Big Al

All US discs have been mailed! Let me know when they arrive!

Drat! I just got back from mailing everything out (BFT #21 and the above BFT #20). I've still got your address; I can mail one to you.

There ya go!

I hereby rechristen this CD as THE BIGGEST BEST BADDEST BIG BAND CD IN THE WORLD, PERIOD!!!! Gad, this was a blast to listen to from start to finish, and very much worth the wait!!! Now, even though I’ve looked at this thread previously, I don’t remember much, if anything, of what I’ve read. So with that in mind, here goes: 1. “In the Mood,” and a very hip swinging arrangement! No clue as to who it is, but I can’t wait to find out! 2. No clue, but carries the hip swingin’ forward from track one very nicely! Sounds like Jo Jones on drums, or someone trying to cop his “breathing” sound! 3. No clue. Still swingin’!!! 4. More good stuff! More cluelessness! I tell ya, I know next to nothing about pre-50’s jazz. Can ya tell I have a lot to learn? 5. Maybe track 7 from this album? I’ve not heard it, but I understand the sound on this album is pretty crappy. Nice playing by the alto player. I wonder if he ever became famous? :g 6. A very jaunty “Don’t Be That Way.” Sounds like Prez on tenor, maybe Buck Clayton on trumpet, but this doesn’t sound like a Basie group. Maybe it’s one of those offshoot Kansas City groups consisting of Basie personnel? 7. Teddy Wilson maybe? Who’s that playing the drums at 200 mph? 8. Some kinda Goodman quartet number. At first I thought it was from the wonderful collection called On the Air, 1937-38, but the guitar gave it away that it wasn’t. So I don’t know where this came from, but I wanna find out PRONTO!!! (Hey wait: I remember you guys talking about the Spirituals to Swing set prior to my post in this thread. If this track is anything like that box, I must get this thing now!!! Merry (early) Christmas to me & all that!) 9. More big band madness!!! Man, this BFT is gonna break me!!! Oh wait, is it from this album? 10. Sounds like Roy Eldridge in there, no clue beyond that! 11. Ah, knew this one immediately (A first!). I have it as track four from this wonderful CD, but I’m sure it’s available on other collections. I would think, anyway. I’m guessing Milan is trying to spotlight the singer with this track, but here’s a plug for the rest of the CD. It was one of the first jazz CDs I ever bought (way back in ’89), and I still enjoy it immensely. Hell, the title track alone was one of the songs that started me on my love affair with jazz! 12. OH LAWD I love this!!! Quickly, tell me who this is!!!! I hope there’s a link to this one, cuz I have NO CLUE as to who it is and must have it NOW!!! THIS is my kind of big band sound: punchy, brassy, loud, fast, & tight!!! Like a Basie band on a hot night! 13. No clue, once again. 14. Sounds like the riff from “One O’Clock Jump.” Who’s doing it is anybody’s guess (which will be far more educated than mine, Icantellyouthat!) 15. This sounds like a 45 of Bessie Smith being played at 33-1/3!!! No clue! (Although, this technique does make some otherwise horrible songs actually palatable. Case in point: my wife has the 45 of Melanie’s “Brand New Key,” which is awful at any speed (or on it, anyway). That 45 played at 33-1/3 actually adopts some kind of ersatz bluesy quality that Janis Joplin tried to exploit at normal speed (or with it, and even then it may not have been all that normal, cometothinkofit)). 16. No clue. I’m even more clueless when it comes to singers. 17. Jo Jones on drums again? Prez again? Now THIS sounds like the Basie Band! 18. I think I’m just gonna cover all my bases and guess Basie for everything from here/hear on out!!! It’s all so GOOD!!! 19. Some kind of Oscar Pettiford Big Band? No clue! 20. Basie!!! Just kidding, of course. No clue! 21. At first I thought it might be early Peggy Lee, then the piano kicked in. That HAS to be Teddy Wilson; and if it’s Teddy Wilson, then it must be Billie Holiday. 22. More Billie? More cluelessness! Maybe I should just get that Columbia box for Christmas as well! 23. No clue on the singer (who didn’t make much of an impression on me), but the piano player sure sounds like the Fatha! 24. Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band? Well this was a wildly enjoyable (and humbling) experience! These BFTs just keep getting better and better, and this disc is no exception! Great job, Milan!

Scott my man, you & I have very similar tastes in music. With that said, I strongly urge you to get the Silver first!!! The Hancock is good, make no mistake; however, it's probably his most avant-garde Blue Note, IMHO. And as a result, the least-played of his BNs around my house. I mean, eventually get the Hancock. But if I know you, you're gonna enjoy the Silver much more than the Hancock.

I should also add that if I haven't heard from you and you're not on the above list, you won't receive a BFT 20. I'm telling you: you do not want to miss out on this!

Alright gang! I've received the BFT #20 from the Righteous JSngry, spinning it now (and it is OH SO SWEET!!!), and bringing this thread up to say if you haven't received a BFT 20 and need a copy, let me know NOW!!! This (and BFT #21) is being mailed tomorrow (Wednesday). Don't miss out: ain't a bad track in the bunch, and I can't wait to post my usual cluelessly misguided guesses!

Happy Birthday, John!!!! Keep feudin' with Catesta; it's just like watching Jack Benny & Fred Allen!

Man, I am floored at how fast they got there! I guess I oughta send out the US discs now! Well, I hope you guys enjoy them all. I sure don’t expect to floor anyone with my choices; in fact, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if all the songs are identified during the discussion. So, I hope that the element of FUN is present during your listening!

That, and they've just about become the smooth-jazz capital of Dallas.

Sambuca's?

Amen brother!!!!

Not wishing to devert attention from Teddy, but if you have the latest Downbeat ( the 70th Aniversary issue..) how does the Ruby Braff article from1957.. sit with your comments above? I'll have to check that out & get back to ya!

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I can't believe there are people within the Cowboys ranks that are still talking playoffs after their embarrassing loss to the Saints... the FIRST TIME in Saints history that they won in Texas. Ugh!

Great idea for a thread, Milan! I was listening to PRES & TEDDY yesterday morning, and couldn't help but be fascinated by Teddy's playing behind Pres on "All of Me." It's as if he's playing a perfectly compatible solo as his accompaniment!!! I am so glad I was able to scoop up a Teddy Wilson Mosaic as it went OOP.

Wow! Quite some comments. I love Straight Life as much as any of his Blue Notes, but won't put down the Blue Notes at all. They are all valuable in one way or another. Although, I have to confess that Hub Cap did nothing for me. The lineup and the arrangements just weren't as happenin' as I thought they would be.

The Verve Prez box, of course - if you can get beyond your distaste for fancy packaging ... As well as ridiculously high prices!

...post here. If you've already signed up for BFT #21, then I already have your address and you don't need to re-send it to me. If you haven't signed up for BFT #21 (whatsamatta with ya?) then PLEASE send me your mailing address so's I can get a BFT 20 to you (and a #21, whether ya want one or not! ) Who I've heard from so far Bright Moments Brad Noj

You know it! I cheated and started reading some of the comments here, and I can't wait to hear this!!! So it's my pleasure to be able to help! Alright gang! Anyone in the US who hasn't received their disc yet, LET ME KNOW ASAP so's I can get 'em in the mail. Especially those of you who are participating in BFT #21!!! Y'all know the drill: PM or e-mail acrearick@hotmail.com. As soon as I get JSngry's disc, the Big Al Express will be off and running!

The Dana Owens Album - Queen Latifah Nurse - Sonic Youth SMiLE - Brian Wilson American Idiot - Green Day The last time I bought four new rock releases in one year, I was still in high school!

If someone can get a copy to me, I can mail it out with the BFT #21 discs, post haste! aL

I'd be there for this: