Milestones

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.

The debut records of Abercrombie and Metheny were released at almost the same time.

I had my first shot on April 5 and my wife had her first shot on April 12. Bring on the second!

Out of this lot, I favor With These Hands and The Modern Art of Jazz (How High the Moon in the version I own). I agree that the Mosaic offers the best of Weston's early work.

So these are duet performances?

Seems like Nash recorded barely a thing before 1990. That's a late start for a drummer. It's interesting that several of the all-time greats are pretty much clustered together: Elvin, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Jimmy Cobb.

Lewis Nash is already 60-years-old?

Too Long in Exile, Down the Road, You're Driving Me Crazy, and possibly Roll With the Punches. Among the live albums, A Night in San Francisco.

Maybe that's Joe Chambers on drums on #6?

I enjoyed You're Driving Me Crazy (w. Joey DeFrancesco), which was just three years ago. Actually, I think there are records by Van from every decade that are good and sometimes great--a lot of fine material when most artists his age are considered decades past their prime.

Has the man totally run out of things to say? His title must be the worst of his career: Latest Record Project Vol. 1. Not to mention we can expect a Vol 2 of this brilliant title. And I sampled as much as I could stomach of the title song--"have you got my latest record project" over and over and over.

A double album? And will it be plenty of irrational ranting? I imagine at least some of it will be. I'm a big fan of Van Morrison, but I confess that I have put his music aside when I heard about his attitude toward the pandemic. But we all know that sometimes you just have to go on loving the art even though you may not love the artist. I am sure I will come back to his music eventually.

Indians fan here. My team lost some fine players in the off-season, so everyone is wondering how the season will go. Our ace (Bieber) not looking so good in the opener--for god's sake giving up a home run to 60-year-old Miggy Cabrerra.

Number 11 got wonky on me; I initially heard just the opening. That is for sure Oscar Peterson. Is this "Give Me That Old Time Religion?" Overall, this is a highly enjoyable BFT.