webbcity

Should have thought to check Dusty Groove, of course! Thanks.

Anyone know where I can find info on this label online? Did a couple of searches and came up with nothing. I'm interested in the Marion Brown (have heard & love it, but don't own it), and seeing that they're reissuing the Hemphill also, I definitely need to see what else they have coming out...

Well, as is usually the case when I see the reveal, I feel like a damn idiot. I used to have the Robert Ruff!! I can't believe it. That track is so good and I didn't even keep the damn album. I remember liking it, but I guess not well enough to keep it? Funny that I identified the bass player & drummer on the Waldron album, but not Waldron! I need to get a copy of this one, really dug it. The Drake/McPhee recording is phenomenal. Really enjoyed that J.F. Jenny-Clark too, that's a nice surprise. And I definitely need Hannibal's "The Light"... I don't have a copy of that one. All in all, this was really fun, and you and I definitely have some similar tastes. Thanks for sharing all this incredible music!

Once again, thanks for this... a total blast overall and lots of stuff here that I need to investigate further! Track 10 - Huh, this is really interesting...I like the pianist's style a lot...and the whole trio seems to be very in tune with this approach, and a bit "rickety" in the best possible way. This comes off like a much more soulful version of Keith Jarrett. I'm probably going to regret that comment. What I mean is that it's cerebral but it's got a great feeling to it. I like this. It's very elastic, very exploratory, and it swings in its own way. Great sound from the bass player too. Track 11 - Multiple fretless basses on this cut? I'm not super familiar with Richard Bona but he's the first person that came to mind here. This is very nicely done but it doesn't really speak to me. Oh wow, he really goes up into a high register there, which has me questioning whether that's a bass, but I guess it could be a 6 string? I could be into this if I was in a different mood maybe. This has echoes of 80s Pat Metheny Group which is unfortunately not some of my favorite Metheny. Track 12 - This is another one that's just not my thing. Technically it's flawless and the I appreciate the space they're in here. The singer has an incredible voice but the material isn't doing it for me. Track 13 - Already this sounds familiar. Oh wait a minute, Billy Harper? I've heard this before but I don't think I have this album. Hang on, I think I've actually played this tune. Am I right, Thom Keith? Oh man, are there two drummers on this? This feels so good. Harper's solo... this is masterful. The bass solo is good. But BH and the drummers? Just killer. Love this! Is that Harper himself singing? Track 14 - Boom! Lots of energy here...I like it but it might be a bit much for me after the deep journey of that last cut. I appreciate what they're doing here but it's not totally reaching me. The band is firing on all cylinders and it's amazing they can keep up with the pace and energy of this! Damn! The trumpet player is on fire. Great solo. I only wish there were more dynamics in this... they do manage to get the energy level even HIGHER at certain moments, which is amazing...but there are times where the whole thing feels unnecessarily relentless. OK... I spoke too soon. The tenor solo just started and it's a welcome change. Nice! Overall I have mixed feelings about this track.

I haven't looked at the reveal yet and still hope to listen to the last 5 tracks today. I can't believe I both sorta dissed and praised Hannibal in the same test!

Finally had some time to spend with this, and I'm SO glad I did!! Here are my notes as I listened... Track 1 - The tune seems vaguely familiar to me but maybe it's just one of those that have that "familiar" sound. I can't decide whether I like the trumpet player or not, sound-wise, but he/she sure is GOING for it. And speaking of going for it, wow... I DO love this alto player. This solo is a total blast! Adventurous. I really like this track overall. Track 2 - Hell yes, killer bass intro! [Several minutes later, after becoming entranced...] OK, this is phenomenally good. Everything about this is right on...I totally dig the feel, every one of the soloists tells a story and they play together like they are brothers (or sisters). I should definitely know who this is. In fact, Thom Keith will publicly shame me for not knowing it. This is totally up my alley and yet I don't know that I can ID any of the players. The tenor player does this thing that reminds me of Ari Brown a bit. There's a distinctly Chicagoan feel to this and the bass player reminds me of some guys I've heard out there too. Track 3 - And now for something completely different. Hard initially to reorient myself to this piece after being taken to another planet by the previous track... but this is really good. I do enjoy this type of music a lot but couldn't begin to guess who it is. Fantastic groove! Track 4 - Going back in time now. Beautiful, beautiful tenor playing! The changes are very familiar. I'm dancing in my chair. Outstanding tenor solo! The piano player is pure class, elegant. I have no guesses on this but I'm sure these will be familiar names. Track 5 - Whoa! We are all over the map here. And I like that! This is not something I'm familiar with but I dig the energy and of course that bari! Gotta be some European guys, I think. Hmm... I like the way it starts but don't love the middle section with all the electronics. I'd normally love something like this but in this particular case it doesn't speak to me. Track 6 - This is super cool. I already love the sparse groove that they're setting up. This is another one that's right up my alley. The sounds, the sounds! I love this. Killer groove, nice slow build...they are really in the zone here. I like the bass player's sound too. I'm going to take a completely wild guess and say this could be Wolfgang Dauner with Eberhard Weber and Fred Braceful? Whatever it is, I need it! Track 7 - Damn!! I like your taste in music. This is fantastic. Again, something I should know, and I'll probably kick myself when I find out the players. These guys are communicating on another level. I LOVE the way it all comes together after the drum solo, around the 11 minute mark...whooooooooo!! I may have hurt myself listening to this. In the best possible way. I think a name or two is given away at the end of this, but I can't make out what he's saying. Track 8 - There is some heavy bassness going on here. Is this all effects or more than one bass player? Maybe some overdubbing? The production on this is amazing, it's like this exists in a completely different space. I'm listening on headphones and it's really blowing my mind. This is obviously a fairly recent recording. I like what this person or persons are doing, this is a great concept and a very cool listening experience. Couldn't begin to guess who it is. Track 9 - I am seriously digging all the great bass playing so far! Is this Cecil McBee. Whoa... this is venturing into Alice Coltrane territory. Which is just fine by me. Hold everything! Is that Jean Carn? No, it couldn't be. This is absolutely fantastic! Is that cello player? Sure sounds a lot like Diedre Murray, but that can't be either. Wow this is confusing me... but happily so! Damn, that trumpet player... is this Hannibal?? WOW! You are killing me here. I have to get back to work but this has been a blast so far. Will post responses to the last bunch of tracks as soon as I can get to them. Thanks for all this great music!

I look forward to it! Thank YOU!

Thom Keith has sweet-talked me into doing this. I don't think October is possible for me due to my work schedule, but I could handle November if you still need someone. Even though I'm not around these parts too much anymore, I've enjoyed many a BFT in the past and I'm glad the tradition continues! Will also check out this month's BFT to get back into the swing (bad pun intended?)... it's only right!

Wow, that's an interesting reveal! Somehow I didn't catch that Nisha was on there twice, nor did was I able to identify tracks from two albums that I have (the Malachi Thompson and the Corey Wilkes)! Oy. Good stuff. Very clever throwing in a couple of play alongs too. I really like Dana Hall's drumming a lot... have seen him play a couple of times in Chicago, once as a sideman with a group I didn't really care for overall, but he stood out as a great player. I should check that album out.

Coming in just under the wire on this. Some killer stuff here as always Thom! I did listen a little bit ago while at work, and had hoped to write some comments about each track but this month has sadly been kind of a bitch. So all I can tell you is that the Marvin Gaye cut, which is beautiful, is from Louis Hayes' "Variety is the Spice" (which you introduced me to, of course), and there might be a cut on here from Rene McLean's "Watch Out" which I think I introduced you to? It's been a while since I've listened to that one but I *think* I heard something from it here. This was a fun listen during a lousy workday! Will have to go back and re-listen when I have time. Thanks for putting this together and for letting me know to check it out!

Hi all, I'm not new to the forum, but haven't posted here in a looooong time. My pal Thom said he thought I should check out this BFT, and I'm glad I did! Great stuff here Felser! I'm also a little late on this one, but I took a listen, shared my responses with Thom and then he asked if I'd share them here. I've already checked the answers but these are my responses from before I knew just how wrong I was... Also note that my comment on track 6 was because of course I knew immediately it was my friends Thom, Jonathan and Mike. And I was mortified to discover who I was maligning on track 7! --- Track 1 - Yes! First cut from Billy Parker's Freedom of Speech album... Dance of the Children, I think? This LP has some great stuff... I don't 100% love every track, but this particular one is a favorite. Track 2 - Wow...this is interesting. Wasn't too sure where it was going at first, but I LOVE the groove and the organ sound. I don't actually love what the horns add on the head. But the rhythm section is solid and beautiful...bass and drums have an effortless sense of feeling to them that is awesome. Well, hang on... I do like this flute solo. Trumpet... nice... I feel like I should know who this is. Sound is definitely Hubbard-esque. And there's no bass player...that's the organ. I'm guessing it's the organist's date, but I don't know my organ players well enough to know who it is. Killer organ solo though! Wild guess: Charles Earland? Don't love the guitar. Track 3 - Love the prominent bass...is it the bass player's date? Wish the tenor was a bit higher in the mix during the solo, wanted to hear the tone a bit more. Overall I really like this but can't make any guesses on the players. Sure sounds like a Black Jazz date or something like that though. Track 4 - Nice tune. I like the soprano/tenor combo. Bass player's sound & feel are fantastic. Drummer too... excellent. Sounds like Ndugu or someone like that. The tenor solo is super creative, wow... this person is on another planet. Wait a minute... Billy Higgins on drums! That's all I got. Really want to know who the others are... Track 5 - Oh man... yes. This is killer, from the get-go. Wow, who is this tenor player? Deep craziness. A bit of it reminded me of Jessica Jones but I'm sure it's not her. Love the push-pull of the rhythm section. What a great band. They're listening like devils and playing like it too. This is fantastic. Track 6 - Who are these clowns? Hahaha. This sax player sounds like Pharoah Sanders if he lived in Eliot, ME. KILLER! Track 7 - This is the first thing here that I'll admit I really don't like. The tune stinks and I hate that left hand Rhodes line that repeats throughout. This doesn't really go anywhere. For me anyway. The trumpet & tenor solos are great...tenor in particular...but the rhythm section is just bogging this way down for me. No room for anything to breathe here. And the elec. piano solo is boring as heck. I'm sure I'll regret saying some of these things as soon as I find out who this is. Track 8 - Whoa. Wait a minute... this is a David Murray tune, isn't it? But is this one of Murray's groups? I guess it must be, but it sounds...different. Something about the recording/production. NOOOO...hold everything! Art Ensemble! With a piano player. It's not Muhal. Not sure who the pianist is. This is definitely a Jarman tune. Not David Murray... don't know what I was thinking. Track 9 - Though I'm still far from being a Billy Harper expert, this really sounds very strongly of BH to me. Am I in the ballpark? Hmmm. That's probably wrong though. But this IS tenor, right? Or...no? Alto player? The range is all over the place, holy shit! Those high notes... yikes. This is pretty ridiculous. I'm digging it even more as it gets further out. Is there a bass player? I think so, but it's pretty buried in the mix. And is that a marimba in there too? This is really interesting. That trumpet player is off the charts. Maybe that's a balaphone, not a marimba? Love the interplay there at the beginning of the piano solo. I really need to know who this is. Ah, now I can hear the bass more too. Throughout the whole thing, the drummer is just driving this like crazy. Awesome. Track 10 - Overall I like this a lot. Love the feel-- great drummer-- and the sound. Nice & groovy. And the voices add the perfect amount of 70s soulfulness. Probably partly due to the production, nothing really stood out to me in terms of solos or individual players, but I like it. Track 11 - Ha! Well, the tune is "It's Love" by the Rascals. Yes (the band) actually did a version of this in the early days too and it's killer. So I partly think of it as a Yes tune even though it isn't. Is this the original version? I don't think I've heard it before. I like it but it will always be 2nd to Yes's version for me, though I'm sure for most everyone else it's the opposite. Thanks again Felser for putting this together!

Hi folks, Wanted to spread the word about a show that fellow board member Thom Keith and myself are presenting, this coming Saturday in Kittery, Maine...which is about an hour from Boston (it's not "real" Maine). AVANT COAST Creative Music Series #1! Saturday, March 21 @ 7:30 PM The Dance Hall, 7 Walker Street, Kittery. ME LUTHER GRAY TRIO Luther Gray - drums Allan Chase - saxophones Jim Hobbs - alto saxophone EQUAL TIME Thom Keith - saxophones Forbes Graham - trumpet Jonathan Paul - guitar Mike Walsh - drums Tim Webb - bass Acclaimed drummer Luther Gray brings his new trio featuring the incendiary horn duo of Jim Hobbs and Allan Chase for this show. The trio have just released an album on Skycap Music entitled "Horns and Drums, Drums and Horns" which showcases the near-telepathic interplay of this dynamic group. Individually, the members have performed with the likes of Anthony Braxton, Ken Vandermark, Joe Morris, Taylor Ho Bynum, Leroy Jenkins, Andrew Cyrille, Stanley Cowell, and many others. Also on the bill are local favorites Equal Time who have been performing their own brand of spontaneous music throughout the area since 2006. The current lineup of Thom Keith, Forbes Graham, Jonathan Paul, Tim Webb, and Mike Walsh have been together since 2009. Individually and collectively they have performed with Eddie Gale, Dick Griffin, Michael Gregory Jackson, Curtis Clark, Steve Lantner, Fiveighthirteen, and Shango, among others. Each group will play a set, and at the end of the evening all the musicians will play a final set of improvised music together. Anything can happen! Don't miss this folks! These shows are meant to represent the best in live, creative music-- events that will literally be one time only. Be part of this "in-the-moment" experience. And please help us spread the word. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1336997 More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/288547891268838/ https://www.facebook.com/avantcoast http://www.avantcoast.com http://www.thedancehallkittery.org Thanks! Tim

This was great, thanks Bill! Bunch of things here I need to put on my list, including #4, which I really should know better (though I think I did guess Sun Ra correctly). Also love this:

Finally posted my guesses, a few days late... Can't wait for the reveal on this.

Ah, I almost guessed Flanagan on #14...great! Coincidentally, I came across that album elsewhere online just recently. It's on my list to buy now. And I should have got #10... used to have this album! Need to get it back.

Hi Bill, Sorry to be responding so late! November was a difficult month. But I was determined to get this in... better late than never I hope? Some really great stuff here, thanks for putting it together. I've just listened to everything today. Some notes were typed up while listening, others were done after the fact. I haven't peeked at any of the above yet, but will do so as soon as I paste my comments right here... Track 1 - Love the sound and feel of this...loose, dirty, full of joy and grit and the same time. Loving this. Hmmm...I'm also guessing this one is meant to be a trick? Is this Sun Ra? The organ sound has definitely got me thinking Sun Ra, though at first I might have guessed something in a different neighborhood. Plus I think I hear John Gilmore on there. This is terrific. Track 2 - Fantastic arrangement, definitely an epic performance. I really like the way this is structured, with the clarinet featured, followed by the vocals (which I love), and then the pause before the next section. And the solos are perfection. There's really nothing I don't like about this. Curious to know what it is, because I need more of this kind of stuff. Track 3 - This one isn't doing as much for me personally, but I don't dislike it. Just doesn't reach me like tracks 1 and 2 did. The piano player is very interesting though...by far the best part of this. He is saying something. Track 4 - Okay, here we go...right off the bat I love it. Nice feel and mood. This one is taking me to outer space...not Sun Ra again, is it? Oddly enough the piano first reminded me of Nina Simone's piano playing, as on tunes like "Sinnerman." The bass playing is great here...sinewy. Nice little epic piece with overtones of Egypt. Love it. Track 5 - Again the piano player stands out to me. Don't know if that's by design or not, but so far a lot of these piano players are hitting me in the right spot. The piano solo here is much more interesting than the trumpet solo, to me. Track 6 - I like this, but it doesn't really take off for me until the 2:20 mark, where the tenor solo starts and the drummer changes up his thing. At that point it feels like they let go of the reins a bit and start cookin. I'm a big fan of the tenor player, anxious to find out who it is. Track 7 - Another interesting arrangement. I like it when it's a surprise that there are horns... I thought it was a trio date initially. I like the piano player and the whole intro bit, but once again this really takes off about halfway through where the horns come in. Terrific solos. Man, who is the bass player? Love the bass solo. I'm sure I should know who this is, but I don't. Classic stuff. For a minute I thought it might be Cedar Walton on piano and Kenny Dorham on trumpet, but I have a feeling I'm 0 for 2 there. Track 8 - Great feel, swinging. I feel like there's a Billy Higgins influence in the drums, but it doesn't sound like Higgins. The piano player is good. The whole band swings in an effortless kind of way. Track 9 - Nice ensemble, interesting piece of music with a touch of the eastern. I like the improvised bit of this the best though, especially where things start getting edgy. I always want to say Billy Bang when I hear something like this, but I'm really not confident in that guess. That's really just based on some of the "effects" during the improv but the rest of it really doesn't sound like Bang. Track 10 - Okay, from the first notes this is very obviously Dave Holland, Barry Altschul, George Lewis and Anthony Braxton. But who is the piano player? Muhal maybe? I don't know this one, but I like it. Is this on one of the Arista albums? Holland's solo is mind-boggling as usual. And this is just a hell of an ensemble. Hang on, that's not Braxton. Hmmm...I figured there had to be a trick in here somewhere. Can't ID the tenor player, but whoever it is, this is five stars all the way. Track 11 - This pianist has an interesting approach that I really like...A nice meeting of soul, tradition and "outside" touches. Like constantly dipping in and out of different neighborhoods. This kind of approach always makes me think of Stanley Cowell, though this definitely isn't Cowell. But a similar kind of modus operandi. This is killer. Track 12 - Hmmm...this is an odd one. The intro fooled me, for one...I thought this was going to a much different place but then the tune comes in and we're somewhere else. This is a bit too "commercial" for me personally. The tenor player has chops a-plenty, but I'm not hearing a story. This just isn't my bag. Wait a minute...what the heck? Pat Metheny and his synth guitar? Now I am completely thrown. I was gonna place this in the mid to late 70s but now I don't know what's going on. This one just confuses me. Track 13 - This is cool. "Airegin," right? I always get this confused with other tunes but I think I got it right this time. Great arrangement for horns. While I like the performance overall, nothing really stands out in the solos for me. Hmm. Jury's out for me on this one. The ensemble playing is good but I don't feel like the improvising is at the same level. Track 14 - Beautiful...perfection. No guesses on the piano player, but I like this. Very emotional, deep playing. Excellent. Track 15 - I'll be honest, I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. Just because of the European/Classical influence...not usually my thing. However...this is very good. It builds nicely and the ensemble works incredibly well together. Couldn't begin to guess the players, but for some reason I wonder if it's the piano player's date? In any case, very nice, and a cool way to end the BFT. A very enjoyable bunch of tunes! Thanks!!

Thank you, I will do that!!

Felser, looks like this was a HELL of a BFT...apologies again for missing it!

Apologies from here too...October was a hell of a month and I just didn't have the time. But looking at the tracklist, I am seriously bummed that I didn't participate...some fantastic stuff here! And the Max Roach is a favorite of mine too...especially that particular tune. Nice one!

Bill, I will try a download and hope I have time to participate this month! Thanks...looking forward to it!!

Forgiveness is a powerful thing.

Hang on... on that Robert Stewart track, is that Stewart playing overdubbed flute also?

Nice. This was a killer BFT. I need to investigate 10-13 immediately, and likely some of the earlier tracks as well...want to hear more of that Shelly Manne, for one. Wendell Harrison doesn't surprise me...not saying I could have guessed it, but seeing the reveal made me go ahhhh...right. I don't have that album but need to put it on the list now. Great story about Jeff Coffin too, you never told me about that! Yes you have!

I'm so psyched for the reveal on this. I listened to some of these again to see if I could figure out ANY of the players, but no dice. Luckily it's only a few more days before we find out...

Although baseball references go right over my head, I agree!!