aparxa

Bennie Green Blows His Horn Charles Mingus - East Coasting The Don Rendell Five - Just Music

Picture from Burt Goldblatt, taken at Boston Gardens in 1971!

Track 1 The Randy Weston Trio - Fire Down There (trad) Get Happy, Riverside, 1956 Randy Weston (piano), Sam Gill (bass), Wilbert Hogan (drums) I wanted to start the BFT by a tribute to Randy Weston. Popularized a year later by Sonny Rollins as St. Thomas, the tune is a traditional song/calypso from the Caribbean islands, recorded even prior to this recording by Louis « The Charmer » Farrakhan. Track 2 Conte Candoli All Stars - Macedonia (Candoli, Guaraldi) Little Band Big Jazz - Crown, 1960 Conte Candoli (trumpet), Buddy Collette (trumpet saxophone), Vince Guaraldi (piano), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Stan Levey (drums) I discovered this beauty of a record as I was intrigued to listen to Collette and Guaraldi altogether. But it's the playing of Candoli that caught me off guard, serene, assured and moving. I only know Candoli from West Coast Jazz with Getz and Pepper's Gettin' Together, but I wil have to find more one day. Track 3 Jazz-Hip Trio - Hyperespace (Roger Lucioni) Jazz en Relief, Riviera, 1967 Jean Bernard Eisinger (piano), Roger Lucioni (bass), Daniel Humair (drums) Lovely record from the late 60s. Eisinger and Lucioni composed most of the original tunes and it's pity they have not recorded/composed more (they pursued their career as MD in the South of France). And Humair is having a great time as always. I have been lucky to find a copy for about nothing (the auctioneer went litterally mad) and it sure deserves a reissue. Track 4 Jazz International - Buyer's Blues (Billy Byers) Jazz International, Vogue, 1956 Allen Eager (tenor saxophone), Billy Byers (trombone), Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet), Martial Solal (piano), Benoit Quersin (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums) Belgium, UK, France and US nationalities are present. I think the original title is under Solal's name who makes a beautiful Ellingtonian intro on this track, as pointed out by Thom who also identified Eager ! Reissued on CD as Transatlantic Meetings which also includes Roy Haynes Modern Group. Track 5 Stéphane Kerecki Quartet - Tirez Sur Le Pianiste (Charlie Et Lena theme, Georges Delerue) Nouvelle Vague, Outnote, 2014 Emile Parisien (soprano saxophone), Stéphane Kerecki (bass), Fabrice Moreau (drums) The second tribute of the BFT is to Charles Aznavour who was brilliant in this Truffaut movie. This relatively recent record offers a beautiful jazz rendition of tunes from Nouvelle Vague composers such as Antoine Duhamel and Georges Delerue in a minimalist format with 2 songs with Jeanne Added. Highly recommended. Track 6 Georges Arvanitas - Black and White (Anne-Marie Bernert) The Hound of Music, PSI, 1978 Claude Guilhot (vibes), Georges Arvanitas (piano), Jacky Samson (bass), Charles Saudrais (drums) There is a nostalgic and positive vibe in the interplay of that track that I always enjoyed a lot. I return more regulalry to Soul Jazz, Arvanitas&Woods or Arvanitas&Webster, but there are few tracks on this record that really deserve great attention. Track 7 Joachim Kühn & Rolf Kühn - Sounds Of Feelings (Joachim Kühn) Bloody Rockers, BYG, 1969 Rolf Kühn (clarinet), Volker Kriegel (guitar), Joachim Kühn (piano), Günter Lenz (bass), Stu Martin (drums) I can't say that there has been a seal of approval on this one based on the discussions ! I really like the sound of the electro clarinet on this record and the ideas of both Kühn. Kriegel is a bit ever-present but that's the kind of crazy/energetic developments that match the title of the record quite well. Last time I managed to see Joachim Kühn was really fun with a trio with Rabih Abou Khalil and I plan to see Kühn in 2 months. Track 8 Kora Jazz Trio - N'na (Abdoulaye Diabaté) Part Two, Celluloid, 2005 Abdoulaye Diabaté (piano), Moussa Cissoko (perc), Djeli Moussa Diawara (kora, guitar), Mamadou Koné (perc) It's clearly not a trio on this tune, but the tracks with the kora of Diawara are also sublime. The tune is composed by the pianist Diabaté that MG has identified. I admit having been a bit underwhelmed by their first effort, but Part Two is a great great combination of Malian, French, and jazz influences. They just released Part Four a few months ago on Cristal Records. Track 9 Thomas Mapfumo And The Blacks Unlimited ‎– Shumba (Thomas Mapfumo) Gwindingwi Rine Shumba, Chimurenga Music, 1981 Thomas Mapfumo (voc,guitar), Jonah Sithole (guitar), Leonard 'Pickett' Chiyangwa (guitar), Charles Mayana (bass), Sebastian Ferado (drums) There is nothing better than early Mapfumo. Except maybe very early Mapfumo when he was leading the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band. I strongly advise you to also listen to their compilation Take One. The current record features his typical Chimurenga style where the guitar plays in the style of a mbira and it is boiling !

Thanks! Unfortunately I don't think the Solal and the Hodes records have been reissued on CD yet.

Ted Curson Quartet - Tears For Dolphy

The Conversation (OST, David Shire)

Thanks for the recommendations, guys! I don't know when it should be on Cdbaby or WJ3 website, but here is a teaser from a month ago: Mighty fine concert by the two after having spent a day in Paris having an orgy of LP on the very quiet Left Bank while the Right Bank was burning.

Track 10 Assagai - Akasa (Charles Ononogbo, Fred Coker) Assagai, Vertigo, 1971 Bizo Mnggikana (tenor saxophone), Dudu Pukwana (alto saxophone), Mongezi Feza (cornet), Fred Coker (guitar), Charles Ononogbo (bass), Louis Moholo (drums) MG identified the record and the tune ! It's the mix of South African music, jazz and rock that I really enjoy. Dudu Pukwana is prominently featured and I just love every musical project he has been involved with. Track 11 Jackie Mittoo - Juice Box (Jackie Mittoo) Keep On Dancing, Coxsone, 1969 Jackie Mittoo (organ), prob. members of The Sound Dimension MG has identified Mittoo but I haven't been able to identify the rest of the group, sorry ! Probably the members of the Sound Dimension. Originally on Keep on Dancing, the track can be found on the recent compilation featured above that is extremely well presented and fun to listen to. Track 12 Ohio Penitentiary 511 Jazz Ensemble - Mantra Dance (Logan Rollins) Hard Luck Soul, Aragorn, 1971 Reynard Birtha (trumpet), Jesse Barrett (tenor saxophone), Sonny Ward (tenor saxophone), Logan Rollins (alto saxophone), George Williams (guitar), Richard Strokes (guitar), John Grady (organ), Richard Wise (piano), Charles Peterson (bass), Dave Bennett (drums), Ricky Lewis (perc) Raw ! And ROllins , the nephew of Sonny. It's a record made by serving prisoners and the energy from Birtha and the reeds (Logan!) is highly communicable! Track 13 The Art Hodes Quintet - Dardanella Mostly Blues (Some Legendary Art), Audiophile, 1957 Art Hodes (piano), Marty Grosz (guitar), Truck Parham (bass), Freddie Kohlman (drums) (Eddie Burleton (clarinet)) « A pianist who has lived a full life and has something to say » as pointed out by Hot Ptah. That's Art Hodes and his quartet/quintet playing drag, blues and standards with diligence, joy and art. Great interactions all along with Marty Grosz. Track 14 Charles Williams - Trees And Grass And Things (Don Pullen) Trees And Grass And Things, Mainstream, 1971 Charles Williams (alto saxophone), David Brooks (tenor saxophone), Don Pullen (piano, organ), Jimmy Lewis (bass), William Curtis (drums), Montego Joe (perc) Identified by Jim ! I bought this record opportunistically when I saw the name of Pullen. I love every bit of the music here. It captures in a studio recording the vibrant energy that the Pullen/Adams Quartet have had a decade later in so many live sessions but (quite) failed to obtain in studio. I have no other record featuring Charles Williams so far, any recommendation would be appreciated! Track 15 The Mal Waldron Trio - Idaho (Jesse Stone) Moonglow & Stardust, Music Minus One, 1960 Mal Waldron (piano), Wendell Marshall (bass), Charles Persip (drums) Did you sing along ? Thom identified Waldron, MG identified the tune. Of the 3 or 4 Music Minus One records lead by Waldron that I have heard, this is by very far my favorite. Except for Stardust than I find a bit too slow, the rest of the tunes are perfectly arranged and executed by Waldron with a very positive atmosphere all along. Don't hesitate to give this record a try if you find a copy. Track 16 Ralph Moore - Into Dawn (Roy Hargrove) Furthermore, Landmark, 1990 Ralph Moore (tenor saxophone), Roy Hargrove (trumpet), Benny Green (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) Dan has identified the track&record ! Since I have heard Moore play on live sessions with the Horace Silver Quintet, I have been very enthusiastic with pretty much everything he has done as a leader and sideman. I am glad that he is again recording (a new album to be released soon on WJ3 records) and touring (I just realize he has played multiple times in France in the past 2 years, hope I can catch him soon). The story of Hargrove is truly a sad one. Such an elegance in his compositions and a dedication and talent when he played. Awfully sad. Track 17 Jean-Jacques Ruhlmann - Ironie Du Sort (Jean-Jacques Ruhlmann) Impression - l'énigme Infinie, JAM, 1981 Jean-Jacques Ruhlmann (soprano saxophone), Philippe Maté (tenor saxophone), François Couturier (piano), François Méchali (cello), Merzak Mouthana (drums) A relatively obscure French recording from the early 80s. I only know François Couturier that I have seen playing with Anouar Brahem a couple of times. The compositions might be a bit too written but the arrangements are truly beautiful. Track 18 Johnny Smith - Limelight (Terry's Theme, Charlie Chaplin) (The Complete Roost Johnny Smith Small Group Sessions) ROOST EP311 , Roost, 1952 Johnny Smith (guitar), Joe Mooney (organ), Eddie Safranski (bass), Don Lamond (drums) Beautiful Smith here. The first CD of his Mosaic set is my regular and favorite post-midnight listen. The tune is from the soundtrack of Limelight composed by Chaplin. The organ seems a bit theatrical but for me it matches the atmosphere of Chaplin movies like a charm. Track 19 Sophie Alour and Alain Jean-Marie - Que reste-t-il de nos amours ? (I Wish You Love, Charles Trenet) Live at La Rochelle, 2018 Sophie Alour (tenor saxophone), Alain Jean-Marie (piano) This is not officially released but has been recorded around the release of Alour's Time for Love containing two duets between Alain Jean-Marie and Sophie Alour. Alour has made consistently great records in the past 10 years (Opus 3, Shaker) and Alain Jean-Marie would deserve much more recognition. His early recordings, the ones with Wilen and Romano and the beguine series contain all magnificent compositions and play. Unless the current strikes disturb my plans, I am glad I should be able to see them both in duet format tonight near Paris !

Next Stop... Soweto Vol. 3 South African Friends - Sangena Bheki Mseleku - Celebration

Both correct on #Zim and on #Mittoo!

Hello everyone, after the reveal from CardinalJazzFan, here comes the 176th BFT! After more than ten years on Organissimo, it was about time to present a BFT. It has been a great pleasure to prepare the selection which encompasses old favorite tunes along with recent discoveries. 90 minutes of mostly jazz with a short interlude halfway through. Thanks to Thom for hosting the BFT at the usual address: http://www.thomkeith.net/index.php/blindfold-tests/ With the link on the archive on the left corner of the page. I hope you will enjoy the music and feel free to share your impressions, commentaries, guesses, answers, etc, mainly etc.

Not those countries (and not South Africa either)! I have no idea how dry/arid is the region where Shona people live. I would say Greater Antilles consists of most islands western from Puerto Rico.

None of these players on the record! Most if not all of them must have played with Baker though. Not East Africa, much southward!! There is actually a pianist from the French Antilles in the BFT, but not on this track. Track 11 is located in the Greater Antilles!

Gaslini Plays Monk A tad too percussive and built to my taste, but still great fun to listen to. The Bud Shank Quartet - Jazz at Cal-Tech Except from the drums on Side 1, I liked the record a lot! Randy Weston - How High The Moon Mozart Piano Concertos 20&23 / Barenboim and the English Chamber Orchestra First time I hear the 23rd and the Adagio is beautiful!

It's St Thomas, It's not Ray, you know the pianist! I initially bought the record for the piano player - who composed that tune, but the leader is the trumpet player! Not Blue though! The drummer is pretty well known indeed. Not Bailey! It's Someone's Blues indeed! Some sort of amplified clarinet! Yes, it Diabaté ! It's further South and it's a Bantu language! Correct both on the record & on the track!! I love Beka too. I wanted Dudu on the BFT but it's true that he's not having one of those characteristic and intense solos on the track I proposed. Nope, we have crossed the Atlantic Ocean! A one-off opportunity to record for these mostly amateur musicians. But those reeds! Not Milt. The record is from the late 50s. No idea if that's recent! Yeahhhh! Congrats, it's Idaho, from Jesse Stone! The tune has been identified. It's the late Hargrove on the trumpet and Benny Green at the piano! No opinion about God, but I really like both Joe Henderson and the saxophonist leading this session (Ralph Moore)! Not quite sure about the money, but I am glad I bought the record I had no clue of the alternate name of the tune!! Yes it's Terry's theme from Limelight. Not the soundtrack indeed. Haha, I thought the organ player was in phase with the atmosphere of the movie. I love that guitarist's sound! That's the song! I thought their complementarity was working as a charm! Thanks for joining in!!

Thanks! Almost, 8 to 10 are African artists. 11 is actually from the Antilles, not that far from Louisiana! That's him in a nutshell! Thanks for participating and managing the BFTs. Have no worries for your wallet, the majority of the tracks are easily accessible. Plus you might already own a few of the records already

Now, Jazz Ramwong

Bheki Mseleku - Celebration and Moses Taiwa Molelekwa ‎– Genes and Spirits have been recently repressed by Matsuli Music!