Jump to content

randyhersom

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,354

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Donations

    0.00 USD 

 Content Type 

Posts posted by randyhersom

  3. Oh no, it's Big Al's BFT 229!!!

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    I think I'm going to do way worse on your BFT than you did on mine!

    1.  I'll try Scolohofo here
    2.  Borders on smooth.  Not sure if that's a soprano or a harmonica.  Toots Thielmanns?
    3.  Bright optimistic sax theme with electric piano.  Makes me think of the BlackJazz label.  Maybe Calvin Keys?
    4.  Before there was smooth, there was ... well, not enough trumpet to be Herb Alpert.  Maybe Quincy Jones?
    5.  Kinda feels like a Black and Blue session.  Howard McGhee?
    6.  Fletcher Henderson is my first thought.  Can't rule out very early Duke Ellington or even thirties Louis Armstrong.
    7.  Django usually comes with a fiddle, but this could be an exception.
    8.  Nicely integrated strings.  Bud Shank?
    9.  Stanley Turrentine?
    10. Hank Crawford on CTI?  No that's a tenor.  Joe Henderson on Milestone?
    11. Possibly Herbie Mann.
    12. Pretty sure it's Gary Burton, but don't know the sax.
    13. Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Smith?
    14. This makes me think even more of Joe Henderson on Milestone?
     

  5. BFT 228 Reveal

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    1. Lush Life - Ken McIntyre from Hindsight (Steeplechase 1974) Billy Strayhorn Composer, Ken McIntyre Bassoon, Kenny Drew Piano, Bo Stief Bass, Alex Riel Drums
    2. A Child is Born - Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Big Band from Consummation (Solid State 1970, Blue Note, Mosaic) Thad Jones trumpet, Mel Lewis drums, Roland Hanna piano, Snooky Young – trumpet, Danny Moore – trumpet, Al Porcino – trumpet, Marvin Stamm – trumpet, Eddie Bert – trombone, Benny Powell – trombone, Jimmy Knepper – trombon,e Cliff Heather – bass trombone, Jerome Richardson – soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute, alto flute, Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, alto flute, Billy Harper – tenor saxophone, flute, Eddie Daniels – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, Richard Davis - bass.  Composition credited to Thad Jones, but likely written by Roland Hanna
    3. How Are Things in Glocca Morra - Sonny Rollins from Sonny Rollins Vol. 1 (Blue Note 1957) Sonny Rollins tenor, Donald Byrd trumpet, Wynton Kelly piano, Gene Ramey bass, Max Roach drums
    4. Until the Real Thing Comes Around - Gene Ammons from 1951-1953 (Chronological Classics)
    5. A Flower is a Lovesome Thing - Mal Waldron and Marion Brown from Songs of Love and Regret (Free Lance 1987) composed by Billy Strayhorn, Waldron piano, Brown alto sax
    6. Where or When - Don Byas from On Blue Star (EmArcy 1947-1952) Byas tenor sax
    7. Tenderly - Eric Dolphy from Far Cry (Prestige 1962) Dolphy alto sax
    8. Over the Rainbow - Dizzy Gillespie from Birks Works (Savoy 1957) Austin Cromer vocal, Dizzy Gillespie, Talib Daawud, Lee Morgan, Ermit V. Perry, Carl Warwick - trumpet; Melba Liston - trombone, arranger; Al Grey, Rod Levitt - trombone; Ernie Henry, Jimmy Powell - alto saxophone; Benny Golson, Billy Mitchell - tenor saxophone; Billy Root - baritone saxophone; Wynton Kelly - piano; Paul West - bass; Charlie Persip - drums
    9. Solitude - Earl Hines from Plays Duke Ellington Volume II (Master Jazz 1972, New World) Hines Piano
    10. Theme from Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - Ornette Coleman from Soapsuds, Soapsuds (Artists House 1977) Coleman Tenor Sax, Charlie Haden bass
    11. Pretty Beauty - Andrew Cyrille from Lebroba (ECM 2017) Wadada Leo Smith trumpet, Cyrille drums, Bill Frisell guitar
    12. Makaya Makaya Makaya - Mongezi Feza, Johnny Dyani, Okay Temiz from Music for Xaba Vol. 2 (Sonet 1972) Feza trumpet, Dyani bass, Temiz drums
    13. Dexi - Horace Parlan from Happy Frame of Mind (Blue Note 1963) Johnny Coles Trumpet, Parlan Piano, Booker Ervin Tenor Sax, Grant Green - guitar, Butch Warren - bass, Billy Higgins - drums
    14. Rocket - Wadada Leo Smith, Vijay Iyer, Jack DeJohnette from Love Sonnet for Billie Holiday (ECM 2022) Smith trumpet, Iyer organ, DeJohnette drums
    15. Medicine for a Nightmare - Sun Ra from Angels and Demons at Play (Saturn 1956, Impulse) Sun Ra - Piano, Electric Piano, Art Hoyle - Trumpet, Julian Priester - Trombone, John Gilmore - Tenor Sax, Pat Patrick - Baritone Sax, Wilburn Green - Electric Bass, Robert Barry - Drums, Jim Herndon - Tympani
    16. Odwalla - Art Ensemble of Chicago from Bap-Tizum (Atlantic 1972) Lester Bowie: trumpet, percussion, Malachi Favors Maghostut: bass, percussion, Joseph Jarman: saxophones, percussion, Roscoe Mitchell: saxophones, percussion, Don Moye: drums, percussion

  8. BFT 228

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    On 3/14/2023 at 12:47 PM, Д.Д. said:

    Track 12 - maybe some Paul Smoker trio stuff, although I tend to think of Smoker is a more varied trumpeter than this. Good stuff still. Drummer and bassist way too busy. 

    Track 14 - would this be Wadada Leo Smith in some Miles project? I don't like Smith's sound and his ideas either, so I do not know his work that well. Sounds like him to me.  

    Not Paul Smoker on 12.  The trumpet on 14 is Wadada Leo Smith, but the track is not part of the Yo Miles series.

  9. BFT 228

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Д.Д. said:

    I disqualified myself from the BFT by peeping, so just a quick note since it was not identified - the first track is from this album: https://www.discogs.com/release/10910192-Ken-McIntyre-Hindsight . 

    I think the artist was a mildly interesting composer but a mediocre player on all instruments, and his bassoon sounds decidedly clumsy (I appreciate that this is an extremely tough one to master).      

    Correct ID.  I did play it because I liked it.

  10. BFT 228

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    9 hours ago, mikeweil said:

    Okay here's more from my two cents bag. I didn't look at other posts. 

    Track 8 - I relistened again, and am now convinced that this is not Eckstein, although probably influenced by him. Great singer - I wonder who this is.

    Track 9 - This is a very fine pianist. Technical proficiency and knowledge of the old school of pre-1950 piano jazz coupled with elegance and wit. I probably know that pianist, but .... Oh, this is Ellington's "Solitude". 

    Got the tune and nicely narrowed down the pianist without quite naming him

    Track 10 - To me it sounds like they intonate differently. Bass sound is very big, as if recorded through a pickup, which I really dislike. Both players' styles are not to my taste.

    Track 11 - Trumpet player reminds me of Eddie Henderson, but this track is new to me. ECM-ish sound.

    Label correct, not Eddie

    Track 12 - more trumpet. Why is the trumpet so low in the mix at the end? Did the engineer fall asleep? Well played, but the balance annoys me.

    South African recording, possibly this trio put out the second commercially released trumpet bass drums trio after Mose Allison.  Some time in between Don Cherry recorded half an album that never got released.

    Track 13 - this sounds familiar. Yes, this is Johnny Coles - the smears are typical for him. I have this, he's one of my favourites. Not much of a theme, though.

    First to mention the trumpeter who has the stellar moments on this track for me.  Multiple full IDs above

    Track 14 - more trumpet, very interesting track. I thought of Larry Young, but he would have played more variations. No idea who this is.

    Not Larry

    Track 15 - we get an interesting varied trumpet anthology here. But the baritone player is no slouch either. Nice that they keep solos short. An electric piano, but not a Rhodes, sounds like a Hohner model. Nice chatter from the trumpet. Would have liked to hear more from him.

    Track 16 - More baritone, nice live sound. Nice track, great atmosphere, but is it they go crazy about? Not so much happening, musically. Nice closer.

    Very nice compilation! That trumpet series was really good.

    Glad you enjoyed it.

     

  11. BFT 228

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted · Edited by randyhersom

    1 hour ago, Big Al said:

    My oh MY was this a blast!

    Track 1: "Lush Life." Has a late-70's/early-80's Pablo feel to it. No idea on the player, but what a lovely way to start a BFT!

    Track 2: Ahhhh, I knew this one from the first note! Lovely tune from a lovely album. I always enjoy spinning this particular version at Christmas even though it's not technically a Christmas song! Track 4 from https://tinyurl.com/22m5z5zu
    You got it!


    Track 3: Oh wow, I have no idea who this is but I can't wait to find out! Sounds like my man Ben Webster on tenor! The fact that it sounds like it's mono to these ears makes me think this is a mid-70's Pablo recording.

    Track 4: I didn't know they had reverb back in the 40's! If the theme of this BFT is "lovely Sunday afternoon music" then it is hitting the bullseye with each track! I fear this BFT is gonna cause a strain on my wallet!

    Track 5: Again, no clue but I love it! I can see I'll be spinning this BFT a lot after this initial spin!

    Track 6: This! This is the tempo this song should always be played! Not too slow and not too fast. Just right! I can't wait to find out who this is!

    Track 7: First clunker of the set, which is not the fault of the player. He clearly admired Dolphy whereas Dolphy's music makes me want to stick industrial-grade cotton in my ears.

    Track 8: Oh boy did THIS send me off on a loop! I first thought this was Billy Eckstine but the more it went on the more I thought I might have this in my collection and may have skipped over it for various reasons. Then I thought this was a vocal track from Tadd Dameron's MAGIC TOUCH, then I thought it was a vocal track from the Tadd Dameron-Fats Navarro Complete Blue Notes, then I thought it was a vocal track from BIRTH OF THE COOL.... As you can tell, I spent FAR too much time trying to figure this out, searching Discogs & whatnot. After letting this sit for a few hours, the answer finally came to me: track B2 from https://tinyurl.com/8pswhmtn (or disc 2 track 4 from https://tinyurl.com/3vbhfh75 which is where I first heard this tune). Turns out I was kinda correct: I used to have this in my collection. And every time I wonder why I never kept this, I stream it again and I remember why: this music, which on paper should be right up my alley, has absolutely no effect on me. May be time to give this another listen and see if I need to scour the racks for my 3rd or 4th copy of this collection.

    Correct again!


    Track 9: Lovely (there's that word again) version of "Solitude." I'm kinda proud my first guess at the piano player was the correct one since I'd never heard it before! Discogs says it's track A-2 from https://tinyurl.com/y6kfee3v but it looks like this was combined with other albums in this series into a 4-LP box that looks like it would be well worth my money!

    That's it!


    Track 10: That's "When I Fall in Love," right? At first I though this also had that mid-70's/early-80's Pablo sound, but changed my mind around the 5-minute mark when everybody started playing free-like. Talk about a mood-killer.


    Track 11: The trumpet-player sure likes Miles. I like a mute as much as the next guy but... I don't know. Is it a mike problem? Those high notes sound way too shrill for these ears. Is that Terje Rypdal on guitar? Subsequent listens have made me like this even more than I did upon initial listening.

    None of the musicians you mentioned are on it.  Glad you like it.


    Track 12: Very interesting take on "Mean to Me." I like it that it's only taken approx. 25 years for me to finally recognize jazz standards. Makes me wonder if this is another Mose Allison type thing where the trumpet player is not known for being a trumpeter? Around the 4:40 mark I heard what sounded like a Tony Williams drum lick.


    Track 13: Good GRIEF this almost ruined my day! It would be one thing if I'd never heard this tune before. Sure, it sounds like so many other Blue Note tunes of the day, a variation on "Impressions." Good stuff! I would've just guessed Grant Green on guitar, maybe Lee Morgan on trumpet and Hank Mobley on tenor sax, and moved on. But NO, I *have* heard this song and it was literally on the tip of my tongue ALL BLOODY DAY. I was at the point of distraction all day, trying to figure out who, what, where. I mean, I could even see the CD on my shelf. Every avenue I checked was a dead end and I wanted so bad to go home and look thru my collection. Maybe I should've done that all along and just gone about my day because I would've eventually landed where I am now, sitting at home with my collection, seeing this as disc 5 track 8 from https://tinyurl.com/m8hjupbr (which is how I know this tune), but I understand it was originally intended as (and eventually released as) track 4 from https://tinyurl.com/2pszvh7m but also released as side 2 track 1 from https://tinyurl.com/2mxm35k8. This was totally nerve-wracking and TOTALLY worth the search! It just reminds me I need to listen to this set again!

    Very cool ID.  I hope someone will comment on the highlights of the track for me that I pointed out.
    Track 14: oh man, this is FILTHY!!! The trumpet just leers at you from every corner! Very eerie. And cryptic. And greeeeeazy!

    Track 15: sounds like a tribute to Raymond Scott. That electric piano is KILLIN' me! Love it!

    Track 16: this sounds like an Elvin Jones group. It's apparently not from his celebrated Lighthouse gig on Blue Note, at least not that I can find.

    WOW! Whatta stellar BFT! And I have to follow this next month??? YIKES!!! Doing searches for some of these tracks led me to albums I hadn't spun in a VERY long time which I need to remedy quickly! After typing this up I listened to this BFT two more times. So much good music!

     

    51 minutes ago, Big Al said:

    I hereby nominate my guess for track 7 as THE dumbest guess I've ever submitted on a BFT. And given the volume of dumb guesses I've made over the years, that's saying something.

    Except for the part about being right!

    I'm not always in the mood for the extreme tartness Dolphy and Ornette can bring to the table, but have learned to appreciate, and there are times when it's just right for me.  And I love Charlie Haden, without Ornette there would be less Charlie Haden to enjoy.  Like Dan I tend to like tenors more than altos.  Just not always the same tenors.

    Remaining sleuthing (or waiting for Tim Webb or JSngry) to be done:

    Artist on 1 - tune IDed

    co-leader on 5

    Tune, drummer and full name of trumpeter on 12

    tune and all musicians on 14 (trumpeter has been narrowed down)

    Well done so far, Organissimo Forum!

     

  13. BFT 228

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted · Edited by randyhersom

    47 minutes ago, mjzee said:

    Wow.  I've never identified so many on a BFT before (9 out of 16)!  So what's the etiquette - do I list them and claim bragging rights, or withhold my knowledge so that others can play?  I can tell you that I've identified #2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 15.  I'll keep silent on those for now.  Here's my impressions of the others:

    1. Lush Life.  Bassoon?  I actually liked it better without the band.  Bassoon player is very expressive.  Rahsaan?

    Not Rahsaan

    5. Sounds Ellington-ish.  Can't name the sax or piano, but very nicely done.  Pianist sounds like Mal Waldron.  Is that Steve Lacy?

    Correct on piano, not on sax.  Composition identified above written by Billy Strayhorn.

    7.  Tenderly.  Soulful rendition.

    8.  Over The Rainbow.  Billy Eckstine?

    Not Eckstine

    12.  This does not appeal to me.  I might have had more patience for this sort of performance when I was younger.  Everyone involved obviously has massive chops, but the effort does not move me.

    14.  Another trumpeter who's listened to Miles (I guess, who hasn't?).  Organ sounds like an accordion at times (plus the drone!).  Track doesn't do much for me.

    16.  Bari + bowed bass?  Interesting.  Live track.  Hamiet Bluiett?  Kind of a riff piece, but doesn't really go anywhere; might be their "marching off the stage" song.

    Fun BFT! 

    Well done on the IDs.  11 and 15 (tune) not IDed by anyone yet.  I make a point of not reading the thread until I make my first guess, would say that sharing what you know should not rain on anyone's parade.  Some people hide a link behind the word "this" to insure that only people who are ready to know find out.

     

    Cartoons and early jazz have had a long and somewhat symbiotic relationship.  Frequent use in Looney Tunes probably didn't get Fletcher Henderson many gigs, but may have financially benefitted his later years.  I had to look up the Bob Clampett reference.  You could choose to word it as animated, or cartoonish.  I'll go with the former.   I do like this version, but Joe Lee Wilson remains my go-to version of Over the Rainbow.

     

  16. BFT 228

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    3 hours ago, mikeweil said:

    Here's my two cents:

    Track 1: Lush Life, played on a bassoon. I must admit I am spoiled by the more beautiful sound of historical bassoon instruments and the perfect way our local Frankfurt period performance practice students play them, so this does not satisfy me from a technical point of view. But it is a nice idea. Bassoon has to be played exclusively to really master it, in any genre. No idea who it is.

    Track 2: A Child Is Born - very nice that they take their time before they let the band come in. Beautiful arrangement, well played. I would have liked it even more if they had kept it as subdued as in the beginning. Concise and to the point.

    Track 3: This trumpet intro sounds very familiar. Tenor sax? I hear Dexter Gordon phrases. But that is neither his sound nor his vibrato. I am sure I have heard this or even own it, the tune sounds familiar, too. Very curious who this is.

    Track 4: Gene Ammons! 

    Yes

    Track 5: Another standard tune, A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing. That alto player has his own very personal way of approaching the tune. The pianist starts his solo with some Debussy phrases, which is a nice contrast. This probably will be on my must buy list. Like it a lot. This has class.

    Glad you like it.  This apparently will surprise some folks.

    Track 6. Cannot name this familiar tune right now. I probably know this player ..... Must be a seasoned older generation player. Not quite convincing to me how he plays the closing cadenza.

    Track 7. Another familiar tune. They way he meanders licks around the tune rather than playing thematic variations on it does not convince me. Almost like Dolphy at times. Could it be him? 

    Dolphy

    Track 8. Billy Eckstine? Over The Rainbow! What a fantastic singer! This is better than classical opera as you never have that much freedom there. This has me shout "Yeah" every other bar.

    Not Mr. B.  Tune correct of course!

     

    This was so great I have to take a break ....

     

  17. Big Ears Festival

    in Live Shows & Festivals

    Posted

    My early thoughts


    Thursday
    Allison Russell 6-7:15
    Bill Frisell 7:30 - leaving early
    Joe Lovano w Marilyn Crispell 8:30- 9:30
    Los Lobos 9:35 if I can get in leaving early
    Vijay Iyer 10:30 - 11:45

    Friday
    Greg Tardy 1:00 - 2:15
    Antonio Sanchez 2:20 Leaving early 
    Mary Halvorson Amaryllis & Belladonna 3-5
    Arooj Aftab - Vijay Iyer 5 leaving early
    Ava Mendoza 5:45
    Maybe end of Tyshawn Sorey 6:50 - 7:15
    William Parker 8:45 - 9:45
    Ned Rothenberg 10 leaving early
    Tarbaby w David Murray 11-12:15

    Saturday
    Zorn 12 leaving early
    Christian McBride 1-2:15
    Charles Lloyd 4- leaving early
    William Parker 4:30 - 5:30
    Trio Imagination 5:35 in progress
    Sun Ra Arkestra 7-8:15
    Rickie Lee Jones 8:20 if I can get in.
    Blood Ulmer 9-10
    Maybe end of Zoh Amba
    Cecile McLorin Salvant 10:45 - 12

    Sunday
    Zorn 12
    Wadada 2:15
    James Brandon Lewis 3:15
    Bill Frisell 4:15
    Sona Jobarteh 5:30
    Zorn or C McBride 7
    Shara Nova 8
    Maybe Zorn 10

  18. BFT 228

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    4 hours ago, Dub Modal said:

    Ok, here we go:

    9. At first I thought there was studio chatter or maybe audience noise. But then figured out it's just one person vocalizing for brief periods here and there and so I'm guessing Hines because that's his thing. No idea on song though. If I'm right and it's Hines, let me just say I love his playing. So damn brilliant. This song is a fucking story (maybe even a medley?) and it's so earnest and I feel that. Makes me want to play his records, like asap. 

    Hines, indeed.  Thom identified tune as Duke Ellington's Solitude

    Appreciate it Randy! Nice selection. Very much enjoyed it. 

    Thanks, glad you did.

     

    3 hours ago, Dub Modal said:

    After reading through, some other thoughts on:

    2. Just noticed the "whomp" at the end. Weird way to end this tune. 

    That's it, A3 A Child is Born

    3. Closer listen reveals this to be incredible. I have this album but totally whiffed on guessing it. 

    Before the "Brown Paper Bag" twofers in the seventies, there was a series of colorful abstract art twofers, where I first hear #2 and #3

    8. The guy's got pipes for sure. Really carries the arrangement through some dramatic moments. Would he be considered a baritone or more of a tenor? Not a kind of song I usually go for but I'm enjoying it. 

    Baritone, I think

     

     

    1 hour ago, JSngry said:

    Austin Cromer!!! Eckstine as drawn by Bob Clampett!!! And Melba Liston!!!

    There's a lot of lost history in that cut.

    Austin Cromer does indeed sing on this BFT.

    28 minutes ago, BillF said:

    Track 8: Vocalist Austin Cromer with the late 1950s Gillespie Big Band.

    And we have the bandleader too!  Tune previously IDed as Over The Rainbow.  I read or heard that it was a jukebox hit back in its day.

  20. BFT 228

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    7 hours ago, Dub Modal said:

    First half takeaways for me: 

    1. no guesses. Pleasant tune though
    2. Nice song. Later Gerald Wilson maybe? 
    3. Sounds familiar but no guesses. Good, laid back playing. 
    4. Reverb, baby. Love it for the character here. The last 2 songs had top notch production so grit is a nice change of pace. Favorite track so far. Sounds like a classic band or at least legendary players. 
    5. So far I'm enjoying the intros to these songs, this one included. Gentle approach from the sax here. No percussion helps focus on the interplay in this one. This BFT is almost like a soundtrack to an early spring creeping around the corner. 
    6. Probably someone obvious on sax. Old school. Hawkins? Or if not, Ammons? 
    7. Oh man, sounds like another obvious sax player that I don't immediately recognize. Almost comes across as effortless. 
    8. Somewhere over the rainbow...no guesses

    Will be back for 9-16 later. Thanks for putting this together. 

    Thanks for the feedback so far.  You called a correct tune on 8.

     

    5 hours ago, BillF said:

    Track 4: "Until the Real Thing Comes Along"

    Tune correct, artist IDed as Gene "Jug" Ammons above.

  21. BFT 228

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    9 hours ago, tkeith said:

    Not getting caught off guard this month, damn it!  :D

    Track 01 - This one did not start well for me.  I recognized Lush Life immediately, but my mind was pre-programmed to think bari sax.  It was near the end of the intro when I realized it's a bassoon.  I only know a handful of folks who even play that instrument (all are no longer with us, I've just realized).  Points for something different, but not my favorite version of the tune.

    Yes a Bassoon


    Track 02 - A Child is Born.  A worthy time to mention Thad Jones was an incredible musician who doesn't get nearly enough credit.  This is not Thad, but a very nice version, nonetheless.  Underwhelmed by the arrangement, but you can't really hurt a great tune.  

    :D:D:D:D:D


    Track 03 - Obviously Nuke.  Song is... gah!  I recognize it from a radio show that used to air in Maine where this *strange* cat would play songs from the Hot 100 by decade for the corresponding week.  I forget the name, but the version it conjurs was this horrid vocal dripping with schmaltzy strings.  Much prefer this version.  Is there ANY tune Rollins didn't know?  Wynton Kelly on piano?  Gotta be Max, doesn't it?  That brushwork.

    Got the band.  Tune ID'ed below 


    Track 04 - The sound of this recording is a special brand of brutal.  Sure sounds like Gene Ammons.  Yeah, I'll commit, now way that's not Gene.  

    Jug


    Track 05 - A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing.  The piano works for me, but the alto is a struggle.  There are intonation issues and a case of the scoopsies.  Piano lost me a bit during the solo.  Playing behind the alto on the head, I was thinking Randy Weston was a possibility, but not once we got to the solo.  These have to be regional players.  

    :D:D:D:D:D

    (Tune Correct.  Not Randy)


    Track 06 - Where?  Or When?  The sexophone.  That's Carlos, for sure.  For years I couldn't get to this guy (partly becuase it  was "old", partly because I had the Black Lion stuff).  Then I heard A Tribute to Cannonball.  That did it.  Once I got past the "old" mindset, I realized just what a beast this guy was.

    Tune and horn correct.  Knew you knew Don Byas because of the album title you dropped.  Had to Wikipedia to find out he was born Carlos.


    Track 07 - I think people forget how beautiful Dolphy tone really was.  Even tender.  ;) Every time I slide these out of the jacket I get to re-experience the discovery of Eric.  Such a unique voice, and on three instruments.  Another guy we haven't caught up to.

    Player and tune correct


    Track 08 - Now THIS is an arrangement.  Not fully sold on the vocalist, but that's a common occurrence.  Teases Eckstine at points, but doesn't seem to have his power (but, as it goes on, heck, could be him).  Big vocal flourish at the end, but wish he'd get out of the way of that band.

    Not Mr. B

    Track 09 - Solitude.  A nod to Duke just shy of the one minute mark, but this isn't Duke.  Ah, there we go.  Fatha Hines.  One of the first people of that era I got into, mostly because of a record where someone says, mid-solo, "Fatha Hines, you dirty old man!"  13-year-old me just thought that was great. My mind says that was Jimmy Rushing saying it, but I could be out to lunch on that. #whateverworks

    Player and tune correct

    Track 10 - Wasn't sure at first, but once we get into the tempo section, that's Ornette. I think Haden was a clue.  This has to be a personal recording (of the musicians).  It's plenty raw and plenty real, and the sound quality is awful (seemingly a trait of a lot of really terrific music).  Is there an Ellington thread underlying this BFT?  I swear Charlie just quoted I Got It Bad.

    I own this on LP and bought the CD, but accidentally got it shipped to my old address.  So the sound quality is because I got it from YouTube.  The sax quote influenced me toward this track, but wasn't 100% sure what  Ornette was quoting.  This is a commercially released recording.


    Track 11 - Nice.  I was hoping to hear guitar with this when the trumpet first came in.  Something brought me instantly to Shepp's Mariamar, which has to be one of my favorite obscure records.  Brushes.  Man, love this.  Waiting on some bass, but I'm not going to get it. Those BRUSHES!  My brain was saying Bill Dixon, but I went to sleuth and realized my mind had the wrong guy (face wasn't right), then I realized, no, Wadada.  I don't have this and I need to fix that.  Can't get enough of those brushes!  Not Motian, but at least as expressive.  Guitarist isn't blowing me away, but really doesn't need to.  He's (or she's) doing just what's needed.  Love this.  Don't break my spirit and tell me it's Metheny (can't be; he can surprise me, but not like this).  This is some serious music (serious as your life).  

    Trumpet Correct.  No other names mentioned found on this recording.


    Track 12 - I'm in at the bass.  Recorded down a hallway?  Theme is terrific music with awful sound!  What do I win!?  This is also some serious shit.  Maybe a tick below the last cut, but the drummer is putting nice color in around the bass.  The bass is just, ideal.  I want to say Smiley Winters on drums.  A lot of names come to mind for the bass, but none of them are right.  Only thing I know for sure is it's not Tim Webb, but he can certainly get there. I know the trumpet player, but only as one of the avant garde guys who plays with a lot of guys in my collection.  I can't get to a name.  This is not background music.  Another score, Randy!   Nick DiGeronimo keeps popping into my mind as the bassist, but that's wrong.  AH!  Mid-solo, it hits me!  Dyani!  Of course!  So, not Smiley, but I can't get a name.  Likely one of those bands of those fringe guys.  I can never remember the names and don't want to butcher them.  One ends in ezi (and I'm not proud of that being the ping, but that's the liffe of a dyslexic).

    Awesome job, I considered this the biggest challenge to ID.  It is Dyani and ezi.  I had some belief that this trio was the first to record and commercially release a Trumpet, Bass and Drums trio, but Mike educated me otherwise last BFT.

    Track 13 - Some making an impression.  Something about the attack of the notes is Clarke Terry adjacent.  Booker Ervin, for sure.  So, that could be Han Bennink on drums.  Has that busy, snappy thing he does going on.  Ah!  A clue! (as Spenser would say).  That's Horace Parlan, for sure.  Grant Green.  Okay, it's from this.  Shame on me for suggesting Bennink here.  

    Album correct.  This is here because of a couple phrases by the trumpet that absolutely kill me.  Listen to the slurred, bent wail about 00:36 in, then referenced again about 01:37.  It probably participates in the most jarring transitions of the BFT, but I simply couldn't leave it out.

    Track 14 - Torn.  First thought was Wadada, again, but something is pushing me toward Lester.  Might be too recent to be Lester, though.  Drummer is definitely teasing that remix thing.  It works, but it always confuses me when a drummer works to sound like a machine.  Not sure on the organ, but he's not shy.  This works, but it's not subtle.  

    Trumpet is one of the two mentioned.

    Track 15 - Instantly I'm pushed to Sun Ra.  Combination of the sound, the activity, and the friggin' swing!  Oh yeah, no doubt once the keys come in strong.  I don't think that's Pat Patrick.  I know it's one of the early ones -- is it Angels and Demons?  Always forget who the other bari player is on that.    

    Artist and album correct.

    Track 16 - Oh, no you didn't.  College radio station had this.  Bought the CD when I was living in Pittsburgh.  This tune is an absolute bitch.  An exercise in simplicity, but man, does it groove.  And I mean the tune.  The version is in its own universe (even among their versions), but the tune just plays itself.  This was in my Fake Book I got when I was like 13, but I didn't hear it until I got to college and worked at the radio station (8 years later -- don't judge me).  

    Album correct.  Correct tune mentioned by you on your fadeout.

    Lotta ground covered here.  Some of the transitions were a bit jarring, but nothing that made me want to throw the speaker.  Speaking of which, if you're stuck on the computer too much and/or mobile a lot, the Walla Sound bluetooth speaker is pretty impressive.  Let's be clear, it's not Sonos, but at $50, I don't think you're going to find anything close.  Just my 2¢.

    Thanks for the ear candy, Randy!

    Had to re-listen to Odwalla immediately.  Man!  Malachi and Famoudou lay that down with such AUTHORITY!  Bad MFs!

     

    Thanks to Felser and Dan Gould for the impressions.  Glad to have accomplished WWFL and WWDL in the same BFT.

    6 hours ago, Milestones said:

    1.     I thought this was going to be a solo baritone piece, which is quite a rarity.  The tune is “Lush Life.”  Bluiett?  Really can’t say who it is.

    Tune correct

    2.     “A Child is Born.”  Nice trumpet, but does not really sound like Thad.  But now the subtle big band comes in, so this is starting to sound like Thad/Mel.  I don’t think of Thad as playing this mellow.  The arrangement is quite nice.

    That's the band, pretty sure Thad is the soloist.  Tune correct.  Shout out to Roland Hanna on piano too.

    3.     Sonny Rollins…no mistaking that.  This is “How are Things in Glocca Mora,” with a wonderful lead-in by Donald Byrd.

    Artist and tune correct.

    4.     Nice tenor solo in big band setting, but I’m not good at identifying this stuff unless it’s Basie or Ellington.

    5.     Is that “Lotus Blossom”?  Something by Strayhorn. It sounds a bit like Joe Henderson in his whispery ballad mode, but not as distinctive as Joe.

    Yes, by Strayhorn, Thom correct on tune above.

    6.     “Where or When.”  This is a lovely tune, and it’s either Ben Webster or someone indebted to him.  

    Horn identified obliquely above, tune correct.

    7.     This must be Eric Dolphy, playing relatively conservatively. Like Coltrane, he knew and loved the standards and sometimes played them in accessible fashion.  Of course, this is a bit different by being solo. I think it’s “Tenderly.”

    Artist and tune correct

    8.     “Over the Rainbow,” sounding a bit operatic.  I briefly thought Johnny Hartman, but no…I don’t think so.

    Tune correct

    9.     I’m still not much of a solo piano guy, other than Tyner and Weston.  But this is nice relaxed piece.  It runs pretty long and seems to be in a 1930’s style, but certainly much more recent.  Jaki Byard?  But I doubt it, since Jaki usually shifts tempos and styles a great deal.  Then again?  Interesting coda.

    10. I knew this within seconds: Ornette and Charlie Haden playing “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.”  An unlikely vehicle, but quite enjoyable.  I hold the Soapsuds album in very high esteem; it should be regarded as essential Ornette.

    Absolutely correct.

    11. This has to be Ron Miles with Bill Frisell and Brian Blade.  I have some of these records and enjoy them, but I thought they would be more impressive. I do like this choice, though I can’t name it.

    One of the three musicians mentioned is on this track.

    12. A long performance, dominated by bass and trumpet.  A bit on the free side.  Enjoyable enough, but  I don’t recognize the artists.

    13. That’s Miles or a serious imitator. The tune sounds familiar, but I can’t place it.  The tenor sounds like Booker Ervin, so then it’s not Miles.  This one has me baffled, as I would expect Booker to solo first.  So he’s a sideman? Oh man, now that’s Grant Green on guitar.  But I still don’t know the tune or album.

    Booker indeed, and Grant too.  Thom's "this" link correctly identifies the album

    14. That’s some cool trumpet and organ.  Lester Bowie seems like a decent guess.  I have some of his work in this vein, but not this track.  Maybe I’m mistaken about Bowie, but I think it must be him or someone quite similar—and who is similar?

    15. Pepper Adams on baritone?  Electric piano solo.  Can’t make a guess here.

    16. More baritone, or some kind of low instrument.  I like that loping bass.  I’m thinking of Art Ensemble of Chicago when they play in a more accessible mode, so that’s my very uncertain guess.   

    Artist correct.

    Man this is fun!

     

×
×
  • Create New...