felser

BTW, the other singer/Songwriter in Circus Maximus was Jerry Jeff Walker, so you had Noah Howard's pianist and Mr. Great Gonzos co-leading a group. Could only have happened in 1967! . Here was Circus Maximus's golden moment, an early FM rock turntable hit. You can hear the jazziness in this one.

BFT 189 Reveal Thanks to all who took the time to listen and comment. Here are the selections – hope there were some new discoveries or some nice reacquaintances. Very much a Philly-based sub-then, celebrating my listening roots, as the Visitors, Khan Jamal, and Catalyst were all active on the Philly scene in the early-mid 70’s. I saw the Visitors at the Main Point opening for Gil Scott-Heron, never got to see Catalyst or Jamal live, but was well aware of their music. 1 - Visitors – “In My Youth” from ‘In My Youth’, Muse Records 1973 Coltrane’s nephews Earl and Carl Grubbs on the saxes, Philly local luminary Sid Simmons on piano, a very young Stanley Clarke on bass. 2 - Bert Myrick – “Scorpio's Child” from ‘Live ‘n Well’, Strata Records, 1974. Recorded 1965. George Bohannon on trombone with an excellent solo. Detroit Legend and Strata Records label founder Kenny Cox played piano and composed the piece. 3 - Brian Auger & Trinity – “Pavane” from ‘Befour’ RCA Records 1970 Auger is a massive talent on keyboards. This is his take on a well-known classical piece. I was disappointed that there was no love for this track. I think it’s great. 4 - Grachan Moncur II – “One Morning I Waked Up Very Early” from the album of the same name, BYG Actuel 1970. Biggest surprise of the BFT was that no one identified this. Piano and vocal by Fernando Martins. 5 - Khan Jamal – “Bloom” from ‘The Traveller’ Steeplechase Records 1986. Impressive trio with Johnny Dyani and the unheralded Leroy Lowe. People liked this one, and I’m glad. 6 - Catalyst – “East” from ‘Catalyst’ Cobblestone Records 1972. Catalyst was a Philly group comprised of Odean Pope, Eddie Green, Tyrone Brown, and Sherman Ferguson. Pope and Brown went on to do excellent work with Max Roach a decade later. 7 - Eric Alexander – “Airegin” from ‘My Favorite Things’ Venus Records 2007 I love Eric Alexander’s playing. Sangrey doesn’t. We’ve well established that dynamic on various board discussions. Hazeltine/Webber/Farnsworth rhythm section (wish it had been Harold Mabern, but Hazeltine is solid). 8 - Maria Schneider – “Love Theme From Spartacus” from ‘Coming About’ ENJA records 1996 I love Schneider’s work across the board, believe she is the best out there at arranging large groups. Someone else will need to identify if it is Rich Perry or Rick Margitza taking the tenor solo on this. My wife and I Saw Schneider’s orchestra at the Philly Art Museum many years ago with several other Organissimo board members, and it was a beautiful and memorable concert. 9 - Art Blakey – “Moontrane” from ‘Rutgers University, NJ, April 15th 1969 ‘ Hi Hat Records 2015 I expected people to recognize the classic Shaw composition, but be stunned that the performance existed, and that’s how it worked out. Blakey on drums, Shaw on trumpet, my main man Carlos Garnet on tenor, George Cables on piano, and Scotty Holt on bass. Blakey had some amazing groups in the late 60’s and early 70’s who were never properly recorded, and we can be thankful that items like this are available. Billy Harper did a residency with Blakey during that period. A musical tragedy that there were no proper US-distributed albums between 1966’s ‘Buttercorn Lady’ (Keith Jarrett! Chuck Mangione!) and 1972’s ‘Childs Dance’. Same situation that hit with Max Roach through much of the 70’s when he had that great group with Harper, though at least that group was well-recorded by the Japanese.

"Renaissance Fair" is the most perfect 2 minutes of music I have ever heard.

Worth the purchase price?

Picked this up for $3 recently and really glad I did. She is Charlie Haden's daughter, and does the entire album acapella with overdubs of just her voice, incredible how she does things like guitar effects etc.

Helped define the era, as did the next two albums. BOTW helped define a different era.

Bill, I find that to be the best combination, where I hear new things that I really like. It is also economically the most perilous!

agree on both points.

Not Wes. Valentino Jazz Bazar is the name of the group. Not bad but sub-Wes and sub- any given Riverside house rhythm section (none of that is an insult, they'd be great to hear on a Saturday night).

Peets Dark Roast Holiday Blend coffee😊

I think it can get complicated separating the musician and the band. The Butterfield Blues Band most certainly were innovators. There is absolutely no precedent for "East-West". I don't know how credit should be allocated among Butterfield, Bloomfield, and Bishop, but the sum is astounding. And I consider Butterfield the musician to be the best (or at least my favorite) harmonica player. Certainly he built upon the innovations of Little Walter, but build he did, not just recycle. And his late-60's bands after Bloomfield (and then Bishop) left were a beautiful hybrid of styles which were his/their own, and could not at all be pegged as "Chicago Blues (nor can "East-West").

I agree with all of that, but am glad I have all four titles!

Great album. That one, Solid Air, and Inside Out was an incredible run, and Live at Leeds is up there.

Up for a last gasp before the year end reveal.

Overseas postage has pretty much killed that avenue for me also. Increases in those rates over past 5-10 years are astounding.

You started and ended in style!

Nice set. I also (even more) highly recommend this one, and the two sets complement each other beautifully:

Backed up by the fact that he never did release anything like this during his own lifetime, and it was not released until 25 years after his passing. This might be doable as a $50 release, but certainly not as a $100 release.

Great tune. The rest of the album doesn't hold up as well, but is very pleasant, IMO.

Great set, BTW.

You have got the magic touch!

Have a blessed Christmas!

MIne too.

Yes, outstanding box set.

Great album, as is the Vol. 2 that came out 40 years later.