My compliments on the pacing/mood of this BFT. You seem to have put a good bit of thought into how the selections flow, and the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
1 – Tenor player plays well enough and the composition is good. Don’t particularly care for the singer, and not something I’d be drawn to. Something I could see Archie Shepp or David Murray doing. But tenor doesn’t really sound like either of them to me.
2 – Expertly played, though not of great interest to me.
3 – Pleasant interlude.
4 – “Lazy Afternoon”, one of my favorite tunes. This version is from Pete La Roca’s Blue Note album, ‘Basra’. Joe Henderson, Steve Kuhn, Steve Swallow.
5 – The first one I love on this BFT. Beautiful stuff, especially the pianist. Sure hope I already own this!
edit: hooray, I do own it!
6 – Nice in and of itself, and makes a lovely trilogy with the previous two cuts.
7 – Pleasant enough, did not lift itself above background music for me.
8 – “Baltimore Oriole” by Sheila Jordan from her Blue Note ‘Portrait of Sheila’ album. Very very nice.
9 – “Sunny” from someone who has their Wes Montgomery clothes on. Later than Wes (note the Rhodes), and not George Benson or Grant Green. Certainly enjoyed this one. Guy’s all over the guitar, and the Rhodes player is also fine. Could be someone like Phil Upchurch? Well worth looking into, whoever it is.
And own this! Should have thought of him! Got to meet the pianist 25 years later, quite a journey and very humble and kind man.
10 – Fun piece, quite the frantic pace. Give the drummer some. I could live without the tenor solo.
11 – A Dan Gould special. Very fleet and the combo is tight.
12 – This one is more boppish, #11 more soul-jazzish, and the rhythm section is more basic on this one, though fine.
13 - Yet another different approach to the piano trio, more free. The opposite of a tight rhythm section, feels, like they are each just doing their own thing.
Love some of the cuts, found all interesting, and greatly look forward to the reveals on 5 and 9, thanks!