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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
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Frogman,  There are things in that story consistent with other musicians; like music not being released until their "dead", they seem to prefer "junkys" who they could pay a flat "peanut" sum for a record, and not pay royalties.  For some reason or another, I didn't know about Grant Greens best work, which were his early Blue Note recordings.  That might have been my fault, but I don't have an answer.

For a fact I know about them paying someone a flat fee.  Of course that was his fault, but that's the way they liked to do business; with people who are easily taken advantage of; oh I forgot "That's Business".
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 
Miles Davis should have held a business clinic, they rarely screwed him.  Did he ever record for Blue Note?  Miles wasn't a junky for that long, he was one of those able to quit.



rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
***** players deserving more recognition; one of the exceptions to my belief that "there is usually a reason why".  It is important to remember that record labels, even great and art-sensitive ones like BN, are a business.*****

That sums it up.   First there is always a reason why, good or bad, deserved or not,  but there is a reason.

All these labels were / are  in business to make money.   Do not assume that the decision makers at BN loved Jazz.  They may have, but they loved making money more.   Business people don't always love or even care about the product that they sell.

For example, you'd be hard pressed to find an automobile aficionado among car dealers and salesmen.   It's just a product.   We may see the MBs and BMWs as wonderful feats of automotive engineering, but they could be washing machines as far as the average dealer is concerned.   The bottom line is all that concerns them.

The owners at BN and other labels, did not see the players as we saw / see them.

Cheers
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Rok, I knew you would take that attitude, after all BN, did nothing illegal. But now almost every business is a predator, and you're the prey. Those laws on the books that protected you, are no longer there; that's because "We Don't need no stinking regulations", they ruin business.

No, I'm not getting on my soap box today, since we all have PC's, if you want to know what's going on, you can find out just like I did. Once upon a time you could get legal help when you got screwed by big business, but now all you can do is reach for a crying towel.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

One story that circulated on Agon was that Grant Green would come to Blue Note with his 'substandard' junky music wanting them to record it. Grant Green didn't make substandard music even before he became a professional, and was just playing for the joy of playing and being heard.

I let the  circulater know what I thought about him. He might just crawl out from under his rock and be heard since he knows I'm talking about him.
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