Jazz for aficionados

Alexatpos, I'm very curious as to how you have all these obscure, but very good musicians in your collection; my guess is you have a really huge collection, could you elaborate?

Enjoy the music.

Alexatpos, I'm very curious as to how you have all these obscure, but very good musicians in your collection; my guess is you have a really huge collection, could you elaborate?

Enjoy the music.

O-10:

Nice clips of Zoot Sims. We know he can play, now, if only we could do something about that name. With another name, he could have been somebody, he could have been a contender. :)

You don't have to tell us everything twice!

Cheers

Today's Disappointment:

Billie Holiday -- THE QUINTESSENTIAL BILLIE HOLIDAY VOL 5

A great talent saddled with third and fourth rate material. She manages to save some of it. That's how great she really was.

No sign of any Jazz. A Bunch of Second rate, "B" Movie themes, and tin pan alley castoffs.

Just made me angry to listen to it.

Good sound quality, by the usual Holiday CD standards, and her talent comes through, in spite of everything.

Cheers :(

I should have repeated the warning I gave you about Billie; why don't you go back and read that post again.

Zoot was probably a real hip nickname when they gave it to him; although "Zoot suits" were kind of before my time, I know Cab Calloway wore one. Speaking of Cab and Zoot suits, here he is in his "Zoot Suit"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyuRT-ExzuQ

Enjoy the music.

After all that snow and ice in the Himalayas, I decided to warm up a bit in the Arabian desert; here's Rabhi Abou- Khalil, and "The Happy Sheik".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVs-H07nU5s

Enjoy the music.

"Ham Hock Blues" piqued my curiosity; I done heard of every kind of blues under the sun, but never "The Ham Hock Blues", do you know the words to this one? Well here's the music , and I like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgLDLLbIUa8

Enjoy the music.

Orpheus, I guess it all came with lots of listening, when
I hear someone 'good', playing some instrument on some album, I try to find more of his music. I would like to think that I have a 'good ear', but you would not want to hear me singing... Also I read about jazz and its protagonists. Years ago it was not so easy to find many albums in shops, I would often travel abroad and than serach for some editions. Now its easier with internet, but aldo the music is more accessible, it looks to me that jazz is still 'terra incognita' for younger generations, which is great pity.
Here is another great guitar player that has recorded only one solo album, Billy Bauer 'Plectrist'...

http://youtu.be/G9x_74wc71c
http://youtu.be/XjiyZVQLnM4

****Ham Hock Blues**** I almost clicked on that one myself. I really like it. Nice and easy swing. At first I wondered about the name "Ham Hock" But, since Milt Hinton(Mississippi) is on board, I guess it's OK. :)

****Calloway's Zoot Suit*** Looks like my 'sunday church suit'. Mine is dark blue. Loved the bowtie. A person really has to have a lot of self confidence to wear something like that. I remember my Mother telling me that Calloway got into trouble for "Jazzing up' "The Star Spangled Banner" During the war I think. Now, it's dissed, on a daily basis.

****Rabhi Abou- Khalil****

Very good. Not so sure I could hear the Jazz part, but it was an enjoyable listen. I think I will check out this so-called Arabic musical influences. I didn't know there was such a thing.

Cheers

Did you know, that according to a search of The Jazz Discography, Milt Hinton is the most-recorded jazz musician of all time, having appeared on 1,174 recording sessions.

Also a fine photographer, Hinton documented many of the great jazz musicians via photographs he took over the course of his career. Hinton was one of the best friends of jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong. He died on December 19, 2000, in Queens, New York City, at age 90.

See if you can find that photography book to add to our photography library.

Here are just a few of my favorite cuts by "Old Man Time".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2-CmJtkLW0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlpfoxYIcW8

And last but not least "Heavy Soul" with Ike Quebec. I know I've posted this before, but now I want you to try and focus on the bass alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1cTgZDUsSc

Enjoy the music.

Alex, you are blowing me away with these fantastic artists I don't recall, or never heard before, when this "Aficionado" prides himself on knowing everybody who was anybody; that just goes to show "It Ain't Necessarily So".

Enjoy the music.

Alex, you are blowing me away with these fantastic artists I don't recall, or never heard before, when this "Aficionado" prides himself on knowing everybody who was anybody; that just goes to show "It Ain't Necessarily So".

Enjoy the music.

Alex, you are blowing me away with these fantastic artists I don't recall, or never heard before, when this "Aficionado" prides himself on knowing everybody who was anybody; that just goes to show, "It Ain't Necessarily So".

Enjoy the music.

Speaking of Zoot...and the guitar players...here is one album with not one, but two great guitar players...and Zoot

Jim Raney,Jim Hall...'Two Jims and Zoot'

http://youtu.be/ZrajgyEJQ50

http://youtu.be/8NVtNBM0NR4

Alexatpos, thanks for sharing. Billy Bauer is a legend among guitar players; in part for his affiliation with Lennie Tristano and Lee Konitz, two of the most interesting players to come out of the "cool" school. Great player!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RK4U0Q3LbWE

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=38AwFL_3gSY

O-10:

A nice Tenor-Bass duet from the same CD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJou_YPgbgI

This is from my only Quebec CD. What a lineup!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoBhmxHgHig

Cheers

O-10:

Today's Listen:

Louis Armstrong -- SATCH PLAYS FATS (SACD)

Bet you can't listen to these without smiling. What a talent!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6P5qLCYiWw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcUsapcOVpc

Cheers

The word that comes to mind is "effortlessly".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PMB-wgHM4Y

Cheers

And no, there is no such thing, as too much of a great thing!

Ella had those horn players under a lot of pressure. I had to laugh out loud! The Trombome player tried to rise up, but she quickly slapped him back in his place. I think the Sax player knew better. Played his little solo and sat down.

When she is on stage with a band, she is in command! I love it/her!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ePqKd4yF5A

Cheers

Orpheus, take you for your nice words, I am glad that I can contribute, in hope that all that great music should not stayed hidden or forgoten. I enjoy reading your posts when you speak about all the great players that you actually have known,met or just listened playing

Frogman, what you called "Cool School", we called "West Coast". When I bought records every week, I always bought half West Coast. Since that time "All" of those original records have gone with the wind, but I've been able to replace the other records, which might be on the 5th copy by now, while the "West Coast" records were no longer available.

In the case of East Coast, West Coast, don't get locked down to geographical area; while Lennie Tristano's studio was in New York, the music was strictly "West Coast".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvk0U3FTWzQ

Here are some examples of "West Coast":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLtNSPC7P0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfLsEH4csQ4

Enjoy the music.

Alex, I appreciate your contributions, and I hope you'll continue to make them.

Enjoy the music.

Since we seem to be taking a break from Jazz, may I present:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG9X5Ewp15U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RePdIllMJhU

Cheers

Speaking of 'cool' sound, hidden sessions, great music and sad stories, this album has it all. Tony Fruscella and Brew Moore Quintet 'Unissued Atlantic Session'

http://youtu.be/-hqFJjQNpQE?list=PLiducaShgtxlmEuy4warTNK6ekP_VzyRK

http://youtu.be/bPRDzlEENy0?list=PLiducaShgtxlmEuy4warTNK6ekP_VzyRK

First time that I have heard this pianist play was on this album of C.Haden, together with C.Baker. His name is Enrico Pieranunzi, and here is the title song from their album 'Silence'

http://youtu.be/fXZR4zxMDeA

For ones who think that he might be worth further exploring, here is his album from 2012, together with the new rythm section of Gary Burton

http://youtu.be/FY2MwD9S_JM

Since posting is slow here on Audiogon, I will use the opportunity and post one more clip, with similar atmosphere. It is great music, but not jazz, please forgive me in advance.

http://youtu.be/IUAF3abGY2M

http://youtu.be/QXFgHYk5NMc

****In the case of East Coast, West Coast, don't get locked down to geographical area; while Lennie Tristano's studio was in New York, the music was strictly "West Coast".****

Precisely why I prefer to (and did) refer to the style as "cool school" not West Coast; really interchangeable.

Alexatpos, Brew Moore. Nice! Very soulful player out of the Lester Young school. Love his tone.

Frogman, Brew Moore has a very nice tone, but I like the trumpet sound of Tony Fruscella as well, in fact he was the reason I searched for that album. Like so many others, he never made it, his personal problems were probably too overwhelming. By the way, I am reading old posts here, and yours are really educative.

I've always believed in the East/West coast sound/style difference. Of course this doesn't mean ALL the music can be automatically categorized as such but yeah, it exists. Not only in Jazz. I believe it's also applicable to Rock, Latin, and Rap. I think Big Bands are particularly revealing of their geographic's. It occurs to me that when I think east coast/west coast, in truth I'm thinking NY vs. LA.

Excellent observation re big bands and absolutely true. It's hard to imagine the sound of the Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis big band originating in LA; or that of the Terry Gibbs big band in NY.

Rok, besides the divas we know very well, here's somebody I like a lot, "Lorez Alexandria"; I can feel that she has lived the songs she sings. For example "The End of a Love Affair"; I've got a version she sang juxtaposed against a version by the Wes Montgomery Trio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdd2Byfr8gk

Now here's Wes Montgomery's instrumental;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF78KBsilXg

Does the vocal help you understand the instrumental, or does the instrumental go deeper into the emotions of the the vocal?

My favorite by Lorez is "Softly As In a Morning Sunrise";

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR17dx1GYC0

This is the MJQ doing the same tune;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crCxefHCLJA

When you juxtapose the vocal against the instrumental, you plumb the full meaning and emotional depth of the tune.

Enjoy the music.

Every thing good in USA started either in New York or Minnesota.

"West Coast" jazz is a sub genre of "Cool Jazz", and so far has not been clearly defined. Although this is unimportant in the big scheme of things, it's important to me, because I was a fan of this genre. Since the records in my collection are "gone with the wind", I certainly can't find anything there.

I recall Chico Hamilton as being my favorite artist who consistently played west coast jazz at that time. I believe his "Blue Sands" is a good example of that genre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW9ZvqdLlUE

Enjoy the music.

Very interesting question. I think the instrument players will win out in most cases. Ella being a possible exception.

Of the two tunes you posted, I preferred the instrumental versions in both cases. I didn't think Lorez brought the required amount of passion to her performances.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softly,_as_in_a_Morning_Sunrise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqPzi99xOCM

I also think Billie did a much better job on Love Affair. She captured the feeling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxSldEPISwo

The Wes clip was good, but I found it a little too long. They could have stopped long before they did. Didn't keep my attention.

The MJQ clip was, MJQ!! Have they ever been less than great??

Interesting comparison. Thanks.

Cheers

Rok, your answers were even more interesting than my questions.

Abbey Lincoln hit the tune "Softly As In a Morning Sunrise" out of the park; however, Lorez's understated version came in a close second, the operative word is "Softly". The MJQ did it for both of us.

On "The End Of a Love Affair", "Lady In Satin" was the Billie CD I sold; I wanted to hear her sing, but instead I heard her pain. If you have ever personally known one Billie (someone who was going through what she was going through at that time) you've known one too many, and that's all I'm going to say about that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_in_Satin

I couldn't find the instrumental version of that tune I wanted. Lorez's version was perfect for me. We're talking about someone who's trying to escape the emotions of "The End Of A Love Affair"; they drink too much, smoke too much, and talk too loud; they even play loud music to drown out the pain in their heart. Such a person would be going from club to club, and their external appearance would be loud and boisterous in order to conceal their internal pain.

Although we didn't agree on Billie, we certainly agreed about her pain.

Enjoy the music.

Today's Listen:

THE INTERNATIONAL SWEETHEARTS of RHYTHM

I was looking thru some old family photos from way back in the day. Came across a photo of this group. Signed to my Aunt. I think she knew several of the band members, and they did play in Greenville while on tour. They started at the Piney Woods school in Mississippi. Foxes Galore!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Sweethearts_of_Rhythm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piney_Woods_Country_Life_School

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WczP3PyHt20

Enjoy

Cheers

O-10:

I have the Lady in Satin CD. The wiki entry was sort of contradictory. I guess they all heard different things. I agree it's painful to listen to her, but still compelling.

I was surprised to read that it made the Grammy Hall of Fame. Not that I put much stock in the Grammy Awards.

Today I will listen to her CD, Lady in Autumn: the best of the verve years. Will get back on it.

Cheers

Rok, I didn't know there were so many foxes in the whole state of Mississippi, plus a female Lester Young.

After reading their history, and listening to the music, I don't see how they overcame so many obstacles, while still looking good and playing fantastic music. There must have been something special in the Piney Woods drinking water.

I thought their music sounded very good, outstanding even, and that's without the qualifier "For a girls band". Their music took me back to that time when it was happening during the WW II years. So many good things would have happened for them "If", and I'm not about to go into the "If's".

Enjoy the music.

O-10:

Glad you enjoyed the girl band.

Today's listen:

Billie Holiday -- LADY IN AUTUMN:THE BEST OF THE VERVE YEARS

I listened to this when I was alone, and the house was quiet. WOW! She is sooo good. She don't need no stinking perfect voice. The feeling she puts into her singing is just amazing. Much better than the 'Quintessentiasl vol 5'.
Very good recorded sound. Even the strings on the last few tracks of CD#2 could not mar her performance.

From the liner notes:

"like the aging fast-ball pitcher who has lost his stuff, she was depending more and more on craft and guile to put across her songs." --- John S Wilson, Jazz Critic.

And then, there was this, from a Jazz Musician, shortly before her death.:

"I'd rather hear her now. She's become much more mature. Sometimes you can sing words every night for five years, and all of a sudden it dawns on you what the song means. I played 'My Funny Valentine' for a long time-and didn't like it-and all of a sudden it meant something. So with Billie, you know she's not thinking now what she was in 1937, and she's probably learned more about different things. And she has control, probably more control now than then. No I don't think she's in a decline." -- Miles Davis, Jazz Musician.

"But, even in her youth, Holiday's voice was not, in itself, remarkable. Compared to Ella and Sarah, she possessed a limited instrument--relatively narrow in range, tone and color. The way Holiday used her voice--her resourceful alterations of melody; her dramatic, often ironic, approach to lyrics; her peerless sense of swing -- is what made her the greatest singer in Jazz history."----Joel E. Siegel, writer of the liner notes.

I tend to agree with Siegel, up to a point. No sure about that 'greatest in history' stuff. After all, Miss Fitzgerald was in history! :) But all are interesting.

Next up, tomorrow, The Complete DECCA recordings.

Cheers

Eddie Harris really came up with some unusual sounds; here he is with "Silver Cycles", which is different from anything I can think of, it's just not long enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wLSlaP8MOQ

I'm in the mood for something different today, can't get much different than this;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-2mXN7OQR0

Enjoy the music.

1143

O-10:

Just listened to Ray Lynch and Eddie Harris. I think I'll have Miles' Aunt, make a house call to your place. Sprinkle some Snake Dust all over your floor.

Cheers

Mo' better Eddie Harris.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCOfFqnPwlU

Cheers

"Cold Duck"; in case you don't remember was a very popular wine at that time. It don't git no better than that, lots of good memories.

I had the weirdest dream after listening to the complete CD "Deep Breakfast". I was standing in line near the ticket window of a movie theater, when a guy walked up to me and say's "You buy the tickets, and I'll buy the refreshments". Since refreshments cost more than a ticket, I said "OK". He didn't tell me he had nine kids.

After he buys the refreshments, we leave the refreshment stand and go into the theater. Once we leave the stand, I discover the theater has no roof. (music from "Deep Breakfast" is playing throughout the dream)

After getting seated, the movie begins with these short squat Hobbit looking dudes on the screen, I don't know what they're doing, but they're moving to the music of "Celestial Soda Pop".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPojjUgZy7I

Maybe this music exudes it's own snake dust?

Enjoy the music.

Different strokes for different folks.

Ella
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9yxokrJJ6Q

Billie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhdYoWhBKhM

Nina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjOU511yBMg

Dee Dee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3C9L6VzOdY

Etta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP97iBFNdiY

And the winner is___________???

Cheers

And the winner is "Nina Simone".

O-10:

You should heed the "Warning Labels" on these sound wave CDs. One of these days you'll wake up, and still be in the dream! That'll Learn Ya!

"Celestial Soda Pop" has been on the playlist of my local PBS station for years. Never knew who played it. I love it. Does not really need pictures. Although the pics were great. The P-51 just has to be the most beautiful airplane ever made.

I guess I owe Mr Lynch an apology.:(

Cheers

******And the winner is "Nina Simone".******

The correct order of finish:

1. Ella
2. Billie
3. Etta
4. Dee Dee
5. Nina

Billie and Ella was a "pick'em". The backing groups on both were awesome. Billie better phrasing, Ella better voice?? After all, it is Billie's song.

Etta, just regular great talent.

Dee Dee was fun, but I am not sure what she was singing, after the opening. But loved her, and the guys on Sax.

Nina just did not do it for me. But I cannot bring myself to criticize Miss Simone. She may have went over my head.

Cheers

Learsfool:

Have you and your group ever performed Schumann's Konzertstuck, Concerto for Four Horns?

I understand it is murder for Horn players. Talk about it.

Cheers

Donald Byrd was a man of many phases. While I liked them all, here are two tunes from this phase of his development that have stuck with me over the years. How many LP's you've worn out of one particular album or another speaks volumes in regard to the high esteem you held that particular LP. For me, this one ranks up there with KOB, and "Somethin Else"; the title is "Out of This World", it introduced Herby Hancock, and now Herby needs no introduction. This tune is clean "Out of this world".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmW_iRcs3D0

This next tune is titled "Curro's"; although I have no idea of where the title came from, I picture myself in a real hip club like "Gino's", which is where I saw Trane, and company live about the time of "My Favorite Things". This tune is so hip, that "Curro's" is even hipper than "Gino's". (I have no idea what that truck represents, but you can't have everything)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzwgbtT2x98

Enjoy the music.

Rok, this should be an interesting CD, "Pepper Adams, Playing Charles Mingus"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIu87qCZnJ4

Enjoy the music.

Rok, while we always compare new vocalists to past greats, I prefer not to focus on those differences, and just appreciate what present vocalists have to offer.

Karrin Allyson is a vocalists who sings the classics the way they're supposed to be sung; she always projects the essence of the tune. While that sounds simple and easy, it's not. First, the artist must know what that "essence" is in order to project it. One of the greatest of the greats was asked to sing a song without knowing the "essence" behind it. Things didn't go right, and she, being an honest person, admitted it.

When you hear Bobby Timmons, the pianist who wrote "Moanin", play it, the essence of that tune smacks you upside the head. Karyn Allyson prejects that essence as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK5UYkENgDU

"Everything Must Change" touches upon one of the sad facts of life; I don't think I want to know what that "Super fox" I met over 40 years ago, looks like today. Karrin Allyson projects the essence of "Everything Must Change".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-q6TiiyTZI

Enjoy the music.