felser

Spectrum is a UK budget label in the Universal family. They have put out a lot of interesting Motown-related collections, as well as some interesting collections by some of the UK Beat groups who are obscure Stateside (for instance, the Merseybeats, who hit in the UK with the sublime "I Think of You"). No frills, no great shakes sound-wise, but low prices and legit.

ESP Sonny Simmons.

I actually got to this one quite early, but didn't finish until this morning. I need to retire so I can focus on BFTs. Think my wife will buy that argument? Given that it's 7:41 AM and she's working here at home on a Saturday, I think I'll maybe broach the subject another time. I haven't looked at the thread, yet -- I'll go do that now. Track 01 - Sounds like one of Mtume's bands. Ah, no, wait... it's Track 1 from this. The Blackfire catalog was sort of a discovery to me a few year's back. I still rank Doug Carn near the top of this sub genre, but really enjoyed the majority of it. What can I say? Part of my has always wanted a red-on-white-in-white Cadillac convertible. Good starter. You got it! And I know Stefan also has it ID'd, Knew that some people would get this. Track 02 - Not entirely certain what this is, but sounds like another of the Black consciousness era bands, which is to say, I love it. The tenor is a boss, bold, voice. Very post-Coltrane, but done right. I want this. No confidence in guesses, but something very familiar about that tenor. Almost said early Ari Brown, but doesn't quite have the "meanness" that I associate with AB. Not Ari Brown. This one may surprise some people. Track 03 - Something has me leaning towards Sonny Fortune, but I seem to like it more than I would if it were him. It's got that very hipnotic, LA 1970s feel (read; Tapscott). This is very nice. I could deal with a whole lot of this. Perhaps something by Adele Sebastian that I'm not familiar with? Not Fortune or Sebastian or Tapscott-related. Track 04 - All that was hitting about the last one seems less in attendance here. It sounds like it's *trying* to be like that music. The hyper-compressed drums are a big part of the issue. I assume this is the drummer's record. It's a modern, conservatory tenor. Has that accomplished sound that frustrates me because there is nothing individual about it. Even his Coltrane-isms are blatant thievery (the Like Sonny quote). Could be John Hicks on piano on an off day, but I don't think he had those... ever. This one just isn't resonating with me. Outside chance that the tenor is Eric Alexander, but to me, he doesn't have that beautiful tone EA gets. Not Hicks or Alexander. Not the drummer's records. The most interesting story in the whole BFT reveal will involve this one. Track 05 - Oh no you don't. That's MY song! Stanley Cowell's great tune Effi from this. Easily one of my all-time favorite recordings and a top five favorite song. Infinite thanks to Webbcity for introducing the chart to me. My only regret is that he ever wants to play any other tune. Simply awesome, and IMHO, THE standard for the Black consciousness sub genre within Jazz. I'm sensing a theme and I think I love it. Hey Tim! Jymmie Merritt is THE exception to my electric bass rule. #1 on my all-time most-played list and the recording I use to "introduce" people to jazz. Knew some would get it, but had to share it for those who don't know it, and as a statement. Track 06 - Great re-telling of Wayne Shorter's Infant Eyes. Beautifully done, by someone who can *really* sing! Although, as it goes on, she goes into a really wonky area... doesn't *quite* work, but still, some amazing vocal control when she sticks to this tough melody. Many may find the vocalist identity interesting. Track 07 - This reminds me a lot of a Sonny Rollins/Larry Coryell duet called The File, but it's not that. Unless my earbuds are failing me, this is a piano/drums duet. Somebody very much out of the McCoy Tyner school. Yes, piano/drums. That was a very big school 40 years ago. Track 08 - That's my guy Harold Vick with some insulting synth. Nonetheless, he is VICK! It's Track 5 from this. Not sure why she opted for that sound on this song, but even though it survives, it would be healthier without it. Vick was such a discovery for me when I got to him. He was that missing link between say, Hank Mobley, and all those post-Coltrane guys. I had him on a few records, but always as a section horn. I'm glad I finally got to him because I think he's an important voice in the timeline of the music. You got it. Have never seen this on CD, so wasn't sure how familiar people would be with it. Track 09 - Sounds like Woody Shaw, but given this is a BFT, I'll assume that's an act of subterfuge and guess that it's Terumasa Hino. That's certainly Sonny Fortune (or is it the Japanese equivalent?). Oddly, my favorite bassist is Cecil McBee, especially his sound. One of my least favorite bassists is Stafford James, ONLY because of his sound. Oddly, on BFTs, I frequently guess one for the other. This sounds like Stafford to me, which means it's probably Cecil. Not Shaw, Hino, James, or McBee. But that is Sonny Fortune. Some great stuff in here! My only sadness is that I already have so much of it. Thanks for the BFT! Thank you so much for your thoughts and encouragement!

I agree with the part about interpretations sounding "wrong". I tend to dread hearing Monk played by anyone but Monk. Even the "experts" at it, Lacy, Waldron, etc., have left me cold.

Much more interesting would have been a singles box from their Verve Forecast label.

Yes you do, great set. When I bought mine, $17,21 plus shipping on Amazon Marketplace.

About half are from the 70's. Some of the others are before, some are after. Glad you are enjoying it! I wanted to share stuff that has been meaningful to me for different reasons, which I'll make clear in the reveal, and to try to make a listening experience with a decent flow to it.

Glad you enjoyed it! I'll try to learn better what I'm doing with tags, etc. before I do another one of these - rookie mistake (Merkle, Fred, etc.).

Chris is fabulous but he sure ain't a new, young musician. Now we're on to really old guys, it's time Eric Alexander got a mention. I was just thinking that. You can assign your own value to "it", but nobody does "it" better than Alexander. Was blown away when I heard him at the Philly Art Museum a few years ago, and the guy even sounded great when I heard him warming up in an empty cafeteria there. I think of him as his generation's Dexter Gordon.

Well, that turned out to be the problem for Christopher Hollyday, didn't it? And he had McLean DOWN.

I also have never and never will pay for downloads. In order of frequency, I buy from Amazon, from board members here, occasionally from half.com or ebay for items where they beat Amazon marketplace prices or where Amazon doesn't list the item at all (happens much more than I would expect). Can't think of any sources other than those. I have no brick and mortars that I frequent at all. King of Prussia Mall has 400+ stores, none of which sell CD's or books.

Here's one I really like that has never made it to CD for some reason. Don't know why Fantasy never OJC-LE'd it. Includes Woody Shaw.

How about the Charles Tolliver All-Stars Paper Man album that had Gary Bartz, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Joe Chambers? That one has never seen CD reissue for some reason.

Sorry about some ID tags showing, they are a demonstration of my ignorance, I took off what I saw in Windows Media Player. Looking forward to your feedback on the music. I'm more into sharing some things I really like that you may not have heard as opposed to stumping the experts ( you guys tend to be awesome at identifying the material in these BFT's). Hope you enjoy some of the music on this one, and hear something new that you like.

One I've longed for on CD is Sonny Simmons - 'Rumasuma', originally on Contemporary. Don't think Concord's gonna put it out for me

Don't think so, they're "Complete Columbia Albums Collection".

But then they come back in print cheaply. See: Woody Shaw, Mahavishnu Orchestra.

CD and DL link have been sent. If anyone else wants to participate, please let me know!

Those Columbia boxes often do come down substantially in price, but it might take a year or two.

Here's what I have so far: CD Hot Ptah DL Magnificent Goldberg Bright Moments JSngry Hardbopjazz Thom Keith jeffcrom Big Al

Really wish they would include 'Reasons in Tonality', but I know getting the rights on much of that Strata-East material is problematic.

Funny, I have (now had) that Robert Stewart CD on my trade list, had dismissed it without ever making it to the track you included. Thanks! And I'm on the lookout for some Faruq Z. Bey now.

Okay, it's so late in the month, that I'll claim an ID on this, even though I "cheated" on my self-imposed BFT rules. It's this: Mr. Mangione's fourth album, I think, with the great Wynton Kelly on piano. I sure liked that track. And while researching it, I found that Mangione is the trumpet (or flugelhorn) player on the Byrds' "So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star" - a little blast from my own personal past. My understanding has always been that Hugh Masakela was the trumpet player on that one.

But the box, which is very low priced, virtually eliminates any market JLH would have for a single reissue of that title.