Hot Ptah

Great. I will send you a Private Message.

We have had some excellent Blindfold Tests this year. We have no one to present a Blindfold Test in May. If you would like to present a Blindfold Test, we will help you with every step of the process. I hope someone decides to do it!

Great BFT! Very enjoyable. I am still trying to guess the musicians. I am pretty sure that I do not have any of these songs in my collection. I have been wrong about that before. i just love Track 2. If that comes from an album which can be purchased, I am going to have to get it. Track 8 is “I Wish” by Stevie Wonder but I don’t know who is playing it. Back for another listen!

I love the instrumentals on Side 1. Now that I socialize with a large group of Mexican Americans, many who are fluent in Spanish, I hope to find out what is being said in Spanish at the end of "W.P.L.J." I have hesitated to ask any of my new friends in case Frank slipped some highly offensive stuff in there. Oh no, you wouldn't have done that, would you Frank?

I am glad that you think so.

"Aybee Sea" follows "Holiday in Berlin Full Blown" on Side 1 of the LP edition of "Burnt Weeny Sandwich." "Aybee Sea" is the last 2:46 of Side 1, and consists of a solo piano piece, rather lyrical. (It only took me about 25 years after I first owned the album to realize that "Aybee Sea" is ABC). It is not the same piano section which appears at the end of this earlier live recording of "Shortly" a/k/a "Holiday in Berlin Full Blown". Zappa appears to have discarded the end section of "Shortly" before recording "Burnt Weeny Sandwich." I did not know whether Nubya, Binker, Shabaka, Makaya and Yazz were men or women, until I Googled them and saw their photos.

This Blindfold Test is taken from 2017-2018 new releases, except for tracks 1 and 10. Only Tracks 1 and 10 are not from the past two years. Tracks 3 through 7 are samples of the current London jazz scene. In addition, the saxophonist on Track 8 is a leader in the current London jazz scene (although the leader on Track 8 is from Chicago). https://www.mixcloud.com/perfectvibe/the-london-jazz-scene-vol-1/ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/08/british-jazz-invasion-moses-boyd-matthew-halsall-nubya-garcia Sun Ra—“That’s How I Feel,” from Lanquidity, (1978, Philly Jazz) Composed and Arranged by Sun Ra. Sun Ra—Keyboards Eddie Gale—Trumpet Michael Ray—Trumpet John Gilmore—Tenor Saxophone Marshall Allen—Alto Saxophone, Oboe, Flute James Jacson—Bassoon, Oboe, Flute Elo Omoe—Bass Clarinet, Flute Danny Thompson—Baritone Saxophone, Flute Julian Pressley—Baritone Saxophone Dale Williams—Guitar Disco Kid (Slo Johnson)—Guitar Richard Williams—Bass Luqman Ali—Percussion Michael Anderson--Percussion Artaukatune (Stanley Morgan)—Congas, Tympani J.D. Allen—“Stranger in Paradise”, from Love Stone (2018, Savant) Composed by Robert Wright and George Forrest. J.D. Allen---Tenor Saxophone Liberty Ellman—Guitar Gregg August—Bass Rudy Royston—Drums 3. Maisha—“Kaa”, from There Is a Place (2018, Brownswood Recordings) Produced by Jake Long Nubya Garcia—Tenor Saxophone, Flute Shirley Tetteh—Guitar Amane Suganami—Piano, Organ Twm Dylan—Bass Jake Long—Drums Tim Doyle—Percussion Yahael Camara-Onono—Percussion Axel Kaner-Lindstrom—Trumpet Maria Zofia Osuchowska—Harp Barbara Bartz—Violin Johanna Burnheart—Violin Madi Aafke Luimstra—Viola Tom Oldfield—Cello Here is a photo of Nubya Garcia. She is a tenor saxophonist on Tracks 3, 4 and 5. https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1600/1*O15jXKJGlDjsTLRyziLYYw.jpeg 4. Ezra Collective—“Juan Pablo”, from Juan Pablo the Philosopher, (2017, Enter the Jungle Records) Nubya Garcia—Tenor Saxophone (guest artist) James Mollison—Tenor Saxophone Dylan Jones—Trumpet Theon Cross—Tuba (guest artist) Joe Armon-Jones—Piano, Keyboards T.J. Koleoso-Bass Fermi Koleoso—Drums Here is a photo of Ezra Collective; Here is an article on Ezra Collective: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/19/arts/music/ezra-collective-london-jazz-steam-down.html 5. Nubya Garcia—“Red Sun”, from Nubya’s 5ive, (2017, Jazz Re:freshed) Composed by Nubya Garcia. Nubya Garcia—Tenor Saxophone Joe Armon-Jones—Piano Daniel Casimir—Bass Moses Boyd—Drums Another photo of Nubya Garcia: 6. Binker and Moses—“The Departure”, from Journey to the Mountain of Forever, (2017, Gearbox Records) Composed by Binker Golding and Moses Boyd. Binker Golding—Tenor Saxophone Moses Boyd—Drums Here is a photo of Binker and Moses. Moses Boyd is the drummer on Tracks 5 and 6 of this Blindfold Test. 7. Yazz Ahmed—“Jamil Jamal”, from La Saboteuse (2017, Naim Records) Composed by Yazz Ahmed. Yazz Ahmed—Trumpet Shabaka Hutchings—Bass Clarinet Naadia Sheriff—Keyboards Samuel Hallkvist—Guitar Dudley Phillips—Bass Martin France—Drums Corrina Silvester—Percussion Here is a photo of Yazz Ahmed: Here is an article about Yazz Ahmed, in which she states that Kenny Wheeler is her favorite trumpet player. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/27/women-are-more-interested-in-collaborating-than-showing-off-jazz-trumpeter-yazz-ahmed 8. Makaya McCraven—“Prosperity’s Fear”, from Universal Beings (2018, International Anthem Recording Company) This track was recorded at Co-Prosperity Sphere, Bridgeport, Chicago, Illinois, on September 2, 2017 Shabaka Hutchings—Tenor Saxophone Tomeka Reid—Cello Junius Paul—Bass, Percussion Makaya McCraven—Drums Here is a photo of Shabaka Hutchings, who plays tenor saxophone on Track 8 and bass clarinet on Track 7. http://downbeat.com/images/news/_full/Shabaka_MaaritKyto%CC%88harju_WEB.jpg Here is a photo of Makaya McCraven. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i6-SwIM7UEc/maxresdefault.jpg 9. Kamasi Washington—“Ooh Child”, from Heaven and Earth (2018, Young Turks). This track is from Disc 3 of this album, titled The Choice. Composed by Stan Vincent. Matachi Nwosu—Vocals Steven Wayne--Vocals Kamasi Washington—Tenor Saxophone Ryan Porter--Trombone Cameron Graves—Piano Brandon Coleman—Keyboards, Organ Miles Mosley—Bass Ronald Bruner, Jr.—Drums Tony Austin—Percussion 10. Frank Zappa—“Shortly: Suite Exists of Holiday in Berlin Full Blown,” from Road Tapes, Venue #1 (2012, Vaulternative Records) Recorded at Kerrisdale Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, August 25, 1968. Composed by Frank Zappa. Frank Zappa—Guitar Don Preston—Keyboards Ian Underwood—Keyboards, Woodwinds Bunk Gardner—Woodwinds Motorhead Sherwood—Baritone sax, Tambourine Roy Estrada—Bass Jimmy Carl Black—Drums Art Tripp III—Drums, Percussion This composition later appeared in a significantly different version on Zappa’s album Burnt Weeny Sandwich, which was released on February 9, 1970. That is interesting to me because before the group performs this song on Road Tapes, Venue #1, on August 25, 1968, Frank Zappa says: “We’re going to play for you a piece of music that will be on an album in November, called ‘No Commercial Potential.’ The name of this piece of music is ‘Shortly’, a little suite for electric combo, in several movements. You may count the movements if you wish. Do not clap between movements.” In fact, no album was released three months later, in November, 1968. Zappa never released an album titled “No Commercial Potential.” When this song was released in February, 1970, over a year after the date that Zappa said it would be released, it was not titled “Shortly” any more. It was titled “Holiday in Berlin Full Blown.”

Yes! You have identified it! "Lanquidity" is one of the more "inside" Sun Ra albums. I have always enjoyed the groove on this track. I like how Sun Ra's playing stays in character with the song. Sometimes on his more melodic pieces, he liked to throw in some dissonant, choppy piano playing, which was a little bit jarring. But not here.

No, I am not. I am glad that you enjoyed it!

I think that you will be surprised at who this is. The Herb Alpert comparison is really intriguing. That is an interesting reaction. I have the opposite reaction, that the strings (which are real by the way, or at least a group of string players are listed in the CD liner notes) and then the tenor entering is my favorite part of the track. The Reveal will be illuminating as to the player, if they are not identified before then.

You have correctly identified the track, the album and the artists! That is very interesting Jim. Some of the musicians play on more than one track with different groups and I arranged them so that all tracks with Musician A in different settings are back to back, all tracks with Musician B in different settings are back to back etc. If that resulted in the BFT sounding like a cohesive album, that is very cool to me! The last track is Zappa and I thought that fans of the first edition of the Mothers might find it intriguing, the way it compares to the officially released albums.

I can hear why you would say that, but it is not Bill Frisell.

I think that it could just as interesting to read our members' reactions and impressions of the music. It does not always have to be about identifying every track, I think.

It is Kamasi. John Felser has identified the album.

No wonder I could not identify many of these, Dan. It is great to be exposed to some wonderful new music, which you did here for me. I liked Track 13 a lot. I did not recognize Paul McKee. I have albums by Herb Geller but did not recognize his sound on Track 1. I should have. I am surprised that Ron Blake recorded "Mr. Magic." The other music I have heard with Ron Blake is not like this. This Blindfold Test is consistently strong and very enjoyable.

I encourage everyone to continue commenting on Dan Gould's superb BFT 178. On February 1, I will post the active link for BFT 179. It will be a ten song BFT, and has a theme of sorts. Here is the link: http://www.thomkeith.net/index.php/blindfold-tests/ I tested it on a neighbor, and the results were just as I had expected.

Dan, if at any time in the future, you ever change your mind about this being your last Blindfold Test, you are welcome back.

Very sad. A huge loss. One of the best performances I ever witnessed were the two sets of duets, Joseph Jarman and Don Moye, on Saturday afternoon of the 1979 Ann Arbor Jazz Festival.

I am really enjoying this Blindfold Test. It is sheer pleasure. I don't know very many of the musicians, but I think I may know a few. Track 4 is Jive Samba, and that is Wild Bill Davis on organ. I can pick out his distinctive sound and approach. I don't know the album. Track 10 is Ben Webster. It sounds like something from late in his career, perhaps recorded with a European trio. That is all I've got. I actually know Track 12. I am astonished that I know one. I bought a stack of 3 Sounds CDs at Brothers Music in Mission, Kansas, recently. When I saw them in the bin, I thought of you, Dan Gould, and decided to get them all. This song is from their Black Orchid album, and it is a Gene Harris composition, "Oh Well Oh Well". Track 11 is also :"Oh Well Oh Well." I have no idea who is playing it. I like the 3 Sounds version better.

That is an amazing story about Burnett Anderson! That is so interesting that you did not recognize your own playing at first.

That would be a great one! About two years ago I tried to find CD releases of the Ricky Ford albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s, and they do not exist! The albums are so strong, they deserve release.

Superb Blindfold Test, with just the right mixture of sheer immediate listening enjoyment, depth of interest, surprises, and Strata-East previously unknown to me. Your Blindfold Test has become a December treat tradition for me, and this may be the best one yet.

Jeff, Thom Keith is reuploading and says to try again.

Jeff. have you tried using Mozilla Firefox as your browser? I have found that Thom Keith's site does not play well on certain browsers, but Firefox seems to work well. . If not, I will contact Thom Keith and have him fix it pronto.

John, I will leave it open in case you change your mind over the course of the year.