wesbed Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 The Illinois Jacquet box has been in the Running Low category for a while now. Does anybody know how many sets remain? I remember reading, at the BNBB, the Illinois box being described as 'good for being R&B.' The sound clips at Mosaic sound good to me no matter what type of label is placed on the music. As a familiar listener to bebop and the Blue Note sound, what is meant by the term R&B? I mean, I know what R&B referred to in the 1970s. But, the Illinois tunes were recorded in the 1940s. Does R&B mean the music is intended to be dance music or romantic music? Does it mean the songs are focused around Illinois’ playing while the remaining players are used as the background support for Illinois’ horn? Does it mean the solos and rhythms are ‘simplistic’ to be easier on the ear? Does it mean there are no breaks for drum and/or bass solos? Does it mean there are vocals? What makes Illinois R&B rather than bebop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 (edited) I've kind of shied away from that box because from what I've heard and read, a lot of it is like R&B or jump blues or something like dance music. It developed to replace the swing music that people could dance to whereas isn't the sort of music you could. I'm not sure how to define it, but maybe it's closer to pre-rock, with a lot of honking. This is probably not too helpful but it's the kind of thing that you know when you see it or hear it. I recently listened to one of those Prestige First Sessions, the one with Lockjaw and Bennie Green and it was way disappointing for the most part because it was R&B, with a lot of vocals. I just looked at AMG and they define it sort of as I described it, as dance music, where the musicians played louder, with more electric instruments and accentuating riffs, boogies and vocals. Pianos pounded harder and louder and ditto for the saxes. That said, R&B did play an important part in jazz. For example, Sonny Stitt played with Tiny Bradshaw and Coltrane played in a R&B band and this proved an important training ground for jazz musicians. Edited March 11, 2003 by Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clandy44 Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 GOM has it right. This is terrific music that you will regret passing up. I love this period and find the work energizing. Pull this off the shelf a fair bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 I agree with GOM too. I was hoping the Jacquet set was going to be like his album, The Kid and the Brute. I became a Jacquet fan after hearing it. I really love this album and it made me want the Mosaic set. When I initially got the set, I was disappointed due to my initial expectations. As I've listened to it more, I've come to appreciate it for what it is. I actually like the Jump Blues stuff now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed S Posted March 12, 2003 Report Share Posted March 12, 2003 I think its terrific as well. GOM and the other above nail it. Its multi label content make it a rarity as well. I would not want to miss this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertblues Posted March 12, 2003 Report Share Posted March 12, 2003 Here's another "thumbs up" for the Jacquet box! I've got the lp set, sound is excellent on these. For me the playing of Jacquet's brother Russell was an unexpected delight on some of these sessions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Christensen Posted March 12, 2003 Report Share Posted March 12, 2003 Another thumbs up for that. I've the Mosaic box and I really like it. Some of it swings like a MF, and it don't try to be pretentious, just take it for what it is, no nonsense music and no high brow, just plain fun and IMHO is worth having in any serious jazz collection. Vic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed S Posted March 13, 2003 Report Share Posted March 13, 2003 Hey Victor Welcome to the board. I'm glad you came over to check things out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted March 14, 2003 Report Share Posted March 14, 2003 More thumbs up for Illinois! One of those sets Mosaic does the best: collected from the most obscure record labels, it includes also (4 titles only, no alternates) a big band session feat. Fats Navarro and some Tadd Dameron arrangements as well as loads of wonderful jump (or whatever you may call it) music and many wonderful ballads. For me, this set (I bought it without knowing anything about Jacquet) was a real surprise. Get it while you can! ubu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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