Milestones

All 13 tracks are now available.

I know. I informed Thom a few minutes ago.

Welcome to BFT #209 and the third one that I have created. I would say that this is the easiest of the three, but I have never been mainly about making tough blindfold tests. The idea is to share and enjoy. I doubt this will spark a large number of responses on anything like the scale of Thom’s #208, but that’s OK. There are 13 tracks and a span of just under 50 years. http://thomkeith.net/index.php/blindfold-tests/

Does anyone know how many people have been awarded as NEA Jazz Master?

Clarke is so devoid of accomplishments? All that work with Chick Corea, several appearances with McCoy Tyner, Rite or Strings, Manhattan Project with Wayne Shorter. I've not followed him much as a leader, but the trio record with Hiromi is quite respectable. To my ears, he's rather impressive on both electric and acoustic.

I tend to agree with your original statement: "I feel like I am being suddenly snapped from a dreamworld into something much more literal." One recent album that I enjoyed was Charles Lloyd's Vanished Gardens, on which Lucinda Williams sang on half of the tracks.

Not a fan of "Nothing Like You" on Sorcerer. I never listen to that track. On the other hand, I recall liking Helen Merrill's vocal on the Lee Konitz album Rhapsody, which I think is the only vocal (other than Lee's odd scatting).

I certainly need to add that tune with James Newton to my collection. I'm a big fan, and he has not recorded enough as a jazz player.

It appears that "House" actually is Sonny, from a little-known record (to me) named The Cutting Edge.

#9 is " A House is Not a Home." This performance is very laid back. It sounds a bit like Sonny in "island" mode, but it's not intense enough to be him. I like the Jackie McLean version, which is very intense indeed.

Great show, as usual.

I'm an academic, and this kind of pretentious academic style makes me scream (and not with delight).

Seems way too stupid and absurd. Of course, there is no shortage of stupidity and absurdity.

I'm kind of intrigued by jazz artists covering Dylan. The attraction is usually to the words of the Nobel winner, but I can see how the Americana quality in much of his music appeals to Bill Frisell, who has covered Dylan a fair amount. I really like his take on "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall." Then too there is the fine Dylan tribute by Jewels and Binoculars: Ships With Tattooed Sails.

1. Strong tenor over throbbing bass line. Percussion adds color. Not crazy about the fadeout. Decent, but nothing special to my ears. 2. Old time piano. It sounds mostly like swing, but some bop too. I certainly don’t hear the sheer technique of Tatum. 3. That’s some strange stuff. 4. Squalling free jazz. This is why some call it noise. I like some free jazz; some I don’t. 5. Sounds Ellingtonian (Carney), but rather sleepy. 6. “How Deep is the Ocean.” Not too crazy about hearing it at performed mid-tempo. 7. Sounds like Arthur Blythe. It had nice ballad feel, but then it went “out” for a little stretch. Now it went into the blues. An interesting piece. I’ve heard a lot of Blythe, but not this one. Now the talk! What is this? 8. ? 9. ? 10. Latin jazz. 11. Ben Wester quality, but is likely someone more modern. 12. Some bebop frenzy. Good to hear the fast and fluent work on baritone and especially trombone. J.J? I don’t know who else would have the facility if this is from the 40s. The tenor has more of a swing quality. Not doing well on this one, and obviously Thom Keith nailed a lot of selections.

Yikes!

This version by Lloyd is shorter than The Beatles' own version!

In a music rife with artists engaging in play on their names in titles, Lee Konitz must be the #1 culprit. "Ice Cream Konitz," anyone?

Oh, there are a ton of fine Konitz releases, and in fact I have mainly been fond of his work since about 1990. Lee Konitz and the Jazzpar All Star Nonet (1992) - This features a mostly Danish group; in addition to the nonet numbers, quite a few pieces are duets. Sound of Surprise (2000) - Nice record with Lee sometimes in a trio, sometimes in larger groups with Ted Brown (tenor) and/or John Abercrombie (guitar). Angel Song (1996) - drummerless quartet with Wheeler, Frisell, Holland Olden Times (1999) - drummerless quartet with Kenny Wheeler and two German musicians And there are more!

Yeah, I've certainly heard the similarities between "Emily" and "Spartacus." Junior Mance, eh? And Jeff Beck on #7. I like that album a lot, and particularly "Cause We've Ended as Lovers"--a classic. I can't help feeling that the strings are overdone on "Diamond Dust," but still a very nice piece.

1) Some interesting stuff, very exotic…Middle Eastern? Decent trumpet solo. Now some cello. It’s got the elements of Yusef Lateef, and maybe that’s him now on tenor. But maybe not, with the trumpet taking the spotlight near the end. 2) Decent solo on vibes and tenor, but just doesn’t sound very distinctive to my ears. 3) Sounds like a couple of guys who have studied Classical. I suppose it could be one guitarist with overdubbing. 4) That opening sounds similar to “So What.” Then it shifts to a hard bop feel with a good guitar solo by someone in the Wes and Kenny B. mode (but not at their level). I don’t know…seems like guys with fine jazz chops but no originality. 5) Bird-inspired, for sure. 6) More respectable stuff, with the trumpeter recalling Art Farmer and Miles. But I don’t think I have any guesses. 7) This sounds like 70’s stuff…maybe Al DiMeola. This would be a good soundtrack piece, and I mean that as a compliment. 8) I know this tune quite well...it’s a bop standard really…ah “Walkin.” Sounds like a big band, and plenty of fine solos. There must be some distinguished players on this one. It doesn’t really have the creative touch of Gil Evans. I am thinking this is from the late 50s or early 60s. The alto reminds me of Cannonball, if not quite as extroverted. Nice track. 9) This has the touch of Bill Evans—certainly not Evans, but indebted to him. The pianist has his/her own thing going on. The tune might be “Emily.” That’s a really nice touch. This is someone I need to know, if I don’t already.

OK, no problem.

Is there no BFT for May 2021?

Yes, the Silver album cover would be called cultural appropriation at its worst.

I seem to recall hearing 4 tracks from Destry. They were kind of fun, but this stuff is definitely a mere sidelight in Weston's career.