tkeith

Holding. (I assume we're not talking about Holy Ghost, here)

Any chance you're willing to take September?

Still have openings for September and October. Would love to see some new blood in here.

I'm as certain as the personnel listing. Ding! Ding!

Nay, sir. Not bad, but probably more well known. Correct, sir! I should be able to offer you a better answer than this, but I built the test from my digital library, so I'm not certain. (When I rip to mp3, I always rip to original album title.)

Ding! Ding! I wanted to give the hint that someone had mentioned him, but not on day 2.

Determined to prove me wrong, aren't you. Okay, NOW he's the only guy left? It's only July 2, so I don't want to give too big a clue....

Moving further away. Pretty much the only guy of this grouping that hasn't been guessed, yet. Okay, NOW he's the only guy not guessed.

Good guess, but not either of them. You're on the right track, though. There is NOBODY unknown in this band.

You have. Spot on descriptor of this pianist. I describe him as the complete absence of bullshit -- straight soul. Yes, sir. I'm positive you know all these guys, particularly the leader. I love the comps to JR and PP, more testament to your great ears. This one is the squirrel pick -- I'll be shocked if anyone has this. All players are known, but the horn player mostly by name. Ding! Ding! Yes, and perfectly stated. This tune is a sneaky favorite, and Zoot + ballad is tough to be anything less than a winner. Not Hamp. California, for sure (though a quick check tells me he was born in the midwest). Not as much of a name as Hamp, but I like the comp. Indeed. Label and player both nailed, but I'm going to wait to see if anybody gets more specific. Correct, but the band is, in fact, TJ/ML JO. It was the writing/arrangement that grabbed me, but I also know exactly what you're saying. Less teeth than some of their stuff. Spot on. Literally not enough of this cut. I could listen to every rehearsal, every outtake, and put it all on repeat and still want more. Fair point, and I agree with your assessment. This tune is the class of the album for me, but there's really not a bad track on it. She's a bit more mainstream contemporary than I usually gravitate to, but as you say, she's sure as hell committed. There are no surprises among the players, you know them all, but together? I think this one becomes tough. Every thing everyone has heard serves as a clue to ID. Correct neighborhood. It IS Cherry. You KNOW the tenor. And, well, I peaked ahead and there's an ID coming. Ding! Ding! Love this record, though of the first 3, it's #3 for me. But with this cast, I can't NOT love it. Dick is a personal hero of mine. Now Is The Time is one of the most played records in my collection, and as always, your description is perfect. Back atcha, sir. Though, I don't have AC, so maybe I'll shed a few pounds. Ding! Ding! Correct on the band. Full disclosure, I have no track info, so I'm looking for help IDing the track. You may well be right, but I'm really counting on the braintrust here to fill those gaps. That. He's an easy target. Ding! Ding! If there's a bad recorded moment of Mal, I don't own it, and I own a LOT of it. I think of the pianist (ID'd above) as having a lack of technique (but I don't mean that as a criticism). He's straight to the point, zero BS. ID'd, but I'd say a fair assessment, as he certainly left a mark on both players (and the rest of us, as well). Pianist is the reason for the pick. While this may not be in the desert island collection, it was in the last crate left on shore. Indeed. Soprano is a name many will recognize, but I'm not overly familiar with his work as a soloist. This is a deep cut that will require sleuthing. Alas! Someone has disliked a cut. I assumed #9 would turn some off, but I'm surprised it was this one. ID'd above as Zoot. Suffice it to be said, we'll agree to disagree on this one. Fair. I have a good guess as to why AT comes to mind -- spot on. That gives us 2/3 of the band and the record label. I smell a full ID coming. Damned near perfectly described. Band has been ID'd, and again, it was the arrangement and tune that grabbed me. Damn! You guys are good at this! You got Candido. Yes, Hutch. ID'd above. Great guess, but not her. She's certainly out of that school, and does it well, though. A worthy album, but maybe more for casual listening. I don't think I'd say that, but the ingredients are here. Oh my! Sure would! Mostly ID'd above. Spot on. But smoldering Bartz still gets me. Right? Best thing about this process for me -- the constant reminder of how little I know.

No shame, but not Byard. Pianist IS ridiculously good, a god to me. That left hand is everything. Can and likely have, sir. Good ear. Pianist is the leader and the reason for the selection. Not particularly new and there are roots spreading to other tunes in the BFT. Influence may well be there. This tenor is a name in his own right. That might be the theme for the first part of this bft. Bud fools no one. It is Bud, it is one of the Blue Notes. Not in my BFT. Those who will get this will know it instantly. Everyone here knows the tenor, the vibes, and many likely know the vocalist. Correct. This version was introduced to me after gig in which we played arrangement. I consider the track the class of the album, but the album is definitely worthy. Definite Freddie influence, and that might be an understatement on the sax, albeit an accurate one. Correct. Those bits are all clues. It was the tenor that got me on this one. Tenor is the leader. Not Big George, but fair to say a later contemporary who was likely influence if not by George by the same greater influences. I figure this one to drop pretty quickly as many have this record. No worries, that's the game. I'm glad you liked it -- maybe my ears haven't betrayed me, yet. Yeah, you and that bass player were the target for this one. I'd be surprised if you don't. This pianist is, for me, on Mt. Rushmore. Jim will, if nobody else. This one is all that it seems. Again, I'd be shocked if you don't. Nay, sir. Saxophonist is a name many of us will recognize, but his playing would be a deep cut (like IDing Tate Houston, for example). I'll be surprised if ANYONE owns this. You may have provided a near perfect Wikipedia description of this player. Mercy! I believe we have a clue! Pianist correctly ID'd by @Dub Modal Ding! Ding! It *is* The Jazz Orchestra. And you're still spot on. It's worth it. See my comments above. Fair assessment. This one sort of snuck up on me. That sound you're describing is, in itself, a clue. Again, a see of clues here. It's exactly what it seems to be. Another I'd be shocked if you don't have. But, now I'm nervous. I fear Dan will like none of it. 😕 ( ) To be fair, though, pleasing your ears is not a high challenge for me -- I think we have rooms in the same wheel house. (Tim lives downstairs) DING! DING! Nailed it.

Greetings! No particular theme on this one, just music that struck me in the past year, as well as a few gimmes just to feel good. Hopefully there's something here for everyone. Guaranteed there will be something in here for everyone to dislike. https://thomkeith.net/blindfold-tests/2025-blindfold-tests/

Huh! I guess my ears didn't betray me on track 9!

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. 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! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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? 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!