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.
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So far today has been a good day. David Murray, In a sentimental mood. Bill Charlap, Street of dreams. Hampton Hawes, For real. Billy Cobham, Drum’nvoice vol. 1-4. Jane Monheit, The songbook sessions. Paolo Fresu, Songlines. The best of The Three Sounds. There’s three tracks left on the Dave Murray album and then I’ll let things cool down a bit. |
You actually asked how many rock musicians played Jazz and then the last question implies the question was about Jazz players playing Rock? Very few rock musicians wanted to change to jazz, nor were most capable of the change if they did want to. Ginger Baker comes to mind as a rock player who actually wanted to play Jazz. Jazz players played rock because it was the current trend. Maybe about money though, as nobody wants to go hungry. Did Shorter sell his soul with Weather Report? As the different trends go by young players who grew up listening to that trend will pick it up in their music. Lots of hip hop and Rap beats in the current Jazz. Classical always has an effect on the musicians. I remember Parker picking up on Stravinsky. Jazz has never been stationary. |
**** Jazz has never been stationary. **** Exactly! It evolves. It builds on what came before and the lineage is always there to be heard. @acman3 describes the Jazz/Rock divide well. Not a put down of Rock music or musicians, but very very few have been able to play Jazz at anywhere near the level of good Jazz players; even when they wanted to. Even the mentioned Ginger Baker was not on the level of good Jazz drummers. Obviously, two very different disciplines. I don’t think that Shorter “sold out” . If one follows his career it is easy to hear how his involvement with Weather Report was a logical step in his evolution as an artist. While WR’s music was not always my cup of tea it certainly was innovative and influential and a logical step toward what Shorter did in more recent years as a solo artist. For me, Shorter is on the short(ish) list of true giants of the music. Fantastic composer as well as player and adherent to one of tenets of Jazz: “say what you have to say without unnecessary notes”. His playing became more and more economical as his career progressed. One of those players who could express so much with few notes. Re Sonny Rollins and the “hoofbeats” on “I’m An Old Cowhand”. Not really that surprising. There was always a certain element of humor in Sonny’s playing. Speaking of humor and Jazz. Cannonball Adderly was another player that could bring an element of humor to his playing. He certainly had a sense of humor as exemplified by this clip that I recently sent a friend who didn’t believe me it existed when I told him about it. Just for chuckles:
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I believe I posted some of his albums previously, but just bought this one. Its Hal Mc Kusick 'Now its time' album which is essentially a compilation of his two albums (All music guide will tell you more) and one of them is possible to find only on vinyl, so aldo I prefer single editions I had to settle on this one. Its still very much recommended. Mc Kusick, not very well known, perhaps these clips might persuade someone to listen to him as well.
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Nice clips! Very good player. He was a very successful player in his heyday with an impressive discography. He was also a fine flutist. A real character whom I had the opportunity to work with on a few occasions in more commercial settings. He would fly his own airplane from his home on Long Island, NY, always with a very attractive young lady at least half his age at his side. With Bill Evans on the original album that “Whisper Not” is from:
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RE: Sonny Rollins, I can’t tell when he’s being humorous and when he’s unabashedly mocking a tune. It often sounds to me as though he holds standards at arm’s length, refusing to get too caught up in their emotional content and co-opting their harmonic structures as launching pads for heady virtuoso improvisations. Of course, there’s nothing "wrong" with this. I just happen to prefer more overtly emotional playing.
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@curiousjim , Glad you like it. Here is another album (double cd) that I have, in fact its compliation of work from McKusick Quartet with Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton and Osie Johnson. Informative paperwork inside and it seems that all composition are there. Couple of links from there
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Also,if you like the sound of Barry Galbraith, this is nice album as well, aldo it might be difficult to find on cd.Its called ’Guitar and the wind’.I am not sure is the whole album going to be posted, but its on ytube, just follow this link (with blue cover)
I’ve got it on Oscar Petitford edition of ’Manhattan Jazz Septette’ as second album. Lone Hill is the label. Will post that one too, but I prefer the first one (g&w) |
@curiousjim, it must be the Russians, even the tagging is not working any more. Hope this will help, same songs, but different links. In fact, if you are not buying cd’s but only stream, than I guess its not so important to state which album on which edition exactly is published? https://youtu.be/cIluf1jyMys?feature=shared https://youtu.be/V_av-1BNUVg?feature=shared https://youtu.be/b3IXUFrqdQY?feature=shared
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