Schubert,
Thought you might find this interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE_mm_AWwGY
Cheers
Thought you might find this interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE_mm_AWwGY
Cheers
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.
Showing 50 responses by rok2id
*****
the USA and USMC combined can't put 100,000 infantry in the Field .***** As warfare and tech advances, fewer and fewer infantry are required. Fewer and fewer everything to be exact. We have about 8000 M1 tanks. Quite a few of those in storage. We made 50,000 Sherman Tanks in WWll. The reason, the M1 is indestructible, the armor has never been penetrated, and the main gun does not miss unless the crew makes a mistake. One M1 was disabled in Iraq when the track was hit. A British tank, which has similar armor to ours, took 48 hits in Iraq after it track was disabled. The crew was not harmed. The F15 has never suffered a combat loss. Don't need a lot of stuff these days. Just a lot of brains. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Herbie Hancock -- GERSHWIN'S WORLD with a cast of everyone. If you're looking for music to improvise over, Gershwin's music is a great place to start. Cast includes the ones listed here plus, James Carter, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett, Orpheus chamber Orchestra and others. Stevie Wonder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRUFC4NN6js Kathleen Battle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq-ak_-6gX8 Joni Mitchell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r83bUyTFH0U Wayne Shorter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C-jUAQJzWo Don't have it? And you call yourself an Aficionado. Nice Booklet and notes. A lot of talk about Ravel. Cheers |
I have always heard that the U.S. Air Force, and esp the Air Force Academy are 'born again' organizations. Which I think is a good thing. Colorado Springs being the perfect place for that. Of course Nuclear war is unthinkable. That's why Nuclear Weapons are effective. They keep the peace. The motto of the Strategic Air Command was, 'Peace is Our Profession'. Always brought a smile to my face, but, they were correct. All wars start after a series of calculations by opposing forces / countries. In the Nuclear age, no matter what info you put in the war game computer, the end result is the same. Everything is destroyed and Everybody dies. Take away the Nukes, and the computer might say, WE WIN!! And, there we go. Also, we can never know how many wars Nuclear weapons have prevented. Very informative clip. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Coleman Hawkins -- DESAFINADO Hawkins with guys I never heard of. During the Bossa Nova craze. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spp2Pe9Whik https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOlPsz_jrpQ it's not what, but how you play. Jelly Roll was right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyhl-K5_Rvk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FX_60garHY Cheers |
Bach & Jazz: The Good Lord continues to test me. The Blues on Bach thing is nice music. So is the Swingle Singers. I even have a CD of both groups together. It's nice music because it's played by consummate professionals. I'm sure MJQ can play Bach. I know they can play Jazz. They just can't play both at the same time, within the same tune. And if MJQ couldn't pull it off, no one can. They even dress the part. I must have misplaced my copy of Schubert (the real Schubert) At The Blue Note. Perhaps, Vivaldi at Newport. Hog Calling Blues for String Quartet? This is the closest anyone has ever come, and wiki says it's 'Orchestral Jazz'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynEOo28lsbc wiki --- " Rhapsody in Blue is a 1924 musical composition by the American composer George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects. " Nice try. No Cigar. Cheers |
The OP is correct, as he sometimes is, on this. ANYTHING western is a great curiosity there, and if it's done by black folks, it becomes THE THING. When ever I see / hear Jazz played in Asia, I think, another great performance wasted on foreign ears. To them, its a sign they are wealthy and have become a rich / important nation in the world. They can import Miles. How cool is that. It's a prestige thing. Reminds me of a DVD I once ordered titled 'Ray Charles In Brazil'. Now that just had to a killer DVD. We know what Ray brings, then we think of Rio, Babes, Carnival etc...... How can it miss? Well, it remains the worst DVD I have ever purchased. Performed on a nondescript high school like stage in front of the then ruling Junta, and their 'ladies'. It was a prestige thing. So as Ray and the Raelettes did their best, the audience just sat there like stone soldiers. Big Time foreign entertainment, esp American, is seen as proof that a country has 'arrived' in many parts of the world. Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Ella Fitzgerald / Duke Ellington -- ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE DUKE ELLINGTON SONGBOOK Ella sings with small groups and full orchestra. 2CD set. Excellent booklet with pictures. I could have posted them all, it’s that good. 37 total tracks. All the Jazz greats play on this session. Too many to list. with orchestra, check the Trumpet playing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mB45AIHJ04&list=OLAK5uy_kfU4X2p8rBHukodapKaobAgzPJRe4410c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMz01jD1634&list=OLAK5uy_kfU4X2p8rBHukodapKaobAgzPJRe4410c&index=4 with small groups https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-XCw8dlrxQ&list=OLAK5uy_kfU4X2p8rBHukodapKaobAgzPJRe4410c&index=15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83L8ol-SYnQ&list=OLAK5uy_kfU4X2p8rBHukodapKaobAgzPJRe4410c&index=20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xikVWnJVgc&list=OLAK5uy_kfU4X2p8rBHukodapKaobAgzPJRe4410c&index=24 Ain’t got it, git it. Cheers |
*****
Moreover, those dancers may have given a more inspired performance because they were relaxed.***** My point exactly. You make my argument for me. I just said the audience can and do effect the performers. ***** If in fact those dancers were to feel “life changing” pressure when performing at home how does that compare to what Miles might feel playing for a college crowd?***** If Stalin is your critic, you are perfect or in the gulag. That may affect your performance. Miles, I don't know the man, MAY have thought these guys wouldn't know great Jazz if it fell on them. That may affect his performance. He may have gotten sloppy, he may have been 'relaxed' and played inspired Jazz. Does not matter. My point is who you play for can affect how and what you play. I am sure personality plays a part. Miles may have not given a F*** who was present, he just played what he felt like playing. But I tend to think that if he showed up a venue to play, and in the first row of the audience sat, Coltrane, Ellington, Monk, Armstrong, Bird and Lee Morgan. I think if would affect him. I could be wrong. ***** May I ask how many performers you have spoken to about this? ***** Miles, Trane and I lost contact years ago. One got lost, one turned into Sinbad. Cheers |
I didn't say he would. That is the question. But, I think artists do consider the audience when they play. The appreciation level of the audience. Say a Jazz-wise audience in a NYC Jazz club, compared to a college crowd or even something like the Kennedy Center Honors program. People that come out to hear not only Jazz, but a particular Jazz player, vs people who may be in the audience for any number of reasons. A few years ago the Bolshoi Ballet came to our town. The place was packed. Now, I don't think there are that many ballet lovers in central Texas. But it was a big deal, and everyone wanted to be there. The performance was magnificent!!!! How do I know? Because no one fell down. I bet the dancers knew that would be how they would be judged. In small town Texas. The most pressure-free performance they will ever give. The audience does have an effect on the performers. Cheers |
The question, to me, seems to be, do touring American Jazz artists feel they have to 'put on a show' in front of foreign audiences. In other words, Would Miles, Trane, or any other top tier Jazz player, play any Jazz music, in Korea or Japan, the same as they would in NYC? It's a yes or no answer. Cheers |
the Swingle Singers are not jazz, not in the strict sense. Is "jazzy" a better term? So far as my limited musical knowledge takes me, they are singing Bach's score. Based on this, there is no problem, or even disagreement. MJQ tried to merge the two genres. Sort of like so-called 'fusion' is supposed to be the merger of Jazz and rock. Non-Jazz groups singing Bach is no problem. Even if they try to 'Jazz' it up. Jazz groups playing Bach is OK, It still remains Bach. Which ain't bad. Third Stream was a dead-end. That is my only point. They never made it work. If they did, share with the rest of us. Cheers |
I know the Lord is testing me. My point was that the dancers should have been very relaxed compared to, say, performing before the Soviet elites back in the day. Where a lapse in the artistic area could have been life changing. For something we would not have noticed. Stop being so disingenuous. My point is correct and stands. Cheers I know they never fall down. Maybe they fall off their toes. :):) |
I’’m pretty sure that most of them , in a month or two , could have played jazz as well as they did classical . They may have been able to play some improvised music following the rules of music theory. Jazz? That's a different matter altogether. Jazz is hard. Esp Jazz on a level that people will pay to hear. Takes more than 'rigorous' training. Cheers |
***** rok , are you related to MacArthur ?***** No, but he was the Greatest General this country has produced. Recommended for the Medal of Honor twice. Was a general in the First World War Was Army Chief of Staff before world war 2 retired and ran the military of the Philippines. Recalled after Pearl Harbor Wrote the Japanese Constitution which is still in effect. Defeated the North Koreans in the Korean war with a master stroke at Inchon His strategy in the southwest Pacific was to, ’hit them where they ain’t’ If he had commanded all ground forces, including the USMC, it would have been a different war. A lot more guys would have made it back home. Cheers |
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn. It depicts a typical day in the life of a inmate, or Zek, in the Soviet Gulag during the time of Stalin. If The Frogman had lived in Russia during those times, and with his attitude, we would be reading "One Day in the Life of The Frogman". Cheers Btw, Solzhenitsyn served many years in the gulag himself. Crime? He criticized someone / something, while he was a Captain, in command of a Red Army tank unit fighting in Poland towards the end of the war. You must not only obey big brother, you must also love big brother. |
Today's Listen: Stanley Turrentine -- HUSTLIN' with wife Shirley Scott on Organ. Burrell on guitar. I was just looking thru my computer printout of all my Jazz LPs. I no longer have a turntable setup. I was surprised to see that the artist most represented was not Miles nor Trane, but Stanley Turrentine. Let's see what all the fuss was about. Interesting to see how your tastes change over time. Great album cover. Blue Note was a master at that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9O4a-2D3Vk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mu1aoHoo9s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUHEuBge5z8 Cheers |
There is a famous, or maybe infamous, true story of Stalin up late at night reviewing a list from the NKVD. A list of names of people to be arrested and or shot. Went to Stalin for his signature. Thousands of names. Stalin read them all, struck a few off, and then at the end of the list he signs it, and then adds, "six thousand more, no matter who." With all due respect, 'intellect' and respect for 'intellectuals' does not enter into it. Einstein's, Niels Bohr's, and Edward Teller's intellect told them to get the f*** out of dodge. Cheers |
@schubert And the winner is? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7heXZPl2hik https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSMuTm649Hk Cheers |
Baroque music played by Jazz great. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUOTq_xGWpE This is as good as it's gonna get folks. Cheers |
schubert, There are a few You-tube clips that are on my regular goto play list. That one by Ahmad you posted is one of them. So is this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfNIVdnz1FQ Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Randy Weston -- PORTRAITS OF DUKE ELLINGTON part of a trilogy called ’Protraits’. Ellington, Monk, Self. Best when heard loud thru Polks. Not sure what all that is at the start of ’Caravan’. Getting the camels up in the morning? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiLrbOgweSo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8nlgeJh5Gc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-Ku9LJXrOY Good notes and booklet. Talks about the Duke being very religious, and how he wrote music not only for the different instruments, but for the particular players that played those instruments. Cheers |
*****
Personally, and not meaning to get personal 😊, I think a far more interesting question is why, in the face of so much musicological supporting evidence, not to mention the practically universal opinion of Jazz players, you are so bothered by the notion.***** The musicological "evidence" is agenda driven and therefore bogus. The players are great players, but their education and knowledge ends there. I am bothered because it's not true, and those people don't deserve 'credit' for anything based on the work and struggle of people in this country, just because of skin color. Cheers |
Nice Weston clips. Lest any aficionado becomes confused, Mr Weston was born in Brooklyn New York. The references to Africa and the costumes notwithstanding. I will never understand the silly compulsion some Jazz players have to try and connect Jazz with Africa. There is no connection. For the life of me, I can't understand why they would even want there to be. Cheers |
More African music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUcEGOLfUTE could have been called the Kenyan blues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ_4cRG8B1g wow!! I thought I was in the Congo!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sOygJsLDc4 if you don't hear the African in this, you're deaf. Cheers |
Cultural anthropology is more to the point than Musicology. Where are the African Languages? Where are the African Religions? Even Islam didn’t survive. Where are all the things that made them African? None survived the trip and assimilation. Except Jazz / music, or so you and the music ’establishment’ would have us believe. I suspect you don’t have a real grasp of the nuts and bolts of slavery. Keeping groups / families together, was not a consideration. Impossible to maintain anything under those conditions. Every style of European music that was brought to this country, is still being played here and in EUROPE today. Easy to trace. What music is being played in Africa today? The only music, except primitive noise making, I have ever heard was brought to Africa from the West. Where is the music that gave rise to Jazz? Remember, in a lot of places in Africa, even today, music is frowned upon. Cheers Btw, when someone from one culture, defines and explains another group's culture, watch out!! |
Sadly, poverty is a vital part of capitalism. It's the great motivator. Imagine a country where the government promised and actually made sure everyone was in the middle class. Then imagine one where everyone was in the middle class and no one richer than the middle class. By government decree. Equal men aren't free and free men aren't equal. Nature's law. Cheers |