Hot Ptah

1. That is a really beautiful, compelling recording of Solitude. I hear Abdullah Ibrahim’s personal touches in several places, his unique stylist devices. I am not familiar with him recording Solitude like this though. His album “Ode to Duke Elllington” sounds different than this. 2. I recognize Doc Cheatham’s singing. There is another trumpet player here. I have an album with Doc and Nicholas Payton which I have not played in years. It could be that. 3. The style reminds me of Archie Shepp but the sound and ideas don’t really sound like him. This is really good and I don’t think I have it. I want to find out who it is in the Reveal. 4. Single Petal of a Rose, a great Ellington composition, so beautiful. That is Ben Webster. I can’t remember which album this is from. 5. A hard bop/mainstream take on a Monk tune. It sounds like it was recorded after 1990. I think I have this but can’t place it. The trumpet player is extraordinary. 6. I caught Donna Lee being played at the end. I really like the drummer on this track, as the playing is imaginative while staying in the pocket. . I know I have heard the tenor sax player before but am not sure who he is. A really nice recording. i will post my impressions of the rest soon.

I know that vocalist because I saw him live and he sang during that live performance. It is Doc Cheatham.

I will buy the John Zorn. PM coming

I am one of the administrators of the Blindfold Test. We have a Blindfold Test ready to go for August but the presenter will be a new Organissimo.org member. He has turned in a new member request but is getting no response. is there a current prohibition against new members joining? Is the software for adding new members not working? Thanks moderators for considering this request.

In this photo of Archie Shepp, can anyone identify the bass player on the left? I am just curious.

I am divorced from a woman who initially liked jazz but came to hate the fact that I had a music collection. My new woman does not like jazz at all.

She absolutely hates all jazz with a passion. She can’t listen to three notes of any jazz. She has to leave the room or plead with me to turn it off immediately if we are in the car.

Here is the personnel: 1. Griot Galaxy – Kins – “Xy-moch” (1982, Black and White Records) Faruq A Bey--Composer, Tenor and Alto Saxophones; Anthony Holland--Alto and Soprano Saxophones; David McMurray--Flute, Alto and Soprano Saxophones; Jaribu Shahid--Bass; Tani Tabbal-Drums 2. Robin Kenyatta – Girl from Martinique – “Blues for Your Mama” (1970, ECM 1008), Robin Kenyatta--Composer, Flute, Alto Saxophone, Percussion; Wolfgang Dauner--Piano, Clavinet; Arild Andersen-Bass; Fred Braceful-Drums. 3. Elton Dean – Boundaries – “Fast News” (1980, Japo) Elton Dean--Composer, Alto Saxophone, Saxello; Mark Charig-Cornet; Keith Tippett--Piano, Marimba; Marcio Mattos-Bass; Louis Moholo-Drums. 4. John Abercrombie – Arcade – “Nightlake” (1979, ECM 1133) John Abercrombie--Composer, Guitar; Richard Beirach--Piano; George Mraz--Bass; Peter Donald-Drums. 5. Oliver Lake Big Band – Wheels – “Is It Real” (2013, Passin' Thru) Composer and Arranger--Oliver Lake; Alto Saxophones – Bruce Williams , Darius Jones, Oliver Lake; Tenor Saxophone--James Stewart, Mike Lee; Baritone Saxophone – Jason Marshall; Trumpets – Edward E.J. Allen, Freddie Hendrix, Nabate Isles, Waldron Ricks; Trombones – Aaron Johnson, Alfred Patterson, Stafford Hunter, Terry Greene; Piano – Marc Cary, Yoichi Uzeki; Bass--Robert Sabin; Drums – Chris Beck 6. Paul Motian – Tribute – “Victoria” (1975, ECM 1048) Carlos Ward--Alto Saxophone; Sam Brown--Acoustic and Electric Guitars; Paul Metzker--Electric Guitar; Charlie Haden--Bass; Paul Motian--Composer, Drums 7. Amina Claudine Myers – Sama Rou – “Call to Prayer” (2016, Amina C Records) Amina Claudine Myers-Piano, Vocals; I cannot find other credits. 8. Edward Vesala – Satu – “Ballade for San” (1977, ECM 1088) Edward Vesala - drums, composer Tomasz Stańko - trumpet Juhani Aaltonen - soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute Tomasz Szukalski - soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone Knut Riisnæs - flute, tenor saxophone Palle Mikkelborg - flugelhorn, trumpet Torbjørn Sunde - trombone Rolf Malm - bass clarinet Terje Rypdal - guitar Palle Danielsson - bass 9. Art Lande – Rubisa Patrol – “A Monk in His Simple Room” (1976, ECM 1081) Art Lande-Composer, Piano; Mark Isham- Trumpet, Flute, Soprano Saxophone; Bill Douglass--Bass, Flute; Glenn Cronkhite--Drums 10. Jan Garbarek – I Took Up the Runes – “I Took Up the Runes” (1990, ECM 1419) Jan Garbarek--Composer, Tenor Saxophone; Rainer Bruninghaus--Piano; Bugge Wesseltoft-Synthesizer; Eberhard Weber--Bass; Manu Kutche--Drums; Nana Vasconcelos--Percussion. 11. Arild Andersen – Sagn – “Lussi” (1991, ECM 1435) Arild Andersen--Composer, Bass; Bendik Hofseth--Tenor and Soprano Saxophones; Bugge Wesseltoft--Keyboards; Frode Alnaes--Guitar; Nana Vasconcelos--Percussion, Vocals; Kirsten Braten Berg-Vocals. 12. Charles Brackeen – Bannar – “Stone Blue” (1987, Silkheart) Charles Brackeen--Composer, Tenor Saxophone; Dennis Gonzalez--Trumpet; Malachi Favors--Bass; Alvin Fielder--Drums

Here is the personnel: 1. Griot Galaxy – Kins – “Xy-moch” (1982, Black and White Records) Faruq A Bey--Composer, Tenor and Alto Saxophones; Anthony Holland--Alto and Soprano Saxophones; David McMurray--Flute, Alto and Soprano Saxophones; Jaribu Shahid--Bass; Tani Tabbal-Drums 2. Robin Kenyatta – Girl from Martinique – “Blues for Your Mama” (1970, ECM 1008), Robin Kenyatta--Composer, Flute, Alto Saxophone, Percussion; Wolfgang Dauner--Piano, Clavinet; Arild Andersen-Bass; Fred Braceful-Drums. 3. Elton Dean – Boundaries – “Fast News” (1980, Japo) Elton Dean--Composer, Alto Saxophone, Saxello; Mark Charig-Cornet; Keith Tippett--Piano, Marimba; Marcio Mattos-Bass; Louis Moholo-Drums. 4. John Abercrombie – Arcade – “Nightlake” (1979, ECM 1133) John Abercrombie--Composer, Guitar; Richard Beirach--Piano; George Mraz--Bass; Peter Donald-Drums. 5. Oliver Lake Big Band – Wheels – “Is It Real” (2013, Passin' Thru) Composer and Arranger--Oliver Lake; Alto Saxophones – Bruce Williams , Darius Jones, Oliver Lake; Tenor Saxophone--James Stewart, Mike Lee; Baritone Saxophone – Jason Marshall; Trumpets – Edward E.J. Allen, Freddie Hendrix, Nabate Isles, Waldron Ricks; Trombones – Aaron Johnson, Alfred Patterson, Stafford Hunter, Terry Greene; Piano – Marc Cary, Yoichi Uzeki; Bass--Robert Sabin; Drums – Chris Beck 6. Paul Motian – Tribute – “Victoria” (1975, ECM 1048) Carlos Ward--Alto Saxophone; Sam Brown--Acoustic and Electric Guitars; Paul Metzker--Electric Guitar; Charlie Haden--Bass; Paul Motian--Composer, Drums 7. Amina Claudine Myers – Sama Rou – “Call to Prayer” (2016, Amina C Records) Amina Claudine Myers-Piano, Vocals; I cannot find other credits. 8. Edward Vesala – Satu – “Ballade for San” (1977, ECM 1088) Edward Vesala - drums, composer Tomasz Stańko - trumpet Juhani Aaltonen - soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute Tomasz Szukalski - soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone Knut Riisnæs - flute, tenor saxophone Palle Mikkelborg - flugelhorn, trumpet Torbjørn Sunde - trombone Rolf Malm - bass clarinet Terje Rypdal - guitar Palle Danielsson - bass 9. Art Lande – Rubisa Patrol – “A Monk in His Simple Room” (1976, ECM 1081) Art Lande-Composer, Piano; Mark Isham--Flute, Soprano Saxophone, Trumpet; Bill Douglass--Bass, Flute; Glenn Cronkhite--Drums 10. Jan Garbarek – I Took Up the Runes – “I Took Up the Runes” (1990, ECM 1419) Jan Garbarek--Composer, Tenor Saxophone; Rainer Bruninghaus--Piano; Bugge Wesseltoft-Synthesizer; Eberhard Weber--Bass; Manu Kutche--Drums; Nana Vasconcelos--Percussion. 11. Arild Andersen – Sagn – “Lussi” (1991, ECM 1435) Arild Andersen--Composer, Bass; Bendik Hofseth--Tenor and Soprano Saxophones; Bugge Wesseltoft--Keyboards; Frode Alnaes--Guitar; Nana Vasconcelos--Percussion, Vocals; Kirsten Braten Berg-Vocals. 12. Charles Brackeen – Bannar – “Stone Blue” (1987, Silkheart) Charles Brackeen--Composer, Tenor Saxophone; Dennis Gonzalez--Trumpet; Malachi Favors--Bass; Alvin Fielder--Drums.

I really like this BFT. Most of it is right up my alley. Many of the drummers on this BFT, if not influenced directly by Elvin Jones, would not play the way that they do except that they have heard Elvin Jones. 1. This Is Charles Mingus' composition "Weird Nightmare," which I know from his "Mingus Revisited" album. The singer sounds like an instrumentalist taking a turn with a rare vocal. He is not really a polished singer. Maybe he is the bandleader. Still, his vocal is moving. I like the trombone solo. I am not familiar with a large ensemble which has ever recorded something like this. At least not that I can remember. 2. I really like the arrangement and instruments used here. It is not the usual mainstream approach. Is that a xylophone (instead of a marimba or vibes)? That is really interesting to me toward the end when the entire ensemble comes in and gets louder. This reminds me of post-2000 local Chicago bands. 3. Whoever this is, I like it! I like the groove and the saxophone player's tone and approach. I have no idea who it is. I am looking forward to the Reveal on this one. 4. "Little Melonae". Miles' version always comes to my mind when I hear this composition. I had an LP, "Basic Miles," with a nice version of it. I don't know who this is. I like the rougher approach of the group and especially the saxophonist--not so polished like some jazz recordings. 5. Now that is a unique take on "Lush Life." I have no idea who it is, but this is very appealing to me. 6. Ah, this was on a Blindfold Test by my old friend Cardinal Jazz Fan. I remember because he asked me before he finalized his test if it would be too familiar to everyone. Looking back it was on BFT 163. It is "Hello Little Girl," the closing track from Duke Ellington's "Jazz Party" album, with Jimmy Jones on piano, Dizzy Gillespie on the trumpet solo, and Jimmy Rushing on vocals. The liner notes to the LP state that this was a totally unplanned jam which developed spontaneously in the studio. I have played this track over 200 times in my life, easily. It was a real favorite of mine in my first burst of jazz enthusiasm in the 1970s and I have always enjoyed it a lot. 7. "My Old Flame." That is some excellent tenor sax playing, great tone and ideas. I don't know who it is. I want to know! 8. This sounds very much like the later Atlantic recordings of John Coltrane. They get the feeling of those recordings, not just the notes. I have no idea who it is, but I like this a lot and again, I want to know! 9. This is a great track. The drummer has heard a lot of Elvin Jones in his life, which is all good! The trumpet player is so compelling, so memorable. I want to get this album. I am pretty sure I don't have it! 10. I love this but have no idea who it is. Great feeling and approach, just the kind of music I like. 11. That is George Adams from his "Sound Suggestions" album, one of my all time favorites, which I have played a great many times. That is Jack DeJohnette and Dave Holland, Richard Beirach, Kenny Wheeler and Heinz Sauer also on tenor saxophone. This was the first track on Side 2 of the LP I played over and over when this album was first released. Looking it up, that means the song title is "Stay Informed." Simply great. 12. I like this. It is almost too cheery, like it is insanely cheery. But the baritone sax player has a lot of soul to his approach. His gritty sound and style contrast nicely with the sugary sweet background. I used to guess Azar Lawrence every time there was a Coltrane influenced tenor saxophonist on a 1970s sounding album. Rarely was it actually Azar Lawrence. Now I guess Ronnie Cuber whenever I hear bluesy baritone sax with a lot of technique. It is often not Ronnie. But this could be him. Great BFT! I thoroughly enjoyed it!.

irwin Chusid emailed me that list this morning (July 5, 2020).

What Irwin Chusid has said to me is that after the Court ruled in favor of one of Sun Ra's sisters, the Sun Ra music legacy began to be run in a business-like fashion by a very responsible Sun Ra nephew. I think that it was all a lot more fast and loose before that.

The Sun Ra estate was the subject of litigation and a Judge ruled in favor of one of Sun Ra’s sisters. Her son is now in charge of Sun Ra’s musical legacy and recordings, and retained Irwin Chusid to administer Sun Ra, LLC. i wrote to Irwin Chusid and asked him which labels which have released Sun Ra’s albums were authorized or unauthorized to do so. Here is his reply: LEGIT (current) Enterplanetary Koncepts (our digital imprint) Cosmic Myth (our LP/CD imprint) Modern Harmonic (label partner/licensee) Strut (label partner/licensee) LEGIT RECENT Corbett vs. Dempsey (label partner/licensee) Roaratorio (label partner/licensee) Org (Lion/1201/Da reissues) Art Yard Norton LEGIT VINTAGE Evidence ESP-Disk (1960s–1970s only) Atavistic Black Saint Black Lion/1201/Da Improvising Artists Delmark Philly Jazz A&M Sweet Earth, Impulse, Blast First, Blue Thumb, Rounder, Y Records, Savoy, BYG-Actuel, Shandar, MPS, Motor, DIW, Inner City, Enja, Meltdown, Steeplechase. UNAUTHORIZED Transparency Leo Scorpio (bootleg Saturn replica LPs) ESP-Disk (2000s) Limitless Recordings Int'l (bootleg digital) Enlightenment Klimt Jean Dielman Cherry Red Cornbread Greyscale Poppydisc Charly

8. I really like this. The electric backgrounds are really interesting and add a welcome touch for me. I can't tell if they are guitar and keyboard produced sounds, or if some type of synthesizer was involved. I really like the saxophone player. I have never heard this before. It sounds like an ECM album. 9. The trumpet player sounds classically trained. I like his lovely playing. The pianist is very lyrical. This is a beautiful track. Once again I believe it is on ECM. 10. That has to be Jan Garbarek. I lost track of his recording career at some point. I really like this. Garbarek always has such a compelling tone. 11. This is one of my favorite tracks on the Blindfold Test. I love how the instruments fit together and are layered to create a beautiful and interesting sound. While sounding very different in approach and results, it reminds me of Frank Zappa's arranging idea on instrumentals such as "Twenty Small Cigars" and "Toads of the Short Forest." I have no idea who this is but will buy it as soon as I find out. 12. This is an outstanding track. The tenor saxophone player is a master. I love the drummer and the bass player. The bass player has a gorgeous tone, most evident in the solo. This is exciting and excellent. Another album I must buy. I listened to this Blindfold Test several times before commenting. Some of the songs developed more of an impact on me as I listened to them closely, and several times. I think that as many as seven tracks on this Blindfold Test may be taken from the ECM label. It reminds me of how I followed the label closely for the first few years of its existence, but then lost touch with many of its releases. I can tell that there are some very worthy ECM albums which I don't know about.

5. This must be from an ECM album. That is Charlie Haden on bass. I don’t recognize the saxophone player but like his playing. 6. The rousing big band sound is jarring after the last track, but in a good way. I do not recognize this. I wonder if this is the most inside track on an otherwise more avant garde album. It sounds like avant garde musicians playing inside. 7. That is really an unusual vocal at the beginning. The female gospel singing and the piano playing are beautiful and moving, and could reach a wide audience without the opening vocal. But I suspect that the leader of this session has no interest in reaching an audience of any significant size I will comment on the rest of the tracks later.

1. From the first moments of this track I thought maybe it was a Baby Dodds solo drum track. But when the electric bass came in I knew it wasn’t Baby Dodds. This is lovely. I don’t know who it is. Nice way to start a BFT, with this uplifting music. 2. I absolutely love this. I love the sound of the saxophone, the drumming, the groove. The piano solo explodes out of the speakers with brilliant playing. Is that an electric sax near the end? I am going to buy this. 3. I don’t know who this is. It reminds me of the feel of Old and New Dreams but it is not them. Very interesting and appealing track 4. That has to be John Abercrombie. It could be Richard Beirach on piano. This is really good. I am only super familiar with Abercrombie’s earlier recordings. I don’t know which album this is I will comment on the other tracks later.

Has there ever been such a major artist with such limited information published about years of his greatest recording sessions?

Sometimes it takes a little while for people to absorb the music and comment. i have found that comments tend to come in bunches suddenly.

The John French book is an easy, entertaining read.

Hey, I have the Stanley Cowell album and did not recognize him! I have never heard of the artists on Tracks 1 and 11--thanks for introducing me to them. I have often seen the albums by Sonny Simmons and Henry Grimes but never bought them. i will have to remedy that now. But the real "must get" album for me from this BFT is the Tomeka Reid! I have already ordered it. Thanks for a most enjoyable Blindfold Test.

Dennis Gonzalez is our presenter this month.

Moving on to the rest of the tracks: Track 7. This is lovely. I have no idea who it is. I am sure that I have never heard it before. Track 8. That is Carmen McRae singing. I am not familiar with the album. Track 9. This is a mature artist, with a lot of technique, but also compelling ideas, a personal sound, and depth to his or her playing. It sounds like the Maybeck piano series era, and since it is live, is it a Maybeck? I can't place who it is. It does not sound like John Hicks, George Cables, or Mulgrew Miller. This pianist is on their level though. Track 10. I do not know this album but I love it. I will have to buy it. I previously discussed the rest of the tracks. This is a very interesting Blindfold Test. Everything is excellent.

I love Track 14. I have this album, but could not remember who it was until the spoken introductions at the end. Back to the top: Track 1. I like this a lot. Appealing head, energetic solos. I think it is from after 1990. It could be a very recent release. Track 2. I have previously identified this as Richard Davis, from the Total Package album, with Ricky Ford. Track 3. The unmistakable sound of Tyrone Washington! Track 4. This is odd. This is an old song. I distinctly hear in my mind, a white blues band singing it, someone like Roomful of Blues or Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials. There is a long time blues/older R&B show on public radio in my city and it has been played on that show. I find this arrangement and performance to be a bit of a mess. The song is too slight for such an intense production, in my opinion. The white blues band performed it more as a novelty number. Track 5. That is Mary Halvorson on guitar. It has to be. She has a very distinct style and sound. I have not kept up with her entire recorded output. I like this track a lot. Very interesting composition and very well, and intensely played, by all. Track 6. A heavyweight alto sax player, influenced by Ornette. I can't place this. I have never heard it before, somehow. I like the drummer a lot too.

Track 11 sounds like James Carter to me. I am trying to remember an album featuring him which has a second saxophonist though. I love Track 12. I should know this but I do not. I probably have it in my collection, or albums featuring each musician here. Track 13 is a very unusual arrangement in which Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday" pokes through. I want to know what this is!!! I am skipping around this BFT and listening to different tracks repeatedly. I will have more comments in the days to come.