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Especially since we can't safely determine price to order from CDJapan. I would have bought the Hannibal and Harper from them pre-tariff.

1 – Highly enjoyable, especially enjoying the bass player and piano. **** 2 – Funkier than I’m used to from Dan! Electric sax(es) wear, as does wah-wah guitar Composition and arrangement don’t anything for me. Dave Sanborn? * 3 – Things ain’t what they used to be, indeed! Back on the enjoyable good foot. ***1/2 4 – All the things you are. I like the bass player, but the whole thing is pretty ragged, though still enjoyable ***1/2 5 – Who Can I Turn To. Nicely done all around, love the pianist’s work! Enjoyed the guitar. **** 6 – Things… again. Good blues playing, but I enjoyed the approach on the first version more. *** 7 – Killer! This is the one cut I need if I don’t already own it! I should be able to ID the song, but am going blank on the title. I bet the whole album is good. ****1/2 8 – Who Can I Turn To, in a comatose version. Not doing well with this cut and especially this tenor player, though it’s probably someone you love. Sorry. ** 9 – All The Things You Are, slowed down and on clarinet. I like this tune fast, though I don’t hate on this the way I did the previous cut. But I also don’t need to hear it again. **1/2 10 – See comments to #2, although at least the sax isn’t electrified, and the conga solo is kind of cool. *1/2 No artist ID’s, a range of responses, and I look forward to the reveals on my favorite cuts (1,5,7 especially, but also 3,4), and I expect I have one or two of them on the shelves already. Have a safe and prosperous 2026, my friend!

I bought that same Harper album in my preorder. It's a really good one! Due to the ongoing demise of the CD medium, most of my CD purchases are now Japanese imports. Pricey, but I'm buying fewer.

I don't know that he "floats over" the time as much as he does play in it at different spots than most people find. The only way to do that is to have complete awareness of the time internally. Same thing with totality. He can slip in and out of it at will. At will. His Steeplechase albums usually focus on standard repertoire and more traditional rhythm sections, so it might be easier to hear how that all plays out (no pun intended) there.

thanks so much, really enjoyed your responses! Thank you, HNY, glad I could introduce you to some new stuff! Grab that Hannibal album (and the Santana! Thanks Tom. I've had Callier on two other BFT's ("Dancing Girl" and "Alley-Wind Song", but it's been a couple of years. I knew I would eventually use all three songs, so stretched them out across years. As per Cowell, I whiff on cuts I already own all the time on BFT's! 🥲 'Caravanserai' is my favorite album in the whole world, ever, by anybody! Glad you got the Hannibal - I also bought it pre-order from Da Bastids, along with Billy Harper's 'Trying to Make Heaven My Home'. Both were pricey, but were dream-come-true CD releases. Agreed on Alicia Keys, this and 'Fallin' from her first album are the only two songs by her that stick with me.

I haven't totally gotten into Bley yet, which is surprising. As Peter said, I do perceive a "coldness" in some recordings (Solo in Mondsee (ECM) and 12 (+6) In A Row (Hatology) come to mind), so I haven't collected that many. Ramblin' is my favorite so far.

Thanks, John. Enjoyed your BFT as always: some shared tastes plus interesting less familiar directions. I like Brian Auger. I bought a couple of his Soul Bank Productions (which seems to be his enterprise) box sets. I gradually drifted away from rock in the '70s and '80s, but consistently enjoy his work from that period. He seems like an interesting and simpatico individual, based on interviews I've heard/read. Good to hear Callier, I couldn't ID the track but could have if I'd thought harder. I generally like witty lyricists, though he sometimes is a little *too* clever and arch. IIRC he (with Stepney) was in your last BFT. Well said on Murray and #2. As stated upthread, whiffed on the Santana album, even though I probably owned it once. Caravanserai is my favorite, though. Strangely drew a blank on Cowell despite owning the album. Considered him but rejected it as unlikely. 🤣The Hannibal track is even funnier: I'm a fan, had preordered that album from The Bastards. It arrived shortly before you posted the BFT, but I peeked at the thread (and saw the ID) before I'd had time for careful listening. Rest of the tracks were good, but I was in listening rather than guessing mode. Alicia Keys is the big surprise there.

HNY! Thanks for putting this together. Didn't know any of these songs so definitely enjoyed hearing them and reading the reveal.

He kind of floats around the time, which is something I really gravitate towards. Maybe that's because my sense of rhythm is off; I was never really that good at keeping time during musical attempts in my youth. Seems like I don't have any of his Steeplechase albums filed, but all of the classic 1960s-70s dates are in the racks on vinyl as well as one on GNP, the Ornettes, the Debut on CD, and a smattering of later discs on ECM and Hat Hut.

It’s been too long since I spun this fantastic disc. It is one of my all-time favorites. A great disc to play on the final day of the year. Betty Carter “I’m Yours, You’re Mine” Verve cd. Unfortunately her last album. She was something else. A brave and brilliant artist. Betty Carter – vocals, producer Mark Shim – tenor saxophone Andre Hayward – trombone Xavier Davis – piano Curtis Lundy – double bass Matt Hughes – bass Gregory Hutchinson – drums

Let's get this party started, if anyone is so inclined New Year's Eve. 10 tunes / 66 minutes or so. Same programming approach as a year ago, in this case five pairs of different performances of the same tune. All but one are standards and I expect will at least be ID'd. One track is an absolute gimme but that means its probably 50/50 ID'd/missed. No Percy France, no Gene Harris. Actually there isn't even a faux Gene Harris track to throw you off. https://thomkeith.net/2026-organissimo-blindfold-tests/

I have 1 Paul Bley ablum on Savoy, 1 on Fresh Sound, and 5 on Steeplechase. In truth, I am not much of a fan of his playing. There is a "coldness" and lack of swinging on the majority of his albums. With limited exceptions, Paul Bley's piano playing is not really my "cup of tea".

Gary Crosby's Nu Troop "Migrations" Dune cd I'd forgotten about this cd. Really fine playing a la Jazz Messengers in great sound,.

eddie harris/is anybody listening

Annette will be 85 in 2026!

3/4 of it has seen a digital release. Paul Bley Trios Play Annette Peacock 3/6 tracks from Ramblin’ (BYG) 5/10 tracks from Blood (Fontana) 6/8 tracks from Mr. Joy (Limelight)

Heath Brothers: Marchin' On (Reissue of Strata East album)

What is "vibe coding"?