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webbcity
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Posts posted by webbcity
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Track 9!! Track 9!!!!!! 😎🔥🎉
(more to come... 😁)
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Here you go, the juicy details! I think most of these were ID'd, but I believe there were at least a couple remaining to be found out. Thanks to all who participated!
1. Bennie Green Quintet - Glidin' Along (Babs Gonzales)
https://www.discogs.com/release/6663275-Benny-Green-Quintet-Glidin-Along
This one was a very recent discovery, I wasn't really familiar with Bennie Green at all, but he sounds great here to my ears. And Johnny Griffin? Yes please!
2. Lightmen Plus One - Cold Bair (Joe Singleton)
https://www.discogs.com/release/13071110-The-Lightmen-Plus-One-Energy-Control-Center
In this case, have been aware of this album for quite some time but it took me a while to get to it. Really love the groove on this one.
3. Artemis - Komorebi (Noriko Ueda)
https://www.discogs.com/release/33295539-Artemis-Arboresque
Have been aware of this group as well but hadn't really investigated, despite being a fan of both Nicole Glover and Allison Miller. I really like this whole album... this is one of the quieter cuts on it.
4. Anthony Braxton with Muhal Richard Abrams - Maple Leaf Rag (Scott Joplin)
https://www.discogs.com/release/1035181-Anthony-Braxton-With-Muhal-Richard-Abrams-Duets-1976
The first half of a two-part AACM "tribute to the masters"... from The Masters themselves.
5. Air - King Porter Stomp (Jelly Roll Morton)
https://www.discogs.com/release/1092921-Air-Air-Lore
One of my all-time favorites, and I knew a lot of people would get it, but what the hell.
6. Mai Sugimoto - Departure (Sugimoto/Abrams/Spencer)
Continuing with the Chicago vibe, this is a recent discovery for me and I really love the exploration in Sugimoto's playing. And for bonus points: Isaiah friggin Spencer!! 😮
7. Elmo Hope Trio - Boa (Hope)
https://www.discogs.com/release/33056394-Elmo-Hope-Trio-Elmo-Hope-Trio
And speaking of exploration! That's what I hear in Hope's playing, and it's in full evidence here.
8. Clifford Jordan - No More (Toots Camarata/Bob Russell)
https://www.discogs.com/release/3548879-Clifford-Jordan-The-Adventurer
I sort of forgot about this track but came across it again recently and it just knocked me out. Can't go wrong with Clifford.
9. Harriet Tubman - Unseen Advance of the Aquifarian (Gibbs/Ross/Lewis/Harding)
https://www.discogs.com/release/13353639-Harriet-Tubman-The-Terror-End-Of-Beauty
Glad so many enjoyed this one. I came for Melvin Gibbs, and I stayed for Brandon Ross and J.T. Lewis. Unbelievable playing and sounds on this record.
10. Willie Colon - Sigue Feliz (Carlos Roman)
https://www.discogs.com/release/2678601-Willie-Colon-Wanted-By-FBI-The-Big-Break-La-Gran-Fuga
Ever since visiting Puerto Rico for the first time a few years ago, this music is one of my new happy places.
11. Gateway - Blue (Jack DeJohnette)https://www.discogs.com/release/532703-John-Abercrombie-Dave-Holland-Jack-DeJohnette-Gateway-2
Wanted to end with a special one, this tune has a kind of magic for me that I can't easily express in words. It's DeJohnette's tune and I LOVE the way he plays piano on it.
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A few comments in-line...
On 6/18/2025 at 12:05 PM, tkeith said:Well, as usual, delayed, but here we go.
track 01 - I mean, what's not to like about this? It's been said here that "J-Griff fools no one." That is, once again, proven to be true. Probably a rote guess, but sure sounds like Paul Chambers on bass. Funky post-bop piano. Several options, but none staking a claim. Feel like I should have a better shot at the 'bone, but I've got nothin'. Nothing to not love about this.
Correct, of course, on JG and PC! And by now you know who the bone is too. Someone who was actually new to me, believe it or not.
track 02 - Change in gears, but I'm still in the happy zone. The blend of those horns! Yes, please. Loping three feel, Rhodes. I can even get beyond that drum sound. So, mid-70s. There's a rawness to the alto that has me looking in Byard Lancaster's neighborhood, but not him. Don't think it's Marion Brown, either, but sure in the right side of town. Okay, that's got to be Ranelin, right? So was that Wendell Harrison on alto? I'm always repelled by arrangement for arrangement's sake -- this is most certainly NOT that. What a great arrangement!
Several people guessed Ranelin, which is a great guess, but now you know the answer on this one too.
track 03 - First impressions are envisioning a glossy CD case. Feels quite clean, but I'm going to reserve judgment. Woody Shaw feel, but I think much more recent. Very clean recording, and very clean execution... maybe too clean. Yeah, that tenor is not growing on me. I'm hearing the practice room and feeling nothing. Nice piano work. Not Kenny Barron, but maybe a disciple? Trumpet invokes shades of Woody and Kenny Wheeler, but unfortunately, it's neither. This is pretty, polite, interesting music -- it just isn't giving me the feels. Nice bass work.
Yes, most definitely a modern recording, and almost on the edge of things that you and I don't generally like. But this album overall does the trick for me and there's some interesting, thoughtful playing to my ears, rather than the usual running-of-scales we find all too often.
track 04 - What are you doing to me, man? I know it's Joplin, but not sure which. I'm not enamored of the execution. Leaves me asking why? I mean, if you're going to do this, execute. Can't help but wonder if you're sneaking Braxton in to see if you can send me to the Piscataqua bridge.
I'll pass on this one.
How could I NOT try to sneak in a little Braxton?? 😁
track 05 - AH! THERE WE GO! THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT! And, Henry T fools NO one! From what may well be my favorite Air album. I often wonder if our friends who specialize in this era have heard this, and what they would think.
Of course! Tracks 4 & 5 were meant as a pair, though I knew of course you would only enjoy one. 😄
track 06 - I'm liking it, but asking myself why. It's not the horn, for sure. Though, whatever the hell is happening, it's with intent. But that drummer! He's sounding like Franklin Kiermayer WISHES he sounded. Got an edge with a bit of Elvin. Gotta be a Chicago guy. Can't tell the era from the recording. I think it's a retro-style modern recording. Bassist is on point, too. Got a nice Garrison groove. Maybe Isaiah Spencer on drums? Whomever it is, an absolute MF! Still waiting for the sax to GO someplace. I mean, I get it, just not sure we needed 4-1/2 minutes of that motif. Doesn't sound like Ivo Perelman, but DOES sound like the sort of thing he would do. See, now it sounds older (loft Jazz), but I'm more and more certain that's Isaiah.
I do like the horn, it is a modern recording, and yes it IS Isaiah Spencer!
track 07 - You're certainly not a one-trick pony. Certainly feels like Herbie Nichols. But knowing you, and knowing Herbie, it's probably Elmo Hope.
I wish I had a better grasp on whether or not I'm right about that. If I DON'T have this, I certainly need it. There's nothing I don't love about this.
Elmo indeed! At his finest here, IMO.
track 08 - Clifford Jordan (fools no one). At first I was thinking that weird later record split with Ran Blake, but then I recognized it. One of my favorite album covers of all time. Can't recall the name of the tune, but this is a sneaky good record, particularly He's A Hero.
Bingo, of course!
track 09 - At first I was thinking Sonny Sharrock, then Ava Mendoza. It's neither. Has a Very, Very Circus vibe to it, but leans more... not fusion... I'm getting almost a Jamaladeen Tacuma vibe, but shuffled with VVC. What the hell is this? Gotta be Chicago, no?
This was just ID'd, and of course the VVC vibe betrayed the guitarist. 🙂
track 10 - No idea, but I love it. Been really getting into some of the older stuff of this genre and completely loving it. What happened there? I thought I was on to track 11 with two Latin tunes in a row, then it just went buh-bye.
track 11 - But this makes me okay with that. Pensive and almost new-agey, except that it holds my interest. Getting a Ben Monder vibe from the guitarist. Composition reminds me of Donny McCaslin's writing, except that I'm really enjoying this and Donny tends to put me to sleep. No clue.
Quite a varied array! I think I like your work on short notice!
Cheers! Thanks for roping me in at the last minute! 🍻
On 6/21/2025 at 6:54 PM, randyhersom said:I started streaming Brandon Ross latest, decided after a few seconds that it wasn't going to be the source of #9, then remembered Harriet Tubman and quickly sleuthed out the right source: Unseen Advance of the Aquifarian from The Terror End of Beauty - Harriet Tubman
Bingo! 👍
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16 hours ago, felser said:
I have it and two others from the same group on backorder from DeepDiscount. They are available on Bandcamp, but no combined postage, and $12 domestic shipping for three titles doesn't work for me.
Nice hunting! I hope they come through. I only have this one album and might need to pickup the others soon myself.
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1 hour ago, Milestones said:
It doesn't even sound like the same tune on some versions.
Yep, very true. I think the first time I heard the Dave Holland Trio version I didn't recognize it as the same tune for quite a while. The melody is there, but the way the piano part holds together the Gateway version, it's like a whole different universe.
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23 hours ago, Milestones said:
So the track is "Blue" with DeJohnette on piano, Abercrombie on guitar, Holland on bass.
Yes indeed! I've heard a couple other versions of this with Jack on drums, but to me his piano playing here is what makes this magical.
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On 6/4/2025 at 11:29 AM, Dub Modal said:
1 - Nice swinging groove. Sax player has full facility of that horn. Trombone was impressively controlled but the solo was just ok. Sax was better in this tune. Is this the Basie Bunch?
2 - Sounds familiar. Love the song. Great groove and the ensemble plays well together. Feel like I should be able to guess this but nothing is coming to mind at the moment. Trombone here too, and it's very good.
3 - Killer brush work in the intro. Is it Manne on drums? Love this quiet style of song. Drummer is impressive for sure. Corea on keys?
4 - Throwback style with a more modern sounding recording. No guesses.
5 - Wow, short and sweet up-tempo. Not bad at all but no idea.
6 - Really familiar and very good. Tension is fantastic. I know this horn player but I can't name them at the moment.
7 - Swinging tune. Pianist as leader? Deft player for sure. No guesses.
8 - Heartfelt playing and an enjoyable track. No guesses.
9 - Rypdal, McLaughlin or Scofield? Leaning Ryp. I dig it regardless. Definitely not Sco...
10 - Legit. Very nice. I would guess Cuban?
11 - A bit somnambulant. Not sure who this would be.
All in all an enjoyable mix. Thanks for putting it together!
Again, some of your questions have now been answered, but wanted to add a few additional comments. Yep, the saxophonist is a big part of the draw for me on #1! On #3, no Corea, but I share your enthusiasm for the drummer. If you know the saxophonist on #6 I'll be impressed! I'm really glad you liked the track. And if course you're correct on #7 re: pianist as leader.
On 6/4/2025 at 10:13 PM, T.D. said:Finishing up:
#8: Nice track, sounds like a duet on my bad computer sound system. Suspected a name tenor but no guess. I peeked, and then had to sleuth (withheld) due to curiosity about the pianist, who clearly is not "the usual suspect" Cedar Walton. Pianist is a prominent/prolific guy I like a lot but who sometimes gets some stick on the forum. He's in great form here.
#9: Far from my usual listening and absolutely no idea about the musicians, but I like it. Especially the bass line. Looking forward to the reveal, particularly for the bassist.
#10: Even more of a departure from usual listening and less able to guess. But a good selection. Percussion is most impressive, arrangement also sticks out.
#11: Sounds on my computer like a piano-bass-guitar trio with really nice and subtle interplay, pianist most likely the leader but perhaps it's billed as a trio. The kind of contemplative moody selection I usually like and do here. I peeked at the ECM hints but don't have any guesses and am not sure it's 21st century...could (though less likely) be as early as 1970s. Even though I'm not a big ECM enthusiast, this is a recording I'd consider picking up.
Thanks for a most enjoyable BFT. After seeing Jim's reveal, I feel silly about dissing #5, but I've never related to that particular ensemble as much as some others with the estimable leader. Tracks #2, 4, 9 and 11 the most thought-provoking. The #7 leader is always a welcome guest!
I'm surprised to hear that the pianist on #8 gets some flak here! 😮 The bass player on #9 is a big favorite of mine. I'm pleasantly surprised that nobody has gotten #11 yet, but yes, definitely ECM. The entire album is not like this, but it sure is an amazing record and has long been a personal favorite.
On 6/8/2025 at 8:05 PM, Milestones said:On #11, I am thinking it's John Abercrombie and Richie Beirach, coming from one of the Abercrombie Quartet records released in late 70s (but no drums on this track). It sounds rather familiar--maybe another Abercrombie record, maybe Gateway, maybe a Beirach record. It certainly has the ECM moody atmosphere, for better and worse.
@randyhersom also mentioned Beirach, and that's a good guess but no. However!... You are correct on Gateway, so I must amend my above comment about nobody getting this one yet! 💯
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On 6/3/2025 at 12:13 PM, felser said:
I went ahead and Shazam'd this. And no, don't own this and am not familiar with the group at all (though certainly know the tenor player). So this is going to be a very expensive BFT for me ! 🙂
As @T.D. mentioned earlier in the thread, Dusty Groove has this for cheap and in fact that's where I got mine, a few months ago! At the moment they're out of stock... I wonder if they'll get any back at the $6.99 price.
On 6/3/2025 at 10:43 PM, JSngry said:Yes that one. This is the .oney cut, but the whole album is worth your while!
Man, you ain't kidding! Playing it now. Thanks for adding another one to my want list. Wait... Isn't that supposed to happen the other way around on BFTs?? 🤯
On 6/3/2025 at 10:09 PM, randyhersom said:1. Bone out front. Can't rule out early Coltrane on tenor. Curtis Fuller?
2. Seventies feel. We do have a bone here to so it wold be reasonable to suspect Phil Ranelin.
3. Mellow, maybe fluegelhorn. You already know who I'm thinking, but I've been wrong so many times I'm not going to say it out loud.
4. Either The Entertainer or Maple Leaf Rag. Alto has some modern licks. I don't think there's any piano on Air Lore. Braxton would be more subversive. I think I have this but I'm not placing it.
5. Another jaunty busman's holiday for a new thing player.
6. And we we step over the line into new thing, feels like a Hat Hut date. Joe McPhee? Been trying to remember the name of the Hat player who did the Jug tribute as an alternate guess.
7. And back in to the mainstream, on the ivoies. Tommy Flanagan?
8. In the grand tenor ballad tradition. Not Body and Soul, but close.
9. Terje Rypdal, with Brandon Ross as a backup guess. Love it.
10. Latin jam. I have no skills in this area
11. Very quiet. I did toy with the idea of it being Bill Evans with Jim Hall, but I'm more inclined toward, say Richie Beirach.... Not particularly easy to google but I did find Ellery Eskelin's name
Some good guesses! You now know the answers on some of these. Phil Ranelin was a good guess on #2 though. You were correct re: Braxton on #4! And if you had saved your Tommy Flanagan guess for the following track, you would have been correct on that count. 😉 And on track 9? Your "backup guess" is correct-- it *is* Brandon Ross on guitar!
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Hi all, I'm so sorry to vanish, have had a hell of a week here between day job, rehearsals, gigs, and other general nuttiness. But I promise I'm gonna get back to it here and catch up. Thanks for your patience!
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Continuing to catch up...
On 6/1/2025 at 6:24 PM, JSngry said:June 1!!! Are there enough worms to go around?
TRACK ONE - I like the head, at least the way the band interprets it. Nice, very big-band-ish. Well now, that's Bennie Green. And that's Johnny Griffin. I don't have this record, but I don't need to, but if I did, it wouldn't matter. It's of such a quality that it feels fresh the first time through or the thousandth. People like this have such strong individual voices that you know what you're going to get, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Ding ding ding!!
TRACK TWO - Familiar with the vibe, very. The players, not so much. I will use the term "second-tier" here as a compliment and a recognition that "top-tier" is avery high level indeed, one that has been set really high in this music. But that's ok, this one is still very enjoyable. Everybody involved should be proud, and hopefully still are. Rhythm section in a notch higher than the soloists, btw.
Yeah I particularly like the rhythm section work on this one, the feel is very cool and even a bit unique for this style IMO. Though I might rate the saxophonist a bit higher than you too.
TRACK THREE - Nice tune and performance, but it sounds like a 70s jam that got set aside. I mean, it's good but....very energetically stale, if that makes any sense. It's good in a mixtape like this, but a whole album of it? Perhaps not? Pianist sounds the most individual, relatively speaking.
Not a whole album of this-- as mentioned in other spots here, I picked a pretty chill track from the album. It's a new one to me but I'm really enjoying it overall. And again, I'm a fan of the sax player.
TRACK FOUR - Oh my, OLD FOLK"S MUSIC!!!!! Not Maple Leaf Rag, but the record LOL. AB & Muhal from their duet album. That's a major, MAJOR album, imo. Two of the great minds of this music, being great on all sides. There ya' go.
TRACK FIVE - See #4, only this time it's Air, doing "King Porter Stomp". from Air Lore. This record got a LOT of play by me when it first hit. Not the most important elelment, but it's the record that for me cemented the link between Henry Threadgill & Sonny Rollins, not explicit, but intractably linked deep down in there. One of my favor cuts from one of my favorite records by one of my favorite groups led by one of my favorite contributors to all of music. Period.
Knew you would nail the above two! I figured several people here would get these but I liked the idea of including them both anyway, for those less familiar with the AACM, and in particular to show their deep roots.
TRACK SIX - I get it, I like it, but I also wonder what this altoist would do on "Maple Leaf Rag" or "King Porter Stomp"? But then I wonder if their life has given them any real need to do that? And I don't know. I honestly don't know. I do know that I like things better when I can get a sense that it's in there, somewhere. But I guess it doesn't matter? I'm old and (almost) out of the way, so let people play their own story. Either way, can't go wrong with that bassist and drummer! About the alto playing though - one word- dynamics. Use them inside your phrases.
Though I don't know this for a fact, I would be willing to bet that the saxophonists responsible for the previous two tracks were influences on this alto player. So I have a feeling that the "lineage" is there... if I am picking up on what you are laying down. But I am also just getting to know this alto player. And really enjoying it!
TRACK SEVEN - 4-REAL BEBOP!!!! Superior in every regard. I'll guess Elmo Hope because of the true depth of understanding of how changes don't need to be stale, stagnant, and stupefying. That shit moves around and tells a story. How many stars you got Leonard? That ain't enough!!!!
Bingo!
TRACK EIGHT - Clifford Jordan? Don't know this record. Yet! Such a beautiful singing tone he had, and that vibrato is so personal. Wonderful piano accompaniment too, those chords voiced just right, not too little, not too much, just right. Early birds get worms, Clifford Jordan gets stars. As many as you got!
Bingo again! This is an album I'd forgotten about for a bit, but came across this track again recently and it just knocked me out.
TRACK NINE - Surely this is in the Miles Orb somehow? I like this a lot. The tone(s), the beat (that bass rhythm!, the mix, it's a RECORD, not just a :song". Ok, the longer it goes and the more layers of guitar there are, the less directly Miles-Orb it seems, but definitely in the "influenced by Miles" Orb it becomes. This is goo! We've heard these sounds before, but not like this, exactly.
I would say in the Miles Orb in terms of influence, definitely... but then, so much is! But as you say, no direct connection. And I do think this is a pretty unique record in the execution.
TRACK TEN - Ruben Blades with Willie Colon? I need to brush up on my Spanish. Like, a LOT. Colon I am sure of Blades, not so much. I like this one just fine. Have you heard the Colon/Celia Cruz album? If not, get theen ass to a streamer ASAP!!!!!
Willie Colon, yes! No Ruben though. And I have *not* heard the Colon/Celia Cruz album... <<runs to interwebs>>... this one? https://fania.com/record/only-they-could-have-made-this-album/
TRACK ELEVEN - Putting me in mind of Paul Bley, but I've not heard him in a setting exactly like this. but that don't mean shit, becuase Paul Bley played in ALL kinds of settings. But the longer it goes on....Bley's harmonies wouldn't stay that fixed for this long. Yeah...this one is like a lovely cloud that at first looks like it's in the sky, but the longer you look at it, the more it looks like a really good painting on the roof. Oh Well! Make mine a Bley!
No Bley. This one manages to take me out of whatever space I'm in whenever I play it, which to me is the whole game.
Pretty damn fine collection here. I could put it in the car and leave it there for a good while. Thanks?!
Thank YOU, sir!
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Some more responses! Inline below... (catching up slowly here...)
On 6/1/2025 at 4:41 PM, T.D. said:Having fun so far. Partial, since my long attempts often disappear before I can post:
#1: Thumbs up. No guess, though some players sound familiar. The arrangement suggests the Jazztet, in which case maybe I own it, but no particular album comes to mind.
You're right, it does sound a bit Jazztet-ish. Jim has ID'd the horns. That still leaves the other musicians as well as whose session it might be...
#2: Big thumbs up, even though I'm not a big fusion listener. Enjoy the electric piano. And the 'bone (a lot), which confuses me because I can't think of any big fusion trombonists. Phil Ranelin would be a knee-jerk guess but I don't think it sounds overly like him.
The Phil Ranelin guess was a good one! To me this track sounds very similar to a lot of stuff out of the Tribe camp.
#3: Good and pleasant to listen to but not a knockout. No guess, but will probably kick myself upon ID.
Again, not a ton of praise for this one so far but I do enjoy the track, and there's bit more fire on some of the other tracks on this record, I just happened to pick a mellow one.
#4: Thumbs up. Peeked but wouldn't have been able to guess. From an album I've considered buying at various times but never picked up. Big fan of the pianist. Sometimes question the reed player's straight-ahead efforts but dig him here.
I'm usually with you on the last part-- though there are a couple of his straight-ahead records I do like. And I like him here also. 🙂
#5: OK but not a standout. No guesses. Don't love the saxist.
Ah! That one hurts! One of my favorite musicians. 🙂 Now you know who this is too, Jim also got this one correct.
#6: Mild thumbs up. Saxist boring in some places but also occasionally interesting. Sax vaguely Middle-Eastern sounding from time to time, which suggests some phase(s) of Shepp, but doesn't really sound like him. No guesses, but expect a forehead slap on ID.
Nope, I predict no forehead slap. This is not an easy one at all. And I know this was a tricky one to throw in the mix, but I do love the search here.
#7: Big thumbs up. Being a fanboy of the leader I of course own the album. I like the drumming more than felser: have many recordings with him, very recognizable and often excellent, but tends to overplay on occasion.'
Same here, big thumbs for both the leader and the drummer!
Back later with the rest. Thanks. Welcome diversion on a day with crummy weather.
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On 6/1/2025 at 2:38 PM, T.D. said:
OK, the drummer on #7 is good but kinda busy, so Frank Butler came to mind and the album is clear.
#4 from this
Correct! This particular album was my introduction to Hope, and still probably my favorite from him. And I love Frank Butler! 🙂
On 6/1/2025 at 3:46 PM, B. Clugston said:Really enjoyable BFT. Some good stumpers.
4 is a pair of AACM giants doing Maple Leaf Rag.
5 sounds like Henry Threadgill and Air?
Correct on both counts! Thought it would be nice to have a couple tracks of AACM legends paying homage to past masters.
Further comments below, inline...
On 6/1/2025 at 3:51 PM, felser said:BFT 255
1 – Perfect groove for a Sunday afternoon. Especially enjoying the rock-solid walking bass!
The bass player here would definitely be considered rock solid by most! I see that Jim ID'd the two horns on this.
2 – So utterly in my wheelhouse! I better have this on the shelves somewhere, especially loving the tenor player and the Rhodes!. LOVE this cut.
Thought you might enjoy this one! Not tremendously well-known, I don't think, though it's very possible you have it.
3 – Well-played and soothing, but ultimately not very exciting. I have much respect and a little bit of love for it. Drummer does catch my ear.
So far this one has gotten a pretty lukewarm reaction. It's a recent discovery for me and obviously I like it, but it is one of the "tamer" cuts on the album so that is probably not helping matters.
4 – No thanks. Sounds like younger musicians mimicking older style.
Ouch! You may have already seen Jim's ID on this one.
5 – See #4, just a slightly less older style.
And this as well...
6 – I guess I should really like this, but it’s taking a while to grow on me, thought I was getting there as the track progressed, but then it greatly overstayed its welcome. . I dig the bass player (Charlie Haden ?) and the drummer (Ed Blackwell ?) more than the sax player (Dewey Redman ?) overall, though I could live without the bowed bass effect. 60’s ESP-Disk style brought forward by a couple of decades by sounder players, I guess.
Yes, it's more recent than what you're thinking, and it does ask a lot of the listener, but to me it's a very rewarding journey. This was another recent find for me.
7 - Especially enjoying listening to the bass players on this BFT, which I guess is no coincidence 😊. Bass is about the only thing that jumps out at me on this cut, and I actively dislike the drumming on it. Pianist is fleet and pleasant, though I’m not sure he’s telling me anything. I’d probably enjoy this cut a lot more with a different drummer.
Fascinating! The bass player here is actually the least interesting to me! 😄 T.D. identified this one above. One of my favorite pianists, and records.
8 – OK, we’d like to slow the pace down for the next number. I think it’s probably a more modern player trying to do his best Ben Webster and having some success at it. Maybe someone like a Joe Lovano. I ultimately respect it more than I like it.
Again you might be surprised by the reveal (see Jim S. for partial details).
9 – I can do this, I guess. Sounds like the Trio of Doom album with McLaughlin, Pastorius, and Tony Williams, though I would guess it’s later-era Sonny Sharrock. As McBeth said, “Sound and fury signifying nothing”.
There IS sort of a Sonny Sharrock connection here, but not Sonny.
10 – Outside my domain, though not without its small pleasures
This is new territory for me too, and I'm enjoying it. Mostly inspired by a trip to Puerto Rico a couple years ago. Whenever work or life get stressful, I can put this on and boy does it do the trick!
11 – This cut speaks to me. Makes me think of Paul Bley and of ECM. More likely post-1990 ECM but not Bley.
Your ECM sense is strong! But correct, not Bley.
Favorite cuts in order: #2, #1, #11.
Favorite instrument throughout: bass.
Must-own cut: #2
Thanks for the BFT and some new discoveries!
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Hey gang!
Happy to be back in the loop here. Thom offered me this slot and I got it together as quickly as I could, so apologies in advance, standard disclaimers, etc... But hopefully there's at least a little something for everyone here. Tried to do a decent mix of new/old/challenging/obvious.
https://thomkeith.net/blindfold-tests/2025-blindfold-tests/
Let the games begin!
Cheers-
Tim
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3 hours ago, JSngry said:
Miller Brisker is a perfect jazz tenor player name!
Indeed! Gimme more Miller Brisker!
Wow, a lot of surprises here. Track 9! 🤯 And now I more clearly understand the motivation for your question about the major chords on the Bley tune!
Some good stuff here, thanks for putting it together!
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On 5/26/2025 at 11:14 AM, mjzee said:
Glad you liked it. Most tracks have already been ID'd. As for the rest, the end of the month is only a few days away. Question about track 5: are those all major chords?
Many major chords, but I hear at least a couple of minor chords in there... not that I am fantastic at identifying chords, but in the main section where there are 8 chords repeated, 4 and 4, I hear the first 4 as more major-sounding and the second 4 turn to the minor side of things.
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Trying to jump back into the fray here after several months away. Just gave this a listen, and here are my notes as I did so. Haven't yet looked at the thread but I assume many of these have already been ID'd at this point in the month...
Track 1 - Cherokee of course, clearly quite an old recording, and right off the bat I love what the alto player is doing. Not to mention the guitarist who is IN the pocket. This just feels great. Definitely in the spirit of Bird. Love it!
Track 2 - Oh man... it's killing me that I can't remember the name of this one but I dig the hell out of this tune. Tasty playing all around, some crisp drumming and the guitarist is on point. I'm picturing a smoky basement club. Some impressive runs from the guitarist but then I appreciate when he/she slows down to take a beat and get into the groove too. Excellent. For some reason the organ solo isn't speaking to me as much though clearly it's some great playing. Similar with the drum solo. Overall a tight track though.
Track 3 - Ah yes, a Bird tune, but can I remember which one? No. I like the way they split up the head here, very cool. This feels down & dirty and I love it. Oh hell yes. Tenor player opens it right up almost immediately. And the bassist & drummer are FILTHY. Damn this is good. This brings to mind the Rollins Quartet with Don Cherry. Wait... IS this Don Cherry? But that's not Rollins. Massive bass sound! And that sure sounds like Ed Blackwell. Boy I love this. Can't wait to find out what the heck it is, I am thoroughly confused.
Track 4 - Tune is Monk's Well You Needn't, but I need! This is already a winner. Great feel, love the quick move into the stride thing. Short and sweet, really enjoyable.
Track 5 - I like the harmonic movement here, interesting. I find the tune more compelling than the playing so far though. Nice overall feel though. Very curious. They're definitely in sync, feeling out space. Oddly though I'm not convinced the pianist is that comfortable soloing in 7. Again, very curious about the tune and I'd love to hear a different version of it just to compare. Didn't dislike this though, just left me wanting a bit.
Track 6 - Bags Groove! And a nice groove it is. Tenor is full of good syrupy sounds. I really hope everyone gets more than one chorus here-- the solos are way too rushed. Ahhh... so it must be the organist's date? "You guys take a chorus each, and then I'll take eight!" 😄 The organist is good, but honestly the solo doesn't do a ton for me. After that one chorus of tenor though, I wanted to hear a whole lot more.
Track 7 - Off to a wild start! I like the tune. Not sure this is grabbing me though, after that interesting intro riff with the organ & guitar. Was kind of expecting this to let loose a bit more but it feels safe. Too polite.
Track 8 - Blanking on the name of this tune but it's a good 'un. Performance feels a bit stiff, though I like the vibraphonist, who sounds like Milt? Don't love the bass player's sound on this.
Track 9 - Hmm. Interesting arrangement I guess but not loving this one. Seems a bit heavy-handed all the way around. Just okay for me, not something I would need to hear again.
Track 10 - Yes, more vibes! This sounds a bit more modern (relatively speaking, that is). Don't know the tune. I'm no Gary Burton expert, but it sounds kinda like him to me? This is nice but it's not totally reaching me. Could partly be the fault of the recording? It's just all sort of blurring together. Perfectly pleasant though.
Track 11 - Well that guitarist sounds a whole lot like Scofield. Oh weird. I know this...this is a pop tune? That sure does sound like Scofield but I'm not really a fan of this. Much too saccharine. He's playing well but it just sounds way too "smooth" for my ears.
Track 12 - Right off the bat the trumpeter sounds like Louis Armstrong? But the recording quality has me confused... it's either someone trying to sound like him or a really late recording? Yeah, this can't be him. Hmmm. Puzzling... overall it's perfectly good and well-played but not necessarily something I'd return to. Boy the audience is into it though! Oh wait, this IS Louis? Now I'm really confused. Ah well.
Overall the first half did more for me than the second, but there were definitely some gems here. Looking forward to finding out more. Thanks for your efforts!
EDIT: Track one *IS* Bird?? 😮 And boy do I need that Wilbur Ware record!!
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Dan, super late to the reveal (as well as the test itself) but I did finish up listening and really enjoyed a lot of this one.
Two big takeaways for me were:
1. I must check out more Percy France!
2. I still love Buddy Tate and don't listen to him nearly enough.And did people really not like the Junior Mance cut? I thought that was a great one.
Thanks for your efforts!
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2 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:
Sounds like a lot of hits on this one Tim. Hoping you will finish up on the latter half?
Will do my best! Possibly over the weekend... will try not to look at the reveal before then. 🙂
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Dan, apologies, I keep wanting to do better with these and somehow keep running short of time. Been a crazy month. I always thought my time management skills would improve with age, but sadly I seem to be going in the opposite direction...😜
Anyway, here is what I was able to get to so far... as always, I've not yet read the thread, just pasted my comments below, noted as I listened...
Track 1 - OK, I know this tune but am bugged that I can't think of the name. Big band stuff is tricky for me... I mean, there's Ellington, and then there's everything else. Unfortunately I'm not getting much from this one, I must admit. The rhythm section sounds uptight and the trumpet soloist isn't saying much to me... just seems like a stream of notes without much of an arc. Now the bari player is a bit of a different story-- reaching for something different there. The tenor solo is going somewhere too, and I enjoyed the little horn duel after that.
Track 2 - Now this... THIS! I already love it. I can hear the story, you know? This tenor player has been places. Love the off-kilter feel and the odd sound/miking of the piano only adds to that effect. Ah yes, another tenor player! Hell yeah, this is groovin'. It just cooks and doesn't let up. Really digging the piano solo also, great feel and intensity. I suppose this should be an easy call with two tenor players of this vintage, piano, and drums but I honestly don't know who this is. Loving it though! And a classic tenor battle at the end. Scorching! And most excellent. Oh, and this is Billie's Bounce of course, forgot to mention that.
Track 3 - Really enjoying the nice easy feel of this one. Not sure of the tune. Capturing a fantastic mood here. Tasty guitar work, and the guitarist has me thinking this is a more recent recording than I originally thought. I just love how they're taking their time with this-- not out to impress, but as a result-- very impressive. I like the thoughtfulness of the pianist's lines. Very nice all the way around.
Track 4 - Ah, Broadway! This tune is a favorite, used to play this one a lot with a guitarist I gigged with for years. The tenor solo gets high marks right out of the gate-- great sounds! Less excited by the trumpet player, and the following tenor & piano solos. Done in an older style which sometimes I love, but here comes off as a little square, at least to me. Still I enjoy the overall energy of the track.
Track 5 - Lester Leaps In, and I do enjoy a good drummerless trio. And this is one! Great sax work here, the kind of sound that just makes you go "ahhhh, everything's gonna be alright!" Very smooth. Really digging the piano solo too. Very solid playing all the way around, effortless and grooving. Fabulous bass solo! Giving me shades of Niels Pedersen, though it's not him. Excellent all the way around, really liked this one.
Track 6 - Oooh I love this tune too but once again my memory is failing on the name. Again, fantastic feeling here, solid groove! They make it sound easy. Brilliant piano solo, really like the chordal stuff especially. Wow, this is a tight group. Phenomenal playing from all-- bassist and drummer are killing it! Love the bass solo. Really curious to know who this is.
Track 7 - Another favorite, Django! My favorite version of this tune is the very first one recorded by the MJQ. As for this one...I like it! Also an excellent rendition.
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I will definitely be participating, fear not! Hope to get to it this week. 😎
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Wow. Fantastic! Some really cool and fascinating reveals here.
First of all, can't believe I didn't get Roberta Flack. I used to own this record and now I'm going to buy it again!! Very intrigued by the Corea as I haven't heard much "recent" stuff of his that's sounded like this. Wishbone Ash I also should have gotten! That makes total sense now. Spirit is a band I've checked out a little bit but clearly need to investigate more. The Sam Jones record is now on my want list, and I also really dug the Mulligan/Baker and the Lakecia Benjamin.
What a great BFT. Thanks for putting this one together, John!
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Finally got to this! December has been a nutty month. These were my thoughts as I listened, have not yet read the thread. Have also not proofed so hopefully the below is not riddled with errors, apart from the usual... 😁
Track 1 - Hell yes to that bass sound, and the feel-- nice and rubbery. Boy, I know this singer for sure but don't know that I can ID her. Damn good! Love her delivery and the emotional impact is there. I already know I need this. The support of the trio is just perfection. Totally sympatico. Fantastic start to this BFT, really really love this track.
Track 2 - I like the feeling of mystery building out of the intro. Great piano playing. So far this sounds like a more modern track but one with deep roots in the 60s. As we settle into the groove, still digging it but also feeling like the direction isn't totally clear to me. Piano coming back to the forefront though...this solo is starting cook now. I do like this pianist quite a bit. Guessing it is the pianist's date? This sounds both intense and effortless at the same time, like a slow burn. Enjoying the fluidity of the bass & drums. Ah yes, give the bass player some! There's a hint of Alex Blake here at times (clearly not him though). I love the chordal stuff and the high harmonic bits too. Very nice! Would have enjoyed being in the audience for this show for sure. The tenor player doesn't really speak to me, might be a touch too technical/mechanical for my taste, also isn't helped by the recording unfortunately. I feel overall conflicted about this track I guess...it sounds very much like something I should love, and yet I'm not sure it ultimately gets anywhere for me.
Track 3 - I do like the bass intro-- giving some love to the electric too! Well this is a very different turn of events. I like this a lot, has a very Allman Brothers feel to it once the guitars and drums come in. Very cool. Nice feel and I like the twin lead. Love the droney/chordal nature of the bass feature about halfway through before going into the faster tempo. This is fun! I go back and forth between thinking it's southern rock or a Krautrock band (they do sound a bit like Agitation Free in spots), but I think more likely the former. In any case, me likey! Oh hang on, now I'm thinking British now that we've gotten to the swing/blues bit. John Mayall? Steamhammer? Am remembering some of our conversations now and wondering if it's one of those groups. Keef Hartley Band?
Track 4 - OK...I know this! But what the heck is it? Ah, the aging brain. I definitely have this in my collection and I'm blanking on the name of the tune AND the artist! Arg. Anyway... really cool head, I love the angles in the melody. Definitely McCoy on piano! And I love this tenor soloist but can't grab who it is at the moment. This has gotta be from Today and Tomorrow! Haven't actually played this one in a while I don't think. But this is a damn good reminder to play it again! What a cool tune and a killer band. Elvin of course. Five stars!
Track 5 - Boy I swear this one sounds familiar to me too. LOVE the groove. At first I thought it was a straight up Latin band but this is more like a UK prog thing. Boy I am gonna headslap myself over this one. I know I've heard this but can't place it. I like all the different bits, it goes through a lot of changes in a short time. Definitely sounds in the neighborhood of Colosseum and If, that kind of thing. Good stuff! The more I listen to this the more I think I've heard it before. Damn my brain!
Track 6 - Big fan of the droney intro, and something familiar about this one as well. I dig the bass sound and playing a whole lot...and what is that reed instrument? A shehnai? Hmm, that should be a clue. I really like the part shortly before the groove where the bassist is strumming chords while cascades of notes shimmer down from the piano. And the groove/riff is very cool too. Okay, that sure sounds like Billy Higgins on drums, no? And this pianist, damn! That's gotta be Cedar? Sounding a bit more out than usual though, hmm. But this can't be Sam Jones, is it? Have never really heard him sound quite like this. This is friggin amazing. Definitely gotta add this one to the collection! Mind = blown.
Track 7 - Wham! Love the bari. This is on fire from the start. Great drumming. Tight sounding group-- everyone is feeling this together. Have I mentioned how much I love the bari? Ah! Thought this might be a live recording. You can feel the excitement. Hearing the Hubbard influence on this trumpeter. Not getting the same dynamics though, would love to feel a bit more heat. Still some great playing though. Love how the pianist gets down inside the sound of the group at the start of their solo. Tasty! The guitar and vibes solos don't do as much for me. But let's not forget to give the bass player some. Fantastic supportive playing throughout this track-- a nimble player with great sound.
Track 8 - Fun tune! No idea who it is, but it certainly sounds British-invasion-y or trying to simulate that sound. I have no doubt there's a hidden reason that this is here...likely something to do with the bass player? Hmmm.
Track 9 - Nebulous, open, spiritual intro: check. Oh man, the name of this one is escaping me too! Damn. Is this a Cedar Walton tune? Is there a 2nd "Cedar" thread underneath the bass thread? Anyway, I like this, and the two saxophonists playing off each other are great. Damn...the alto player is particularly good! I should definitely know who this is. But I will look forward to the reveal...
Track 10 - Back in the pop zone, and I like this one too. Great tune! Not sure what else to say about it but I do enjoy it. The actual singing is probably one of my least favorite parts but I enjoy the tune and the arrangement is really good.
Track 11 - Now that's speakin my language! Gimme PG era Genesis any day of the week. Genius!! 100 stars.
Some really great stuff here John, thanks so much for your efforts in bringing all of this to our collective ears. A few on here I'm definitely excited to learn much more about!
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Sorry I'm late to the reveal party! So I absolutely need to check out more of that Headhunters album. Track 2 was a big winner for me too. In retrospect of course Sun Ra makes perfect sense for track 6, and I *will* have to give that one another try.
Thanks so much Jim! Always interesting and informative. 😎👍
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Finally got to this! An interesting listen for sure. Here are my thoughts as I listened...
Track 1 - The drums! Perfection. Tasty! Hell yes... this is how you build a groove. I feel like I'm in a Masterclass. That guitar riff is killer and I love how it locks in with the bass part and the 2nd guitar. How do I not know this? God Made Me Funky? Damn. Love it. Getting shades of Larry Graham from the bass player. Sax solo unfortunately is a bit too "heady" for me though... I'm waiting for them to cut loose and it's not happening. Feels too controlled. The only thing out of place for me on what is a killer track. Oh hold the phone... wtf just happened? Is this another sax player? Or the same person with effects? I take it all back. Holy smokes... was not expecting that. Off the charts! Five stars for this.
Track 2 - And now for something completely different? This is very cool. Wasn't sure what was generating the sounds initially, but is this all triggered by a trumpet? Wow. Oh man, what the hell? Hey Jude? This is nuts! In the best possible way. Hahaha! This is epic. I seriously love this. The marching band part is fantastic. Damn! How big is this band? Hold everything... is this Don Ellis?? Zoinks. I really thought this was something much more recent. Never thought I liked Don a whole lot but I really dig this. Most excellent. Can only imagine what it must have been like to be in the audience at this show. Those hits near the end are POWERFUL. Yowwww!
Track 3 - Nice feel right from the beginning and I dig the horns a lot... the way they're recorded too. This is definitely "of a time" and that's a good thing. Is this another pop tune reinterpreted? Seems familiar... there are a few notes in the melody that sound suspiciously like "You've Got a Friend." Nothing earth-shattering for me on this one but it's very enjoyable. Wait, is this a Simon & Garfunkel tune? Damn, this is killing me.
Track 4 - A hip hop interpretation of Romeo & Juliet is not something I thought I needed, but what the hell? I like the groove but this is just ok for me. I really just dabble in hip hop and am pretty picky about what I like. This is obviously very good but doesn't push many buttons for me.
Track 5 - So this sounds like one of those DJ things where someone overlays new grooves & sounds over an older recording? I think this one will probably fall a little flat for me too. Would love to hear the original recording, I like the vocalist here a lot. But the "drums" are just annoying to me honestly. Wish I could do this but I can't.
Track 6 - The beginning of this is a bit distracting for me as I'm having trouble finding the downbeat!
I assume that's intentional? Sounds like there's some rhythmic trickery happening but in the end the net effect for me is that it sounds very un-swinging. Or maybe the organist and drummer are from another planet and I'm just not advanced enough to get the language. The tenor player helps things along a bit. Boy. Yeah, I am having trouble with this one for sure. Just not getting it. Maybe I need to listen again.
Track 7 - Yikes, that keyboard sound. Once the tune gets going I can hear some good stuff happening here though. But wow this is dated. OK, is this 80s Sonny Rollins? I like some of that stuff quite a bit but not sure about this one so far. Feels very stilted and stiff. There are good moments here but overall this is just ok for me.
Track 8 - This is kind of interesting. Lush arrangement for sure! I like the wordless vocals and the strings. This is almost Esquivel-adjacent. The trombonist-- very nice. Great sound. Guitarist sounds a bit like Burrell to me maybe? This was fun. And I dig the drum hits there right at the end on the fade-out.
Track 9 - Well, it's the Godfather of Soul! 'Nuff said! Don't know this one though. What a great band. Is this Bootsy era? I like the bit of distortion on the bass, not to mention of course the actual playing which is killer. Give the bass a taste!! Yeah this is fantastic.
Definitely a mixed bag for me, but an interesting listen nonetheless! And there are a couple things in here I'm definitely curious to know more about. Thanks Jim!
BFT 255 Reveal
in Blindfold Test
Posted
Cheers all! Glad the Lightmen Plus One were such a hit. I myself need to get their other albums now! And yep, Allison Miller is outstanding. First learned of her from seeing her own group performing at a local club, she was incredible.