tkeith

Wish the Downbeat talent deserving wider recognition polls worked like this!

Thanks... rumor has it that the 8-hours is more like 45 minutes, too... just sayin'.

Thanks all! Not sure how much the scholarship is, but tuition is upwards of 50K. I promise you this -- she will not waste a minute of it.

Woo-hoo! Thanks folks! The system let's you vote every 8 hours (sometimes more frequently), so if it occurs to you, it's much appreciated.

Thanks!

I teach high school and one of our alums attends a very expensive school that she is paying for herself. She's going for a scholarship through a competition on Brickfish (it is legit), and I'm trying to get her some much need votes from my extended network. Please vote for Erin's photo, the process takes about two seconds (literally) and you're done. She's a great kid and totally worth the effort. Thanks!

First Meditations, again, for the first time. Absolutely one of the most beautiful things ever.

Comments... I'd like to show the lady on the B3 my organ... BFT: Okay, I *did* predict I'd get none of these, and I'm confident that I'm right about that. Just finished Disc 1. Track 1 -- Ordinarily, this instrumentation is not one of my favorites, but I like the way this band plays together. Not sure who it is, but my thought is this is what Joey DeFrancesco *tries* to sound like. Very solid. Track 2 -- This is more down my alley. I know the song, but not the title. Tenor was brief but I'll guess Teddy Edwards on an aggressive day. Not sure on the organ. I know I have this buried somewhere in the collection. Track 3 -- If it's not late Groove Holmes, it's somebody who has listened a whole lot to him. Nice, clean guitar sound without going over the top on effects the way so many "Jazz" guitarists seem to. Hmmm... rethinking Groove, because it seems like the guitarist's record. Track 4 -- Strange sound... sounds almost live. That's Johnny Griffin for sure. God that man was ridiculous! Such a baaaaad man! Track 5 -- I'm guessing this is newer, because it sounds so much like Wes it's scary, but it's not really clicking for me (which Wes typically does). Track 6 -- Not a fan of that guitar sound, or style. No idea. Track 7 -- Sounds like Larry Young to me, but I'm not recognizing it... is it possible that I've missed and LY recording? Drummer is growling like Elvin, but seems far too sane. Track 8 -- Ouch... easy on the tremolo. No idea. In spite of my predilection against organ/guitar trios, my ears enjoyed this. It's nice to hear more of a genre I've only touched the tip of. Thanks!

Gee, with the sudden run, I can't recall if I put in for another yet or not. If not, please add me. If so, I don't wish to Bogart the honor.

Thanks for this -- I was getting edgy the more I read without seeing his name.

Not my strong side, but I'm in -- I love these things. I prefer the download.

BEAUTIFUL! Sox broadcast is showing replays of Youk getting HBP, and he says, very clearly, "Shit!" Santana took exception. On about the 35th replay, Eckersley is saying, "Youk didn't do anything to provoke him. He doesn't get out of the way, but he gets hit... [Youk video saying "Shit!"] then, "shit!"... oops." Priceless

Actually, as movie makers/video editors go, iMovie is very intuitive. It's got minimal powers, but will allow you to create simple DVDs as well as recording from your iSight camera very easily.

Sunday nights at Ramsey Post in Dorchester, Kurtis Rivers. Shoot me an e-mail and I'll forward you the list I get from an area DJ.

Hmmm.... how 'bout Aki Takese? and/or Yosuke Inoue? I know that Yosuke is /YOSE kay/, but I haven't a clue on that last name. And Piotr Wojtasik?

Not overlooked here in paradise. It was all Dom all the time for two days straight. It was nice to hear a lot of quotes in favor of a guy who gets very overlooked. My favorite was from his brother: "He's the best defensive centerfielder I ever saw."

I dunno who Bill Plaschke is, but I figure that the concept of "sample size" is beyond the comprehension of most sportswriters... I heard the interview with this idiot. The audio was accompanied by a strong odor of vinegar and water.

Yeah, I didn't mean it that way; I was afraid it would come across that way. I was thinking of a particular pianist and I could see his picture in my head... he's a white guy...merely meant it as a means of identification. My point exactly. I love the acoustic bass, and it seems like many of the tracks (including this one) didn't have any. Nope. Only after I read the comments from others (that's why my edits were in a different color).

Usual disclaimer (this was a tough test!): 1 -- Boot or just a bad recording. I like that this is different, I just don't hear anything earth-shattering in it. Not sure who it is, but sounds like a college-trained guitarist -- very busy. Drums aren't really doing anything. This reminds me of a lot of stuff people offer up for me to hear as "outside," and it really isn't, other than the instrumentation. 2 -- This is more like it. Very interesting and understated. No idea who it is, though. 3 -- Different, but not my bag. I'm guessing it's one guy overdubbed, because I'm not really hearing a lot of interaction. The tenor reminds me of a friend of mine, Larry Gelberg, but I know it's not him. Almost an Oliver Nelson quality to the tone of of the tenor -- like a cross between Oliver and Gato, in terms of attack. For some reason, I'm thinking Ivo, but the sound isn't right. Definitely out of the Hebraic tradition. 4 -- I want to like this, and think I do. It's over-produced, but I like the concept. Seems like it might be a soundtrack. Pianist has listened to a lot of Tapscott and Randy Weston. Maybe D.D. Jackson? Maybe not... thinking it might be a white guy (particular one)... shoot... can't think of his name, but had an interview with Cadence about a year or so back. He's similar to Shipp, but more European. Plucked cello? Not a sound I dig. I think Curtis Clark used similar instrumentation for a couple of tracks on Dreams Deferred, but this doesn't sound like him to me. edit: Hmmm... based on the ID of the cellist, perhaps I over thought this one? 5 -- I like that this is different, very unique, but at the same time, it's not really reaching me. I'd guess this is a younger guy -- full sound, but very 'recordable sound'... also very technical writing, and played flawlessly. Jerry Sabatini plays a lot of hyper-technical stuff like this (which I do like, incidentally), but this isn't him. Not crazy about that guitar, again, very technical, but I like the overall group sound. I also LOVE the acoustic bass, and I'm realizing now the major rub I'm having with this BFT. 6 -- I like the eastern tonality of the beginning. I've enjoyed this sort of thing ever since the b-side of Pharoah's JOURNEY TO THE ONE. This one stays more true to the strict middle-eastern sound than I'd prefer. Doesn't sound like native eastern musicians to me -- too clean, too perfect... too technocratic. Hate to be a crotchety old bastard, but makes me want to dig out Ahmed Abdul Malik's albums from around 1960 and hear the more authentic sound (JGriff's bop lines notwithstanding). 7 -- Love the sound of the drums on this. Sounds older, but perhaps it's a Mapleshade date (like the Thurman Green date with the beautiful sounding drums). But no, this sounds older to me. Not a big clarinet guy, but the feel of this is really nice. Very much LOVING the drums. Clarinet's a bad ass... could it be Pepper? I can almost hear his alto lines in it (though, in truth, I usually avoid his clarinet tracks). I'll commit to Pepper on the guess. Dig the bass, but on the laptop, can't really offer a guess. This is nice. note: since you're heavy on the clarinet, I have to recommend a guy in Montreal named Matthieu Belanger. I heard him on bass clari and he blew my mind. Wasn't crazy about his record (heavy on the clarinet), but if you get the chance to see him, do it! edit: I gotta check out more Perry Robinson. Suggestions? 8 -- Not loving this. I don't mind it's 'outness', but it lacks that magical ingredient... that 'spiritual unity'. A post-Trane guy... maybe something obscure by Noah Howard? Doesn't sound strong enough to me. 9 -- Somebody likes Ornette a whole lot. Love the tuba, love the obscurity of the head -- angular, but swinging -- nice! Totally into the trumpet... want to guess Billy Higgins on the drums, but doesn't seem quite right. Alto is ringing bells, but my wife just got home and is in the kitchen making more noise than the Germans in North Africa (WTF!?!?). Man, I flat out love this tune. Recognize the trumpet, too. If I don't have this, I will. This is lovely! edit: OH! EFF me!!!!! I knew I knew this. I should have smoked this one easy. I guess every time I play that record I get too wrapped up in Until The Rains Come. Keeee-rist!!!! 10 -- A little polished, but me likey. I definitely gravitate towards this percussive stuff. Drummer seems to throw it off in the middle... seems to drag the time and it struggles to recover afterward. I want it to go a little further out, but the piano is locking into that feel and not really following the music where it wants to go. This seems almost like a missed opportunity. I like the bass a lot. 11 -- I like the poly-rhythmic nature of this, but again, piano seems to be locking itself more in than it needs to. Drum sound is hard to take -- hyper compressed. Yeah, overall, I'm liking this a lot, though, even with the recording. I'll guess a late 80s recording b/c of those drums. Maybe this is one of the tracks you alluded to where it's not the guy's main instrument. This pianist sounds like it's not his main instrument (which is actually a plus here -- it's got a rawness to it that I'm digging). 12 -- I like this. I should know it, I definitely know that drummer. Another cut with great drum sound (even if they're way back). Drummer reminds me of one of the guys from the Monk Prestige years. I may be crazy, but this pianist is making me hear Jimmy Jones lines. He's not playing them, and it's certainly not him, but there's something about this that's making me HEAR him. Could it be early Cecil? Seems too in the tradition for that, but that would explain a lot. Not sure of the soprano. Not Lacy. Oh! Wait, yes it is. I know *exactly* what this. Shit, I haven't played this in years! Forgot it was this good. It's Charge 'Em Blues, from [url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0xfwxqugldse]this[/ur]. Jesus! 'Bout time I get one!!!! Thanks for the difficult (in a good way) listen. I'm going to kick myself in the ass for #9, because I just know I *should* know it.

GENIUS!!!

On a Raymond Chandler kick, so I'm reading the Phillip Marlowe series. Also reading Ross McDonald's Lew Archer series, and I have Stanley Dance's THE WORLD OF DUKE ELLINGTON going, as well.

Wow... shocked that I hated Carl Burnett so much on track 3 -- so much so that I went back and listened again. Bobby Pierce is ripping on this, though. Two Henry Franklin appearances in back-to-back BFTs and I miss them both. I'm going to poke myself in the eye by way of retribution. Missing Mobley on track 9 really pains me. We agree on Michael Cochrane -- love him on Hannibal's record, reminds me of Hicks a lot.

2) Jesus... Billy Higgins is so obvious, now. And there's Teddy. I'm such an ass. 4) Guess it's time to build up my Don Wilkerson collection. 11) I get a lot of that, Dan. This was a good BFT because it was interesting throughout (even that which I didn't care for), which made it worth listening to, even where it kicked my ass.

Objection. We earned this. And believe me, the real fans understand how precious, and likely short-lived, this is. <Yankee Baiting Follows> Now, when Jeter signs with Boston as a free-agent to be a utility infielder, THEN you can call us spoiled.

Guess I need to read more posts here -- hadn't realized you were based in LA. A friend of mine really turned me on to that scene. He's made a study of the LA culture, centered around Tapscott, and makes yearly pilgrimages. He went to the Montreal Jazz Fest to see Tapscott, only to have him subbed for, without warning, by Muhal Richard Abrahms (whom my friend detests). Turns out Tapscott had just been diagnosed with the brain tumor and that's why he missed the show. I should have nailed that cut, but it sailed right past my radar. Time to say f*** the nonsense of life and focus some more time on serious listening, again. Disc One had some of the best stuff I've heard in a BFT, yet. Thanks!