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 

Back in the day, before the smartphones (I started to use one maybe 4 years ago) I would take All Music Guide book with me to any travel abroad and than would look for great music shops in any town...would spend hours, searching thru inventory and looking what the 'guide' says about different albums and artist...I must have looked strange, but than again, it was never too crowded in jazz departments....

Just listened to the Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers studio album (recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio 1960) A Night In Tunisia.

IMHO, it is the best version ever of ANIT, studio or live. And Kozo’s Waltz, from the same album, is awesome as well.

The lineup of Wayne Shorter and Lee Morgan on the brass, with Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt joining Blakey in the rhythm section is stellar. 

During Lee Morgan's solo in the final minutes, you can clearly hear Blakey telling Morgan "play your instrument" and "get mad" in the silence between passages of the solo.

A desert island recording.