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

@mahgister

I’m not sure there is a bad Eddie Daniel’s album. Clarinet or Sax, always a good performance.

I concur...

Good suggestions as usual  i will listened anew my 10 albums of the one i consider the best clarinetist i ever heard ...😊

I am guilty of letting Daniels in oblivion this year...

@mahgister

I’m not sure there is a bad Eddie Daniel’s album. Clarinet or Sax, always a good performance.

I am in the same Montoliu day for the last three days :

This anonymus critic on amazon say it better than me :

«

 

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2009

 
The late blind Spanish jazz piano genius Tete Montoliu made this trio recording in 1976. You will not hear a more swinging, joyful trio album than this. Jazz standards such as "Invitation", "Lament," "Lover Man", etc, receive marvelous workups from the trio, consisting of legendary bassist Neils-Henning Orsted Pederson and Albert Heath on drums. This recording is one of 2 recorded by Steeplechase Records in February of 1976. The other equally fine recording is "Tete-A Tete" which you should get as a companion to this recording. Also see my reviews of the same trio's 1974 recordings "Tete" and Catalonian Fire". Get all 4. »
 

 

If you want another guy who can tickle the Ivory’s, check out Gerald Wiggins. The Gerald Wiggins Trio, Wiggin With The Wig.

Here some impressions i cannot entail nor contradict, but which shows how underestimated is this Spanish master of piano :

«As Richard Williams has observed, Montoliu is a far more interesting pianist today than Oscar Peterson – harmonically more resourceful, more given to subtle humour and with a greater range of mood and tonal colour. Though he has developed in sophistication and technical command over the years, he remains a player of instinct and impulse and his dexterity and clarity of execution are tools waiting to do the bidding of his inventive mind.»

https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2021/08/29/jj-08-81-tete-montoliu-trio-at-ronnie-scotts/

 

Sticking to a theme, today’s listening started with Mary Lou Williams,  Free Spirits and   A Grand Night For Swinging.

@curiousjim When I listen to Black Christ of the Andes by Mary Lou Williams, I feel like I’m in Heaven. The title track is one of the great pieces of music of the last 60 years to these ears.

@tylermunns 

She has put some amazing music out! I’m listening to her playing the Saint Louie Blues and it’s really hard to stop my toes from a tappin’!

 Haven’t listened to Black Christ in a while, so it will be next after Live At The Keystone Korner Is finished.

@mahgister 

How can one say that anyone is better or worse than Peterson. They are both great pianists. I can and have listened to both for days on end.

I explicitly said that i cannot approve or contradict these impressions from Richard Williams (not my impression then it is a quote) . I quote it to add to my own opinion about Montoliu ...

I put it to reveal that not all jazz afficionados takes Montoliu ,underestimated in America, as a secondary pianist but as one who can rival Peterson in the same way Chet Baker rival Miles Davis in his own individual way .

In music all great musicians are beside one another on the same podium for different reasons linked to their soul/body individual unique expression ...

i like Peterson as i like Bill Evans , Keith Jarrett , Brad Meldhau, Montoliu , or few japanese pianists unknown here or Bill Charlap etc ..

Montoliu and Bill Evans and Jarrett and Peterson are my favorite ...but the lists of the one i loved is too long to put here .....

jazz is no more an American genre for many decades after the war now ...

Jan Johansson  from sweden is one of the great jazz pianist i love  for example :

 

 

@mahgister

How can one say that anyone is better or worse than Peterson. They are both great pianists. I can and have listened to both for days on end.

I’ve been listening to Mammal Hands this morning. I believe they only have 7 albums out so far, but from what I have heard so far, they are well mixed and recorded.

Nothing life changing, but a very pleasant listen.

@mahgister 

I think Chet Baker can sing better than Miles Davis.😁

I put it to reveal that not all jazz afficionados takes Montoliu ,underestimated in America, as a secondary pianist but as one who can rival Peterson in the same way Chet Baker rival Miles Davis in his own individual way

 

Thats the problem i had....

For me Miles Davis is the best trumpet player...

No doubt ...

But Baker sing better with or without trumpet ...😊

I am in a bar and the dude in front of me speak and mumble a bit ...

He spoke to me right now and if you want listening Baker i can say what he spoke about with his words coming as a cigarette smoke ...

Thats how Baker can play when he is not too much on drug ...😁

And he did  it two times learning anew with  with no teeth...

Then he does not play as this with only his mouth it takes what we must call a soul as in Armstrong playing i forgot speaking of Miles as the best which is true as Jupiter exist  ...

Armstrong is the sun.... Baker is the moon ....Miles is Jupiter .... Evident for me ....

It is jazz planetology 101 ... 😊

 

@mahgister

I think Chet Baker can sing better than Miles Davis.😁

 

Just started my listening today with Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio,  Speak Low. The recording is a bit compressed, but when the bass is going to town with not much more that the high hat keeping time, I smiled.

Just started my listening today with Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio,  Speak Low. The recording is a bit compressed, but when the bass is going to town with not much more that the high hat keeping time, I smiled.

 

I smile too when i listen to him...😊

Very good recommendation and i concur with you ...

 

Nobody can play at the same level each days on drugs...

But he was used to it it seems and even with it he could play minimalistic with a power of speaking and singing expression most trumpet players not on drug can only be envious... 😊

I own 100 albums of Baker ...Save for few evident one he was professional and never played when he was unable to do his job...

The only artist in my own mind thinking of jazz i will compare his artistry is the singing expressive playing of Bill Evans who as Baker try to serve a song more than serving himself with the song ...

They are so great artist that i think of them more than trumpeter or pianist...poet i will say ...

My thesis is they are brothers from an unknown father ...😁

But nobody will believe me here ,,,

I had liked poetry all my life it tainted my musical preferences ...

I was listening 17 century folk song french and english at the radio canada emission under 5 years old each noon dining ... I was listening madrigals and Choral music at 16 when my friends invited me for the Beatles ... 😊

I begun to appreciate jazz when i begun to appreciate musicians for what they are i was old already near 35...

Before that i was mainly classical written choral music ...Bruckner revelation and scriabin revelation educated me and i goes on Persian and Indian ectasy till today with jazz from all countries because jazz is no more just an American language it is universal ...but jazz will never forget his black roots...

By the way the greatest book i read 4 years ago  on acoustics and  revolutionary was written by an African  Acoustician Akpan J. Essien  and specialist of the Yoruba speaking drums whose work contradicting Pythagoras was just proven right this year... I spoke about him in another thread ..

I speak too much but it can be useful i hope ...

 

@mahgister

Sad but true.

Thats how Baker can play when he is not too much on drug ...😁

Last night, I was watching a YouTube video from Absolute Sound. An album mentioned was How Love Begins by Nicole Zuraitis. I just started listening to it and before the first tune was half over, I liked it. Well recorded and she has good voice.  The guy in the video said it was the best Jazz album of 2023.

Post removed 

**** I’m not sure there is a bad Eddie Daniel’s album. Clarinet or Sax, always a good performance. ****

There isn’t! Eddie is the greatest ever “woodwind doubler”. Hero to woodwind players in the NYC scene. He achieved a level of mastery that is truly astounding. Little known fact is that he is also an outstanding flutist. While he has been concentrating on the clarinet in recent years he revisits the tenor and flute periodically. This is one of my favorite records of his. Early (first?) record of just duets with the great Bucky Pizzarelly on guitar:

 

Eddie Daniels beat anyone on clarinet for fluidity and imagination...

I had 10 albums...

I dont have those above thanks frogman i will track them ...😊

I listened to Montoliu another albums with bassist  Javier Colina a pure marvel...

No title save a year : 1995...

No doubt jazz is the deal for me ....Between two Bach masses ... 😋

Saw the New Mastersounds last Friday. Eddie Roberts is a super guitar player, playing a Gibson hollow body.  A wonderful blend of funk and jazz.  There are solo records and plenty of band albums.  He mentors new groups and has put them on his record label.

Finishing my Montoliu week i just begun a Charlie Mariano week ...😎

Jazz is the deal!

These albums are  very good :

 

 

Jazz is way more powerful than we may think because it can transform any piece of music in something different and not less beautiful, proving to us that music is more than the sums of his parts.

The proof about that are in some articles i recommended , a true acoustics revolution, in Bolong  thread "the mystery of sound is mysticism" ...

Jazz is the deal ... 😎

 

 

Oh! i dont have this one!

I like Mariano creativity...

A Miles Davis of the sax in his various metamorphosis...

@mahgister

Another excellent late-period Mariano: "Savannah Samurai" !

Perhaps a little explaining  why Jim Rotondi over one thousand of others great Jazz musicians over the worlds ?😊

i dont know him at all save i read his name  then WHY ? 😊

Jim Rotondi

It is not jazz even if Charlie Mariano is the center with Ramamani the Indian singer, but it reveal where a jazz musician can go and why Jazz is the deal !

 

😊

 

 

There’s a new album by Brian Bromberg, named LaFaro. I’m about halfway through and so far, it’s right up my alley.

@jafant 

listening to The Jim Rotondi Quintet,  Over Here. (2023)

Excellent!

Wish you’d post your favorite albums by an artist instead of just names…

Good to see Charlie Mariano get some love. Great player and a favorite alto player.

Some of my favorite Mariano is as a side man with the great Elvin Jones. I confess to having to make an adjustment in my head (ears) to get used to his idiosyncratic sense of intonation, but I love his soulfulness and story telling.

 

Thanks for this guitarist name recommendation acman3...

I did not even know his name ...

It seems promising ...

Anything from 1955 to 1967. That’s a lifetime of jazz at your fingertips. Yes, that excludes B*tches Brew. Purposely. Miles went off the deep end. But I don’t have to. Anything Miles from ‘55 to ‘66, that’s a lifetime achievement, and having the all time best ever selling jazz album for Columbia, a feather in the cap for eternity on the Mt Rushmore of jazz. All imo.