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Indeed! And still I wonder -how did this person come to be named Ella Speed? This is 2025!

And Thom nails the bass on 8, it is Jamaladeen Tacuma. And the piano on 12 is Keith Jarrett. Elvin, Mingus, Gonsalves and Dickerson right on target, and Bang and Garzone despite yourself. I will drop clues on 3 and 4 in about a week if Tim hasn't gobbled them up by then. 6 is likely to evade identification. I first became aware of Jamaladeen Tacuma under his previous name Rudy McDaniel when Walt Dickerson brought a test pressing of his second Steeplechase album, Serendipity to WRTI, the Temple U radio station, all jazz at the time. He spoke highly of the teenage electric bassist.

There's the Mance Lipscomb version too. Same great cracked vocal moments on that. A favourite of mine.

track 01 - Odd tune. I kind of like it, because it reminds me of a Billy Harper tune. Working agaist it, it's NOT that tune. Okay, I know this pianist. It's got a McCoy feel to it, but he doesn't seem to be going right at it the way McCoy would. Snappy brush work. Okay, I was thinking Roy Haynes or Freddie Waits, but that's Elvin, no question. And it's McCoy. Wait... egad, I have this. It's track 2 from this. track 02 - Strange strings combo. Oh, that head sounds familiar when the horns come in. Mayhaps something from the CIMP catalog? I don't think it's Bang... maybe Leroy Jenkins? This has "it" whatever "it" is. It's certainly not polished and not perfect, but it's REAL, and that's more than enough. Tune almost has the feel of a Steve Lacy tune. It's not Frank Lowe, but it's in the neighborhood. Wondering if this is someone I'm more familiar with as an alto player. I read where Gary Bartz said he tends to like alto players who started with tenor and tenor players who started with alto. That's what this sounds like to me. Now I'm not convinced that this is not an alto. I was thinking tenor, but around the 6 minute mark, no that's an alto, with a beastly mid-range. So, early on, I was thinking maybe Jimmy Lyons, but it's a way beefier tone. LOVE the bass. Acutely interested in this one. Live recording would account for the "Cadence sound." track 03 - Horrendous 70s drums sound. Very busy band, maybe soprano lead? Could be Thad/Mel, but doesn't seem to have that facility. Mayhaps an offshoot band of former members? Sounds a lot like Joe Farrell. I don't love this -- could just be the track, but something isn't hitting, here. It lacks what the last track, had. Not sure I know the tenor, unless it's a very early recording of someone I do know. That could be Randy Brecker, but seems a bit more chancy in the approach. That Rhodes is very forward in the mix. Liking the trumpet more than the tenor. Sounds familiar adjacent. I'm getting flashes of recognition, but I don't trust them. I don't think I know this. track 04 - Horrendous 70s drums replaced by horrific 80s bass and drums. "Why you do this to me, Demi... why?" It's not the Black Saint guys. My first thought was that it reminded me of a Threadgill project, but it seems neutered by comparison. Thomas Chapin? Bone reaches me more than the alto. Could be Steve Swell. Those drums combined with the pep-band head just doesn't work for me. It's serious music and the soloists being a lot to it. The "tune" is kind of rubbish. Man, I really don't think that's Threadgill, but it *could* be, if he's working with another band. Muhal? No, that's not Henry. Sound is awfully familiar. I keep coming back to Chapin. I'll commit to that guess, but I don't know this. track 05 - Sounds like a Mingus composition. Okay, it's Mingus. Booker fools no one. Oh yeah, that's Knepper. #badass If I have this, I haven't played it quite awhile. Mingus always has a degree of familiarity, but my collection is by no means exhaustive. That's not Pepper on bari, though. Mingus doesn't get covered NEARLY enough. track 06 - This sounds like an Anthony Branker project, but that's not Tim Warfield. I like most of this, but those drums lack dynamics. He's just beating the hell out of my ears. Too bad, because this is really interesting. Conservatory guy on tenor. He's damned good, but there's a little too much muscle memory happening here to reach me. It's good, but... there's just something missing. Incredibly capable tenor, I'm just not buying it. Craig Handy could sell me this, but this guy (woman?) is not making the sale. Wow... eat up space, much? More ego than fire. track 07 - Cherokee. Never a fan of the tune, but these guys are working hell out of it. I have a listening allergy to this tempo (and a SEVERE playing allergy). It DOES, however, bring to mind this tale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WScoPutUeiY They're pulling it off, but it's just not my thing. It's a bit masturbatory. LIke the bass, but feels like he's at the end of the rope at this tempo. Someone has studied Max. Weird. Seems like I probably need to know this, but don't. If that's NOT Max, I'll be shocked. track 08 - Shades of Charles Lloyd, a touch of Pharoah Sanders, a WHOLE lotta chops... maybe early Lovano? About the one minute mark, that guess feels REALLY on target. Jesus. This dude has his Coltrane DOWN. I'm not in, yet, but no denying the chops. electric bass and I don't want to throw the guy off a tower, so I'm going to guess Jamaladeen Tacuma (about the only guy who reaches me on the electric). Really nice feel. Flirts with Wise One, a bit. Those hyper-compressed drums present a problem for me. The feel is stellar, though. Yeah, that's got to be JT on bass. Coltrane/Pharoah is back. Almost a touch of Bergonzi in that tenor, but there's a sort of prettiness to the tone that tells me no. Sick range. I heard Garzone play My One And Only Love once, and he got this sort of sound, but I'm not convinced his him. This one works, though, in spite of the drums. track 09 - That sounds like Sonny Simmons right off the bat. Nope. Now it got all clean. Clearly a player with some pretty serious chops. I thought I was hearing one tune, but we've arrived at Chelsea Bridge. I thought I was hearing I Loves You Porgy. I think I would like this more if I *hadn't* recognized the tune. Just not sure you need to do this to Ellington. But, they have, and they've done it well. No idea who THEY are, though. Oh... live. Okay, that opens my acceptance level a bit. They're going for it, and I respect that. track 10 - Gonsalves. There is no substitute. Over The Rainbow. Man... I'd listen to this guy sleep. Raw soul. I detest this tune and he is absolutely slaying it. It's brutal what this guy did to himself, but MAN, could he play. No idea what the record is, but I will never find enough Paul Gonsalves to please me. track 11 - What's New. Dickerson, at his absolute best. If this album isn't in the desert island collection, that island does not exist. Friggin' travesty that this guy isn't one of the pivotal figures known by EVERYBODY. Try to find an off moment on this album -- go ahead, I'll wait. First time I heard this on CD, I heard the drums on the title cut for the *first* time. This guy was an absolute gem. track 12 - This is really nice. Not sure what it is. LOVE the bass. Ah! About 2:00 mark, we have slidy piano keys and he's taking up a LOT of the space. Sounds like Blackberry Winter, so I'm going to say Jarrett. LOVE the bass, did I mention that? I've got my issues with KJ, but no denying, the dude can play. This is most certainly among my favorite BFTs of 2025. Well done, sir! I'll be damned. Garzone. And it WAS Bang. And a whole lot of other stuff I should probably know and a bunch I DON'T know. So much to learn, so little time.

Gil Evans + 10 on New Jazz had a performance of Ella Speed. BTW, great record in total.

Just sharing some info. Ordered and received 3 regular size cds and one double cd in a special package about half the size of an lp from CD Japan. My shipping costs (FEDEX FICP) and "Customs Clearance Fees" totaled 5323 yen. Given the size of the special 2cd package I figure around $7 per cd for those extra costs. So If I bought Harper's "Trying to Make Heaven my Home" from CD Japan (its selling price is $13.11) combined with 3-4 other cds, my total cost would probably be around $20-21. For me living in New York, Dusty Groove sells that item for $19.00 plus shipping costs (no sales tax). I was not asked to pay tariffs. To review, for me there may be little difference in cost between ordering from CD Japan and DG (I did preorder the Harper from them). My CD Japan package came with 2 magnets-there was nothing on the label to indicate that something other than cds were included and therefore may not be exempted from tariffs. Shipping label was created on Friday, October 3rd at 9:12 PM. I received the package today< October 8th, at 2:41 PM. The package came by way of Anchorage but appears to have gone through customs in Newark. It arrived at the FedEX hub in Newark at 1:11 PM yesterday, apparently entered or cleared customs at 2:31 PM ("international shipment release-import") and finally left that hub by 9:30 PM that same day.

Beethoven - String Quartets !8/5 and 18/6 - Budapest String Quartet Mozart- Piano Concertos No.6 and No.13 - Geza Anda

Also, I think Eddie Louiss' "Our Kind of Sabi".

I think it's more about having a (larger) group of musicians that covers all four of the instrument families; strings (e.g. bass), woodwinds (saxophone), brass (trumpet) and percussion (drums). A typical jazz quintet would do that, except, well, that it's not "large". 🙂

Milo Fine's duo with Steve Gnitka was called "The Milo Fine Free Jazz Ensemble". That seemed rather sad for Steve, I thought.

I'll prefer an orchestra over a quartet that's being called a trio any time... Now playing, one of today's finds:

Martinu, Double Concerto / Sinfonietta Giocosa / Viola Rhapsody-Concerto Charles Mackerras, Brno State Philharmonic Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra; Peter Maag, Bern Symphony Orchestra (Conifer)

I agree. Wondering aloud: So when does a group potentially become an "orchestra"? With twelve players? Fourteen? Ten?

Agree! Obviously it was a bit common during the Norman Granz times. Have several Verve LPs consisting of a small groups (combo) but have 'orchestra' in the title. Here is an example:

More James Williams:

The James Williams Trio - The Arioso Touch (Concord, 1982) with Buster Williams and Billy Higgins

Tony is very present. He's never not!

The other day, there was a contestant on The Price Is Right named Ella Speed. I wonder what was up with that She didn't win anything either Ella Speed.

Dave Douglas: Alloy