Dan Gould Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 What tune's opening notes put the biggest charge into you? So What? 'A' Train? Take Five? What familiar theme thrills you beyond compare? I thought of this as I was listening to a rare Bird recording from Montreal, and that triggers my vote: "Now's The Time" Quote
undergroundagent Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 The obvious choice: "Blue Train" The less obvious choice: "Soul Stirrin'" Quote
Gary Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 The opening (& title) track always gets the hairs on the back of the neck to stand to attention. Quote
Joe G Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 A Love Supreme Above the Treetops (Metheny) is a particularly transporting piece of music for me. Quote
Guy Berger Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 What tune's opening notes put the biggest charge into you? So What? 'A' Train? Take Five? What familiar theme thrills you beyond compare? I thought of this as I was listening to a rare Bird recording from Montreal, and that triggers my vote: "Now's The Time" "Hat and Beard" (from Dolphy's Out Lunch) "Melody for Melonae" (from Jackie McLean's Let Freedom Ring) "Pharoah's Dance" (maybe my favorite opening of any album -- so mysterious) Quote
brownie Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 Opening notes of those two do it for me: Duke Jordan's JorDu Kenny Dorham's Blue Bossa Quote
ajf67 Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 Ditto on "A Love Supreme" I'll add Bobby Timmons' piano on "Moanin'" Quote
sidewinder Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 (edited) Two particular favourites - Herbie's intro to Bobby Hutcherson's 'Till Then' (Oblique) and Bobby's intro on Jackie McLean's 'Plight' (Action). Herbie's intro to Lee Morgan's 'Ceora' is also pretty damn great ! Edited July 12, 2004 by sidewinder Quote
Soulstation1 Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 Herbie's intro to Lee Morgan's 'Ceora' is also pretty damn great ! double hell yeah Quote
bertrand Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 Exactly what I was thinking! Bertrand. Quote
jazzypaul Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 How about opening notes to a solo? Les McCann's first four bars on his solo for Cold Duck Time always brings a smile to my face whenever I hear it. Quote
Michael Fitzgerald Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 Miles Davis - Porgy And Bess (Buzzard Song) Ernie Royal. Mike Quote
Matthew Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 Bud Powell's opening on Parisian Thoroughfare -- it just sounds so fun. Quote
JohnS Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 From the opening notes of Bley/Haden/Motian's "Memoirs" you know it's going to be great. Quote
tonym Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 Blue Seven -- Sonny Rollins for starters. My Song -- Keith Jarrett. Too many to choose from. Quote
Leeway Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 The obvious choice: "Blue Train" The less obvious choice: "Soul Stirrin'" Beethoven would have been happy to pen the opening notes to "Blue Train," and he knew something about opening notes. Quote
Jazzmoose Posted July 12, 2004 Report Posted July 12, 2004 "Hat and Beard" (from Dolphy's Out Lunch) Without a doubt!! Quote
Alec Posted July 13, 2004 Report Posted July 13, 2004 For me it's the opening to Dolphy's "Aggression" from "Live at the 5 Spot V2. burrr! sends chills up my spine (or is the idiom down my spine?) Quote
sal Posted July 13, 2004 Report Posted July 13, 2004 A few that come to mind: "Maiden Voyage" "Freedom Jazz Dance" - the Miles Davis version. Not necessarily lettered notes, but an amazing array of percussive notes from Tony Williams "Recorda Me" Quote
Spontooneous Posted July 13, 2004 Report Posted July 13, 2004 Monk's first notes almost always make a big promise. The intros to "Criss Cross" and "I Mean You" come to mind. Gilliespie's original "Manteca" and "Salt Peanuts" fit in this category too. As does Dameron's original "Lady Bird." These first-generation bop guys knew how to grab your ear in just a split second. What Leeway said about "Blue Train." Quote
Christiern Posted July 13, 2004 Report Posted July 13, 2004 To me, there is no recorded intro that can beat Louis Armstrong's original "West End Blues." The goose bumps don't go away until Zutty puts the lid on it. Quote
RDK Posted July 13, 2004 Report Posted July 13, 2004 The piano intro to C-Jam Blues always makes me smile... Quote
Guy Berger Posted July 13, 2004 Report Posted July 13, 2004 To me, there is no recorded intro that can beat Louis Armstrong's original "West End Blues." The goose bumps don't go away until Zutty puts the lid on it. Excellent choice. What about the original recording of "Chelsea Bridge"? Guy Quote
Guy Berger Posted July 13, 2004 Report Posted July 13, 2004 "Hat and Beard" (from Dolphy's Out Lunch) Without a doubt!! I was listening to this last night, and had always assumed it opened with that nutty horn-and-vibes chords. For the first time I noticed that Tony opens it up with his perfect little drum roll. Guy Quote
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