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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
nsp
653 posts
 
pjw
I have that rich Lionel Hampton Art Tatum disc you listed for quite a while. It's very good. Art Tatum was quite a player and Rich plays brushes a lot and is quite subdued in this context. RecommendedI agree with frogman's assessment of Rich and that it was "the Buddy Rich Show" bombastic in-your-face loud big band which I liked at first but grew out of  as my tastes changed.
frogman
7,358 posts
 
The opposite of bombastic. Classic Neal Hefti big band chart:

https://youtu.be/5_Mtgo9WOL0

Even more relaxed tempo. Of all the renditions of this chart that I’ve heard, my favorite.  The great Frank Wess leads a Basie alumni band. Fabulous instrumental blend; like velvet. Snooky Young is wonderful:

https://youtu.be/RlX0b-AJWz4
schubert
7,386 posts
 
It is a crime how little Hefti and other great arrangers are so generally unknown !

It amazes me how all these old American masters end up playing in Cologne with WDR .frogman , I’ll wager you’d be amazed what that fine WDR Saxophone lady, Karolina Strassmayer, can do with her miserystick , only fleeting glances of her changing instruments seem to be on the tube .
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Rok, the reason I keep going back to the 2015 jazz poll is because I'm trying to refute my own thesis that good jazz is no longer being created.
frogman
7,358 posts
 
Indeed a crime, Schubert. Strassmeyer is very fine; and you’re right, being a good doubler is a requirement for membership in a band with a repertoire like theirs which runs the gamut.

Speaking of Frank Wess, Maria Schneider, doubling and new Jazz. This tenor is one of the most interesting of the new (ish) crop of players on the scene. Member of Schneider’s band, he is an incredible multi instrumentalist who was taken under his wing by Frank Wess. Can play styles old and new at the highest level. Plays many unusual and exotic instruments, but tenor is his primary horn. Instruments as exotic as his wardrobe 😊. A bit like James Carter in that his tone concept is traditional, but can play very modern harmonically. Check out Frank Wess’ expressions while he listens to Scott.  No doubt in that old master’s mind whether Scott can play or not.  Frank Wess was 87! when this was done. I hope I can still pick my nose at 87:

https://youtu.be/YtY4WeNEQy8
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