Looking Ahead by Ken McIntyre and Eric Dolphy was just remastered (2025) and sounds pretty good to me.
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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I am a mildly enthusiastic fan of the Venus label sound and artists, particularly the Steve Kuhn Trio. However I was listening to some of Eddie higgins's work the other day and all of a sudden it occurred to me that this could just very easily be background music at some fancy schmancy get together in the Catskills back in the 70s. So often piano jazz runs that line behind really good, memorable stuff and soundtrack fodder. |
@jafant +1 on Ralph Towner. Who of course reminds me of my love for Oregon and the Paul winter consort. Simply beautiful music throughout |
Is he the greatest guitarist ever ? no... But he is a great one in my book and this CD i listened non stop for a few years is one of my favorite relaxing listening...
When i really love a musician album it become like bread, i cannot go a day without eating this bread and listening to him; but i miss him most of the times in the two sense of the word "miss" because there is many others musicians i love too, then i make him wait and miss my encounter with him,and i suffer with a relief coming from someone else...
Ed Cherry... He seems not to have many recordings... Alas! His touch is very nuanced here... He does not show himself at all but he did not need to .. His mastery is real not a show... I like the Hammond organ a lot then the pairing of guitar and Hammond makes my day... The sound recording is first rate: |
Another one gone. This time, it's Sheila Jordan. https://www.npr.org/2025/08/11/847306270/sheila-jordan-obituary
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Hello jazz aficionado's and friends. Going to Smoke Jazz and Supper Club in NYC tonight to see tenor Eric Alexander and alto Vincent Herring. The rhythm section: piano- Mike Ledonne, bass- John Webber, and drums- Lewis Nash. The band has a residency at Smoke this week promoting the album release of "Split Decision". I have seen all of these musicians many times with other ensembles as well as the line up featured tonight and on the new album. They all like to play "straight ahead old school jazz". Music that rok2id would approve of. Is rok still participating on this thread? Here are some albums/songs I have of these guys and others and others for your consideration: Quintet I'm seeing tonight: https://youtu.be/Of_bslZM7zs?si=ZwedCIuWtBUFKPjo These 2 are from Emmet Cohen's place: https://youtu.be/NkD_kjId4Mc?si=Ae_7x2XkYsYqV-HF https://youtu.be/AGAvoqO4eUE?si=1IjOGdtGCpezJiXZ Album released by Eric Alexander and Mike Ledonne and co. calling the ensemble/sextet "The Heavy Hitters" https://youtu.be/xtCfwYRhC3A?si=6wxRgyD5HEiNL5Q6 A great song from an older (2001) Eric Alexander album titled "One For All" Live at Smoke. I could not find it on YT so here it is courtesy of Spotify: Eric Alexander The Second Milestone - playlist by Paul Irishman | Spotify Lastly, 2 albums by Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring "battling" if you will. https://youtu.be/KFN0bUwlsDE?si=TaGyX9XDRsufU5EE https://youtu.be/AmveY183pgU?si=8BHty_IBCiHMCAdX Have a great weekend everyone!
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@pjw81563 -How was the show? Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring are two heavy hitters! The rest of the quintet are no slouches, either. |
@wharfy Great show. The acoustics at Smoke are very good that is why so many artists record live shows there. Herring and Alexander have been playing together over 3 decades and play off of each other really well. Herring mentioned the 2 "battle albums" - the 2005 Eric Alexander release "The Battle", and the 2011 Vincent Herring release "Friendly Fire". Both were recorded live at Smoke. The rhythm section of Mike Ledonne on piano, John Webber on bass with Lewis Nash on the drums really know how to swing. I had seen Webber and Nash multiple times but never Ledonne. Mike Ledonne and I had a 15 minute conversation after the set and it was a great experience. Ledonne graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Jaki Byard in 1978 and has been playing professionally nearly 50 years. Mike LeDonne’s Groover Quartet has been the featured Tuesday night band at Smoke for the past 14 years. On any given week you can hear some of the greatest players today like saxophonists Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring, guitarists Peter Bernstein, Paul Bollenback and Ed Cherry, and drummers Joe Farnsworth and Carl Allen. The late Jimmy Cobb, known for playing drums on Miles Davis’ KOB, really liked when John Webber was available to play bass with him live and in the studio. Webber is deserving of Cobb’s preference. I saw Jimmy Cobb many times and Webber was the bassist on nearly all of these occasions. Lewis Nash, whom I have also had the privilege of seeing multiple times, is a terrific and highly sought after drummer. |
You lucky dog! I caught Herring and Nash in a quartet with Cedar Walton and a bassist whose name escapes me (this was about 15 years ago) at Yoshi’s and my attention was repeatedly drawn back to Nash. Great drummer! Sadly, Yoshi's stopped regularly offering Jazz. At this point, Bay Area traffic is so insane that we only venture over there occasionally, to see family.
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@pjw81563 -Thanks for the report. Really sounds like a tremendous show. Even though I'm 30+ minutes outside NYC, I've yet to see a show at Smoke. Herring, Gary Bartz and Bobby Watson recorded a fabulous Bird tribute at Smoke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sv--I-JFMY I've seen Vincent Herring a number of times, as part of Richard Barratta's various ensembles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tvuglBhHrg I've seen Mike LeDonne with his Heavy Hitters. He's/they are terrific. LeDonne regularly performs at the Jazz Forum, in Tarrytown, NY. That's a terrific place, with lots of top flight performers. |
I assume you live near Tarrytown or thereabouts. Nice neighborhoods up there. I live out in Suffolk County L.I. I have that Bird At 100 disc and its a good one. Herring, Bartz and Watson are all great musicians. I have not seen Bobby Watson yet but plan on it. Lou Donaldson introduced me to Gary Bartz at the Village Vanguard after Lou preformed. Great conversation. I had quite a few conversations with "Sweet Papa" Lou before he passed on. First time hearing Richard Baratta. He can definitely swing on the kit. Thanks for sharing. A great Eric Alexander disc with a great band. "The Link" is one of my favorite tunes. https://youtu.be/m4ghvBnndOE?si=0kENRYRCKCu1AsQh Have you listened to saxophonist James Carter? he plays alto, baritone, tenor and soprano and is a master of the saxophone. He is like the "Jimi Hendrix of the sax" Carter: https://www.youtube.com/live/4SeWeICqs04?si=qSN7iKjFDTlrlQhq
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The John Coltrane Quartet inComblain-la-Tour Jazz Festival in Belgium on August 1, 1965. The concert took place outdoors on a chilly night, and video footage shows visible vapor rising from the shoulders and instruments of the musicians. This visual adds to the intensity of the performance and the perception that the musicians were playing with an almost supernatural "cold" heat. |
@pjw81563 -Thanks for the Eric Alexander and James Carter links. Yes, Carter is the Hendrix of the sax. Have you listened to Oliver Nelson's, The Blues and The Abstract Truth? |
