Milestones

1) This is “Solitude” played solo and with a great touch and sensitivity. I don’t listen to a lot of solo piano (mainly Tyner and Weston), and I don’t have any idea who this is. But it is a lovely performance. 2) That’s a curious piece; I don’t know what of make of the vocal opening. Then it’s full-blown New Orleans, though almost certainly a very modern or recent recording. It made me think of Wynton Marsalis, but I doubt it. However you regard him, he is a more distinctive player than this. But it is a fun little performance. 3) “Ask Me Now”—Monk masterpiece! Others besides Lacy can do Monk solo. This guy sounds quite masterful. It reminds me of Joe Henderson, but is more likely someone who has Joe as a pretty significant influence. 4) “The Single Petal of a Rose”—Ellington masterpiece. That’s Ben Webster. I don’t think I’ve heard Ben perform this before, but it is unquestionably him. 5) This is “Valse Hot.” I believe Sonny wrote this one and performed it with Clifford Brown. This comes from the Roy Hargrove album with various tenor players. Is it Branford and the more obscure Ron Blake? I think Roy has the standout solo. 6) Joe Lovano…that was clear within seconds. I can listen to Lovano on ballads all day. Not sure what this is. The drummer makes me think of Bill Stewart, whom I have been checking out lately. But it doesn’t appear to be from Landmarks. DeJohnette on drums? This is likely an original—not a standard. I have tons of Lovano; I should know this. 7) Not sure here. It certainly has a bit of a Blue Note sound; but whether it’s BN or not, it seems to come from the 70s. Then again, some artists in the past couple of decades have been returning to this sound. I kind of like it, especially the tenor solo. Joe Henderson? I seem to have him on the brain. 8 “In Your Own Sweet Way.” Biff F I probably correct on the artist. It’s pretty cool, but it does lose the sweetness. 9) “Shenadoah” by Bill Frisell. Talk about pure beauty! This is the version found on Good Dog, Happy Man. I saw/heard him do this live, and it was just about the greatest concert experience I’ve ever known! Thanks for putting this on the BFT.

Happy birthday to an artist who has always delivered great pleasure. While not as innovative as some others, he is my favorite among all mainstream guitarists.

Three pieces from late in his career come to mind (the first two very late). "Something" from The Goutelas Suite--a beautiful ballad. "Loco Madi" from The Uwis Suite--perhaps the last of his train pieces and quite enjoyable. I will include "Fleurette Africaine'" as well. What a masterpiece from The Money Jungle. I don't know of Duke ever doing it with a larger ensemble. James Newton's version is also a thing of beauty.

Happy birthday, Mr. Spaulding. I've been a fan for almost as long as I've been into jazz, which is nearly 40 years now. I first got into him through his work with Freddie Hubbard, and soon became to discover his sterling contributions to many Blue Note sessions. Yes, he is very under-recorded. But one of his outstanding albums as a leader is Brilliant Corners--pretty much a Monk tribute.

I find it odd (and disappointing) that apparently there have been no Joanne Brackeen records in the past 20 years. If there are any, they must be severely under the radar.

A long life indeed. The Heiress, based on a Henry James novel, is probably my favorite among her films; and it's one of her Oscar-winning performances. R.I.P.

Yes, my wife likes Bill Evans, Wes, Miles, Bill Frisell, the softer side of Trane, Randy Weston, and a lot more. For all the concerts I have attended over the past dozen years or so, she has been with me.

Yeah, who' still around at 90 or above? We lost some of them: Randy Weston, Jimmy Heath, Jimmy Cobb. There's still Ahmad Jamal and Roy Haynes

1. This is “Weird Nightmare,” the Mingus tune. I have no idea on the singer or the artists, but this is nicely done. 2. Interesting piece. It seems dominated by bass, which is a bit reminiscent of Charlie Haden. Nice use of marimba (I think) and some Methney-esque guitar. But I have no idea who this might be. 3. I thought this was going to break into “My Favorite Things.” Tenor is brawny and shows the Coltrane influence. In fact, the entire band is emulating the Trane quartet. 4. That’s a Jackie McLean tune. I can’t think of which one, but I have heard it many times. Sounds like sax-bass-drums. The short length and overall sound suggest an older piece, but I have no guess. For some reason, this is not very compelling. 5. The tenor sounds very mellow and relaxed; nice piano, not overplaying. This is “Lush Life,” though it takes awhile to become clearly apparent. This is a fine performance, and it holds up well to what Coltrane and others have done with it. This version is distinctive, but I can’t place the artist. 6. Ah, very cool swing feel. It makes me think of Basie, though some elements suggest someone else. But now Jimmy Rushing enters, so maybe it is Basie. Ah, Dizzy for sure! This is from Ellington’s Jazz Party. But that was not Duke at the piano (pretty sure of that). This is pure jazz joy! 7. Classic jazz…I should know this. An Ellington piece? It sounds like someone with a good feeling for this style of tenor playing. Ricky Ford? Scott Hamilton? 8. More cool tenor, traditional sounding. Nice drive and rhythm from piano/bass/drums; I especially like the bass. Reminds me a bit of George Adams, though George nearly always played in a more over-heated style. Good stuff, whoever it is. 9. This sounds like Coltrane modal style, though I don’t think there’s any tenor or any sax here. Trumpet is kind of thick and blurry; the pianist is over-busy in some spots. Not bad. You just have to let this flow over you. 10. Cool enough mix of elements—burnished trumpet and thumping deep baritone, drums usually playing rather freely. No guesses. 11. I’ll just say that I have no idea. 12. Sort of like tropical jazz, a little too close to smooth for my taste.

Ain't that the truth?

I would say RTF was popular in some sense, such as simply having a decent-sized audience. Chick returned to touring and live records with the band about a decade ago.

Yeah, a lot of talk of Benson and now Corea. Just goes to show the winding nature of a thread. Whatever else you wish to say about Corea, the man is eclectic. I've enjoyed various trios (especially with Vitous and Haynes), the duo with Burton, Origin, the latin stuff, some of the electric stuff--and that's just scratching the surface.

For all his criticism of Benson, I'm curious as to why SGCIM even read his autobiography. Then again, a few posts back he had a paragraph expressing real admiration of George Benson. So is it the presumed Parker comparison that makes you so upset?

Since Benson has jammed in the Village, why haven't there been any releases of this material? Some artists do a pretty good job of balancing (in performances and on records) a lighter or smoother type of music with legitimate jazz music. It seems to me that Herbie Hancock did this for quite awhile.

Benson is hardly the first huge egoist in jazz, nor will he be the last. I'm sure most people on the board would agree that, despite his skills, Benson is little more than a footnote in jazz history.

Yep, it's all pure speculation.

Ten years ago. Is that a long time for a man who is now 77-years-old?

Benson from Guitar Player: "When Charlie Parker played, you could always hear that melody. The song never left you. When he played Just Friends — one of the greatest solos if not the greatest improvisational thing of all time — you could still hear the song through all of that wonderful, stunning playing."

One has to think it was some pinhead (or group of pinheads) who came up with the runner on 2nd concept.

I never noticed his stuff in the record stores, but then too I wasn't looking. I have observed that his CDs on Amazon tend to be quite expensive.

Who is Ahmad Jamal? He has been a fairly mysterious musician to me. I may have heard one record, and I don't recall it at all. It's been said by some that he was a minor musician who briefly became a major influence on one of jazz's greatest musicians: Miles Davis. I've known Jamal mainly through the song "Ahmad's Blues," played by Miles' rhythm section. But there are others who claim that Jamal is a major figure in jazz. I think he is worth exploring. I've listened to some piece from the "Essence" records in the 1990's. They are intriguing in part because of the presence of guests like George Coleman and Donald Byrd, as well as the drumming of Idris Muhammad. I guess I know little about Jamal because he was never a sideman and he's recorded for small labels (except Impulse, quite briefly) all his life.

Yes, it's odd to have the creator of the BFT not making any responses.

Most of know Monk could be sweet, harsh, caustic, mysterious, and funny--sometimes all at once.

Anyone checking out the spotlight on jazz on TCM? I have looked in just a bit. Some of the films I've seen before, such as Young Man with a Horn starring Kirk Douglas. I think it says something about old Hollywood that they chose the likes of Gene Krupa, Red Nichols, Bix Beiderbecke, and Glenn Miller as subjects.

Actually, I did name "Summertime" first.