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

Showing 50 responses by keegiam

Again Weather Report's "Black Market" leads us to music that is more local and authentic, if not as beautifully performed as Shorter and Hancock could do.

But if it's real you're after:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVMmnYp_Zxs
Now a more modern attempt to relive that same Lagos-driven vibe.  This from 2015:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFSRCG4DrmI

Maybe Weather Report should make a trip to Lagos to see what happens?
Following up on the great blues posts, there's something irresistible about R.L. Burnside laying it down in his hill country back yard.  Back to basics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_DOnKJ232M
O10, I count 10 compositions named for Nica, which is quite a legacy.  My to-do list now includes checking all them all out.  So much music, so little time.

Thanks for posting the article.
Heresy I'm sure, but Monk's solo section in "Pannonica" posted by O10 leaves me cold.  No swing, no pace, no intriguing phrasing.  Tentative, awkward, choppy.  Genius, yes.  Will I ever play it again?  No.  Nice tenor though.
@acman3

Have you jotted down the time changes in that Chick Corea number?  I'm not even sure having the sheet music would help me navigate that one.  And yet it swings and thrills.  Impressive.

frogman, we may be on different wavelengths.  The piece I was referring to, posted by acman3, is "Antidote" not "Spain."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCEUc5pdy_w

"Spain" is pure 4/4 and has its roots in the classic "Concerto de Aranjuez."

I can't maintain 4/4 time listening to "Antidote."  Thoughts?
OK gang, let me say it's tough but rewarding to try to keep up with the music shared here.  Lot's of great stuff, but real listening involves time and surrender.

I felt like I needed to slow down and go deep tonight, with acman3's Jack Johnson reminder in my head.  I put myself in the sweet spot, cranked it up to realistic volume and just focused.  What a journey.  Folks, do yourself a favor - empty your head and tune in to Jack Johnson.  Just give it an hour.  Amazing music.

Thank you acman3.
In the late 90s, I was in London and hooked up with an old friend.  "Let's go hear jazz at Pizza Express in Soho" she said.  My American superiority complex kicked in, so I scoffed at the concept of decent jazz at such a place.  But of course we went.

Enter Joe Locke on vibes.  Great evening (i.e., American gets another lesson).  Joe Locke and Bobby Hutcherson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzdp2QYMNMM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzSAKN3UdTI
O10, why would you post an artist you can "barely stand to hear," just because there was some kind of personal interaction in the past?

Cut back on the narcissism, please.
frogman, somehow that Thad Jones brings everything together in one piece.  Just amazing.
O10: <<What you misunderstood Keegiam is the fact that I have a hard time listening to Leon because he's no longer with us>>

If you had explained this up front we would have understood immediately.  It makes no sense to claim someone has "misunderstood" something that was inadequately set forth in the first place.  Based on what I read and heard, my conclusion was that you were sharing music you couldn't stand to listen to (and having listened, I could see why) only because you were childhood friends, and I wasn't thrilled with having spent time checking out the tracks.

I'll cop to an ill-informed conclusion, but not a misunderstanding.  And RIP Leon.
Sometimes it's sweet to put oneself in the hands of a good FM deejay (for me, usually when driving).  I'm lucky to be within range of WPFW in DC.  A few recent gems:

Oliver Nelson Septet, "Stolen Moments"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbaGDDbpcQ4

Bobby Watson & Jack Walrath, "Cristo Redentor"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPIs7ZHLHFY

Miles Davis, "Circle"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRiwDuzadl0

Mary Jo, your Duke piece has been viewed almost 12M times in 13 years.  Reassuring, ain't it?
rok, all of those Getz tunes are great, but "Bronx Blues" really does it for me.  So sweet.
So cool.  I posted Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments" before I went back and played all your great links this evening.  Imagine my surprise to find it was the prominent title today.  How does this stuff happen?

Mary Jo, that Lovano is gorgeous, thank you.
@schubert

This kid grooves, and I can't help but notice his first name is Yohan.

This isn't the first time I've been stunned by a prodigy, so I plan to start a new thread on the subject.  Why not?
"Nightmare" is amazing but helps me understand why my mom, born in 1916, didn't like Artie Shaw.  Too much stark reality for her.  Life in the 30s and 40s was a combination of fear and joy, and she preferred the latter.  Artie did plenty of sweet music, but he also went dark.
"Thanks keeg"

Appreciate that MJ, but it's scary similar to "geek."  Let's stick with "keegiam" if you don't mind.
Yes, these works are exemplary, but I usually resist any effort to say "these are the most important."  Why go there?  The premise is "if you can only have three, these are the three."  Not buying it.

If your goal is for aficionados to weigh in on their favorites, that's fine.  But the "best ever" angle is dubious.
frogman, your description of the nature of sound created when humans touch the keys of a piano is pretty damned amazing.  Thank you.

Mahgister, it seems you connote perfection with mechanical ability, so we're probably not on the same wavelength.  The important thing is that you brought us Chet and Philip tonite.  Thank you for that.
All of a sudden I'm mesmerized by Philip Catherine's playing on the 1983 Chet Baker.  Thank you Mahgister.

First time I've ever heard "... is at least perfect."  Gotta love it.  Chet's playing is at least perfect, as always.

Sorry gang, I can't keep up, too busy.  But thank you all for enriching my life.
Kenny Wheeler - Gnu High.  Just listened to it a couple days ago.  Jazz is such a wonderful art form.
Graciously posted by frogman on the new "prodigies" thread (which is flopping), and well worth sharing with you all here so it doesn't just vanish into the cloud:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wglNPGzrQ&feature=youtu.be

Also found this stage performance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXZqYFDFgT8
Schubert, funny - this thread definitely leads to more outlay.  Like Rok's recent posting of Mingus' "Changes Two."  Already scored a still-sealed 45-year old copy of it yesterday (not necessarily a great idea I know, but if warped the SOTA vacuum will tame it - once I get it back up and running). 

We could all spend our moolah in worse ways.
Trent, just catching up this evening.  A few things:

Welcome.  I'm a newbie too.  In spite of some of the bickering that goes on here, this thread will enrich your life.

YT has a treasure trove of films of live performances, many of them with respectable audio tracks.  Downright mesmerizing, especially if you appreciate live performances.  YT's value is immeasurable.

Re: "Girl from Ipanema," you posted that excellent link we just discussed on the Steve Hoffman site a month ago:  "'The Girl from Ipanema' is a Far Weirder Song than you Thought."  This is a very rigorous review of the innovative nature of this Jobim classic.  For convenience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFWCbGzxofU
Some folks are dismissive because of the ultra-cool, unemotional performances that were such a craze in the early 60s.  But, in terms of composition, it's fascinating stuff.  Stan Getz got it.

Nice Desert Island list.  I'm still wondering how we're going to power our turntables when we're washed up.