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

I listen to a lot of post-bop stuff from the '70s- not fusion, more in the vein of spiritual or soul jazz. Cecil McBee appeared on a huge number of records (and is still with us as far as I know). The jazz scene went sort of underground-- the "loft scene" in NYC, the various private and "collective" labels--Gary Bartz did a direct to disc recording a few years ago with a ensemble called "Maisha" that was heavily influenced by the period and Bartz is on the recording. Good sonics, and good playing. He was first generation of this style which made the record cool. 

@daledeee1 

I’ll check out New Mastersounds this weekend. Any album I should listen to first?

The Nashville Sessions 1 or 2.  If you like English funk?  A drummer friend who went with me explained it to me but I had never heard of that style.  All I know is I like the band. Eddie Roberts solo work is good as well.  I like almost all their stuff and I say that about very few bands

@coltrane1 

I’m with you. I listen to older MD only. I listened to or tried to listen to all of his stuff, but I doubt I will be listening to anything past 1970 ever again. 
 

Not my cup of tea.

@daledeee1 

Listening to Nashville 1, I’m not sure if I’d call it jazz, but I’m really digging it! If they come to my part of the states, I’ll definitely check them out!

Listening to Hiromi, Alive.  
I really like most of her albums. There’s a lot of energy in her music!

@mahgister 

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.

Beautifully said!  

  

 

 

@daledeee1 Thanks for introducing me to The New Mastersounds. I really like funky stuff. Been listening to many funky infectious groove bands for years but never heard of TNM until now.

Actually I'm surprised because when playing all of the other band I like in that genre TNM never came up as "suggested based on your listening" or "customers who purchased that also like this".

Last night I listened to The Nashville Sessions vol. 1 and 2 in their entirety and really like them. Very tight band. Could benefit with a small brass section like most of the other funky and NOLA bands I listen to.

 

Several New Mastersounds albums have some brass.  Also, look under Eddie Roberts.

Polyrhythmics is another great funk jam band.  Complete with horn section.  I have also listened to Lettuce who are along the same musical styles.

Had not had cable TV service for years and TV set dark for much of the time.  Then when I realized all the good content on The Youtubes I started assembling a modest HT setup just to stream moves and watch music concerts.   Then realized how much better video quality DVD was so bought a cheap player.  Upon a recommendation from my local librarian I checked out the Sonny Rollins concert from this series.  Wow what a treat.  Just finished the Mingus DVD last night. Gonna try to work through as many as possible.   Highly recommended. 

 

Me for sure!

I adore Hammond jazz...

Thanks for the recommendation... I did not even know the name ...

Joey Defrancesco is my best...

 

I identified 6 albums... I dont know if there is more...

This show under is interesting... I will definitely go hunting ... 😋😎😁😊

 

 His playings as often in funk is mesmerizing and hypnotizing ...

 

 

Another good funky bunch is Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio.

Hammond B3 anyone?

 

 

If you’re a Miles buff check out the Miles Davis Chronicles, an 8 cd set of his remastered Prestige recordings. 8 cd’s playing with Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, John Coltrane, etc., a who’s who of young jazz players from 1951 to 1956. Highly recommended!  The entire set is even on YouTube. 

Michael Cuscuna R.I.P.

Many years ago, Woody Shaw said of Cuscuna:

“No matter what you produce or do in your life, the thing you’ll be remembered for is rescuing all that Blue Note material.”

Full last interview:

Michael Cuscuna: Lifetime Achievement in Recording (downbeat.com)

@coltrane1 

I have that Miles Davis Complete Prestige Sessions box set. Remastered with very good sonics.

Post removed 

Thanks frogman...

I did not have these one and goes on the hunt...

By the way we are a few here loving hammond jazz.... 😊

 

These three sound exquisite....😊

I explore Shirley Scott at the recommendation of frogman...

What is very interesting apart from his artful playing is a fact that i already knew to because i like Hammond a lot but go to my face with Scott : not one hammond player use the same instrument the same way with the same sound ... They all sound very different instrument from one another in a way way more evident than with piano...The instrument design vary a lot... Not just the playing ...

This explain why i collected Hammond musicians ... I like it as second instrument or in solo ...

I forgot to say that his piano playing exhibit the same humble devotion to the music as his hammond non spectacular playing... I like her for this simplicity at the service of the song ... I will hunt for more ... 😊

 

****  I like her for this simplicity at the service of the song ****

Exactly.  

Haven’t listened to Bobby Timmons in a while, so I’m starting off with “Easy Does It”.

Has anyone here seen Houston Person lately?  He’s playing here in a semi bad area tonight and tomorrow and my wife is a bit nervous. If he’s still got it, I can probably persuade her by saying how great he still is.

Lemme know.

Serious wind and rain are pounding us, so we’re not going after all. 😕😕. So we’re going to listen to HP with a bottle of red and the lights down low.

Wow! Another sax sound for me...

I am in a middle of Shirley Scott album i interrupted ...

I will listen Shirley looking for Houston Person ... 😊

Houston Person is definitely in my top ten sax players, although I have never actually made a list. We listened to a couple of albums last night and are going to continue our date later today.

This is certainly great Shirley Scott triple album and the sound quality is very good ... Frogman was right ...

 

I’m listening to a new album (2024) by Marta Sanchez called Perpetual Void. It’s not an album that I will listen to again, but some of you might like it.

Switching to Herbie Hancock for a few albums as they the ones I have picked out are all 40 minutes or less. Starting with  Head Hunters.

@curiousjim

You might enjoy perusing the discography on Hancock’s own website -- it has the covers displayed graphically.  Click on each cover for notes. This is an entertaining and very easy way to research his recordings all in one place. Not only that, there are links to Spotify so you can listen, too. Pretty cool resource! 

https://www.herbiehancock.com/music/discography/

@acman3

I’d forgotten I’d seen the Heath Brothers until I saw this ! Must’ve been late seventies in Santa Barbara -- don’t recall the venue. Stanley Cowell was on piano. I seem to recall them being on a mission to demystify jazz, make it more accessible, at that time.

 

Currently listening to Gilad Hekselman - Life, at the Village Vanguard. Such a beautiful live LP, if one lives guitar jazz. I highly recommend it. It is a 2024 LP.

@stuartk ,

Thanks for the link. I’ll be sure to check it out tomorrow. I’ve been a Herbie fan since the mid seventies when I bought the Head Hunters album. I’m pretty sure I still have it 😁

Yeah, "Head Hunters" was the first H. Hancock album I encountered -- checked it out from the local library in ’75. Soon after that I was seduced by Blue Note album covers into exploring that label’s offerings. "Maiden Voyage" was the first H. Hancock recording that really grabbed me. It’s still one of my favorites. I never did get much into Hancock’s synth stuff but love his acoustic playing!

One exception-- "Fat Albert Rotunda" is irresistible!  

@stuartk 
I went to Herbie Hancock.com and I definitely found quite a few albums I haven’t heard yet. Thanks again for the link.

Only 55 albums,  what a slouch 😁😁😁

@botrytis 

Thanks, I’ll put it on my list.

 Gilad Hekselman - Life, at the Village Vanguard

@curiousjim  I am always looking. I troll around Bandcamp a lot and find some unique artists and music there. 

I am one that actively searches out music. 

My audio equipment is there to play for my habit of buying music 😁

@curiousjim 

You're welcome!

Wish more artists' websites emulated H.Hancock's.

@botrytis 

Sounds like a healthy approach to me...