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
Most interesting frog, I don't recall hearing Farrell pre RTF.  But I have a couple of those as well as one or two of his CTI albums.

As an aside, it is interesting with the several law suits in popular music for one composer or artist lifting an intro/theme/riff/whatever from another these days, it is a fairly common practice in jazz.  In fact it happens so often it can become a parlor game to identify all the other music references a soloist may include in their turn.

And not just jazz on jazz or jazz on pop.  It happens with classical music too, as in Corea's "Spain".  Of course Albeniz has been dead too long to come after any of the jazz musicians who adapted some or all of "Concierto de Aranjuez". ;^)  Second movement, go to 7:25 -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye-FvKCZp3s

acman, as you may have read, I saw one of the current versions of Mingus Dynasty early last week.  Every iteration of that group I've heard has been top notch, all great musicians.  I like them almost as much as Charles hisself!
For anyone curious about the Rollins "Way Out West" recording that frogman and I referenced two days ago, see this from Michael Fremer about reissues.  And look for the link within the link for more about recordings.

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/sonny-rollins-way-out-west-deluxe-box-set-concords-craft-label


Frogman, on those piano-less trios, you can clearly hear the spontaneity of the improvisation; nothing rehearsed. Each individual musician was a star; none of them are sidemen on those gigs; that's what made those sets so spectacular, they were created right there on the spot, and could never be duplicated.


Great clips, acman3. Woody Shaw sounds amazing; and of course Farrell. Thanks.

pryso, good catch re Albeniz/Corea. You bring up an interesting point re musical quotations in jazz solos. First, musical compositions which are copyrighted are protected for the life of the composer plus (I think) 70 years or so. Usually the composer’s estate continues to receive royalty payments for 70 years after death.  However, there is something referred to as “fair use” which improvised solos would, usually fall under. You may find this interesting:

http://1630music.com/Publications/The%20Mythology%20of%20Copyright.pdf

Getting much deeper into the subject:

https://wesscholar.wesleyan.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1...