@curiousjim Try this one ....one of his that I Ilike very much....
Teddy Edwards 'Good Gravy' from 1961.
https://youtu.be/Klrq7BLVqTE?feature=shared
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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There is something soothing and relaxing in the Baritone sax voice, and Gary Smulyan is very good at it, and we need relaxation these days 😁 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja6Yep7lf3g&list=PLdFOkuVvI1yx6OYh8TSEx19zPDRQn9vAX&index=2 |
Waiting from other Brecker surprizes i listen to Gary Smulyan a third magnificent album here all about sax but dominated by the baritone of Smulyan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-8xu14NDjc&list=PLdFOkuVvI1ywgWOCpfKADglkPlrfY3gWy
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I’ve seen that video before and it makes me smile. Not that it’s comedic, but because when I started my audio journey, I had twenty watt Singer(?) amps. By the eighties, you had to hundreds of watts per channel and now if you look at some of the uber high end amps, they put out over a thousand watts a side! And here I am with 90 dbs speakers that rarely go over 90 db and an amp that puts out 250 watts a side. |
Another fine album that I got just recently...
Joe Newman Quintet at Count Basie’s (1961) https://youtu.be/z2DMW815Vg0?feature=shared https://youtu.be/4vc8-TM3wQo?feature=shared
’Joe Newman at Count Basie’s is the first record the underappreciated trumpeter cut after leaving the Basie Band for the second time. The 1961 session was cut live at his former employer’s club in front of a noisy, appreciative audience and features Newman and his young band (Oliver Nelson on tenor, Art Davis on bass, Lloyd Mayers on piano and Ed Shaughnessy on drums) cutting loose on a mix of standards and Newman originals. While this record may have seemed like the beginning of a great solo career for Joe Newman, in fact it was his final session for a major label as a leader.’ |
That video confused me. In my experience, moving from a 150 watts @ 8 ohm Wells Majestic integrated to a 250 watts @ 8 ohm Hegel H390 impacted more than the system’s ability to play loud. In fact, when I first hooked up the Hegel, I was shocked, because my speakers sounded so much better. Unless one is restricting one’s choices to amps of varying power within the same product line of a single manufacturer, there will be differences between 10 amps of different brands with equal power ratings besides how loud/clean they play. Perhaps I’m simply too ignorant re: the physics involved to grasp the value of the experiment in the video in terms of real world application.
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A lot of companies have a signature sound and Hegel definitely has one. It’s not the amount of watts as what the whole chain of electronics that makes them. I bet you haven’t used 100 watts since you bought your H390, unless you’ve really cranked up. BTW, I have the H390 as well and am extremely happy with it. Having said that, with the H590 for sale at half price, I wonder what the used ones go for. |
What I’ve read consistently is that the H390 is warmer. This would disincline me from moving up but perhaps you’d find the 590 more appealing. Jay from Jay’s Inagi recently reviewed the H600 and described its tonality as midway between the 390 and 590. Whether or nor I utilize all the power on tap from the 390, its warmth (greater then both the 590 and those below it in the line) is not something I’d be willing to give up.I’d actually welcome warming up the system a bit more. I can’t afford to do this now but perhaps will be able to do so in the future. Thanks for your comments!
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I was in love with baritone sax and my love grow by day ... Gary Smulyan "the real deal" album : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3fG3m9UxmA&list=OLAK5uy_k0O3lv1qAy2-NqQT0DbuP028aV57PE87I
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Been out of pocket, here's a track I really like by Charles Lloyd quartet: https://open.spotify.com/track/40ZvTRrjQZ1JQiJnl3MkKR?si=b6a83562137d40d0 Any of you folks have a phono stage that you'd recommend? The Manley Chinook is intriguing to me, but runs $3,200. I'd like to find one a tad cheaper if possible. I'm in the market for a cartridge too, but that's a complicated story. |
@mahgister , you’ve mentioned two of the greatest baritone players. I am particularly a fan of Ronnie Cuber, who is sadly no longer with us. Monster baritone prayer, While Smulyan is a great post-bebopper through and through, Ronnie Cuber was more akin to Micheal Brecker in the sense that he did a lot of work in the R&B and Latin music scenes as well as straight ahead Jazz. As expected all that was reflected in his playing.. I love his playing. https://youtu.be/zWw-3kJwge0?si=aUM0y5nnd36K8GwQ Some favorite earlier work of his: https://youtu.be/d89efDn97qs?si=47ffeSAiCgDUwcVf https://youtu.be/5bypNuFs9oc?si=n61GImad0Cg1lcI6 No conversation on baritone players should overlook the greatest of all, Pepper Adams. A close listen to Smulyan’s sound and approach shows how he is a musical descendant of the great Pepper Adams, whom he replaced in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra saxophone section, https://youtu.be/fjm52JRscpA?si=eGEv2PwrSV_nUF2v https://youtu.be/4lKTp8u6YSg?si=VknTidVRFxsb30Zs As an interesting aside. At some point before recording the following, Pepper Adams had to replace his saxophone mouthpiece. The difference in tone is obvious. Still great and still Pepper Adams, but with more edge: https://youtu.be/tOCZddFI1tU?si=mGp726OzBq32xJEV https://youtu.be/lg7Hm5aE8mI?si=Yy-zKUNf7AjXMqwi
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Thanks frogman for the musical precisions ... You are our living jazz master and teacher here...😊 I will go for Pepper Adams too ... I swim in an ocean of trombone , sax, and baritone now ....many albums to discover are coming in the next months ... The trumpet and piano and guitars i love so much has now many instruments rivals in my heart... I begin to appreciate bass too because of the clarity of my actual headphone and speakers system with bass ... My respect and appreciation for your help ... ...
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While I know absolutely nothing about Phono Stages, maybe this will help. https://www.youtube.com/live/FN7VP-xezRs?si=Er7uPsx76obgOsfL |
@curiousjim Thanks for your input! I'll probably post my dilemma in the analog forum after reviewing your links. Charles Davis is another good baritone saxophonist. You can hear him on this album: https://youtu.be/3JIlzhYs5iI?si=wSpYaZ6TJ7LG-jhC I had the good fortune to hear Gary Smulyan live with the Dave Holland big band a few years ago. He had maybe 4 solos during the show, all well done.
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Thanks for this one it seems interesting... I dont know why i like baritone so much ... I like bass human voices and contralto feminine voice also ....😁
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I also heard him with Holland. He plays on the live Holland Octet’s "Pathways" which I personally prefer to the Holland Big Band recordings. My favorite Smulyan recording is this trio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDBa-33F7Ko Another bari release I like very much: |
This one is one of my best too ..😊 And this one is no less good : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh6JpSt9Yko&list=PLBJenJIJrq0zaurEPd-ssmOXR43HyQx6J Smulyan is very gifted ...
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This album with Smulyan is a gem ; Three sax baritone for the price of one ,one is Ronnie Cuber 😁: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bbMSg3I1pg&list=OLAK5uy_kJmFAkgu-pIdwZ1TExMeuoUbSPhYaPDc0
My soundfield was never so good ...I cannot stop listening music... Save for my embeddings control efficiency i dont understand why , because my self active speakers are not top speakers as My Tannoy were ... But i was knowing nothing for the 45 years i owned them and i never listened to them at their top in an acoustic room as i know how to do now with my low cost speakers whyich i optimized a lot for sure ... I cannot stop music .... |
You must be doing something right with your embedding!
I’m going to have to buy this! You mean in db’s ? Maybe others could answer this. I can’t. What I can say is, it depends upon the venue’s acoustics, where you’re seated, if the instruments are mic’d and if so, the band’s preferences re: volume. I attended quite a few performances at Yoshi’s from trios up to the Dave Holland Big Band and never had any problems. Yoshi’s has quite a high stage. The sound was consistently excellent. If the musicians are on a very low stage and you have concerns, all I can suggest is, don’t sit right in front of a horn player! If players are mic’d bring earplugs to be on the safe side. I once went to hear The Cookers and the volume drove me out of the venue! They were louder than Rock shows I’d attended! I asked the sound guy and he said it was what the band wanted. I can only assume they are going deaf. This was a disappointment as it was my second chance to hear Billy Harper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SZqOpzXd20
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I dont understand how this low cost active speakers i own can be so good ... It is my successful embeddings controls and modifications for sure , what else ? I disliked these speakers for 12 years straight and never used them for music till i was in the obligation to modify and embed them for music because they were the only one i owned now .. I cannot stop listening and i pity many of those who own 50,000 bucks speakers not well embedded ... 😁
For Gary Smulyan , it is a player with genius in my book not less than Ronnie Cuber ...And i prefer his musical choices ( more classic jazz) too even if i like the two players ... You cannot go wrong with any Smulyan albums it seems to me ...
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@curiousjim None of the live jazz shows I've attended were so loud that I needed ear plugs. If the group has any jazz-rock leanings, I'd probably bring ear plugs to be safe. New release from Jimmy Giuffre I like, concert from 1959. The sound is very good: https://youtu.be/0SZqivUMVTg?si=vh-Fd0ghDMmwr5CH He plays tenor sax on this track. It sounds better on Qobuz than on YouTube. |
Just right now i listen anew the "trouble" album of Jamie Saft... This dude make original jazz music ...But unlike Smulyan it is an acquired taste ... 😁 It begun to enter in my collection of favorite with some albums ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRLDg-413Aw&list=OLAK5uy_ng8sGrK1U7Q_B3etC7NAmJUGyGPoZAr2A
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Sometimes less is more ... This album of Jamie Saft is relaxing, And as his title indicate "Doom Jazz" more than perfect for me to read the news on twitter, if not there on X ,where ? ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNo1Tz8yOZc&list=OLAK5uy_liDS2NGpoa9Yk_hEZtj9Oh8cc1Oc_0SPo I dont recommend it for purchase but i am very happy ti listen to it on youtube... I like Jamie Saft sorry...
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Tastes differ. Why apologize? Not sure this qualifies as Jazz but there’s nothing to be gained through nitpicking. Personally, if I’m going to listen to the likes of "Ballad of a Thin Man", I’d rather listen to Dylan’s original version. Neither Dylan nor the vocalist on the Saft recording are "good" singers but I prefer Dylan’s "bad" singing. It seems to me, some songs are best left alone, as cover versions inevitably fall short. Having said that, I’m glad you’ve found another musician you enjoy ! |
I must confess that i dislike most jazz singer save very few... I had listen the album "trouble" for the music variation on Dylan melodies... Not for the spoken songs ...😁 I prefer Dylan over most singer in the pop culture and in the jazz culture singing ... Then i think the same as you ... but i like the Saft albums in general ...It is not classical jazz for sure ...
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Today is my Joey DeFrancesco hammond player day and multi instrumentist ... I discovered him thanks to czarivey audiogon member recommendation ... I like hammond organ jazz... I could not recommend an album in particular, they seems all interesting ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=230SAX-zDTk&list=RDEMcVCLWgzE84AMExDBDakaXw&start_radio=1
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,,,'and now something completely different ' (from Alice Coltrane) One of singer Annie Ross' finest sessions away from the premiere jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. She is joined by either Zoot Sims or (on two numbers) Bill Perkins on tenor, pianist Russ Freeman, Billy Bean or Jim Hall on guitar, bassist Monty Budwig and Mel Lewis or Frankie Capp on drums
'A Gasser' (blends nicely with Sunday morning) https://youtu.be/1FDSdiFUj8M?feature=shared
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I’m a big fan of Chick Corea’s acoustic and Fender Rhodes playing, but as is also the case with Herbie Hancock, I do not enjoy his synth recordings. It’s not Corea -- it’s the instrument, which I’ve never warmed to, overall. There are a few isolated exceptions. For example, Steve Winwood has on occasion, managed to coax a fairly musical ( to my ears) tone from a synth. I don’t care for heavily processed electric guitar, either, though. I want to be able to discern whether it’s a Tele, Les Paul, 335, strat, etc. Otherwise, why even use instruments? Just generate any tone you please with a computer and call it good. Sorry for the rant. If you enjoy synths, you have many more possibilities to explore. That’s a good thing! |
Another day with among others i already named here, Joey DeFrancesco : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-S6rJo_ANs&list=OLAK5uy_no0K1TBhG05V4EV56mg57BJdFald2X1ic
Just fun and relaxing jazz on Hammond with guitar, a coupling i particularly enjoy ... We need relaxation ...😊 I am so enthralled by my acoustic corner with these low cost modified speakers so good the soundfield is that i dont believe it myself ... Definitely the minimal acoustical satisfaction level may be lower in cost than i ever dreamed it myself ... Immersive music on all my files ... Timbre are natural and soundstage encompassing me in many recording with perfect imaging ... I cannot stop listening jazz.... With one hour classical each day ...
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