tkeith

DING! DING!

Cool! Any other late comers who want to try via any of the available methods (online, disc or download) feel free to post here and I'll hook you up.

Not McCoy, but I'd guess he's spent a quality evening or two with the catalog. Well, I'd go with your instincts on this one. I don't want to blow it early, but you're RED hot. Not Pharoah, but the influence is certainly there. This one is going to give people fits, I think. It's not James. Glad to hear on all counts! Nice to be able to open some doors folks aren't familiar with. Track 9 is definitely a particular niche in the genre. Track 3 is likely based on a particular type of tune, but I believe they claimed it as an original. I'll have to double check. On track 13, DING! DING! That's an impressive peg.

He lived up in my area for years and I'd see him out and about, at shows, in the produce market (that was always cool). Super nice guy. Very sad to read about this.

Chat it up about BFT #89 here. Guesses, opinions and general feedback welcome. Good luck and enjoy!

Correction: I chickened out on committing to a Cannonball guess on track 4 and suggested it was Snidero. Shame on me. Annoyed that I didn't get Junior Cook on Track 11. Top notch test -- well done!

Same, please! I can't seem to send you a message through the system. http://tinyurl.com/blindfoldtest89

Just a quick note: My webhosting service is migrating to a new server and doing a piss poor job of it. As such, I'm not sure when my site (thus the online version of the BFT) will be available. I will send all options to all participants. If I'm slow to respond, it's because my e-mail is not functioning for the same reason (so I'm not getting updates about posts). I recommend avoiding MidPhase like the plague that it is.

Gah! Lost my birthday BFT. It's all good. You can pencil me in anytime and I'll be happy to play the wildcard.

Now Batting (ing, ing) for Pedro Borbon (bon, bon), Manny (ee, ee) MOta (ah, ah, ah)... Jeff asked me to jump in with one, so I tried to comes up with some stuff that has been bouncing around my head and iPod for a bit. Apologies if there are some repeats in here; I don't think so, but it IS possible. There are some fairly obvious ones and some fairly brutal ones. It leans newer, but there is some history in here as well. There are also two or three common themes. I will be posting the test on a site that has a player as well as posting the download link. If you must have a hard copy and don't have burn capabilities, I can handle that, as well. I'll post that stuff when Jeff gives me the go ahead. Thanks again, Jeff, for being the guru!

The usual disclaimers. Jesus! Did I do shitty on this one! Nice BFT, though, lots of great stuff with an over arching hard swinging feel. Thanks! Track 1 - Cooks like hell. Sonny Moon For Two, a la Sonny Criss? Nope... too raunchy for Criss, but some of those lines sure sound like him. I want this is it's not buried in the archives. Track 2 - Lester Leaps In. Man... that tenor sounds WAY familiar and I can't pull him out. But the aggressive runs are throwing me off. I know this guy. Jesus... I should know everyone here, but I keep thinking "He almost sounds like." This has the feel of one of the Buck Clayton jams, but beyond that, I'm striking out. Track 3 - What's New. I like the trombone, but the guitar doesn't resonate with me. Track 4 - This rapid-fire brassy big bands don't resonate with me. Alto player is smokin' though. Sounds like Cannonball, but the band sounds like it's from the 80s or later, which leads me to assume it's maybe Snidero with Toshiko's band. Track 5 - Sounds like Zoot to me. I don't recognize this, and I have a lot of Zoot. Very warm tenor sound. This is perfect chillin' music... nice drink, dark room... yeah. No clue on the guitarist... very understated. Track 6 - Sounds like one of the Basie trumpeters. Too brassy to be Thad... Joe Newman? Again, cooks like a sonovabitch! Third listen, man that really sounds like Thad to me. I have to have this! Not sure of the second, really sounds like two Basie guys to me. Track 7 - Well, shit, that's Ben. No doubt about that. I'm going to sound like a broken record here, but it sounds like Ruby Braff on trumpet to me. Major Holley on bass. I don't think I have this. Track 8 - Hilarious! That voice in the beginning sounds like a golf commentator. I assume that's intended, cracks me up, though. Work Song, or shame on them if it isn't. I like it, but it wasn't maintaining my focus. Fun though. Track 9 - In a Mellow Tone. No clue beyond that, but doesn't seem like a guy from that era. Track 10 - Nica's Dream (good tunes in this BFT!). Diggin' the hell out of those drums. Has the sound of a Pablo date. Again, cooks like hell. That piano is familiar as hell. Track 11 - Back-to-back Horace - Nice! Sister Sadie. Equal parts Mobley and Billy Mitchell, but not quite as polished as either. Maybe Teddy Edwards? Doesn't quite have Teddy's boldness. Doesn't quite have the cook of the previous tune, but very nice. Almost like a Xanadu date. Track 12 - This seems like a copout, but it sounds like Mulligan to me. But I like the 'bone too much for it to be Brookmeyer. Bitchin' solo work all around. Could this be one of the Concert Big Band Recordings? Thanks again! Reason for edits: Sorry, I was working from two computers and some of my comments on 7 & 8 didn't get copied, so I merged them.

Jsangry said: "Besides - Gene Ammons is the answer to every damn question. I've done the math and yes, it is so." I LOVE this comment! Man! How the hell did I miss Blackwell!?!?!?!?

One off, no peakies. (Just a note, I only mention this because I'm not into the forensic exercise of researching the BFT) Track 1 Horrid sound, but nice feel. I assume this is either from a tape or recorded from speakers to a mic (or both!). That's Dexter. Sounds like Freddie on Flugelhorn, or could be younger Woody Shaw. Pretty ornate keys. I'll guess Pierre Michelot. Drumming is tight and snappy. Not sure. I want to go Lex Humphries, but that's because the bossa beat is corrupting my mind. I like this. Track 2 This is going to be a fun ride -- lots of percussion right off the bat. Loose and sloppy, just how I like it. Has the feel of a Max group, but no way he'd abide the horns being that sloppy. Could be Ron Bridgewater on tenor. Wild ride, but it holds my interest. Not sure who any of these guys are, but I want to know more. I feel like I should know that drummer. It reminds me a bit of some of Raphe Malik's stuff. Liking this a lot. Track 3 Now THAT is Max. Not sure what this is, though. You're three-for-three! Keep 'em comin'! Track 4 What's not to love about this? I can't ID it, though. Recognizable, but I can't nail it. Track 5 I don't care for the melody. Maybe one of Kenny Barron's projects? Tenor sounds like one of the newer, recordable sound, guys. He's more personable than that, but I'm not really buying his story. I'm not sold on this one. Track 6 I was accidentally on shuffle and got just a glimpse of this as the second track; I was not looking forward to it. Now that it's here, I'm kind of digging it. I don't care for the piano player, but the head is terrific. Don't hear clarinet in this setting much. It's leading me to guess it might be someone along the lines of ... crap... name is escaping me... guy in that Ivo Perelman crowd... gah! The only clarinetist I can think of that plays the horn like this is Matthieu Belanger, but I've only heard him do that life, not on record. Track 7 I don't know who this is, but it's not quite grabbing me. Song sounds very familiar, though. Track 8 Huh... a touch of Kansas City BIG sound and a touch of modern technique. Hints of David Murray. I'd have to go with Ellery Eskelin. I'm not entirely certain, but this is cooking. It's not Ellery. A friend had me listen to Branford's A LOVE SUPREME awhile back. THIS is what I was looking for. Every time he got close he scaled back into his safe zone; this guys doesn't do that at all, it's constantly pushing forward. Unpolished but VERY real. I'm dig! Track 9 There we go. Gene Ammons is the first tenor. Not sure who the second guy is. I was leaning Dexter, but no where near enough rhythm. I should know this period better, but I don't. I was thinking Monk on piano, but I dare not commit. Track 10 Much love after 20 seconds! That is one NASTY bari! Tone is a lot like Charles Davis, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to commit to that. Kudos to the guitar for just supporting and staying the hell out of the way. Ideas sound too modern to be Charles, but I can't place the tone. Wondering if bari is not his primary axe. I like this a lot! Track 11 About three minutes in I was having serious doubts, but once the rhythm section started, I like this a lot. Again, I like this a lot. It's not someone I'm familiar with. Track 12 One note in, I'm in love. My first thought was Khan Jamal, but this is too inside for that. Still, very much cooks and very organic. Again, I like this a great deal. The beginning of that vibes solo quotes a Hutcherson/Land tune. Can't place the title of it... one of the ballads. I think he's actually quoting the Harold Land line. Track 13 I don't know who this is, but I like this a lot as well. Man, this is one of the best BFTs in a long time; lots to like! Thanks!

Holy cow! Did I do terrible on this one! Surprised that I had bad reactions to both Cherry and Clusone 3. Relistening to the last track now, and I'd never have guessed that was a French horn!

Apologies for being so late on this one. Life has been eating me up, but I'm bound and determined to catch up! As usual, no peakies. I "listened" to this once through during a power nap back when it was active. Track 1 First instinct says Hugh Ragin. I was leaning Abdullah Ibrahim during the piano intro, but that definitely sounds like Hugh's technique. Now I'm leaning maybe towards one of the other David Murray guys... seems a bit loose for Hugh, unless it's very early. Bobby Bradford, maybe? Any way you slice it, I'm loving it. Track 2 To my ear, this lacks what I loved about the first cut. It's too deliberate... hell, it just doesn't SWING! Track 3 Needle drop and vibes -- am I back in High School!? (fond memories) That's definitely Walt Dickerson. I think that's the title cut from Divine Gemini Track 4 Not sure, but it's very pleasant. Track 5 This is nice. Is this maybe one of those strange Roswell recordings? Almost doesn't sound irreverent enough to be Roswell. Track 6 I'm not crazy about this. Crazy technique, but I'm not sure it says anything. Track 7 No idea who it is, but it sounds like a modern guy playing in that older style to me. As such it's missing a bit of the feel it's shooting for. Still a fun ride, though. Track 8 Star Trek! Oh, wait... no. I dig that bass. It's interesting. It doesn't swing, but unapologetically so. This is what I *want* to hear when someone plays me Weather Report. I'm intrigued. Electronics are a bit much at times, but overall me likey! Track 9 No clue. I'm on the fence on this one. I like it, but there is similar stuff I like better and would go to first. Track 10 I wasn't crazy about the guitar, but LOVE the acoustic bass. I can't tell if I like the horn player for his raw edge or if I dislike him for his lack of professional technique. He sort of falls into that Jemeel Moondoc (whom I LOVE) category of a guy with edge but not a lot of polish. I don't get the same edge that I get from JM, though. Track 11 Hmmm. Reminiscent of some of Ray Anderson's projects, but the bone is not in-your-face enough. I like the overall feel, though. Not sure about the change in the middle, but it's maintaining my interest. Track 12 No clue. Not a style I dig, though. Track 13 I like this a lot. As much as I like the bone players who venture into freak altissimo, I like this guy for NOT doing that. It stays mostly in the pocket and does so with great effect. Nice!

Yikes! My schedule has been eating me alive -- is it too late to request a download?

Download, please

Download, please.

Good stuff, brothah!!! I'll put my ear to the Moholo tune and see if I can figure the bassist. I'll be very disappointed in myself if it's Johnny and I didn't pick it up. Just moved, so it'll be a bit before the time avails itself to me with the good sounds to check this out, but I'll try!

Spoonie Love from Up Above -- this was a THOROUGHLY enjoyable test. Back from hiatus... been a rough stretch, time-wise, but feels good to be back (for the moment). Track 1 -- Oh! I know this tune! That's Dick Griffin's Come Dance With Me. I have it on A Dream For Rahsaan. Recognized the tune immediately, but took me a bit to put the name to it. Guitarist is busy for my taste. This sounds like one of Jerry Gonzalez' Bands to me. That's Dick on trombone. Ugh... definitely Hilton Ruiz on piano -- I saw him make a fool of himself one night doing that stuff; not a fan. [second listen] Sam Rivers is the tenor player, but I don't know the trumpeter. I don't have this. Track 2 -- Quirky but likable. It's NOT Stanley Cowell -- somebody much more inside, maybe from the next generation? Very Tyner-esque, but a bit more locked in the tradition. The fleeting runs are very much out of McCoy, though. Feels a bit disjointed to me (which may be the intent). Could actually BE later McCoy, but I'm not that familiar with his more recent stuff -- it just hasn't held my interest. Track 3 -- I'm sensing a trend beginning. This doesn't do anything for me. No idea. Track 4 -- No clue. Quite a transition, though. Track 5 -- No idea, but that was a lot of fun. Track 6 -- Not sure. Not a bone player I'm overly familiar with. I'd definitely guess it's a younger guy. Track 7 -- I know that tenor. Maybe Carter Jefferson? The whole vibe is early-80s, but I can't really place any of them. Maybe McBee on bass, but there's a lick in there that... man... it's the guy, whoever he is, but I'm not confident that it's Cecil. This is up my alley. That sounds very much like Mr. Shaw on trumpet, which means it's quite likely I actually *have* this (I've been on a late 50s kick of late, so I'm off my game). If that's the case, McBee is likely and it could be Rene McLean on tenor if not CJ. The arrangement is the only part of this not doing a lot for me, but overall, I like this, even with the fuzz tones. Track 8 -- These seems to be trying too hard to be different, but I like anyway. Ah... they're trying to out-Monk Monk. Bye-Ah? I can never keep the names of my Monk tunes straight. No idea. Track 9 -- Old Man River... odd, but likable. Soprano isn't doing much for me. Very lick-driven. It's interesting, but I don't think I'll listen twice. Tenor reminds me of Bill Saxton. Drums are conjuring a Bugs Bunny cartoon for me -- has me smiling. Track 10 -- Strange version of Willow Weep For Me. I like the instrumental arrangement; could do without the vocals. Bass is very familiar; don't know the others, but I do like the instrumental portions of this a lot. Track 11 -- Again, just fun. Sounds like a band recording after the period when this style was really popular (meaning the sound of the recording seems to be somewhere in the 50s). Nothing earth-shattering, but a whole lotta fun. Track 12 -- Early impressions are Randy Weston on piano, but more likely someone playing like RW. Bass clarinetist has his Dolphy down... is this that Illinois Concert date? Yes, it is. This is one of his tunes... I forget the title. This is a strange record, but very enjoyable to hear Dolphy in this setting. Track 13 -- Love it already. Just love me some bass. Has a very Abdullah Ibrahim feel. Track 14 -- A bit reminiscent of Chico Freeman, which is to say, I love it. Thanks for the ear candy!

Sorry I didn't get to participate in this one. Some really beautiful stuff. I actually listened 3 times, but the only time I had the chance was when I was collapsing from exhaustion, so it didn't help me out much. Tracks 6-8 are all KILLIN'!!!!

Download please (should actually have time for these again starting late this week!)

DL please.

Download, please.

Huh, I almost guessed a Billy Pierce disciple on track 2. I'm quite disappointed I didn't get Les on track 9. I'm a big fan of him as both a player and a person. I'll have to lay my ear on that one again.