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

@curiousjim 

OK. 

I was simply letting you know about a certain Aqua DAC available used from a dealer I directed you to in the past. It is perhaps the same unit I'd seen on their website but was gone  the next time I checked.  It seems to be back, now, FYI.

Stuart

I might have a chance to get an in home demo of the Rockna Wavedream Reference DAC.  I’m not sure yet if it’s really going to happen, but I’m excited at the prospect anyway.

@curiousjim

Yes sir. The thought occurred to me that it might be a good way to audition one, as the restock fee based upon the used price is less it would be to try out and return a new unit. However, if you're in the enviable position of being able to buy a Wavedream Reference, then such minor financial considerations would appear to be a moot point!  ;o)   

I’ve been messaging the US dealer and he’s encouraging me to wait a few more months because they will have newer models of some $7000 to $10,000 Dac’s by the same company. I’d love to put something that high end into my system, but he’s right in steering me down the ladder a couple of rungs.😁

@curiousjim

Well you never know. After my recent bewilderingly underwhelming audition of a 10K DAC, I no longer know what to think. At this point, the only thing I’m certain of is that cost is no guarantee of satisfaction.

Shopping for anything HiFi is getting harder and harder around me.  The one dealer we have here sells some really nice stuff, really doesn’t have anything I’m interested in. So frustrating.  I guess I’ll drown my sorrows with some Wynton Kelly, Kelly Blue.

@curiousjim

I haven’t bought anything from a local dealer in about 20 years. They went out of business not that long afterwards.

I bought a system from them that sounded good in the showroom but proved unlistenably bright at home. I decided from then on to not buy anything I couldn’t audition at home with a return policy. I’ve stuck to that with two exceptions, my Silverline standmounts and Jay’s cd transport. Fortunately, both have turned out to be "keepers".

There was another dealer in town but as they didn’t allow home demos, they got no business from me. They subsequently shifted their focus to home theater installations.

I did buy gear from a guy who ran his business from home. He lived close by and would bring gear to my house to hear. Sadly, he couldn’t make a go of it and ultimately closed down.

I’ve subsequently bought gear from brick and mortar stores that also sell online and offer returns: Alma in San Diego and Listen Up! in Denver.

Where are you?

 

 

 

@stuartk

Do you have an account at USaudiomart? I’ve bought some things there because I couldn’t find what I was looking for near me in Saint Louis.

Finally discovered a M. Brecker CD I like enough to purchase. It’s contemporary without sounding overly commercial and it’s all acoustic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp3TSgdEa4&list=PLm4I8tP6UbWad15rthLO-huvRvKerJI0d&index=4

Perhaps, now that I’ve gained a "toe-hold" in his discography, I can use it as a "springboard" and move onto appreciating more of his recordings. If this one has been mentioned here, before, I don't recall it. 

@stuartk 

Now there’s some sweet sweet sounds.
 

  "The Montreal Tapes: Charlie Haden, Paul Motion, Gonzalo Rubalcaba" .

@curiousjim 

Yeah -- it's a gorgeous performance. Makes me want to check out the rest of C. Haden's groups from that same festival. 

Cuban Jazz piano players can often sound like McCoy Tyner on steroids but here, Rubalcaba's playing is more measured. 

Hi everyone,

 

This is saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh writing. Some of you might know I started a new label called Analog Tone Factory. I wanted to let you know that we are putting out a new record by Chris Cheek, featuring Bill Frisell, Tony Scherr and Rudy Royston, called "Keepers of the Eastern Door". It's coming out May 23 but the first three singles are out already. The third one, "On a Clear Day", came out today and can be listened to here:

 

On A Clear Day by Chris Cheek (feat. Bill Frisell)

 

The album was recorded live to 2 track tape (1/2 inch, 30 ips) by James Farber at Power Station on a custom all tube Ampex 351, mastered and cut all analog by Bernie Grundman, vinyl pressed at Gotta Groove (1-step and 3-step versions available). Pre-orders are available on AAA 180g vinyl, reel to reel tapes and CDs at www.analogtonefactory.com if anyone is interested.

Very nice and beautifully recorded.  Interesting groove for that tune, and it works.  Thanks for sharing, Jerome.

@frogman 

Thanks for the Brecker suggestions. 

@mahgister 

Thanks for the links to Latin American Jazz pianists. 

@ho249 

Thanks for introducing an artist I wasn’t familiar with. 

All excellent examples of why I value this this thread and appreciate those who contribute to it! 

@saxman73 

 Congratulations on the new album.  Is it going to be available on Qobuz? I’m hoping so.

@frogman 

I listened to the three videos you posted and enjoyed all three.  My knowledge of Latino music is small, but there’s always room for something new.

Last few evenings listening to this album. Very nice music, Charlie Haden and Kenny Barron 'Night and the City'

https://youtu.be/f-XQK4nmBh0?feature=shared

 

@frogman 

Thanks for that. Well worth watching. Certainly lots to think about. The reminder that, although we tend to start out with the belief that we are right, in realty we often don’t actually know where others are coming from, is, needless to say, highly pertinent to the mess we find ourselves in at present. 

 

One of my favorite jazz album because the atmosphere is irresistible, magical  and i discovered it because i admired Tom Harrell to begin with...But the whole is more than the sum of his parts here...

1H45  of pure joy...

 

 I learned to love Jazz, many decades ago, being not a musician like frogman, the day i realized that Jazz is about chemistry between musicians too and not only a new language but a new type of sacred communion ...

it remind me of the way i was transported in ecstasy very young by the atmosphere of choral music...

I begun to understand why Miles Davis , Chet Baker, Sun Ra etc appeared to me as priests not only musicians  as in classical written  music...

it was a revelation about music i was no more young, but in my thirty....Till then i was mostly only in classical...

Chorus  sacred music for me is a geometry of voices like interpenetrating points/volumes in a heavenly space. Jazz  was a denuded heart vibrating and communicating with my own heart...

After i came to Indian and Persian music ... It is another story...


ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omgOfzCgFy0

I did not appreciate many female jazz voices as i appreciate instruments. But Shirley Horn is magnificent here . Thanks frogman for your expert choices...

https://youtu.be/4YmnLvwfCtk
 

https://youtu.be/Y1n2hBn8TrU

@mahgister 

Thanks for sharing! That's awesome. After giving it a listen, I looked for a CD release. Alas, it doesn't exist. Somehow, in the process I came upon this really good Niels Pedersen, Billy Hart, Philip Catherine CD. This is the first track-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYjIMFR2Z4c

I discovered it on youtube... Sorry....

I had the files for years...

 

i like philippe Catherine a lot... Thanks

 

 

@mahgister 

Thanks for sharing! That's awesome. After giving it a listen, I looked for a CD release. Alas, it doesn't exist. Somehow, in the process I came upon this really good Niels Pedersen, Billy Hart, Philip Catherine CD. This is the first track-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYjIMFR2Z4c

@stuartk 

TY! That trio is incredible. 
Niels technically ability has always been astounding.
 

Freddie Hubbard- On Fire : Live at Blue Moracco

 

 

when was Freddie not on fire?

@wharfy 

That trio is incredible. 

Yes, indeed. A killer performance. Glad you’re enjoying it!  

I’d never encountered Wakenius before hearing this recording. I enjoy his playing here as much as NHOP’s.  

 

@jafant 

when was Freddie not on fire?

His discography is somewhat uneven but it’s fairly large, so there’s something for everyone. 

My favorites: Ready For Freddy, Goin’ Up, Breaking Point and the stuff he did with Blakey. 

 

 

 

stuartk

How is your System sounding? Did you work out the sibilance issue?

The Freddie Hubbard catalog is worth owning. Those Blue Note and CTI titles are must-own! Don't forget his additional works as a sideman.

 

Happy Listening!

@jafant 

Thanks for asking. Yes; I did finally track down the sibilance to an unexpected source -- cement pavers I had under my Target stands. An easy fix and what a relief! 

I’d also had a fatigue issue that I traced to my (Burr-Brown) Aqua DAC, which I sold. In its place, I began using the onboard (AKM) DAC in my Hegel H390. In the process, I lost some highs (the Hegel DAC is somewhat rolled off) and some bass extension, as well. 

I was able to get back some of the bass with an ac cable upgrade but still need to work on restoring the highs without reintroducing fatigue. I recently auditioned a Mojo Mystique XSE DAC but it sounded very dull in my system. It would appear I need to try a less warm-sounding DAC. 

That’s where things are at, currently. The system is emotionally and physically engaging but too dark.   

 

@acman3 

Thanks for continuing to enhance our enjoyment of Jazz!  

I've only seen Taylor live and that was in a quartet with Frank Vignola, Peppino D'Agostino and Vinnie Raniolo. 

@stuartk -

Re-DAC: Have you looked into a Musetec Audio LKS-005? I had one, sold it, and regret it :-)

It uses dual ES9038pro chips. One torroidal transformer has silver plated copper. Banks of super capacitors that act like batteries, solid silver hookup wire, 4 femtoclocks each costing multiples of the Crysteks, a revised Amanero board, result in a DAC that presents fluidity, clarity and bass extension.

After reading this thread, I went out and purchased one.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/musetec-lks-mh-da005-dac