Jazz for aficionados
Currently, when you get past those two, from what I've been able to find, "quality music" is not that common in Africa. There seems to be a common thread running through music all over the globe; I attribute this to the PC. Right now I'm exploring France; this is most interesting, and it's uncommon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZx1Mrt-35k Get back to you when I find "Da bomb". Enjoy the music. |
Manu Dibango: Sounded a little like 'Kool and The Gang'. In Africa, Once you get past Masekela and Ibrahim, quality Jazz is not that common. Nice dance hall stuff. Donald Harrison: I think some folks can out Coltrane, Coltrane. And sometimes that's a good thing. Excellent clip. Hey! where were the baseball caps?? Cheers |
I thought this was "Trane", he looks like "Trane" from the side view, and they all sound similar to the group I saw; they sound more like "Trane" live, which is what he sounded like on his later records; musicians play freer live than on records, which is a good thing, because what they play live often does not sound good on records. Judging from the comments, somebody else initially made the same mistake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrX3prSAl1Y There's no doubt about Donald Harrison's intent on this one, and he succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. Enjoy the music. |
"Manu Dibango", now there's a name I don't believe I've seen on this forum; he's known for "Soul Makasa". Let us go to "Wikipedia" to find out more about Manu Dibango. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2jYjUiulMQ Dibango was born in Douala, Cameroon. His father, Michel Manfred N'Djoké Dibango was a civil servant. The son of a farmer, he met his wife travelling by pirogue to her residence, Douala. A literate woman, she was a fashion designer, running her own small business. Both her ethnicity, the Duala, and his, the Yabassi, viewed this union of different ethnic groups with some disdain. Emmanuel had no siblings, although he had a stepbrother from his father's previous marriage who was four years older than he was. In Cameroon, one's ethnicity is dictated by their fathers, though he wrote in his autobiography, Three Kilos of Coffee, that he has never been able to identify completely with either of parents. Dibango's uncle was the leader of his extended family. Upon his death, Dibango's father refused to take over, as he never fully initiated his son into the Yabassi's customs. Throughout his childhood, Dibango slowly forgot the Yabassi language in favour of the Duala. However, his family did live in the Yabassi encampment on the Yabassi plateau, close to the Wouri River in central Douala. While a child, Dibango attended Protestant church every night for religious education, or nkouaida. He enjoyed studying music there, and reportedly was a fast learner. In 1941, after being educated at his village school, Dibango was accepted into a colonial school, near his home, where he learned French. He admired the teacher, whom he described as "an extraordinary draftsman and painter." In 1944, French president Charles de Gaulle chose this school to perform the welcoming ceremonies upon his arrival in Cameroon. Career He was a member of the seminal Congolese rumba group African Jazz, and has collaborated with many other musicians, including Fania All Stars, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, King Sunny Adé, Don Cherry, and Sly and Robbie. In 1998 he recorded the album CubAfrica with Cuban artist Eliades Ochoa. In 1973, this was the "kicker" on the jukebox, it got the party started and the hips swinging; I like the album cover too, that style defined 1973. Enjoy the music. |
My radio alarm went off just as this tune was starting. Scared me to death. Jazz 88.3 WBGO does it again. Donald Harrison and Dr. John; genius pairing: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1J3MWiToJ9c Didn't know about this record nor this band. Great stuff and yet another example of how much great music comes out of, as Rok would say, N'awlins. This cut kills. Great playing from Harrison; intense and swinging without screaming into the horn, like Paul Desmond getting the blues: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rn7zAaIERWI |
Excellent Clip by Allen Toussaint. Would have been to better effect if the other members of the Band had made it to the dry cleaners before they closed. Allen and the Sax player managed to do so. A player of Toussaint's accomplishment / reputation, should not have to play with guys wearing baseball caps. The music was good, but baseball caps and extreme casual dress, visually, brings it down to noise-maker level. Thanks for the clip Cheers |
Rok, people from around the world will agree with you on "The Bright Mississippi", I listened to it all the way through. Here he is all the way live. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4frYZXc9tQ Enjoy the music. |
O-10: Baby Face : Fantastic!! This, 8 ball, is one of the best things you have ever posted. The ones with Lou Donaldson were great also. The clips had every surface in my house vibrating / resonating. And this was with computer speakers at normal volume. Great stuff all around. I see he has several more on youtube. I will have to visit Amazon! Thanks for the introduction. Cheers |
"Baby Face Willette", who got his name from looking at least 10 years younger than his chronological age, could make an organ produce frequency extremes and dynamic range higher and wider than anything that could be recorded. But his audience didn't come to hear what he had on record, they came to hear "Bird" on organ, which is how he sounded as he played at lightning speeds, not just notes, but coherent musical phrases. He looked like anything but a baby when he was performing with face and body contorted by the muse that had possessed him. "Now"! I recall sitting at a table with professional drummer "Kenny Rice", when I saw "Trane" go off into the far reaches of the galaxy. I looked at Kenny, eyes closed, a faint smile on his face, head nodding to the music, and I could tell he was right along side Trane on his journey to "Orion 7" or wherever; but they had left me behind; I wasn't left behind when "Face" played. Since "Face" never played live what was on records, I can only try to come close, and it's still a long way from what I heard; "Bird" on "Organ", which is something no equipment made can record; I can only give you what's on record. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNkag9AKgbA&list=PLPOxwexjsUr6B48cS4_SIp4MhU8b4VAn2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ERGSEyBeM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJm2sTjSY4o Enjoy the music |
Louis Armstrong -- AND THE GOOD BOOK This is actually two albums on one CD. "Louis and the Good Book" and "Louis and the Angels". Tracks 1 thru 12 are from 'The Good Book', and they are great. Spirituals being sung with humor, and NOT like it's European Opera. Great backup singers. You can imagine Louis doing 'Ezekiel Saw The Wheel'. Of course no one can do a song like Pops. The second LP, 'Louis and the Angels' must have taxed Pop's spirit. But he was the consummate pro. Sy Oliver and his orchestra with some background singers that sounded like they came from 'sing along with mitch'. Complete with the obligatory violins. What a bunch of crap. I guess they wanted 'improve' Pops!! Sy Oliver should be ashamed. But, Louis struggles to, and manages to stay above the travesty. This is what I call disrespect. As bad as 'Bird with strings'. I guess some people with the power just didn't get it. Recommended for the first 12 tracks only. At least they didn't mix the tunes, it's easy to hit the eject key after #12. Allen Toussaint died yesterday while in Spain. He was right up there with Louis when it came to capturing the soul and essence of New Orleans. I will have to play "The Bright Mississippi" today. Great CD. Cheers |
This might be a better example of what I am talking about. This piece was composed by a Russian, with a Spanish Theme, and it does sound Spanish to my ear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh6mDL-VwYw Is this because of just me associating sounds with visual images, i.e. the movies, I hear the music when looking at Carmen or El Cid, or, did the composer 'know' how to make it sound 'Spanish' to listeners around the world Derived from Spanish Folk Music? I think the answer has a lot to do with indigenous folk music. Being the source, it can never be changed, and is identified with a people or culture forever. Cheers |
## *****What is it about the blues that says it's the blues (American)?***** My question exactly. ## Well, for the answer, and one which is applicable to the music of any country, a good place to start is the spoken language of that country. The relationship between the language and the music of any culture is well researched and documented. The music of many cultures closely follows the rhythm, patterns and both rhythmic and melodic contours of the language. In the case of the blues, not only are things like the harmony and form the direct descendants of European musical tradition, but the use of what defines the Blues melodically, the minor third and minor seventh, are found in the speech of most African countries. Coincidence? I doubt it. |
Alex, "Ike Quebec" is the only artist I have everything that is and is not available by. When you listen to Ike, I might be listening to the same thing no matter what you're listening to, and I listen to the one's you submitted a lot. Correction Alex, I know I have the LP, "Congo Lament"; yes, that same "Easy Living" is on "Congo Lament", and as far as I'm concerned it's one of the best if not "the best". Enjoy the music. |
"Eumir Deodato" is an interesting musician (I don't know why I think of some kind of big bird everytime I hear first name). While not an icon of jazz, he made some interesting music in the 70's I was listening to and still like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5dLWFb50To https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwMAfSfRbDU Those are my two favorite albums by Dodato, they bring back memories and make for good listening, also when I checked his "bio" it seems he's quite a musician whose been involved with quite a few artists in my collection, and he's still active. Enjoy the music. |
Orpheus, if you dont have it already, try to hear 'Easay Living' album of Ike Quebec. Not the one that is often mentioned. He plays along Turrentine,G. Green, S.Clark. Here are some clips https://youtu.be/nQKC5jL_0lQ https://youtu.be/zSp8HBwl2JA My favourite is 'Soul Samba' https://youtu.be/1uY6zlfR7pM |
Today I listened to Wynton Marsalis' ALL RISE. ( 2CD Set) I think I will have to listen again and again, before I can say anything. It's brilliant. I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ep5UxidC1k Cheers |
Abdullah Ibrahim -- Very good. The bass player played a role similar to the role the snare drummer plays in Bolero. But he didn't falter. The next Tune up was "little Boy" from the album "Voice of Africa. Also Excellent. Abdullah Ibrahim and Hugh Masekela ARE African Jazz. Both so uplifting. Of course, their music is of African Origin, and sounds like it. The question is, what is it about about the music that says it African?? The same question could be asked about Spainj and other Countries. *****Rok, have you noticed I'm making a lot of mistakes***** Is this supposed to be 'Breaking News' ? :) Nice Posts. Cheers |
"Abdullah Ibrahem", these are sounds of the Sahara, "Somebody go fetch my camel"! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xEmfQ-g4mc Enjoy the music. |
Rok, have you noticed I'm making a lot of mistakes I never used to make? I believe Milt Hinton has identified the reason why. Here's what should have been on my last post, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwc1bTn7Fd8 Enjoy the music. |
Milt Hinton: Another great from the State of Mississippi. Where would music in this country be without Mississippi? Guess we would all be jamming and dancing to the Beer Barrel Polka. Nice clip. Nice Joke about the cemetary. That's one reason I try to stay away from those places. You are correct about great music never aging. Great Art never ages. Some folks seem to think music is like Science & Technology, the newer the better. Wrong answer. Music is Art. The Mona Lisa, LvB's 9th, West End Blues etc...... will be great forever! And as they say, that's a long, long time. Cheers |
Rok, fortunately, good music never gets old, that music is just as young as it was the day I bought it. Here's another artist, "Ike Quebec" I was into at that time. Ike didn't make his best music alone, he had some very good help. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_Soul_(Ike_Quebec_album) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_Soul_(Ike_Quebec_album) Milt Hinton, is someone we haven't discussed; he was the bassist on "Heavy Soul". If we haven't discussed him, that means he didn't get enough recognition. While we can't change the past, we can rectify our oversight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9vicYoVsg0 Enjoy the music. |
*****I bought that at the BX on Scott AFB in 1960. My favorite cuts are "Sandra's Blues", and "Indians Blues"; that's as good as it gets.***** Are you saying you purchased this album, 55 years before I did? Good Grief! :) I now understand why so much of the stuff I like, you find boring. You were there long before me. Indian and Sandra are my favorites also. Cheers |
I piped R & B in Jazzy Groove, into the big rig to enjoy the sonics. I've heard that intro into "Night Life" by Dakota a million and 1 times live by different blues bands, on different tunes, and although it was the same, it still sounded good. "Our Day will Come" made me want to hear "Ruby and The Romantics"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q1HaofSVu8 Enjoy the music. |
George Russell -- SEVEN CLASSIC ALBUMS Muli-CD package. Four Discs. Sound quality excellent on all discs. Same level of sound quality as the "100 Greatest Jazz Tunes of the 1950's". The music is mostly big band. All arrangements by George Russell. Disc #1 is the most straight ahead of the discs. The players are mainstream greats. Art Farmer and Doc Severinson on trumpet. Also includes Coltrane and Evans. Vocals by Jon Hendricks. I liked the first disc. Every time Hendricks said "New York, New York" I would say "the Biggggggggg Apple". :) Remember the Last Poets? The other three disc are more 'avant-garde or experimental or modern. Not the worst I have heard. It does not irritate, just not my favorite stuff. You and Acman3 might like it. You guys are way more 'progressive' than I am. The Trumpet is now Don Ellis. hmmmmmmm. Even Eric Dolphy makes an appearance. I was not that familiar with the groups playing on the last three disc. Interesting take on "You are my Sunshine" on the last disc. If you like the 'modern' stuff, you might like George Russell. I also just received "Gene Harris and The Three Sounds at the IT Club". Much more my style. Cheers |
Houston Person, one of my favorites. I love him on this CD. Glad to see it's finally on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiE2ZPEp0pY Everyone should own this CD. Check out the B3! No muffled sounds here. Listen at 9:21 on "what's Going on" If you don't just shout YES!!! Git outta Jazz!! Every track awesome! Cheers |
Rok, offhand, I don't remember the comment you made, but I understood where you were coming from; I don't like all of Bird's Bop, but I knew this was very special, and you would enjoy it. Maybe you do have a clear picture; Bird recorded a lot of music with a lot of people, and some days were better than others, that CD said Birds "Best Bop", and that said it all. Here are two guys who have teamed up a lot through the years and they sound good each time, they have a certain chemistry together. There are several here that cover a span of time, I only selected one, and while they've aged, they still seem young musically. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGjMojMh-FM Enjoy the music. |
BIRD'S BEST BOP on Verve Outstanding!!! The best I have ever heard from Bird. I need to make it a point to listen and read more about Parker. For some reason I don't have a clear picture of Bird or Dizzy. The line up includes anyone who is anyone. Even Miles. Fascinating and often funny notes by Phil Woods. The story where Bird asked Woods "have you eaten today", gives us a peek into the real world of being a Jazz musician. The Cd is in mono, which is not a criticism. Excellent sound quality. It passed a major test with me, I listened to the entire CD non-stop, twice!! I felt I got a sense of why this music was 'new'. It really draws you in. Thanks for the recommendation. |
Rok, if Silver played a bad tune, I haven't heard it. Although I have a lot of Silver, I never realized how much I don't have before now. I believe you're going to change the snap judgment you made on "Birds Best Bop". Let me know how good the recording quality is on George Russel. Listen to "Silver's" The Outlaw, and imagine "Billy the KId" riding hard and fast across the wastelands trying to outrun the posse, while listening. I heard a long interview done with Horace Silver by a local DJ, and I was amazed at how articulate he was; without a doubt he took more than just music when he went to school, and he could really tell a funny story; this was the best jazz musician interview I've heard. He told a funny story about his bass player, that I think I told before; about his bass player who was tired of playing "Bing Bong" repetitively. If you don't remember I'll tell it again. Enjoy the music. |
O-10: Very nice Silver. Did he ever play a bad tune? I let the computer/youtube run, and it seems like it played Silver all day. Including this tune. Very nice tune considering his outfit. Sort of like Sinbad Miles in appearance, but the music is better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6o6DhBLn_s&list=RDr2A-xMlobhQ&index=3 Today I received "Bird's Best Bop on Verve" and The George Russell "Seven Classic Albums". Will report later. Cheers |
This is "Horace Silver" at Newport In 58. He was too advanced for words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2A-xMlobhQ I have the record, but that cut is much too short. Enjoy the music. |
Never did care for Miami Vice. Just a little too intense for my tastes. When you hear Miami, you think beach, bikinis and Babes. Too much of this show was shot at night, and you saw very little of Miami. I guess they had to shoot it in the more deserted parts of the city in order to be able to drive the car they way they did. The Music was spot on, considering the mood/tone of the show. My taste in crime runs more towards 'Columbo' and 'Murder She Wrote'. In the earlyu 70's I was in Germany making the world safe for Corporate America, ooops, I mean, making the world safe for democracy. Sorry. I left Atlanta in 1966, never more to return. The Military offered the entire world. Atlanta was a pretty nice place then. Don't know about now. Cheers |
Never did care for Miami Vice. Just a little too intense for my tastes. When you hear Miami, you think beach, bikinis and Babes. Too much of this show was shot at night, and you saw very little of Miami. I guess they had to shoot it in the more deserted parts of the city in order to be able to drive the car they way they did. The Music was spot on, considering the mood/tone of the show. My taste in crime runs more towards 'Columbo' and 'Murder She Wrote'. In the earlyu 70's I was in Germany making the world safe for Corporate America, ooops, I mean, making the world safe for democracy. I left Atlanta in 1966, never more to return. The Military offered the entire wo |
Rok, funny that you should mention "Madam Corrine" when I was looking at this episode on "Miami Vice" about voodoo. I liked everything about "Miami Vice", the night life, fast sport cars, and lots of fast ladies. I lived Miami Vice in real time in Atlanta in the early 70's; that town had the best night life of any city I've ever been to, you were there in the early 70's. Here's "Tale Of The Goat" from Miami Vice, along with some of the best music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AUvMqblK-Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQmba21VeW4 Enjoy the music. |
