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

@curiousjim,

Thank you for this,

It will take me years to fully appreciate and digest these. As I see it, Jam sessions for life. One of the things I dig about Hard Bop and Post Bop is you can dance to it. And if you can’t dance to it you surely can toe tap to it. Heck, and even get up out of your seat and Soul clap to it. I’m a big sucker for Soul Jazz, Latin Jazz.

Calypso will be a more in depth study for me as I’m not that familiar with it, but that’s ok cause it will only broaden my musical palette.

This just popped up on YouTube. The fifty best Hard Bop albums of all time, at least in their opinion.

Would someone kindly direct me and show me what of any of these YouTube selections are Calypso?

@curiousjim 

Thanks for the Hard Bop list. I do find it "curious" that it includes Dexter Gordon Blue Notes. I’m no scholar, so this impression could simply be a product of my ignorance, but to my ears, that series of recordings doesn’t fit so convincingly into the Hard bop camp. Perhaps more knowledgeable forum members can comment on this.