Jazz for aficionados

@tyray 

That Tito Puente video was definitely from an 80s gig. All of the woman dancing have "Big Hair" as well as Celia Cruz.

That Count Basie video is great. I love Mr. 5x5 Jimmy Rushing. One of the best blues vocalists of all time.

The Count and his big band are terrific as usual. Sonny Payne can really swing on the kit and all the soloists are top notch.

Old Man River by Count Basie is centered around Sonny Payne on the kit and he really lets it rip!

https://youtu.be/PJg4bHKICa0?si=3HOu25J8Gip4QU8d

Re Wes Montgomery; Wes's thumb was made of gold. His use of octaves is second to none when it comes to jazz guitar. Montgomery live with the Wynton Kelly Trio:

At the Half Note, NYC:

https://youtu.be/AiJCiFnzTHU?si=IKJSy2a7lulsJyis

At The Penthouse, Seattle:

https://youtu.be/0wSH4nS8ucY?si=KQAOF9cd_xpiju9I

@stuartk,

So you don’t listen to much funky jazz!? And you live in metropolitan Oakland, CA!?

What, no Tower of Power with Roco on machine gun bass, David Garibaldi just wailing on the drums, Willie Fulton on guitar and not to mention that power house brass section!? With Lenny Williams crooning his ass off.

Let’s not forget Sly and the Family Stone, (Carlos) Santana, ’that little upstart band’ Graham Central Station, especially maestro George Duke and finally Paul Jackson who as you know was the main and original bassist from The Head Hunters! Wow!

But you know what? That’s ok too cause like what Sly used to say, different strokes for different folks.

Some guitarist if not better are very different from others : 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbfKFa-reBE&list=RDEMhgqBvXHOl8RZx-TPZt63kg&start_radio=1

Hah! @mahgister, Bravo! 

@tyray 

I don’t live in Oakland. I live about 2 1/2 hours from Oakland, in the Sierra Foothills east of Sacramento. My wife and I used to drive to Oakland to attend Jazz gigs at Yoshi’s.

I’m not going to try to justify my musical tastes because I don’t believe there is a  rational basis for taste, whether we’re talking about music, cars, architecture, visual art, food, poetry, films, flower arrangements or sexual partners.

I like what I like. I respect Tower of Power’s musicianship. I’d rather listen to Sly or Albert Collins. I respect James Brown. I’d rather listen to The Temptations , Otis Redding, Aretha or Otis Rush. I can’t explain why.

Another mystery. I’ve never cared for Chicago until I heard a group of Russian studio players (Leonid and friends) perform covers of their tunes. So, did I go out and buy some Chicago albums? No. When I’m in the mood for that music I log onto YouTube and listen to the Russians.

There are many factors that, in concert (pun intended), incline us in one direction or another where esthetics are involved. I don’t believe we’re even aware of some of them.