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

What about the other 6,293,189 Jazz albums?   Not even an honorable mention?

The two best Jazz albums in creation, both with almost the same lineup.  Wow.   What a load of BS.

No Monk, No Ellington, No Mingus, No Morgan  etc.......stop and think people.

Cheers

Happy Labor Day!

I agree with everyone about John Park. Simply amazing talent!

Thanks nsp for those links. I’m going to try and hunt down that one recording you say he did!

frogman that Cosby link was hilarious. I was having a few drams of bourbon last night and playing a lot of Art Pepper.


As you all know Art always had substance abuse problems. In his autobiography Straight Life he writes about those 3 nights of recordings at the Village Vanguard. He was up every night looking over the arrangements while snorting Cocaine. The fact that he never slept those 3-4 days/nights and still sounded great is beyond my comprehension!

Fast forward on this link to the 8:28 mark. An interview with Art. At the 12 minute mark Art explains how he always makes sure to play standards that the audience are accustomed to before playing something radically different like the song "The Trip" because after hearing and enjoying what they like they will be more receptive to something not "ordinary" to them. That part of the interview is where rok2id needs to pay attention!!…   A little labor day sarcasm!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn8VzO-KbfQ
"stop and think people".  Very good advice rok, which you might take yourself.

Who stated that KOB and SE were the two best jazz albums in creation? I certainly didn't, and I don't believe o10 did either.

My understanding was this discussion debated which one deserved the highest classics status.  So that was a consideration of only two and no attempt to say either one was the number one jazz album of all time, that would be a ranking not a rating.  BTW, an impossible task in my opinion.

o10 and I had a friendly discussion over which of those two we prefer, or possibly rate higher as a classic.  That certainly doesn't exclude other fine albums from classic status.  But I would never pretend to proclaim any one album as the best in creation.
pryso,

" But I would never pretend to proclaim any one album as the best in creation."

I agree with you 100%. I detest debates over who was the best at this or that instrument, or the best album. If it is "YOUR" favorite that is all that counts. Jazz critics like Stanley Crouch never understood this.