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

Alex, johnny Smith "Moonlight in Vermont" has been in my collection since the late 50's. It featured Stan Getz on tenor; there wasn't a cut on that album that I didn't like.


Enjoy the music

Alex, this was almost the standard for "Moonlight in Vermont"; a lot of DJ's used it as a theme song when they came on late night; it is sooo mellow .


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRNpc-hFkCs





Enjoy the music
Alex, thanks for bringing Johnny Smith back to the discussion.  What a nice player!  Beautiful and unaffected guitar sound and feel.  Jazzcourier points out his affinity for medium tempo tunes and ballads.  Ballads are probably the biggest test of any player's true mettle not having the "crutch" of the opportunity to simply show off sheer and sometimes meaningless chops.  Perhaps there is some significance to his choice of title for this tune:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gobhuQ9BKWg

However, this is not to say he couldn't tear it up when he wanted to:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L4wbcMR3chk