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

@ho249 

David Sanborn definitely belongs on any list of great alto players. I own many of his CDs as a leader and sideman.

Sanborn recorded on a lot of sessions with tenor Michael Brecker who has been discussed here a lot recently.

@pjw81563 Thanks for setting me straight! I did not realize Sanborn had recorded so much as a leader and sideman.

David Sanborn is the most imitated alto player in the Pop/Jazz-Funk-R&B style,  Not an improviser on the level of harmonic sophistication of the recently mentioned alto players.  However, in a funky setting he is the best.  One hears a tone and general attitude that is clearly borrowing from Sanborn from countless alto saxophone players in genres that lean more to Rock and/or Smooth Jazz.  Not a put down all all.  He has tons of what pjw recently referred to as (great) “emotional improvisation”.  Playing stuff that leans to bebop, that highly stylized, acerbic tone of his sounds a little out of place and unwieldy.  But, man, playing a Pop ballad or funky back beat he is the greatest.

 

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That’s the point of what I wrote above. There aren’t any.

I have heard Sanborn play in more straight ahead settings as part of special event TV shows (including his own late night show years ago), award shows, etc. He can work his way through a set of changes more complicated than in most Pop tunes, but It’s not his forte. It’s kind of the reverse of the way that, for instance, Lee Konitz playing in a one chord funky groove would sound….kinda weird.  The genre doesn’t need much of that boundless harmonic skill, it needs a certain attitude and sound.