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
Hi guys - thanks for the comments. I did not get a chance to listen to that set today after all, too busy. So I probably won't get to it until Saturday now. A friend of mine told me that he was also a good singer, and is indeed a legend on the trombone. I am really looking forward to it.

Rok, LOL - one of your comments reminded me of Peter Schickele, a musical comedian who created the famous character of PDQ Bach. He used to say "Truth is truth. You can't have opinions about truth."

O-10, about your comment "I don't approach jazz from a historical or rational context, I approach it the same way I approach "all" music; from a purely emotional context, either I like it or I don't." If you do like it, doesn't that make you curious about it's larger context? In a great many cases, in fact, you will miss key things about a specific tune if you don't know it's history - musicians very often reference each other in the jazz world. That's so not grammatically correct, but I hope the point is clear. Dang it, ya'll just ain't got no proper grammar learnin'......

But seriously, the point here is that there is so much more to music than just the emotional context. That is only the starting point, the surface, if you will. Uncovering some of the other layers would undoubtedly bring you much more appreciation and therefore listening enjoyment. Usually I say this in reference to harmony/theory or ear training, but it is equally true of history, and the history part is much easier for the musical layman to grasp. I would strongly encourage you to read up on your favorite musicians/jazz styles/periods.

Rok, after reading your review, I piped it into the big rig. (that's where I couldn't see them) The bass was truly awesome on "Senor Blues", and it sounded like one fantastic pianist as opposed to two, that's just how well they played together. The CD is on order.

Enjoy the music.
O-10:

I cannot find the CD. But I did run across all of this stuff, which seems to be great. Check it out. But still no CD with Senor Blues??? Help!

http://www.youtube.com/user/hidesuke1948

Cheers
O-10:

Don't forget "The 100 Best Jazz Tunes of the 1950s". You won't be sorry. I love them all. One of my best purchases.

Cheers