Music reviews for music released in 1947.
1.Thelonius Monk: The Genius of Modern Music (10/10)
Review pending.
2. Dizzy Gillespie: “Manteca” (10/10)
One of the foundational tracks of Afro-Cuban Jazz. If someone said to me, “What is Afro-Cuban Jazz?” I would play them this.
3. Dizzy Gillespie: “Ow” (9/10)
I know this one from somewhere. Is it Mingus, maybe? Anyway, this is a knotty bop tune. In this version, there’s a big band too.
4. Aram Khachaturian: Symphony No. 3 ‘Simfoniya-poema’ (8/10)
Khachaturian’s final symphony apparently started out as a symphonic poem but was converted to a “symphony” for some reason. To my ears it sounds more like a mutated or bastardized organ concerto. It is far and away the most interesting piece of music I’ve heard from him to date and maybe that explains why it was condemned by the Soviet authorities. If more of Khachaturian’s music was like this – unusual, innovative and surprising – I wouldn’t find most of his music such a slog.
5. Memphis Minnie: “Three Times Seven Blues” (8/10)
A full band recording gives a different look to Minnie but she still dominates the recording. This is a pretty good example, I think, of post war blues enabled by a full band.
6. “Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid” (8/10)
Great solo in this one from Dizz.
7. Dizzy Gillespie & His Orchestra: “Good Bait” (7/10)
An okay big band composition that has this vaguely Latin feel due to the percussion (which is sometimes in audible). Some good solos.
8. Dizzy Gillespie: “Oop-Pop-A-Da” (7/10)
A big band/bop fusion thing, featuring tons of scatting.
9. Dizzy Gillespie: “Two Bass Hit” (7/10)
Another big band/bop thing that’s fairly compelling but also feels like it has one foot in the past. Lots of bass soloing, which is fun.
10. Louis Armstrong: The Complete New York Town Hall and Boston Symphony Hall Concerts (7/10)
Note: I don’t believe either of these concerts was actually released on disc in 1947. Read the review.
11. Billie Holiday: “Easy Living” (7/10)
Though still a ballad, this is a little more uptempo. Bluesy music despite happy lyrics. Guitar alert!
At the two minute mark it practically explodes with joy (relatively speaking).
12. Billie Holiday: “Solitude” (7/10)
Another ballad. A pop version of a (big band) jazz tune, it’s significantly jazzier than the other stuff from this period. This is one of those tracks where you can hear her trying to sound like another instrument.
13. Memphis Minnie: “I’m So Glad” (7/10)
Not the Skip James song, far as I can tell but I haven’t listened to it in a while. This sounds older than her other music from the era partly because it’s a duo recording. It’s alright.
14. Dizzy Gillespie: “Stay On It”
Big band. Feels conservative compared to the other music he was making at the time.