BFT #40, Disc 1
1. A nice opener for this disc. The tune is reminiscent of the kind of Latin funk that Mongo Santamaria used to play, but the absence of any percussion other than the drummer tells me that this is probably not a Latin band. No idea who it is, although I like it!
2. “Body and Soul”. My first thought when the first tenor came in was Don Byas, but after hearing the whole record I decided this was a newer recording. The first time I heard it I liked the way one of the guys comes in with a direct quote from Coleman Hawkins’ original. But then the full ensemble plays a transcribed portion of Hawk’s classic, so everybody had Hawk on mind that day. Nice! Again, not a clue who’s playing here. A few years ago, Bob Wilber did a Hawkins tribute, which I will not pull out to check (that would be cheating!).
3. Again, I don’t know who this is, but in part I am reminded of some nice sessions that Zoot Sims did with guitarists Joe Pass & Bucky Pizzarelli.
4. “Au Privave”. This comes on very strident and brassy. Generally not impressed with this kind of bebop workout. Some musicians think if you play real fast, then that’s the spirit of bebop. I disagree – there’s way more to it than that. Thumbs down on the trombone player – lousy sound, no ideas.
5. Sun Ra? I’m gonna guess the usual suspects. That would be Marshall Allen on alto, Ra on piano, who’s on violin, what’s on bass clarinet, John Gilmore on tenor.
6. A nice 1930’s track, the vocalist reveals that this is a European band. The real star is the trumpet player – very nice playing! Might this an American, Bill Coleman maybe, sitting in with a local band? The accordion is a little stiff, to say the least. Overall I like it, especially the trumpet.
7. I know I’ve heard this, the tune is “Reuben, Reuben”, and old kid’s song. Nice relaxed (c. 1950’s-60’s) modern swing. For some reason I wanna say Gene Roland, or possibly Johnny Richards? Excellent soprano solo.
8. “San Antonio Rose” My guess is that this is a few old timers at a festival. The Bob Wills hit is a western swing warhorse, I’m sure these guys have played it a million times. The piano sounds like one of those electric gizmos. Let’s see – Cliff Bruner or J.R. Chatwell on fiddle? A perfunctory performance, yet the large audience eats it up!
9. This was going along OK until the electric monster showed up. Bye!
10. I think I know this tune, can’t name it. Can’t name any of the players here. Maybe the tenor is Jerry Jerome?
11. Of course one thinks of Eric Dolphy, and this guy has got Dolphy down pretty good on this rendition of “’Round Midnight”. At first I assumed this to be Dolphy, but there are a couple of sonorities that the bass clarinetist hits that I’ve never heard from Dolphy (the first one is at 1:28), so I think that this may be somebody else.
12. A nice organ groove, my first thought upon hearing the two saxes playing the head was Roland Kirk, but once the soloing began I abandoned that idea. Odell Brown & the Organizers, maybe? Very nice, whoever it is!
13. Well, it’s not Charlie Byrd, and I don’t think it’s Bill Harris, so who’s left who plays this kind of guitar? Pierre Bensusan?
14. This starts with a very strong Ornette caste. I’m thinking Sonny Simmons (alto) and Prince Lasha (clarinet), although I can’t recall any unaccompanied duos they recorded. I enjoyed this, and I especially like the clarinet.
15. This did nothing for me, aimless, the sound of the piano (perhaps it’s the recording) is unpleasant.
16. A Sonny Rollins tune, I think. The alto sounds like Phil Woods. Spirited playing!
17. Very clever – they replicate the sound of a skipping record. Fun the first time, but ultimately a gimmick. Hard to pull off, though. Carla Bley did this on one of her early records.
Overall, an enjoyable set, Luca. Bravo!
(Edited for typos)
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