Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1961 (pg 62)

[mancity111]

60 and 61 will be interesting, still relatively slim pickings in terms of albums relating to today's more common genres. Some Elvis, bit of Cliff etc. I know there's almost a pathological dislike of musicals in some quarters here but stuff like Oliver! should not be sniffed at. I was staggered to learn that Alvin and The Chipmunks had an album out in 1960. I'd assumed they were a relatively recent 'phenomenon'.

Lionel Bart and John Lennon make for an interesting collaboration both in and out of the studio.

I have seen the original film of Oliver many a time largely because of the music both inspiring and magical at the same time.

One can relate to The Who and Lionel Bart without compromising.

 

[mrbelfry]

60 and 61 will be interesting, still relatively slim pickings in terms of albums relating to today's more common genres. Some Elvis, bit of Cliff etc. I know there's almost a pathological dislike of musicals in some quarters here but stuff like Oliver! should not be sniffed at. I was staggered to learn that Alvin and The Chipmunks had an album out in 1960. I'd assumed they were a relatively recent 'phenomenon'.

I'd already dismissed Oliver as not exciting mainly due to me own prejudices. Will take a look again

 

[KS55]

I am totally ignorant where jazz is concerned, so thanks for the write up, @threespires. I did read once that Jazz is a euphemism for Jizz. Is this true or rubbish?

 

[RobMCFC]

Thanks @threespires, this was a good introduction to jazz.

The first few songs reminded me of the music that is played whilst you walk down Main Street in Disneyland/Magic Kingdom, especially "Jelly Roll Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton. I love that old-time/Vaudeville feel.

Then you can hear the change of gear when "Salt Peanuts" starts; a more frenetic pace with all of that trumpet. "Nuages" by Django Reinhardt was a good inclusion, due to its intricate guitar instead of all that brass, and I was of course familiar with the Dave Brubeck and Ella Fitzgerald tracks (although I wouldn't have been able to tell you who sung the latter).

"So What" by Miles Davis and John Coltrane etc. was also great. You can hear that this is something new, and the Chet Baker song is an oddity. Before looking at the track info, I was convinced that it was a woman singing. A good song to round off the initial list anyway, a real late night feel to it.

 

[threespires]

I am totally ignorant where jazz is concerned, so thanks for the write up, @threespires. I did read once that Jazz is a euphemism for Jizz. Is this true or rubbish?

Haha I had a little bit on this in the original write-up but it was too long so got edited out.

No-one really knows, the true origin of the word is lost in the midst of time and people have spent a lot of time trying to get a definitive answer. There's a fair few theories and sexually orientated ones are the more plausible.

"They said that the French had brought the perfume industry with them to New Orleans and the oil of jasmine was a popular ingredient locally. To add it to a perfume was called "jassing it up." The strong scent was popular in the red light district, where a working girl might approach a prospective customer and say "Is jass on your mind tonight young fellow?" The term had become synonymous with erotic activity and came to be applied to the music as well."

Jazzing was definitely used as a term for having sex, but the jism connection probably comes from the word jasm. Jism/jizz originally meant vigour or spirit, sometimes referred to as spunk. All of these words were used in polite society, it was only in the 20th century they took on a mostly sexual meaning. So Jism became Jasm and possibly Jasm became Jas which then became jazz. Though more direct, there seems less support for the theory that Jizz became Jazz in one jump but no one is really sure.

Jelly Roll Morton claimed to have invented the term, but I don't think anyone thinks that was anything other than him trying it on.

 

[KS55]

Haha I had a little bit on this in the original write-up but it was too long so got edited out.

No-one really knows, the true origin of the word is lost in the midst of time and people have spent a lot of time trying to get a definitive answer. There's a fair few theories and sexually orientated ones are the more plausible.

"They said that the French had brought the perfume industry with them to New Orleans and the oil of jasmine was a popular ingredient locally. To add it to a perfume was called "jassing it up." The strong scent was popular in the red light district, where a working girl might approach a prospective customer and say "Is jass on your mind tonight young fellow?" The term had become synonymous with erotic activity and came to be applied to the music as well."

Jazzing was definitely used as a term for having sex, but the jism connection probably comes from the word jasm. Jism/jizz originally meant vigour or spirit, sometimes referred to as spunk. All of these words were used in polite society, it was only in the 20th century they took on a mostly sexual meaning. So Jism became Jasm and possibly Jasm became Jas which then became jazz. Though more direct, there seems less support for the theory that Jizz became Jazz in one jump but no one is really sure.

Jelly Roll Morton claimed to have invented the term, but I don't think anyone thinks that was anything other than him trying it on.

Wow. Always in awe of such erudition about a topic. Thanks.

 

[threespires]

Thanks @threespires, this was a good introduction to jazz.

The first few songs reminded me of the music that is played whilst you walk down Main Street in Disneyland/Magic Kingdom, especially "Jelly Roll Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton. I love that old-time/Vaudeville feel.

Then you can hear the change of gear when "Salt Peanuts" starts; a more frenetic pace with all of that trumpet. "Nuages" by Django Reinhardt was a good inclusion, due to its intricate guitar instead of all that brass, and I was of course familiar with the Dave Brubeck and Ella Fitzgerald tracks (although I wouldn't have been able to tell you who sung the latter).

"So What" by Miles Davis and John Coltrane etc. was also great. You can hear that this is something new, and the Chet Baker song is an oddity. Before looking at the track info, I was convinced that it was a woman singing. A good song to round off the initial list anyway, a real late night feel to it.

The Chet Baker was Res Joe's (very fine) nomination.

 

[threespires]

Wow. Always in awe of such erudition about a topic. Thanks.

Thanks, but not really. Like you I was intrigued the first time I read the claim and curiosity got the better of me so I did a bit of digging on the interweb. If it was the old days and I'd had to actually read (and remember) some stuff from books, that might have counted as erudition!

 

[Bill Walker]

Bill Evans was a sometimes under appreciated part of Kind of Blue, this interview is a really interesting insight into the creative process involved in the making of the album.

Rare interview with Bill Evans recounts the story of Miles Davis and Kind of Blue - JAZZ.FM91

In this rarely heard interview, iconic pianist Bill Evans talks about what it was like working with Miles Davis and making the best-selling jazz record of all time.

jazz.fm

Spoiler - I'm slated for doing 1961 and we will be going modal again with one of my picks.

One thing I didn't have chance to mention in my write up but is very pertinent when it comes to Davis, is the despite the competitive edge of many musicians there's was also a nurturing 'apprenticeship' type culture that existed in 20th century jazz. Coltrane is a great example, he became who he was in part by learning from Gillespie, Monk and Davis when he was in their bands. Going back to Evans, Miles Davis always knew when he picked him up that he would want to go and do his own thing which is how it should be. I'm not sure that transitioning through bands and a succession of mentors and influencers exists in the same way in any other form of music; maybe a bit in classical and blues but not at the speed or fruitfulness of jazz.

Miles bringing in Bill Evans also drastically changed the overall tone of the album. Evans was enlisted due to his connection with George Russell, which I mentioned earlier.
Wynton Kelly brought in a more blues-influenced sound in the piece Freddie Freeloader, but the whole album has Bill Evans influence all over it and it can really be felt on the two ballads Blue in Green and Flamenco Sketches, which both of these pieces were co-written by Miles and Evans.
Anyway, like you I just wanted to point out how important Bill Evans was to Kind of Blue and, honestly, it just wouldn't have been the same album without his musical contributions.

 

[threespires]

C'mon folks, you must have least seen Whiplash with the brilliant JK Simmons as the deranged villain? Hint for a track nomination...