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
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Frogman, you based your decision on the "superflous" reason of a small difference in personel, when "Bird" and "Diz" was what mattered. Never the less, I plugged my best set of headphones in for this audition.

"On the other hand, the solos by both Bird and Dizzy on the version with Al Haig are incredible. Bird’s solo break is a wonder. Tough choice, aren’t we lucky?"

No, it wasn't a tough choice, for the very reason you stated, plus Curley Russell comes in smoking on the intro. That's followed by Diz's "riffs". Max Roach is white hot on drums, Al Haig gives us a nice piano solo, but the best is yet to come. At 1:16, "Bird's" lightening fast riffs, that are as smooth as silk lets us know who is the "riff king".

At 4:44, after Diz heard Bird, he knew he had better not come back "shucking and jiving", and he lets loose a flurry of crystal clear, crisp clean riffs.


Without a shadow of a doubt; "The Town Hall Concert" is the best.