Now here's the text file I wrote while listening to this very very interesting disc (thanks a lot, John, lots of new stuff again - if it continues like this, we will save the record industry!)
# 1: Nice overture for the test! The way the piece is composed, the fact that is has no solos makes me think it was for a motion picture, but I don't have too much film music. Trumpet sounds a little like K.D. to these ears. Would like to hear more of it, especially if it uses the flute and bass clarinet (?) that effectively.
# 2: I'm pretty sure this is from (AMG link), the brothers band. Have to get this before it's too late ....
# 3: Bingo! Now here is an exemplary tenor saxophone player (2 nd tenor solo) that I missed in the previous BT, and a very sharp baritone. Had this LP, still have to get the reissue, like it very much, but would have chosen a different track. Could say a lot about this and the bands of # 2 and 3, but I'll wait until later on. Can't wait to read Jsngry's comment on # 3 ...
# 4: I'm afraid this is the first of a series of European bands you either know or don't. Trombone reminds me of late 1960's Albert Mangelsdorff, but the saxists do not sound like those I heard play with him. I never bought any of his records because I lived near his hometown and could have seen him live every month. Trombone player is nice, but the others don't do too much for me, bassist sounds too much out of tune to me, drummer is uninspiring.
# 5: Very interesting, both saxists play with very much feeling in a personal style, but I have no idea who this is, like the rhythm better than on # 4.
# 6: My man ........ I liked the sound of an 1980's LP reissue of this session better, was not as bright and mellower in sound. *****
# 7: Oh, I'm too lazy to look up what Parker tune this is ... That trombone player sure swings. Was surprised when they did Monk's Straight No Chaser after his chorus. I'm sure I have something of this tenor player .... The drummer is great, he and the soloists interact a lot, and he has a lot of phrases to chose from, stirs it up from beginning to end. The high not trumpeter was a little sloppy. No idea what band this is, but I'd like to know. Interesting arrangement, but not quite top-notch IMHO.
John hates piano players! Haven't heard any so far ...
# 8: Don't like the bassist's intonation on that one, would have liked to hear the tenor elaborate some more, this leaves me a little dissatisfied.
# 9: Bassist uses some effect. There were many German band using rock or funk rhythms that way. It's nice the drummer sticks to the groove that much, but I've heard others play more interesting variations, he could have interacted more with the bassist. That sax player is nice, has heard his Steve Lacy - again I have no idea who this is.
# 10: I'm kind of prejudiced against that type of music, I probably heard too many groups like this when I started playing music, and their groove never convinced me like the black bands I knew. Can't stand that electric bass sound, slightly out of tune ... Singer is nice, has a good feeling for the beat, better than the horns. I've probably seen some of these live, especially the trumpet player sounds familiar. Now whoever shakes that tambourine, take it away, please! - I'm really prejudiced - use a sexy girl singer and some soul beat, to make the audience listen to the free jazz solos they'd rather play all the time. Don't want to completely diss this, but I never liked that type of thing.
# 11: Now that groove sounds more convincing to me, some weirdo tango. It has the humor I missed in the previous track. Now who's this.
Still no piano player!
# 12: Is that Benny Bailey on trumpet? If not, it is someone else I've heard often. The more I listen to this, the more it grows on me. Good soloists. Nice theme, a nice combination of bebop and more advanced stuff. Would like to hear more of this band.
# 13: The mood of this reminds me of "My People" on Stanley Cowell's Strata East LP, Regeneration. Now if they would only play in tune with each other in the theme. The flute player wails a little too much for me, the soprano cat gets the ideas across better for my taste. Like the Hadley Caliman track, Disc 2 # 1 in the 4th BT, this brings a standard tune to mind, can't recall the title right now, but goes off in a different direction. They could have done this more consequently, the flutist's toying around spoils it for me, otherwise the idea and mood of this is very nice. On the other hand, I like it is not as spacey as some ECM discs.
# 14: Don't ask me now for this! (Fantastic album by one the true originals of all of jazz, BTW!) *****
# 15: Lover Man. Very beautiful solo rendition, this is the high point of the disc for me. I bet I'll slap my forehead when I read who this is! This gets a special place in the hall of fame of unaccompanied sax solos. You couldn't have found a better closer! *****
(Sorry that's it's over - where's the 2nd CD? )