Wanna feel young? Julie ain't the answer.
This should do it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9E4O8RCzf4
Cheers
This should do it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9E4O8RCzf4
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.
30,385 responses Add your response
Welcome mary jo, as o10 said, always nice to have more perspectives. And nothing wrong with "lurking", I often do it myself. But don't be hesitant in sharing what you like, newbie or not. o10, Julie London has been a favorite of mine for decades. I can't say I consider her to really offer jazz stylings, but I love her voice and she always seemed to have top-notch back up, including respected jazz musicians. Sad story: when in college some friends and I drove to Detroit to attend a major jazz fest at Cobo Hall. That offered many top artists, including Julie on the bill. I was excited for my first chance to catch her live. However as the concert continued on toward midnight she had not yet appeared. My friends became restless about the hour-and-a-half drive back to campus. I pleaded for them to wait for Julie to come on but they insisted on leaving -- with or without me. I had a choice, go with them or wait for Julie and find my own way home. I may have been young and foolish but the idea of hitch hiking out of downtown Detroit after midnight was not exactly appealing. So to my disappointment I never saw her perform. |
It's a funny thing that we both have getting stranded stories about the same time in our lives; you didn't take a chance on getting stranded in Detroit (Don't blame you) I got stranded in a small town in Indiana because I stayed too long at a nightclub with a good band. But fortunately for me, there were kind hearted people who let me spend the night at their house. You were trying to get back to college, and I needed to get back to the Air Force Base. Coming that close to seeing a goddess, (absolutely at that time) and just missing her is a very sad story. "June Christy" was another vocalist I liked at about that time; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn8EtaxGJP0 I like the story that song tells; here's another one; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENEroxUE7Fc |
Something Cool is a studio album recorded by June Christy in 1953, 1954, and 1955, and featuring Christy singing 11 (in the original release, seven) jazz songs backed by the orchestra of Pete Rugolo. First issued in 1954 as a 10" mono LP, an expanded 12" mono LP was released the following year, with four newly recorded selections added to the track listing. In 1960, Christy and Rugolo re-recorded all 11 selections in stereo, so that a stereo version of Something Cool could be issued. For many years, this re-recorded version of the LP was the only one commercially available. Christy had been associated with "cool" jazz since her vocal work with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the 1940s and early 1950s. As well as launching her career as a solo artist, Something Cool, according to jazz writer John Bush, was responsible for launching a whole cool movement in jazz singing. It was the first of 18 June Christy albums, most of them recorded with the backing of Pete Rugolo. This debut turned out extremely successful, the album reaching the Top 20 album charts in America. I posted this for you to get the time frame for this song. It was a time when people went to the neighborhood lounge, or a movie to cool off in the hot summer; nobody had AC. She was a young lady who just stepped out of her hot apartment to cool off. He was a guy who just dropped in her neighborhood lounge for a drink, and she was sitting next to him. (it was customary to offer a lady a drink if she didn't have one sitting in front of her, and she sat next to you) She was blabbing her dreams to a perfect stranger who just stopped and bought her "Something Cool". This is a very sad song when you perceive it in it's entirety. |
Enough talk, how about some music, how about the smoothest sax ever; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoiEAlW8Ry4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NJGx0W0Kt8 |
Well, I appreciated Christy, but I loved Julie! Also, I assume this is pure coincidence and had nothing to do with her nickname, "the Misty Miss Christy" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5QrkDrS0IQ Also, here's a nice collection of jazz album covers, nearly all of which I can associate with the featured artist or the music. An exception would be the "Miles Ahead" album. http://www.birkajazz.com/archive/columbia.htm And I agree rok, Blue Note was also a leader with album art. Speaking of which, a good friend in HS and college had an older sister married to an artist who was commissioned for I believe several World Pacific covers. Unfortunately a search didn't turn up any examples. |
This song tells a fascinating story; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwFJwvZ_57E I recall as a teenager, walking past the Pershing lounge in Chicago, and seeing Dinah's black Lincoln Continental with the spare on the trunk parked out front. It was the first of a kind; that was in 56, look it up. There were other people admiring the car as well, it was the first one we had ever seen, plus we were hoping to see it's owner, the fabulous "Dinah Washington." |
Great clips of Julie and Christy; thanks O-10 and Pryso. Aside from the pure enjoyment, two things “jumped out” at me when I listened to those great clips of those two beautiful singers. First, like the influence that Charlie Parker had on practically every player that followed is the sometimes subtle but clear influence that Billie Holliday had on singers of that era on phrasing and vocal shadings The other is bewilderment, once again, over the attention and adulation that a singer like Diana Krall receives today when there are so many practically forgotten singers who were on an entirely different artistic level. Here’s another from a gem of a record that I have: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hIowseyFdEk https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yiW0ANvFpKA |
Rok, amazing Wes Montgomery clip. Swinging like mad and lots of heat. Loved it! Thanks for that. Wes Montgomery is brilliant as always and Johnny Griffin sounds amazing. I love the way great players “communicate” during a great performance and send musical cues to each other that then influence the way the other player plays; players are glued to each other musically and taking in everything that each other does. There’s a great example of this in that clip. Listen to what Montgomery does in his solo at 1:39, he plays a phrase by sliding from note to note in a way that is actually very “guitaristic”, but stands out in the context of the entire solo. Now, listen to what Johnny Griffin does at 4:45 in his solo. Griffin is one my favorite tenor players and I have many recordings of him as leader, as sideman and I heard him live twice (Village Vanguard, 90’s); I have never heard him do what he did at 4:45. He mimicked what Wes did at 1:39. If one listens really closely, in the background one can hear who I would bet is Wes Montgomery saying “Yeah!” after the first time Griffin makes those note slides, as if to say “You owe me a beer”. Love that stuff! That’s a record to buy. btw, what is that voice at 2:40. Some strange Satanic message? 😳 |
frog, the first time I saw the great flick, "Jazz on a Summer's Day" I became an instant fan of Anita. For me that remains possibly the best jazz vocal performance I've heard. Too bad it was so brief. She truly was a jazz singer, unlike Julie in my opinion as mentioned previously. Still, like chocolate and vanilla, there are reasons to enjoy both. ;^) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcMmVGrzpy8 Also I agree about Krall. She is OK, but not nearly worth the popularity she seems to have obtained. I can only attribute that to so many younger people not having been exposed to the many great jazz vocalists we've been discussing here. Of course it doesn't hurt that she is easy on the eyes -- if that is not too politically incorrect to state. |
Today's pleasant Surprise: Received this yesterday. Rene Marie -- VOICE OF MY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO5KwTfqmZg Very unusual concept in this day and age. An album, expressing love for this country. She does take a small shot of the purple stuff in the liner notes, but all in all, a breath of freshness and nicely done. I think I love this woman. Also have 'Sounds Of Red'. Will report later. Cheers |
pryso, shame how careful one has to be with what is said about a woman, and just about anything, these days. Oh, hell.....yeah, easy on the eyes....kinda; she has skinny legs. rok, after going gaga over “The Sound Of Red” and playing it constantly several months back when I posted it here, my wife bought me tickets to see Renee Marie at The Jazz Standard in NYC for my birthday. Fantastic show! During the break my wife and I wandered over towards the bar near which she had a small table in the corner with her CDs for sale; none of which I had heard except for “TSOR”. My wife picked one out and had her sign it; it was “The Voice Of My Beautiful Country”. We chit chatted for a minute. The woman has THE THING in spades. You know, that hard to describe quality that makes a woman beautiful and very sexy and which has little to do with her looks. Style and attitude. Great singer. |
Thank you orpheus and pryso for the warm welcome, I appreciate it. The last clips are great so will boldly follow your example and post 'a voice' (but more than just a voice) of a lady whose singing I admire. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouuRsRz8syM It gives me chills every time I listen to this. This song describes, if I am not mistaken, her life. p.s. I see that you use expression 'jazzy' to describe someone's personality and I kinda like it and suppose can guess what does it mean but still, if somebody could tell me more about it... |
This guy is the most impressive "new" musician I've heard. Like Lou Rawls, I only needed to hear him one time, and I was sold. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJMY8vbkrEM If only he would get rid of that hat (humor). Everything he does seems so natural. Since I'm more into female vocalists, I don't know when my budget will allow his artistry, but when it does, he will be added to the collection. |
Mary_J0, I'm so glad you're back. What you have selected is an indication of your exquisite taste. A person who is "Jazzy" is synonymous with jazzy music; the way they walk, talk, and dress with a "jazzy" style makes that person jazzy. Strange as it may sound, people who "try" to be jazzy won't succeed; that's because it comes from a feeling within that flows out. I had a friend, who happened to be a professional musician, and he fit the description of a jazzy person. He woke up that way, he went to sleep that way, he dressed, walked and talked that way without even knowing it. I guess it comes from being around jazzy people all the time. I think one can evolve into being a jazzy person, but it doesn't come overnight. Too much effort at being jazzy would come off as phony. Being jazzy must come from within. I've been listening to Gregory Porter while writing this, and there's a good chance I'll buy that album, "Gregory Porter Greatest Hits". |
frog, don't remember ever seeing Krall's legs, but if skinny, I agree. We all have standards for personal taste (nothing wrong with that) and I prefer at least gentle curves. "Easy on the eyes" became a favorite expression long ago. At a wedding the black grandmother of the groom was heard to say that about the white bride's brother. It struck me at the time as not only a "cool expression" but how wonderful that she could openly express her reaction considering the repressed age and race norms of the period. Of course had a white grandmother uttered that about a young black brother, she might have been escorted from the church, if not banned. Hope this little story isn't too far off track, but I always admired that woman for her open honesty. Back on track, mary jo you're talking about the top of the mountain now, so you can't be too much of a newbie, at least regarding appreciation. |
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Received this yesterday also. Not Jazz, but there nothing I like better than hearing current, serious artist, go back and cover the classics. They often times do them better than the originals. Mainly due to better recording technology and better / different arrangements / orchestration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D12fn1a-Mes Cheers |
Billie Holiday: I have the same problem with her that I have with Bird. One of the all time greats, but her recordings often lack in sound quality and her personal life seems to always be front and center. The voice seems to always close to cracking. They inflicted the 'strings' on her also. Sad case. Cheers |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avUXnAMpFoo True, her voice seems like is close to cracking but that doesn't bother me a bit and from my point of view, what counts is her power to deliver. You may not like her but surely cannot stay indifferent, 'cause this lady delivers strongly. As for her personal life that was tightly wrapped up around her singing career, I can understand that this can bother people and can affect on the way people see her but could Billie perform the same if she hadn't had the life she had? It seems that her singing is nondetachable from her personal life. Maybe people like her precisely because of her 'crack in the voice'. The perfect imperfection. Orpheus, thank you for the explanation of being 'jazzy'...I can imagine your jazzy friend. In Croatian language, the word 'jaz' (with one 'z') signify the amount of distance between the people or it can literary signify the great hole. For example we say...there is a big 'jaz' (distance, hole) between us. So maybe your friend is slightly distanced towards everybody else and has the mind of his own, his own and original look or behavior. And that makes him jazzy... :) |
(Did) I create a monster? Some music. Have you listened to this guy? His only album as aleader, recorded 1961. before he faded into obscurity... Don Sleet 'All Members' with W.Kelly and Jimmy Heath, with Carter and Cobb https://youtu.be/hQhCuGlUGzE https://youtu.be/DMwaGta4FYk https://youtu.be/bGFu_LPfWio |
*****
her voice seems like is close to cracking but that doesn't bother me a bit and from my point of view ***** Maybe it does not bother you one bit, and i'm sure we see her from different points of view. Being from a foreign country, I would not expect you to see and relate to her as I do. ***** You may not like her but surely cannot stay indifferent, 'cause this lady delivers strongly. ***** I never said I didn't like her, and I am hardly indifferent, in fact, the opposite is true. To me her life is a tragedy. A tragedy played out countless times in this country, especially in the Jazz world. ***** Maybe people like her precisely because of her 'crack in the voice'. The perfect imperfection.***** Maybe people in Croatia do. Maybe some people who only think of her as a voice on a CD. Context is everything. Cheers |
btw, mary_jo, I agree with everything you wrote about Billie Holiday. Arguably (for some) the greatest and most influential jazz singer to ever live. As you say...the power to deliver. And let’s not forget her song writing talents. One of the most admired traits in a jazz artist is the ability to say the most with the fewest notes. In Billie Holiday’s case it was the ability to say the most with the fewest vocal resources. A voice that was dripping with soul and worldliness and which was barely more than one single octave in range; yet could say so much. This one kills me every time: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XK4tmKtpw54 |
I don’t disagree with Rok’s comment about context and how it might influence a person’s reaction to an artist; and I think I undertand where he’s coming from, perhaps not. One of the most interesting, controversial and debated topics in all of music and it’s history. Does one put ANY caveats in the appreciation of an artist because of personal issues and how those might relate to oneself or to the world at large? Do an artist’s personal controversies diminish the art? Food for thought. |
rok2id I might be a jazz newbie but I am surely not a life newbie. From what I can see, you are trying to ’defend’ Billie (I apologize if I am wrong) as if Billie needs a defender and as if she is unwillingly exposed to the eyes of the foreigner in her sorrow. I dare to say that Billie does not need a defender. I see her in her performance more stronger than you can imagine. Despite of the fact that I am a foreigner (therefore you surely can understand her better, that I admit), I am also a human that can ’bleed’, like her, with the same blood color. Also, she performs on the stage and she is perfectly aware of it, yet and in spite of that, she wants to bare her soul in front of the audience by delivering the message that is so intimate for her. Again, that is what artist is for. Work becomes an art once you decide to share it with the world. I would never call her ’sad case’, ’cause she managed to raise the experience of her tragic life on the different level and was magnificent in it and therefore remained to be great in my eyes, an eyes of a foreigner. This is not a lecture from me to you, this is just me trying to write down what I think or feel. I know very well that you appreciate Billie. It is not hard to guess that, I do not need right context for that. *** Alex, very nice songs, I enjoyed listening... frogman, thank you for the welcome words and For All We Know, because for all I know, I like it very much. |
Wagner's did . He wrote twice as many anti-Semitic published diatribes as music when he was the best known person in Germany and which made hate speech in the German middle and upper classes acceptable in public discourse . And words DO matter ! I studied history in Germany for 4 years in the top-rated German university for same and every single Professor drew a straight line from Wagner to Hitler . Adolf didn't idolize him for his music . |
Mary_jo, you selected my number one "lost love song" sang by anybody. Rok is speaking of a voice that's not "aesthetically" beautiful; like Nancy Wilson's voice for example is aesthetically beautiful. No, my friend was not distant, he enjoyed people; but he was uniquely original with a mind of his own. "Bohemian" might be a better word for you to comprehend "jazzy" as referred to a person. I give you "Bohemia After Dark", which is one of my favorite tunes that depicts "jazzy" people after dark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5EwGijmqKc ' |
Seems as if I was in a "ruckus" without even realizing it. let me clarify: What upset me was that you seem to say that Billie's rough life helped her as a singer. Like being a prostitute at age 14, and being a drug addict, gives you 'soul' and 'passion' in your music. All BS, of course. Billie was failed by everyone in her life that she should have been able to trust. Under American Law a 14 year old girl cannot even give consent to have sex, so how in the hell can she be a $5 pro. Where were the adults??? I cringe when I hear her voice because I think of her age. She sounded like she was 85, when age-wise, she should have been in her prime. She was dead at age 44. SAD CASE!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Holiday Read the whole sad sorry mess. As great as she was, second only to Ella, she was no where near close to what she could have been. Cheers |
Recent Arrival: Lizz Wright -- GRACE Three for three so far with my recent Amazon order. Rene Marie, Dee Dee and now Lizz Wright. All great. Can't turn away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjKukF2Psm4&index=4&list=PLgWmP-F0RTPNv2kQZauYKTIAUJabIFyr_ All the tracks are listed. Treat yourself. Cheers |