felser

RIP. My favorite work by her was on the Danny Kirwan-Bob Welch era Fleetwood Mac albums, 'Future Games' and 'Bare Trees'. Those are two perfect (pun intended) albums. Her songs on those albums had a haunting quality which fit with the Kirwan and Welch songs beautifully. Danny Kirwan at his best was an amazing talent, actually my favorite of all of the Fleetwood Mac contributors through the years (as much as I love Peter Green and Stevie Nicks).

Correct on Callier and Klemmer, and I love "Casa Forte" and a lot of those types of compositions (Milton Nascimento, etc.). Anyone listening close enough will have proof positive on Klemmer! Big Al! Correct on 2,4,5. 6 is obscure, but shouldn't be. But some of the musicians involved went on to very well-known things. 8 should be a nice surprise! 5's Christmas album is what we play when putting up our tree every year. I grew up with it, and it has become the musical embodiment of the holiday season for my family.

Yep. Big Al ID'd. 'Captain Marvel' is a great and important album. My favorite Getz and some of my favorite Corea.

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it - I am so happy to share these cuts. I like every one of them a lot, and I hope to get listeners here to have some cool discoveries and maybe rethink some of their presuppositions!

Yes. I love #1, it's a desert island song for me. I suspect many have never heard it, and wanted to share it. Many of the vocalists on this BFT should not be difficult to identify, but all should be interesting to discuss.

You're correct on #5. Wanted to present opportunity to reconsider it/him with fresh ears.

14 tracks ranging from late 50's to the 2000's. One cut from this century (and I predict it will be the only cut that everybody likes), 11 from 1968-1976. 79 minutes of music to alternately entertain, enlighten, or enrage you. I even include a Vietnam War era Christmas Carol! Only one of the cuts is particularly obscure, but several are hiding in plain sight. No Sonny Stitt, though I respect and enjoy his work. This ranges farther off-center in several directions. ID guesses are great, but responses/opinions are even better. Thanks for your interest and participation! http://thomkeith.net/index.php/blindfold-tests/

I have that Onaje Allan Gumbs solo CD, and concur that it is really good, as is that Ritual Trio with Pharoah Sanders (really, anything by The Ritual Trio is pretty awesome). I sure wish that Piano Choir recording was commercially available.

Spectacular, and amazing sound quality. I sprung for the 4-CD set.

I'd buy them!

As good as it gets for Disco. Real musicians laying down real grooves, incredible stuff that has held up beautifully:

The five I got from Unlqlo have held up really well also. Andrew Hill Judgement is my favorite, Eric Dolphy Out to Lunch is second. The other three were Freddie Hubbard Hub-Tones, and two Lee Morgan's, Cornbread and The Rumproller.

There are some strange gaps in CD reissues of the BYG Actuel catalog, and that's a big one.

He did a lot of non-jazz studio work for labels like Vanguard. Also, watch Spike Lee's autobiographical movie 'Crooklyn' for insight on Bill's work in that period. Those latter Strata-East records were self-produced musician's collective works and IIRC much more obscure than the initial S-E releases.

1975-1980 (a few more leaked out on CD only in the late 80's). Earlier releases are 1971-1974.

I much prefer it to Muriel Winston, "The Warm Voice of Billy C", etc., from the later days of Strata-East. I agree it is one of the weakest releases on Black Jazz along with Cleveland Eaton and Kellee Patterson, but none of them are bad bad vanity projects like some of the later Strata-East titles.

The extras CD has some great cuts!

Black Jazz was utterly consistent. Strata-East was spectacular at times in the early years, but put out some real dogs later on.

carpe diem! Not a bad release ever on that label.

Totally agree it is by far the weakest of the lot. I remember the disappointment in real time when it came out and I spent my hard earned $3.99 or whatever on it. But still "interesting" in historical context. Never heard the Arista album, would like to. Heard one vocal cut I actually liked, but I know the reputation the album has.

His entire Impulse run of albums is fascinating. Some dog tracks in there, but they're interesting dog tracks. And a lot of gems.

Yep, he was only 16 when it was recorded. I like the Alan Shorter suggestion a lot. Also Charles Tolliver would have worked, was already recording adventurous records with Jackie McLean.

Someone should grab that AEC set, less than $4 a disc!