jeffcrom

Okay, time to sign up for January's Blindfold Test. Yes, there is a theme, and I hope it will be interesting - the first eleven tracks will be a stroll through the history of jazz: one recording from each decade from 1900 to 2010. (Since the first jazz recordings were arguably not made until 1917, the first couple of tracks could be considered pre-jazz.) Many (but not all) of these recordings will feature major figures and illustrate some major trend that was going on in jazz at the time. There will also be half a dozen or so "bonus tracks" that don't fit into the theme, but that I just find interesting. Everything will fit onto one CD. Don't worry if you don't feel you will be able to identify musicians/tracks from one era or another. Some of these recordings will probably be familiar to quite a few folks; others are so obscure that I don't really expect anyone to identify them - but that's not the point, anyway. I'm not out to "stump" anyone, and I don't want this BFT to turn into a guessing game. I want to present some good music that you may or not know, and I'm interested in your reactions. I'd love to get a good discussion going about the music. I'll offer the music three ways: a zipped download, straight MP3 downloads of each track from my website, or a physical CD. I'll send every participant the web addresses for the downloads; let me know if you want a CD. BFT #71 will begin on January 1 (or Jan. 2 if I don't have my act together), assuming that Durium has revealed his selections by that time. Looking forward to sharing some cool music with you.

Sounds fabulous. Knock 'em dead, Joel.

Peter Ind - Looking Out (Wave LP 1).

Just spun a 78 - Exclusive 110: "Blues at Dawn," parts 1 & 2 by Edgar Hayes and His Stardusters. It's a nice, hot medium-slow R & B-flavored blues, recorded around 1949 in LA. Lord's discography gives the personnel as: Edgar Hayes (p) Teddy Bunn (g) Curtis Counce (b) Bryant Allen (d) but there's a strong tenor saxist on both sides. Does anybody know who it is?

Gary Peacock - December Poems (ECM)

After listening to all four sides, I've got to say that I'm thrilled to have found this. It's an amazing performance by a group that, on paper, doesn't look like Cecil's best Unit. But they inhabit Taylor's world thoroughly - much more than on Live in Bologna from the same tour. And the vinyl contains the entire 90-minute performance, while the CD is edited down to 71 minutes. For years I've regretted choosing the CD of the Bologna concert over the double LP back in 1988, when I could have gotten either. But it was the 80s, and I was convinced of the superiority of CDs over vinyl. Blame it on my youth. Anyway, this is an outstanding album, in absolute mint condition.

Cecil Taylor Unit - Live in Vienna (Leo)

There's a used record store in the suburbs of Atlanta that usually seems to have mostly swing and traditional stuff in the jazz section. A friend stopped by there a couple of days ago and told me to get down there right away - he had seen a Steve Lacy album he wasn't familiar with. I stopped by today - it was The Kiss on the Japanese Lunatic label. Never expected to ever see this one, much less find a copy at a reasonable price. Also got a few more gems - Cecil Taylor Unit Live in Vienna on Leo, a Japanese Sheila Jordan, and a Peter Ind album on his Wave label. Even picked up a few 78s.

Sheila Jordan - Body and Soul (Japanese Sony). Gorgeous....

Gary Burton - Norwegian Wood (RCA Camden). A collection from Burton's 1961-66 RCA recordings, marketed to a general audience rather than to jazz fans. I bought this from the cut-out racks in December, 1978, and play it every December.

Funny you should say that. There are plenty of sloppy Fess tracks out there, but as I was listening yesterday, I was struck by how perfect every detail of the original "Tipitina" is. Every bass line, piano accent, vocal inflection (including all those nonsense syllables), and that amazing drum groove by Earl Palmer - just right. It's a perfect three minutes of music.

Gene Ammons/Sonny Stitt - You Talk That Talk! (Prestige). The 1971 edition of the duo, with a great soul jazz rhythm section - Leon Spencer, George Freeman, and Idris Muhammad.

Jimmy Giuffre - Ad Lib (Verve stereo)

Not that I'm attributing this to anything but coincidence, but I woke up this morning with an urge to hear Fess's Atlantic recordings.

All of the above! But two of my favorites haven't been mentioned: 1) The "Bird With the Herd" session - Bird sitting in with Woody Herman's band in 1951. Parker is not always at his best here, but I love hearing him learn the bridge of "Four Brothers" on the fly. He's totally lost on his first chorus, but gets more of the changes every time it comes around, until he's just wailing on it. 2) February 14, 1950, from Birdland - with Red Rodney, Al Haig, Tommy Potter, Roy Haynes, and J.J. Johnson. This session doesn't seem to be very well known, but Bird is stunning. I have a brutally edited EPM CD, but I think a more complete version has come out on Philology.

I'll eat a burger about once a month. Nothing fancy: lean ground beef (well done), lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and A1 steak sauce (no mustard or ketchup). I know that the "well-done" part is blasephy to some. The only time my late father-in-law was disappointed with me was when I ordered a steak well-done - in Nebraska!

The HRS set, which arrived yesterday. As some of you guys promised, the sound is much better than other issues of this material that I've heard. I'm looking forward to delving into some of the less familiar sessions.

After listening to all of George Baquet's few recordings recently, I started writing a post about him. It quickly got so long that I decided not to post it here for fear of trying the patience of the O board members. If anyone is interested, I put it on my blog - here. Baquet's playing is an interesting glimpse into the beginnings of jazz.

On my way home from work yesterday, I passed a guy that was selling firewood from his pickup truck. He had a sign that read, "Give her wood!"

Let me add my thanks for all your hard work on the board, Jim.

Very cool stuff.

One of my fellow 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra members will be missing our gig this weekend because he'll be in Berlin - his wife sings with the ASO Chorus. The ASO Chorus was developed into a force to be reckoned with by the great Robert Shaw, who may have been questionable as an orchestral conductor, but was a superb choral conductor. My favorite Robert Shaw quote, relayed to me after his death by an ASO Chorus member: "Tenors, you're so close to B flat that you might as well go ahead and sing it!"

A favourite of mine and a significant influence on my listening. And isn't it interesting to hear Bill Dixon play "tunes?"

Willie Bryant and Jimmie Lunceford and Their Orchestra (RCA Bluebird twofer). The Willie Bryant stuff - nice!

American Music seems to have died along with Bunk Johnson in the late 40s. But Atlantic and Good Time Jazz continued to make traditional recordings in the 50s (Paul Barbarin, Wilbur DeParis, Kid Ory, etc.) Storyville was also very active in the 50s, recording both US and European traditional bands. Joe Mares' Southland label was very active in New Orleans in the 50s. This was not always a good thing - the quality of their output varied a lot. But the best stuff was excellent, and a lot of it is coming out on American Music, since George Buck owns the Southland catalog now. Check out the underrated clarinetist Raymond Burke for an example of the good stuff.