular...

I like when sax and trumpet are in duos in some Shorter albums ...

And speaking of Stanley Cowell,  I’m enjoying his album No Illusions now.

@mahgister 

I will be listening to your suggestion next as I don’t believe I have heard the album before.

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@curiousjim 

You're welcome!

Stanley Cowell is excellent.

@mahgister 

The sax, trumpet, piano, bass and drums is probably my favorite. 

Check out Billy Harper's quintet recordings with trumpeter Eddie Henderson, such as the three "Live in the Far East" releases and the studio releases "Soul of an Angel" and "Destiny is Yours". Fine Spiritual Jazz. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I will right now ... 😊

@mahgister 

Check out Billy Harper's quintet recordings with trumpeter Eddie Henderson, such as the three "Live in the Far East" releases and the studio releases "Soul of an Angel" and "Destiny is Yours". Fine Spiritual Jazz. 

If Destiny IsYours, is Spiritual, then I’ve found religion.😁

Good stuff!

Sometimes we can only be sure that the musician is at the top of his game and a genius, even before we learn to know if we like him or not or the fact that we like him or not matter no more because his playing sound and phrasing is unique ...

It seems Harper is in this league of his own...

The only comparison in mind is Love Supreme of Coltrane ...

My first listen and any negative review of this masterpiece would be ridiculous😊and any positive review understatement :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez8uX1Qj5mQ

 

 

@acman3 

You wouldn’t happen to know what album 1981 is on? I looked on Qobuz and Amazon Music and couldn’t find it.

Thanks.

This second album i listen to of Billy Harper is no less genius than the first above... Amazing...

Because he never put useless notes... His musical sense is top... Then it keep our attention to the music line not to himself playing... A master for me walking the thin line between musical content and improvization ......We feel he never need to prove himself and stay creative without using music for himself... In this sense he is spiritual player...Less ego and more music...

i am impressed and i tried to put my words on my impressions... 😁😊

But i could have stayed speechless... 😁

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7BOjLN2XTI

Is a third album at this perfection level be possible?

 I will see after dinner and walk... 

 

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I concur....

At least " the believer" album is top it seems as the two others above...

He had a musical sense so tense that this tame his astonishing virtuosity...This is why i love him... He is not savage player as some others or a completely "civilized" one ,  but a refined musician who play with his heart no less than with his brain...

😊

I had the good fortune to experience Harper in person just once, as part of a band gotten together for a Lee Morgan tribute. As far as I know Harper only played on Morgan’s final album.

It was quite an array of talent, including Eddie Henderson, Geri Allen and Billy Hart. Don’t recall the others.

Harper was a stand-out. I felt I was as close to experiencing something on the level of Coltrane as I’d ever likely experience. I’d heard Rollins, Murray, Lovano, Potter, Bobby Watson and others but Harper was distinctly different -- in his own category.

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The most creative saxophonist virtuoso i listened to is Roland Kirk...

Wayne Shorter more minimalist is on par for me...

But now i will make a place for Billy Harper beside them and beside Rollins, Hawkins and Stitt...

Is there something as visionary saxophone music ?

Yes, Billy Harper.....After Coltrane....

I listened to an incredible third album ( the only defect is that he sing for sure well and speak😁 )  :

https://www.allmusic.com/album/if-our-hearts-could-only-see-mw0000060083

@acman3 

I bummed.  I bought a streamer so I wouldn’t keep buying CD’s, but “The Beliver” isn’t on Amazon Music or Qobuz.  

Oh well.

Billy Harper plays on this excellent Grachan Moncur III 2004 recording. Harper is definitely one of the great tenor players post 1970.

Exploration - YouTube

Listening to Ronnie Bedford,   Just Friends.  Featuring Tommy Newsom, Bill Charlap, & Peter Huffaker.