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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
frogman
7,599 posts
 
Great!

Boy, you sure do know how to get my attention. Great mp. One of the reasons that a vintage NY Meyer 5 (must be “NY”) fetches the price it does; at one time (and still) “everyone“ wanted to sound like Phil. Awesome player and composer. Besides being as great a soloist as he was, he was also one of the greatest lead alto players ever.

Speaking of Quincy Jones:

https://youtu.be/XRBwOrxDrCs

https://youtu.be/fZCeGkpPVdU

https://youtu.be/qcCO174zQl8

https://youtu.be/kcm5iDT5l-c

I have posted this at least twice before. If you want to know the history of that NY Meyer 5 (and much more):

https://youtu.be/6SJxmCzYpoo


pjw81563
1,912 posts
 
Hey frogman great "Lockjaw" selections. I have all 3 volumes of the "Cook Book" sessions plus "Smokin' (which is really volume 4) in my CD collection. All were recorded in 1958 with Shirley Scott on Organ, Jerome Richardson on flute, baritone, and tenor. I think there may have been different drummers and bassists on the session dates but "Lockjaw", Scott and Richardson are definitely on all 4 recording dates.

I like the "edginess" of Eddie's tenor playing and you can tell, like he says to Oscar Peterson, that Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins were his biggest influences (same slightly edgy sound if that's the way to describe it)

It was interesting how Eddie said the solo's in Ellington's Big Band were unique to whoever sat in the soloist chair that night while in the Count Basie Big Band all the solo's were pre - arranged/charted.
pjw81563
1,912 posts
 
Schubert great Phil Woods selections.

You should check out the "Live at Yoshi's" album titled "Bouncing with Bud and Phil.

I have a large selection of Phil Woods in my collection but over the last 6 months I have been beefing up my Bud Shank collection. The live at Yoshi's album Bud was 78 and Phil 73 but they sound like they are in their 20's!

They both have 2 different distinctive alto sounds that complement each other well. I would say Woods is a little "smoother"

Btw did you know Bud Shank plays that famous flute solo on the "The Mamas and the Papas" 1965 hit song "California Dreamin'. Its an alto flute.
pjw81563
1,912 posts
 
I have posted this at least twice before.
Glad you posted it again frogman because this was the first time I saw it. Phil Woods is the "master" so "master class" is appropriately titled. 

Don't know if you know this but James Carter is a "saxophone collector/enthusiast" His collection of rarities is quite extensive or so I'm told.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3EgapgFCI0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSellryMH_g

Here Carter speaks about Don Byas who was one of his biggest influences. If you have the time its really interesting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SF43lbPPFY

In the interview he talks about the following concert in Holland dedicated to the music of Don Byas which was Don's adopted homeland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1IwiELq3lQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-22a-ULBzXU

pjw81563
1,912 posts
 
frogman I missed the word "husky" that you described "Lock Jaws" playing as. That is the word that best describes it I think. Hawk, Ben Webster and Don Byas had that same distinctive tone.
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