The blues transcends politics and demographics.
its a universal language. That's largely what makes it such a force of nature.
its a universal language. That's largely what makes it such a force of nature.
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.
30,446 responses Add your response
Frogman, you might as well jump on in, but whatever it is were talking about, let us "quantify", How big is it? How much does it weigh? What caused it?. To suggest that people not working are lazy and want welfare is "Hogwash". You can not get a new car, new house, clothes and furniture on welfare. The best a person can do on welfare is get a bottle of wine to drown his sorrow. If we are going to debate anything, let us be honest about it, and that's easy to do because we have instant information at our fingertips. This foray into social aspects of the blues, is my doing, and I take full responsibility of anything adverse it causes. My thoughts and emotions, which are nothing new, have absolutely nothing to do with the music itself, but the social conditions of the creators of "The Delta Blues". Maybe it's best if we continue our regular scheduled broadcast, but I never fail to enjoy debating Rok, and maybe "the truth" has more than one side. Enjoy the music. |
Yes, I've heard of Appalachia; they seem to regard poverty as a minority disease they caught, and are ashamed of it, it's not politicians that hide non minority poverty, but the people themselves. Right now, non minority poverty is worse than it's ever been at any time other than the great depression. Non minorities make camps in the middle of nowhere, and live in busses, cars, trucks, and home made shacks; these are people who would be employed working a decent job if they had found one, but now they quit looking so no longer even count as unemployed. Been to Detroit lately? Have you ever heard of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement or the Trans Pacific Partnership? How about "Globalization"? All of those things stand for loss of jobs, and Mo money for the rich. "The women are all married to Uncle Sam". This statement is lower than whale feces; it blames the victim for the crime. "The Great Society" The political scam of the 20th century should go to conservatives for propagating as conventional wisdom that the Great Society programs of the 1960's were a misguided and failed social experiment that wasted taxpayers money. Nothing could be farther from the truth. (I'll discuss this at lenth if you like) Detroit looked like the gleaming city of "Oz" in the 60's; remember "Motown". It looked that way because of all those assembly lines: Cadillac, Pontiac, Gray Hound Bus, and those are just the ones I remember; were paying top wages and going full blast. I saw more new cars on the streets of Detroit than I ever saw anywhere before or since. I also went to Mississippi, this was about the time "Ode To Billy Joe" came out. I thought I must have passed through some kind of time warp without knowing it; the service stations were even old fashioned, everything seemed to be from a different era. I learned a lot about the people of Mississippi from reading "Eudora Welty" and Faulkner, the people got a kind of backwardness that's passed down from generation to generation; for example when things are going real bad, they say "It could be worse, you could have been born black". |
*****The most deprived people in the United States of America came out of the Mississippi Delta.***** Ever heard of Appalachia? Probably not. No one had, until LBJ went there in 1960, while running for office. Of course, poverty in this country HAS to be Minority. Otherwise it's invisible to the politicians.. BTW, Black people in Mississippi were at the bottom of society legally, but not necessarily on the bottom socially. You had to be there to understand. *****I saw some of those people after they caught that jet to Detroit and went to work on somebody's assembly line making top wages in the middle 60's to early 70's. People I visited lived in nice homes, drove new cars, and dressed elegantly. All people need is an opportunity, they'll do the rest.****** Been to Detroit lately? Better be able to speak Arabic. Many of those nice homes are now abandoned, and used as crack dens. No one works anymore. The women are all married to Uncle Sam. You would be amazed at the number of children fathered by the Government. I applied for a job in that department(baby making) once, but never received a reply. So, what happened?? The Great Society happened. People sold their families and their souls for a welfare check. Ain't progress grand!! Many people in Mississippi were poor in material wealth. They were not poor in spirit or Character. That would come later, in the Northern Inner-Cities. Who left the South for the North, and who did not, is a fascinating discussion. Cheers Gil Scott-Heron still sucks. |
Rok, the slides on my first clip told us a lot about the Delta; those juke joints weren't as big as a lot of folks living rooms, and judging by the coats worn, they were only suitable when it was cool. The most deprived people in the United States of America came out of the Mississippi Delta. "I see a resilient people that contributed great things under trying conditions." Crap! Even when Black people were "resilient" enough, and worked hard enough to buy their own land, politicians made laws to to take it from them. Other people hear the music, I hear the denial of an education; that's probably the most authentic thing about "Delta Blues"; but the best thing about the Delta is all that deprivation made them leave in droves. Here's Albert KIng's "Cadillac Assembly Line", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfO1MhbJqsE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOQE41oeHaY One of the clips is for you to see Albert King, the other is for you to hear Albert King. I saw him so many times in the late 50's and early 60's, that I can close my eyes, see and hear him now. I saw some of those people after they caught that jet to Detroit and went to work on somebody's assembly line making top wages in the middle 60's to early 70's. People I visited lived in nice homes, drove new cars, and dressed elegantly. All people need is an opportunity, they'll do the rest. Today it's not just the people from the Delta who don't have the opportunity to earn an "honest living". Enjoy the music. |
Acman, this is the very fist time I've heard this lady; she's as good as the great jazz divas of the past. What I like is no exaggerated scatin, everything just flows naturally. I'll have to get this album. Gil Scott Heron was a man who always had something heavy to say, he was no lightweight; I'm sure he would be proud of her interpretation and presentation of his words. It's good to hear there is new stuff out that I need to add to my collection. "Peace Go With You Brother" |
some of my favorites by one of, if not, the best ever. should have gone on to Mexico https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C4PsXoFslM poignant. speaks to difficulty in communicating https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0MIQHymToA why they call him howlin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VTKsEA-nbs any blues song with the word 'rooster' in it, is xxxx rated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vr-DR5HdKw |
There is only one Blues, and it's name is Delta. Not literally true, but close enough. BTW, I think DELTA refers to the land bordering the river, and flatten by eons of flooding by the river, so we are speaking of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. BTW, The richest soil on the planet. The Blues does not travel well outside of it's time and place. It was taken to places like Memphis and Chicago by people from the Delta. There is a mild country-tinged version native to the Carolinas., called, Piedmont blues. All else is bogus. The first step in understanding and appreciating the Blues, is to understand the language of the music. Double entendre is the norm. You tend to look at the social conditions and see nothing but the bad, I see a resilient people that contributed great things under trying conditions. Blues, Spirituals, Gospel, Jazz, R&B and Rock & Roll. As Cannonball said, "It's not all the same thing, but it's all from the same thing". Not bad for a bunch of share croppers. BTW, all great music springs from social conditions, quite often, bad ones. Cheers |
Correction! I should never post early in the morning; although I read this post twice, I didn't see a glaring error, "One set of tracks for the music, and another set of tracks for the music", That should of course read "One set of tracks for the music, and another set of tracks for the social factors surrounding the music". |
Da Blues! "Let's cover Da Blues". As some may know, I have an aversion to certain kinds of blues; it's not the music, but social factors surrounding the music that bother me. I don't hear the music, but see and hear all the social factors surrounding the music, I'm talking about "The Delta Blues". Let's follow this music down two parallel sets of tracks; one set of tracks for the music, and another for the music. As an aficionado, I want you to feel free to focus exclusively on the social factors or the music; maybe you are unaware of the social factors, and find them disturbing, that's when it's best to focus exclusively on the music. To move this vehicle forward, I've chosen "Juke Joint Blues", this is over an hour of music and slides that depict some aspects of the social factors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucRZmqFxUaE Enjoy the music. |
O-10, I hope that you are correct about the future of Cuban music and that I am wrong. I would like to see nothing more than the preservation of the beautiful music or honest and interesting evolution. What I can say with certainty is that you are not correct about is the politics of it all. The Cuban government has been and continues to be one of the most corrupt and ruthless dictatorships. Perhaps it is the proximity to the U.S. and the beauty of the country, it's people and its music that has made it easy to romanticize, as has often been done, the reality of life in Cuba. Life in Cuba is replete with unjust laws and oppression and it is easy to assume that the people would prevail in a revolt against it until one is looking down the barrel of a gun or the prospect of jail (or worse) as countless have done. I am not sure this is the forum for more in-depth discussion of this topic, but if you would like to learn more about it based on personal experience feel free to pm me. Saludos. |
Frogman, I was unaware of government corruption in Cuba. I don't believe the kind of control the government exerts over the Chinese would be tolerated by the Cuban People; there is a limit, and if a united people say "NO", that's the limit. The government in China uses the military and the police to enforce their law. I'm not sure the police and military in Cuba would enforce unjust law. Another question is how does stuff that exploits the people become law? Cuban music will compete with what exists in Miami now, and Cuban Music will win. In regard to who is right, and who is wrong, only time will tell. |
The great (and underrated) Tom Harrell from one of my favorite jazz records: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PEzEgoReQgY https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CkYKIUskzdI Most gorgeous flugelhorn sound ever: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AIE7smg8JHw |
This is an interesting subject, but easy to lose focus and not start discussing apples and oranges; at least as I interpret the comments, so please correct me if I'm wrong in my interpretations. I thought that the original comments about Cuba's future had to do with the future of its music and the impact of Americanization on the music. I think there is little doubt that once there is real freedom in Cuba, not the kind of government controlled "freedom" that Communist countries like China flirt with, that we will see a real economic explosion in Cuba. What exists now, and what we will probably continue to see in the foreseeable future, is the kind of government control over every experiment in capitalism (freedom) that allows very little actual trickle down benefit to the masses while the corrupt government elite continue to take the lion's share of the influx of American $'s. Factoid: cost to an expat of renewing a Cuban passport $475 (!!!) (with additional "fees" every couple of years). Says it all in my opinion. But, I digress; back to the music. I think the point being made re the future of the music was that once there is true free exchange between Cuba and the U.S. (a mere 90 miles away) most of what we will see as Cuban culture and music will be indistinguishable from what exists in Miami now. |
****I'm sure you're both wrong about Cuba***** Once I thought I was wrong, turned out I was not, so that is the only time I have been wrong. You don't get to be one of the world's foremost authorities, by being wrong on anything. ****While economically it looks like a third world country, the fact that it has an educational foundation plus unified people who have been around the block will make all the difference in the world going forward.**** I am not sure there are any more third world countries. Once we had first world Countires,(The West), and second world countries(communist Bloc) and then the un-aligned countries(third World). In any event you are correct about the Cuban education system. They even export Medical Doctors and other science teachers to the rest of Central and South America. Having said that, when the Yanqui Dollar shows up, and travel restrictions are eased, those poor people will not stand a chance. After a while, all those doctors will be practicing in large American cities. The "Brain Drain" will also impact the people. I don't think, THAT, Eddie Fisher ever made it to East ST. Louis. :) Cheers |
Rok and Frogman, I'm sure you're both wrong about Cuba, it's not a third world country. While economically it looks like a third world country, the fact that it has an educational foundation plus unified people who have been around the block will make all the difference in the world going forward. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, would this Eddie Fisher play the guitar in St. Louis, E. St. Louis, and Centerville-Illinois. If so that's the one. Although I saw him play, and it was decided by the majority that he could become rich and famous if he ever left Centerville, they could get him to leave only long enough to play a gig. As often as I saw him play, I never got acquainted; although I'm sure there are some who would want to know, "What's your story Morning Glory"? I never got the chance to talk to him and find out. Enjoy the music. |
Mapman, more than likely, much of the music that you heard during your visit to the Dominican Republic was "merengue" where the genre originated. Chazro, Dafnis Prieto is a rhythm genius; brilliant drummer. Thanks. May seem simple, but amazing and incredibly difficult: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YXpxsXC4Tdw Acman3, great clip. And with Tom Harrell; undoubtedly the most underrated trumpet player in recent times! Love his flugelhorn playing in particular. |
Rok, here's something I found on the tube that I heard live more times than I can count. It brings back memories of some incredibly good times; he played it different every time, I can close my eyes, go back in time and hear it without scratches cleanly ringing in my ears. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuAQFFOuy3c Here's one of Eddie Harris's most interesting tunes, I was listening to both of these tunes about the same time; the style was Nehru jacket with a big gold medallion swinging from a chain around your neck, I know you remember. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wLSlaP8MOQ Enjoy the music. |
Acman, I always appreciate your contributions. Phil Woods is quite appropriate on this thread, and an extended discussion can be carried on. "Sonny Boy", now that's one of them god old deep in the Delta names, and this music exemplifies "Sonny Boy"; it's as authentic as a delta cotton field, a shotgun shack, or a juke joint. Judging from the album cover, Sonny Boy done caught "The Katy", moved up North and left that mule for somebody else to ride; this music is genuine Delta blues, I like it. Enjoy the music. |
The link did not work on my end, so I will help. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKrqiKZu-oE Thanks Chazro. |
Since Frogman did such an excellent job on the Phil Woods tribute thread, I thought it more appropriate to post here. I once had a friend who worked in a music store, who helped me find the latest great Jazz recordings. He loved the Phil Woods Quintet and Little Big Band from the mid/late 1980's. Still some of my favorite music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rMj463qkyg |
Rok, you know, while I tend to, for personal reasons, resist feeling pessimistic about the future of Cuban music and Cuba in general, I think you are correct. Now, I have no doubt that Cuba will continue to produce fantastic artists including some who will break new and important musical ground and some who will staunchly defend the Cuban music tradition; but the influence of the "air-heads" will be deep and is inevitable. The "buying of the place with beads" has already been going on for several years by (again) the Europeans and once American commercialism is in full force the change will be huge. It will take time; probably more time than we might imagine, but it will happen. And you know how I know you are correct; aside from common sense and a little bit of knowledge about history? The cigar. I don't mean to be trite or cute about it. Andy Garcia should be commended for promoting the music of his native country, but he is a product of Hollywood and is so immersed in the Hollywood culture that he doesn't even realize how lame it is to have to use a cigar as a prominent prop during his cameos in the (otherwise good) clip which includes an interview with Cachao, an icon in the music. In typical Hollywood fashion he needs the stereotypical prop as a way to proclaim his Cubanness; please! And sitting in with the band to play congas when it's obvious he can't play......what can one say. Nice clips O-10, and timely. Thanks. |
With the so-called "Thaw" in relations with the U.S., Cuban music is in mortal danger. Castro may hold out for a while, but eventually, Cuban music will have to pass muster with the typical air-head in the U.S. Sad. And of course, the crowd in Miami will, as Bob Dylan once said referring to the European invasion of the U.S., "Start buying the place with beads." Nice chicks eeerrr I mean clips, but most not Jazz. Or at least not Jazz-Jazz. :) Pray for Cuba. Cheers |
Everything must change, the young become the old, and the old will soon depart; change is the only thing that's certain about life. If you want to know what's good about changes in jazz, look no farther than Cuba; the most scintillating "Afro jazz", as well as "jazz jazz" is emanating from that Island. There are so many subsets of jazz coming out of Cuba, that if you want to split hairs, you can spend all day "categorizing", I prefer to listen and enjoy all the many flavors of this music coming from Cuba. The word "Cuban", should be synonymous with "survivor"; no other people have gone through so many class, race, political differences and economic upheaval, but yet remained "United Cubans"; they make hypocrites out of the Brazil that claims to be the worlds melting pot. These videos I've chosen will attest to the diversity of Cubans in Cuba who live "harmoniously". I suppose almost all of these Cuban videos are good, but I chose these two because they present the rocky road of romance that leads to true love, and some smoking hot music plus dance; Cubans got rhythm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rHZXQnQ4rQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDtG84TjYck For those who desire "Afro Cuban" we have "Cachao"; that one name says more than I could ever say about Cuban jazz. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXCD8VB-sb0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5QPq0oTlb0 Another name is "Chucho Valdez", he's leading "The Cuban Jazz Messengers" "Gonzalo Rubalcabo" is one of the more current jazz musicians that's going off in new directions; here's an example of him and other musicians going off in new directions, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8Fsipr-gHE "Mayra caridad valdez", that's a name I bet you never heard before; this gal cooks, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7dQasNgHbU I hope these videos entertain you as much as they have me. Enjoy the music. |
*****Like many things, the US role in determining popular music trends seems less***** True. As the world recovers from WWII, Colonialism, Communism, and other forms of dictatorship, and enters the IT age, there are more voices demanding to be heard. The world is no longer the playground of the U.S. Everyone is demanding entry into the sandbox. But, thanks to recorded music, we can live in any era we desire. How I long for the good old days of the cold war. :) Cheers |
One thing I notice in general is that pure music genres are harder than ever to define these days. There is a lot of mixing and matching and cross-pollination in newer music. Like many things, the US role in determining popular music trends seems less. There is a lot of things going on in many places in teh world musically and its easier than ever for one to plug in to that via Internet and music services. Few hard boundaries that really matter anymore. To me good music is good music. No doubt that we accumulate various attachments to music over our lives that hold special places for whatever reason. Its all quite fascinating really and there is more good music to listen to from all places both old and new these days than any of us will probably ever have enough time to discover. |
****So I wonder what new is going on in Jazz these days?***** I sometimes wonder myself. I'm just too lazy and uninterested to keep up with it all. I tend to just look for familiar names. Most long dead. I have finally reconciled to the fact that, it's the rare person that can adapt to music genres throughout their lifetime. The artistic world moves on, as people get on and off. Cheers |
So I wonder what new is going on in Jazz these days? Its always been an evolving form. World music influences, particularly Latin American seems to be more common these days. I am not up to speed and do wonder. jazz as a pure art form of its own seemed to "Jump the Shark" with a lot of the more Avantegarde forms of the late sixties and early seventies. Since then it seems more about mixing in elements of other music forms. Not a bad thing in my mind, but a lot different than Jazz in its pre-60s/70's heyday. |
After doing nothing but complain about current jazz releases, I discovered something I like; it's relaxed and easy to listen to. While many current artists require the listener to work, "Harry Allen" makes no such demands; although he's only 48, his music is reminiscent of live sets I enjoyed at clubs many years ago, the city skyline on the album cover sets the stage perfectly. The title of the album is "For George, Cole, And Duke", and there isn't one weak cut; once you settle back, relax, and get in this groove, before you know it, the last cut will have played, and you've just gotten comfortable. Although I'm unfamiliar with the artists, I like the music, and that's all that matters. This is too precious a gem not to share with fellow "aficionados", that's why I'm posting this; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4M8a1z24RI Enjoy the music. |
Learsfool, I am certainly not among that group; as a matter of fact, I thought classical sounded like noise until I heard it on a high end rig: Sota Star Saphire, Koetsu, ARC, and Theil speakers. Now I seem to like it best in movies (movie theaters have incredible sound systems) Here's one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGtN3lpI2f4 You can start this thread back up by submitting some of the best classical, or best jazz in horns. You never know who might drop back in. Enjoy the music. |
Has this thread died? It recently disappeared from my list, and I had some trouble finding it. I am surprised that O-10 and Rok have not kept it going! Anyway, I was just going to share with you guys who don't believe that a great many classical musicians are audiophiles that there was recently published a funny list of 10 Highly Annoying Things That Only Classical Musicians Do (don't have the link, sorry!), and number 6 on the list was that they are constantly talking about and criticizing their hi-fi systems. The commentary said that they should get over themselves and listen to an iPod like everyone else. |
Learsfool, I'm glad you found the time to join us. That was a very good article, I liked the way it began with a comparison to life; "We speak and move spontaneously everyday with no real struggle". We improvise every day, (it's called living). After reading this article, I related it to my friend. Although he had been a professional musician almost all his life, he was a sideman with the greats we have talked about; not until he shook off all those shackles (playing this way, or that way) did he really come into his own. I saw the transformation, it's called faith; when a musician releases what's inside of him, that he didn't know existed, that's when the fantastic music flows. Of course this only comes after the musician has learned: tonality, harmony, song forms, time and rhythm, just to name some of the elements of music. I recently purchased some fantastic music that has a long story to go along with it. I first heard this music a long time ago, and didn't think much of it. Not until I saw the movie it was created for did the music hit me; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OKQdp6iGUk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjURPebrbrY This music penetrates into the depths of how much one person can love another. Enjoy the music. |
Rok, although the music was better than the movie, I had a tennis partner named Mike, and playing tennis plus taking pictures was all Mike wanted to do, so me and my tennis partner could relate to that. I don't think a CD ever came out, the LP is all I have. Now that I have your e-mail I'll try and get back atcha in the AM. Enjoy the music. |