Big Al

Shocked at first, but then I realized how long he's been around. RIP fellow Texan, and thanks for all the wonderful music! (Recently, I was looking at the booklet that accompanies the Complete Norman Granz Jam Sessions box, and was looking at the roster of players, and who all was still around at the time the box was issued. Herbie was the last living player from those sessions.)

Al, I replied that the BFT was a lot of fun and that I could not identify a single song or artist. That is still where I am at. I have enjoyed your BFT a lot. Oops! Sorry about that! I misread it. Glad you enjoyed it, though!

Resurrecting a two-year-old topic because I saw this vinyl in Half Price Books today, but passed up on it so I could find out more info. After a number of Google searches, I did a search here and realize now that I should've started here. Oh well. I'd read about this album in the notes to the Buddy Rich Mosaic, and was curious..... I just hope it's still there when I go back tomorrow!

Answers coming this week! So far, the following tracks have been id'd: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 21, and 22 (1, 2, and 24 don't really count). Thanks to all who have guessed and made this BFT another ton o' fun! Still hoping to hear comments from the following folks: Thom Keith Bright Moments Bill Barton Hot Ptah Spontooneous Tom in RI Ghost of Miles mikeweil (even though I know he's swamped, as I'm sure a lot of folks are. But that still doesn't stop me from hopin'! )

PM sent, with a question

That is a correct statement.

Yes!

Of course I'm in! Listening to it right now, and I don't know about y'all but I am absolutely LOVING this so far! AFAIC, this continues the joyously whimsical spirit of BFT 73! Y'all are in for a treat!

My son also watched this season. I tried, but it was just awful. My son agreed, but he still watched and even took a very Sheldon Cooper approach to it: "I prefer to let Bill Lawrence disappoint me in the order in which he intended." As bad as everything was about this season, I think the most painful thing to watch was the transformation of Dr. Turk into basically a black JD, and then teaming him up with Dr. Cox. I hope these guys got highly compensated, because nobody should have to lose that much dignity without proper payment....

Yes oh YES! Which is why I can't wait to tell the story behind this one!

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!!!!! You may now play track 24 to celebrate your match! Outstanding stuff...going to pick this one up for sure! Good luck! I don't know that it's ever been available on CD domestically.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!!!!! You may now play track 24 to celebrate your match!

Idris Muhammad? I'm going to get this one DAMMIT...just tell me this for a start so I'll know if I'm heading down the right path, did I guess right about the vibes player - is it Eddie Costa? I picked this up right away, but thought it was obvious enough that it wasn't much of a pick up on my part, so didn't mention it. I didn't like it too much. 1. Yup! 2. Not Eddie Costa! 3.

1. Damn straight it is! 2. Oh yes I did! What’s gonna be fun is revealing how much “work” went into this track! 3. This is payback for that Frankly Hyphenated Lacy track on your BFT! 5. Oh, the joys of discovering a vinyl needle in a Half-Price haystack! 7. LP correctly identified, which means you won’t have any trouble discovering who’s pounding the skins! 8. “sanding down the floors” HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! 9. Circumstances dictated the purchase of this recording, which I no longer own BUT ONE OF THE PLAYERS DOES (if he ever decides to post his answers! ). Details come answer-time. 10. Correct-a-mundo, you’re welcome, and my pleasure! My thanks to whoever sold it to me, cuz I’d been searching for it for some time! 11. Geeeeeeezz!!! NOBODY likes this song! :blush2: 12. Y’know, I can completely see how you might come to the Big Country conclusion. I’ll upload the track again for you so you can hear just how much this ISN’T Big Country (also, as I’m sure you’ve surmised by all the other guesses, this is heavy-duty disco; is it possible that the skipping sound you hear is just the disco hi-hat?) 13. Really surprised no one’s gotten this yet. Sangrey’s come the closest. 14. “Makes Getz’ bossa stuff sound like Ayler.” HAHAHAHAHA again! Wait’ll you find out who the arranger is (assuming you’d care )! 15. BFT’s are SO much fun for fooling people, and this track is having EXACTLY the desired effect I was hoping for! 16. Well, to be fair, the song itself is bookended by the two funny bits; so what may have sounded like a cut-off might’ve been the actual end of the song, with the funny bit added afterwards. Let me know if it sounds wrong; I’ll be happy to upload this one again as well. 17. I’m gonna write these guys a thank-you note once this is all over. This is making me feel so much better about all you clowns nailing the Ventures track! Chas has come the closest, so far! 18. I’m gonna send all these complaints about the fade-out to the artist on this album so HE can answer, cuz I wanna know too!!! 19. Glad that folks are digging this one. Don’t know how much of a surprise it will be once revealed. I think I was hoping there’d be at least one person who would hear this and go, “OH WOW! I haven’t listened to this in AGES! It’s.....” 21. WAAAIIIIT a second!!! You mean you can assault us with that Billy Hart and His Cacophonic Cluster track from your BFT, but not be moved by the otherworldly shrieks of Dudu Pukwana???? Some people!!! 23. Cool story! Y’all are in for a surprise here! 24. Ain’t no keyboard. And I oughta know!!! Glad you enjoyed this, Tony, as it showed in your great guesses and fantastic comments!

Happy that I found the following this weekend: Waterloo Records in Austin: ROY & DIZ (Verve 2-LP reissue, $12) Weather Report LIVE IN TOKYO (Sony Japan, $15) Antone's, also in Austin: Tony Bennett with the Ralph Sharon Trio WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (3 bucks) Bastids Roy Eldridge DALE'S WAIL (Verve 2-LP reissue, $10 including shipping) Been kicking myself for the last five years for not getting DALE'S WAIL when I saw it for $7 at a Half-Price Books, back before I had a record player, and refusing to pay $25 to Forever Young. THIS is why I never buy vinyl from them! Been searching for WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW, and was surprised at how difficult this was to find. I only found out about the Roy & Diz LP recently, and my interest was especially piqued because of the two tracks on side 4 (which, IIRC, aren't available on CD or anywhere else for that matter). The Weather Report was just a VERY nice surprise that I wasn't about to pass up!!!

1. You, my friend, just nailed the inspiration for this track! 2. Thank you! Thank you! 3. Dizzy ‘tis. And I think you also nailed what could be the theme of the BFT. Or my life, take yer pick. 7. I don’t know why I’m surprised people are nailing this one. OH wait, I know: I was hoping to see if anyone would figure out the drummer! 10. Clark Terry ‘tis! 12. {{{sigh}}} I’m gonna go tell all my Ventures friends I know who bought all those copies of The Latin Album! 15. Well, there’s a reason you’ll find the piano player more interesting than the flute player! 16. Like I said to Sangrey, I learn all kindsa things by naively placing various tracks on a BFT (like, how many disco Ventures fans there are! ) I haven’t read the credits to this disc, and it looks like I need to. PRONTO! 17. If NOBODY gets this one, (mikeweil, don’t disappoint me, man!) I will feel like I’ve accomplished something in this life! 18. Joe ‘tis! Why the fadeout? I wish I knew! 20. Well, that’s the nicest thing anyone’s said about it so far! 21. Yes, it’s Hugh. (“Stop saying that. Make him stop saying that!” “Please, I am a doctor in musicology.” “Can you fix a hi-fi?” “No.” “Then shut up!”) 24. heh heh heh heh! Great guesses and comments, Jeff!

Dammit, if ONE MORE PLAYER guesses the Ventures track, I'm gonna.....

4. Pica Pau (Toninho Horta) – Toninho Horta, from the CD “Once I Loved” (Verve Japan, 1992). Toninho Horta, guitars; Gary Peacock, bass; Billy Higgins, drums. That was Billy Higgins??? MMMMMMM!!!!! I am ordering this CD today!!!! 6. Opus No. Zero (Toshiko Akiyoshi) – Toshiko Akiyoshi (1968), from the CD “At ‘Top Of The Gate’” (Takt Japan, 2000). Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Kenny Dorham, trumpet; Lew Tabackin, tenor sax; Ron Carter, bass; Mickey Roker, drums. Hey, I got Ron Carter correct! Kinda! I’ve never heard any Toshiko before this, and this was very nice! 8. Music Forever (Freddie Redd) – Howard McGhee (1960), from the CD “Music From The Connection” (Norma Japan, 1996). Howard McGhee, trumpet; Tina Brooks, tenor sax; Freddie Redd (credited as “I Ching”), piano; Milt Hinton, bass; Osie Johnson, drums. Of course! This is the SECOND time a Freddie Redd track has fooled me on a BFT! DAMM.... oh, let’s not do that again! 11. Yesterdays (Harbach and Kern) – Frank Ku-umba Lacy, from the CD “Tonal Weights And Blue Fire” (Tutu, 1990). Frank Ku-umba Lacy, trombone and vocals; Frank Lacy, Sr., guitar; Fred Hopkins, bass; Michael Carvin, drums. There are three things I’ve learned by listening to jazz: 1) Art Blakey improves EVERY date he’s on; 2) Nobody wails like Dale; and 3) Anyone with a hyphen in their name is guaranteed to make some kinda awful racket that will expose me for the boring old fuddy-duddy that I am! 13. You’re Everywhere (Barron-Long) – Hal McKusick Quartet, B-side of the single “Ambrose (Just Keep Walking)” (Glory, 1959). Personnel unknown other than Hal McKusick, alto sax. Some speculation that Milt Hinton is on bass. Yup! DEFINITELY going on the BoBFT!

2. Humpty Dumpty (Chick Corea) – Akio and Joe Henderson, from the CD “Humpty Dumpty”(BRC, 1991). Akio Sasajima, guitar; Joe Henderson, tenor sax; Renee Rosnes, piano; Kelly Sill, bass; Joel Spencer, drums. Three cheers and a tiger for me! I got Joe! Woo hoo!!! 3. Night and Day (Cole Porter) – Luis Bonfá, from the CD “Solo In Rio 1959” (Smithsonian Folkways, 2005). Wow, not even close. I woulda thought of 1000 guitarists before I’da thought of Bonfa! 4. The MVP (Tom McIntosh) – Tom McIntosh, from the CD “With Malice Toward None: The Music Of Tom McIntosh” (IPO, 2004). Tom McIntosh, trombone; Benny Golson, tenor sax; Jimmy Owens, trumpet; Stefon Harris, vibes; Bill Washer, guitar; Kenny Barron, piano; Richard Davis, bass; Ben Perowsky, drums. Y’know, I see this CD in the used bins all the time and always pass it up. Not any more! 5. Time Space Motion (Bill Baron) – Bill Barron (1989), from the CD “Higher Ground” (Joken, 1993). Bill Barron, tenor sax; Eddie Henderson, trumpet; Kenny Barron, piano; Rufus Reid, bass; Ben Riley, drums. Well, I don’t feel bad for confusing Eddie Henderson for Freddie Hubbard, but Ben Riley is the real surprise here! I mean, I like him & all, but he upped it a few notches on this one! 6. Toddler (Clare Fischer) – Clare Fischer (1962), from the CD “Mosaic Select 19: Pacific Jazz Piano Trios” (Mosaic Select, 2006). Originally released on the Pacific Jazz LP “First Time Out.” Clare Fischer, piano; Gary Peacock, bass; Gene Stone, drums. ALRIGHT, DAMMIT, NEW RULE: NO MORE USING TRACKS FROM RECENTLY OOP MOSAICS ON ANY MORE BFT'S!!!! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! 7. Skylark (Hoagy Carmichael) – Rusty Dedrick (1957), from “Salute To Bunny” (DCC Jazz, 1996). Rusty Dedrick, trumpet; John LaPorta, baritone sax; Jack Keller, piano; Wendell Marshall, bass; Clem de Rosa, drums. For $3, this might be worth tracking down! DAMMIT! (Oops, sorry, residual from the last track!) 9. Blues for Baby (Joe Thomas) – Joe Thomas (1958), from the CD “Mainstream” (Koch Jazz, 1999). Original issued on an Atlantic LP. Joe Thomas, trumpet; Johnny Letman, trumpet; Dickie Wells, trombone; Buddy Tate, tenor sax; Buster Bailey, clarinet; Herbie Nichols, piano; Everett Barksdale, guitar; Bill Pemberton, bass; Jimmy Crawford, drums. Herbie Nichols???? Whoa! Gonna be looking for this one! If nothing else, this track is definitely going on the always-expanding Best Of BFT CD! 10. Almost Like Being In Love (Lerner and Loewe) – Beverly Kenney (1955), from the CD “Beverly Kenny Sings For Johnny Smith” (Fresh Sound, 1989). Originally issued on a Roost LP. Beverly Kenney, vocals; Johnny Smith, guitar; Bob Pancoast, piano; Knobby Totah, bass; Moosie Alexander, drums. JOHNNY SMITH??? ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME???? I MISSED JOHNNY SMITH???? DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! 11. Eastern Vibrations – Hilton Ruiz, from the CD “El Camino” (Novus, 1988). Hilton Ruiz, piano; Lew Soloff, trumpet; Dick Griffin, trombone; Sam Rivers, soprano saxophone; Rodney Jones, guitar; Andy Gonzalez, bass; Steve Berrios, drums and guiro; Jerry Gonzalez, congas and percussion; Endel Dueno, timbales; Jose Alexis Diaz, percussion and congas. Well, I was right about the piano player being the leader, and I stand by what I say! The first five minutes were outta sight, the last ten went on forever and ever and ever and ever and ever etc etc ad nauseaum.... I think I’ll fade out the last ten minutes for inclusion on the Best of BFT! 12. Three Silver Quarters (Elmo Hope) – Bertha Hope, from the CD “Hope Is In The Air: The Music Of Elmo Hope” (Origin, 2004). Bertha Hope, piano; Don Sickler, flugelhorn. Mmmmm!!! Another one to look for and another addition to the BoB! Great job, DrJ. Another fine addition the to the Blindfold Test Canon! P.S. DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!

Fill us unknowing types in on the background! I'm not sure it's funny to anyone other than Ron and myself! I'm sure. It isn't. Several years ago, that CD was sent to me by mistake all the way from Germany in an order from Zweitausendeins, and they told me to go ahead and keep it. I Googled the guy, and found out that he's apparently referred to as "the German Bob Dylan," a fact that both Erik and I found to be quite amusing. I've actually never opened it, but that hasn't stopped it from being an endless source of entertainment for Erik and me. Now, aren't you sorry you asked? No!!!

Sorry, team not included. But it's conveniently located across the street from a Wal-Mart; perhaps they have teams for sale there....

You know, I spelled it that way to begin with & then saw it spelled the other way online and, not trusting my age and/or memory, went with "Pakwana", which now looks so obviously wrong I can't believe I would even consider it.... I'm in the market for swampland if anybody's got any for sale... I've got a stadium in like-new condition, only one owner, in the neighborhood, priced to sell. Let me know if you're interested!

Happy birthday, FFA!!!

TA-DAAHHH!!! And I'm pretty much the opposite in every way: I love this album, but could do without a lot of Pukwana's high-end shrieks (which, I will agree wholeheartedly, are a whole 'nuther animal to begin with), love Larry Willis, and while I also don't get Gomez, I think this album represents his finest work (including and especially his work with Bill Evans, which I've always found too busy and too virtuosic). Are we talking Xavier Cugat here? Yup!

Apparently, there's a lotta Lytle I need to find & check out!