Big Al

Damn, beat me to the joke! Rock on!

PM sent with question about the Hamptons.

For the record, I do have the answers from Sidewinder, but I have not peeked at them, which oughta be pretty evident pretty quickly! Track 1 – Picking up right where the groove left off! What is that, trombone & tenor? Very cool! Love the acoustic guitar accompaniment. No clue, of course. Track 2 – Well, I guess this answers the question “How might it have sounded if ‘Peace Piece’ had been accompanied by bass & drums?” This is LOVELY! I love rubato drones like this! And it always seems to be on a BFT where tracks like this end up! Oh, there’s a sax on this as well? Even sweeter! As long as he doesn’t pull some kinda Dolphy shenanigans. Track 3 – More loveliness! IF this is Peter Leitch, and IF this is from Up Front, then I’m a bigger dumbass than I ever thought before. I should NEVER have gotten rid of that CD! Track 4 – Ahhhh, nice fat big band! (Yes, Al, that’s right: it IS a big band! What about it?) I don’t know. Just.... cool, y’know? A lot better than the stuff that passes for big band these days! Oh that is SO Freddie Hubbard! Or a reasonable facsimile. Even someone as musically dense as I can spot those licks a million miles away. Track 5 – No clue on the singer. Nice track, though. Track 6 – Ahhhhhh, drat. I have this somewhere and I am drawing a total blank and I’m gonna kick myself as soon as someone easily ID’s it. I have now reached the point in my music collection where I have more music than I remember. Oh, this one’s gonna sting. Track 7 – AAARRGGGGHHHH!!! I think I have this; that intro is WAY too familiar. Almost sounds like Urubu-era Jobim. Okay, no, I don’t have this. I would’ve remembered that piano trill. Sounds kinda Christmas-y! I likey! Ha! That almost sounded like a cross between “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night.” Don’t know if I’d call this jazz, but I’d sure call it lovely! Electric piano makes me think this is some kinda CTI/Deodato thing. Whoa, where did THIS come from? It’s started swinging something fierce! Now I’m convinced it’s a CTI thing, either a Deodato arrangement or a Sebesky arrangement. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it! Track 8 – Sounds like something off the Hutcherson Mosaic Select. If it is, then see the comment about track 3. If this isn’t from the Hutcherson Mosaic, then see the comment about track 3. No wait, I take it back: Charles Lloyd perhaps? From one of his recent ECM albums? Lovely, either way! Track 9 – Sounds like a bunch of young lions trying to emulate the Miles 60’s quintet. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, and this bunch sounds particularly inspired. Darned if I know who any of the players are, though. Maybe they got Smilin’ Billy to sit in on this session? That does sound like his brand of drummin’ joy! (Of course, if I’m wrong and this is actually from the Tony Williams Mosaic Select....) Track 10 – That riff just SCREAMS Horace Silver. I can’t tell if it’s him from the 70’s or someone doing a nice tribute to him. Track 11 – Oh this sounds SO like a Freddie Hubbard CTI deal. This is getting more and more embarrassing because I’m pretty sure I have this somewhere. Track 12 – First, let me admit my bias against the bass clarinet. I don’t like it. I don’t like its sound, its range, and the fact that too many players use that big range as an excuse to jump from low growls to high-end squeals over-and-over in a matter of seconds. That said, I actually skipped to the eight-minute mark where this song finally gets going. The ensemble is cool enough, at least they drown out the BC player well enough. Track 13 – Paging Mikeweil! Paging Mikeweil!!! Great ensembles, frenetic without being frantic! Terrific disc, Sidewinder. Every one of 'em a keeper (except 12). Can't wait to see the answers, I know I'm gonna kick myself on a lot of these!

You've been added! Good to see you posting again, and looking forward to next November!

Very cool on the Rare Grooves. Glad these are in there, as I ordered a copy of each!

As long as you're getting TRUE BLUE, get Freddie Hubbard's OPEN SESAME. It makes a perfect companion album.

I've never liked Mannheim Steamroller, but that dislike was elevated to outright hatred when my family and I went to look at Christmas lights with my cousin, who not only cranked up the a/c so that it was unbearable; not only subjected us to MS; but also turned the volume up to ear-shattering volumes. So there we had it: cold robotic "music" inside a cold robotic vehicle! Kenny G makes my blood boil every time I hear it anyway, but hearing his destruction of holiday songs--especially when trapped inside a Hallmark store--should be more than enough for a judge to be convinced that temporary insanity is the only defense for going on a destructive rampage that results in the mall sound-system being completely vaporized. No, this is more than music that merely blows: this is music that needs to be made illegal, much in the same way that smoking is illegal in some states because of the effects of second-hand smoke. Well, this is second-hand noise pollution. It is so evil that I'm afraid this shit could really drive someone right over the edge and cause a very bloody massacre. Really wanna cause a stink at Gitmo, or make the prisoners talk? Subject 'em to this shit. They'll rat out everyone INCLUDING Allah! This is music that gets played in hell, but even Beelzebub himself has to make sure not to venture too closely to that section of hell, for fear of causing irreparable damage to his central nervous system. Pass the Pepsi, aloc, spike it with rum and I'll join in the HUMBUG chorus!

Oh yeah! "Frank's Tune" is my favorite song from that set, but they're all tremendous. A picture of this album cover is next to the word UNDERRATED in the dictionary.

Terry Gibbs Quartet TAKE IT FROM ME (Impulse!) Found this at Antone's yesterday; I didn't even know this album existed! Gibbs in a pianoless quartet on Impulse! I love finding little surprises like this.

No kidding! Especially since you say track 8 is neither "Riot" nor "Sorcerer," and track 9 is not Ella or Sarah! PS: I got the answers. I haven't peeked, either!

That's just it, I can't rip to disc the files but I can listen to them on my mac. No ideas so far Drat! I didn't think about saving the ZIP file in a Mac-convertible format. Any hints or suggestions for/from the Mac-maniacs would be greatly appreciated!

For the record, Sidewinder has not sent me the answers. Not that it would help any, cuz I probably still wouldn’t have any clue what I’m talking about! Track 1 – This sounds like something that wouldn’t be out of place on a Gil Evans record. As soon as that big ol’ crescendo hit, my first thought was THIRD STREAM, whatever the hell that is. Track 2 – Well, this is starting to sound like a tribute to Gil Evans BFT! The drummer sounds like mid-60’s Jimmy Cobb. Wanna hear something silly? There’s a bit at about the 3-minute mark that reminds me of the crashing-crescendo ending of Andy Williams “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” You know, right before the big “OF THE YEEEEARRRR?” That part. As you probably have figured out, I have no idea who this is. Track 3 – Sounds like Art Pepper playing tenor. Nice rhythm section. Times like this make me ashamed I don’t own such obvious classics as Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section. I’m pretty sure this isn’t from that album, but this track reminds me I oughta get that at some point before I die. However, if this is from Gettin’ Together, I’m gonna kick myself for not listening to that as much as I should have. Then again, if I’m completely off and it ISN’T Art Pepper, then.... well, what else is new? Track 4 – HA! Sounds like Jack Bruce parodying his own “Sunshine of Your Love” riff! Seriously, this has a nice little groove to start things with. No, wait, this has one HELLUVA groove all the way through!!! Love the guitar riffing! The organ is a dynamo! What is this? Brother Jack? Charlie Earland? Joey D? Jim Alfredson? As BFT Grand Poohbear, Sidewinder, I hereby COMMAND you to send me the answers NOW!!! Track 5 – Ahhhh, I love orchestral stuff like this! I’m pretty sure it ain’t Claus Ogerman, but it’s just as wonderful to these ears! Actually, this sounds like a tribute to Bill Evans via his orchestral album with Ogerman filtered through, once again, Gil Evans (I think at this point, I’m going to guess Gil Evans on every track, including track 4!). Oh heck, what is that song? “Valse” something-or-other? I recognized a bit in there that sounded like the same thing from the Evans album. Track 6 – Eric Dolphy with Gil Evans. And that’s as far as I’m gonna go because I can’t STAND squawking altos!!! I think that’s Tony Williams on drums, but that could be anybody just trying to be able to hear himself over the screeching alto! NEXT!!!! Track 7 – Ooooooh, VERY nice!!!! Love the guitar intro! In fact, I thought I might’ve had you, because at first I thought it was Johnny Smith from one of his trio records. I was all set to pounce and then the orchestra entered followed by the piano. This sounds like some kind of mid-60’s Verve session, and I’m gonna kick myself once I find out who the piano player is. The orchestral backing sounds like Johnny Pate with that two-note riff that always seems to pop on Verve albums from back then. Track 8 – Must resist urge to search Allmusic for different versions of “Sorcerer.” Well, I can safely eliminate the Miles version and the Herbie version. Of course, that leaves... what 500 other versions? Ah well, maybe I’ll be able to recognize some players. Drummer sounds like Elvin. That’s about it, unfortunately! Track 9 – Okay, this is THE definition of BALLS. Putting an Ella track on a BFT! How can you NOT get this one? Still, I’ve never heard this before and now I wanna hear the rest of the album from which this came. I hope finding that is as easy as it seems. Track 10 – Oh, this is so COOL!!! Jazz sitar! And that GROOVE!!! Sidewinder, repeat after me: “I will send the answers to Big Al NOW!” I have no clue who this is, and..... wait, what the hell is that? Scat singing??? I HATE scat singing! Oh... well, it was brief. Hope it doesn’t come back! Love the trumpet solo that follows! And that sax solo! AND THE GROOVE!!! This song is only eight minutes long? Oh this could go on for HOURS and I’d be a happy man! Ah, there’s that damn scat singer again. OH well, he’s only mildly annoying, thankfully he doesn’t outstay his welcome. I could get used to this. Track 11 – Man, you must dig these orchestral albums as much as I do! You seem to have found all the good ones! No clue, but I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say Percy Faith. Seriously. I know the guy’s cheesy & all, but the man knew his phrasing. Love it or hate it, y’gotta recognize he knew what he was doing and it wasn’t always schmaltz. Or maybe I’m wrong and maybe it was. I don’t’ know. I just like this track. WHERE’S THOSE ANSWERS, SIDEWINDER???? Track 12 – Ha! Nice tribute to Trane’s version of “Body and Soul.” I dig the way the small group is arranged so that it sounds orchestral. If I didn’t know any better (and I usually don’t), I’d say this was a Jimmy Heath arrangement because it sounds like some kind of scoring for French horn and muted trumpet, something he was always good at. For all I know, that’s him playing tenor as well. Track 13 – This one isn’t making much of an impression, but that’s not to say it’s a bad track. Guitar sounds like Metheny. DeJohnette on drums, perhaps? Track 14 – Dude, WTFFF???? Monk on amphetamines??? I LOVE IT!!!! Helluva way to finish a BFT disc! What a disc! What a treat! With the exception of track 6, not a bad one in the bunch! Will have my notes for disc 2 posted (hopefully) before the weekend is out. Great job, sidewinder! :tup

It's simply called THE VENTURES CHRISTMAS ALBUM and it is one of my all-time favorites!

Shit, man, don't encourage them!

MWTGA's post in the "Christmas Music That Blows" thread reminded me that it's time to make the annual announcement offering of this BFT. This year, the BFT can be downloaded. Plus, since I now have the ability to copy LPs to CD, the original version of "Snowfall" that I wanted to put on this BFT is part of the package, so you can compare/contrast with the George Shearing version. PM me if you would like the link. Happy listening!

I'm at work and if I turn this place upside-down, the ramifications are possibly apocalyptic (as is me actually doing any work around here, standing on my head or not)

What's the name of that one? I'd like to find it!

This board makes much more sense now that I'm standing on my head to read everything!

Neither of these have made my collection yet so now is probably the time if at all. I'm a Jackie fan, should I be without either of these? Both are very, very good. The first track on Jacknife is worth the price of admission as well as the final track on Right Now! Sad to see these go OOP (Right Now! again). Word-for-word what the Holy one sez. I would also add that "Poor Eric" is mesmerizing like few pieces of music are; the way the bass and the alto play the melody line is heart-breaking. Besides, if you ever need a reason to justify a purchase, always remember that one can never have too much McLean. (Well, except for 'BOUT SOUL. I'm in agreement with Ubu on this one!)

Prefer all you want , but unless you're prepared to argue for the assumptions underlying that preference , don't think for a second that such a preference is morally privileged simply in virtue of whatever emotional appeal it may have . The umbrage you ostensibly take with this constituent’s disputation is eclipsed by the excessively complex nature of your composed rejoinder. I nominate this as THE post of the year.

Yes, don't hesitate to get it. Terrific swing and spirituals, sometimes within the same song!

Groovy! That actually works, now that I think about it, since Monday is the first of December.

Pretty sure LET 'EM ROLL was not a Rare Groove.

Mel Brown CHICKEN FAT I believe this is the first Impulse! LP i've bought, and watching that label spin around is very cool!

Speaking of that, is there going to be a separate discussion thread started? I can start it, but I think that's typically done by the creator of the BFT (sort of leaving your mark). I think Al said we were going to roll in early December so still a week away - its just that I'm a little ahead of schedule I guess ( ). If it's OK with everyone I'll kick things off this weekend though with a couple of discussion threads. Well, with the holiday weekend coming up, that gives everyone plenty of opportunity to get the CDs/downloads and get their listening done. Plus, by starting on December 1, it keeps us on pace so that there isn't a big lag between the last guess and the posting of the answers. Since this was the first BFT in a few months, I may have jumped the gun a little too early in having sidewinder get his discs out so soon. Next month, we can start the signup thread maybe a week or so into the month.