randyhersom

1. Mary Lou Williams - Pale Blue from Free Spirits (Steeplechase 1975) Mary Lou piano, Buster Williams bass, Micker Roker I remember when this album came out it sounded so contemporary for someone who had been recording for 35 years. It still does, and yes, Buster Williams is all over this one. 2. Oregon - Yet To Be from In Concert (Vanguard 1975) Ralph Towner piano, Glen Moore bass, Paul McCandless oboe, Colin Walcott percussion. This group along with Keith Jarrett was responsible for me branching out beyond rock to jazz when I read reviews in Rolling Stone and checked out the albums. Although Ralph Towner's 12 string guitar playing is what it love most about Oregon, this piano feature somehow got to be my favorite Oregon piece. There's a great deal of virtuosity managed with a gentleness that doesn't draw attention to the playing, just the music. Soaring was a great word to describe the theme. 3. Sumi Tonooka - Seriously Speaking from Taking Time (Candid 1990) Sumi piano, Craig Handy tenor sax, Rufus Reid bass, Akira Tana drums. I like this more than many of you did. Sumi is a fine Philly pianist who I got to meet during my time at the college radio station, then a couple years later she played a magical set in a Philly bar on Race Street in duet with a singer who may have been Rachelle Ferrell. I remember reacting to Gary Thomas playing sax with Herbie Hancock much as Jsngry did to Craig Handy here, listening to him hold back more than play. I don't reall feel that way about this track. Subsequent listening convinced me that there are lots of tracks that would showcase Sumi's playing better, but I like the Maiden Voyage influenced composition and the way Handy lets go in his solo. Google reveals that she's coming out with two albums soon, one with her own group and one co-led with Erica Lindsay. 4. The Visitors - The Juggler from In My Youth (Muse 1972) Earl Grubbs tenor sax, Carl Grubbs alto sax, Sid Simmons piano, Stanley Clarke bass, John Goldsmith drums. Maybe the most bright and optomistic piece of music ever to exhibit such a direct Coltrane influence. The Grubbs brothers were Naima Coltrane's cousins and fine players in their own right. 5. George Adams and Dannie Richmond - Jooboubie from Hand to Hand (Soul Note 1980) George Adams tenor sax, flute, Jimmy Knepper trombone, Hugh Lawson piano, Mike Richmond bass, Dannie Richmond drums. I first came to know this composition as Jaboobie's March from Handscapes by the Piano Choir. I'd love to have that on CD as my LP is no longer playable. When I heard this one I really enjoyed getting reacquainted with the tune. 6. Nathan Davis Evolution from Two Originals originally Happy Girl (Polygram 1965) Nathan tenor sax, flute, Woody Shaw trumpet, Larry Young piano, Jimmy Woode bass Billy Brooks drums, Beginning a kind of subtheme here with a track from BFT's favorite obscure albums, which makes it a lot less obscure in context. It was chosen for the dramatic quality of it's theme in order to lead into the next track. 7. Don Grolnick - Taglioni from The Complete Blue Note Recordings, originally Weaver of Dreams (Blue Note 1989) Don piano, Randy Brecker trumpet, Barry Rogers trombone, Michael Brecker tenor sax, Bob Mintzer bass clarinet, Dave Holland bass, Peter Erskine drums. More drama from a moonlighting session musician, and a highlight in the discography of many of the sidemen. You wouldn't be prepared for this if you just looked at the names in the band. 8. John Coltrane - Living Space from The Complete Impulse Recordings of the Classic Quartet (Impulse 1965) John Coltrane soprano saxes, McCoy Tyner piano, Jimmy Garrison bass, Elvin Jones drums. I first heard this great and beautiful piece of music as it was first released, with harp and strings sweetening added on by Alice Coltrane afterward. That was a great piece of music I'd like to hear again, but I'm quite happy to hear it as Trane left it. Coltrane's need and will to create music was greater than most anyone the world had ever seen, only Charlie Parker comes to mind as a comparison. 9. Michael Bisio - Golden Blue from Undulations (OmniTone 1996) Michael bass, Ed Pias drums, Rob Blakeslee trumpet, Jim Nolet viola. When I first heard this I thought "a lot of people followed Trane, but damn few followed him here". Here was Living Space which I immediately thought of as I was hearing this. I originally meant to have this precede Living Space, but I started to hear Taglioni there so I left Bisio in the unenviable position of following Trane on the bill. He performed admirably. A note on sound. Tracks 3 and 9 came from Emusic downloads burned to CD. They sound fine to me but many consider them inferior so be advised that the official CD releases may sound better.

I had posted a couple of clues at one point, but I think I'll post answers tomorrow and let the next BFT get underway. I have greatly enjoyed reading your comments.

Thomas Chapin - The Knitting Factory albums are up, now on a new label. Sky Piece is wonderful. Both Rahsaan Roland Kirk's on Hyena. I'll check out Lafayette Gilchrist after my downloads refresh.

Does The Fringe still gig around Boston? The trio featuring George Garzone seems to have been a pioneering influence in the 70s

10. Cab Calloway. Minnie The Mooche DAMN! Not enough room!!

The Charles Gayle is solo piano, all originals according to tomhull.com (found via google)

I googled and found out that the Charles Gayle is solo piano. The reviewer have both the Ran Blake and the Gayle a B+ but seemed to like the Gayle more. It was a Village Voice reviewer on tomhull.com

I listened to both disks a few times each. I have to admit I was doing other things too. One tune jumped out at me - Ted Curson's Quicksand. I didn't think it was the Tears for Dolphy version but I managed not to realize it was from one of my all time favorites - The Trio. I also heard a theme I thought I recognized as Trane and jumped to the conclusion that it was Joe Lovano doing Central Park West. Oops. Nice hard bop groove through most of it. Very enjoyable. (excuses, excuses) If I wasn't getting my own BFT together I might have been able to give it more attention.

I've recently listened to Trio 3 - Encounter (Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman and Andrew Cyrille) and enjoyed it much. There are new Charles Gayle and Ran Blake discs on Tompkins Square that are apparently available on eMusic before the discs ship. If anyone beats me to the download I'd love to hear comments on either.

Kenny Barron Live at Bradleys and The Perfect Set Trio 3 (Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman, Anrdew Cyrille) George Crumb Madrigals and Makrokosmos III (classical)

Three latecomers are headed our way, so I had to take down the clues for now. I'll repost them after the final three have had a chance to post.

Six Positive IDs, no guesses ventured on 3, 4 and 9. This one was intended to be a little tougher than last one Pretty sure one of the three albums has been discussed on this board in recent months.

Three tracks positively identified and one more for which the leader and one sideman have been mentioned. Comments, but no conjecture yet on tracks 2,3,4,7 and 9.

Yikes, a miscount. Three sidemen had been correctly named when I posted two, now it's four.

Interestingly, some of the Tzadik tracks are available on audiolunchbox.com, an eMusic wannabe that probably gave a better deal. I haven't indulged, but was lucky enough to grab the Leo Smith Kabell box early. The original Reflectativity (disc 2) was and is a particular favorite of mine, bummer that it's original two tracks are unavailable. The Mary Lou Williams Collective album currently being discussed is available.

We have two compositions, two artists and two sidemen that have been figured out. The answers thread will make it clear who got what

No overriding theme. Enjoying the comments so far. Two artists and one composition have been divined so far. I think there's also a sideman IDed, but I'm double checking.

All CD's now in the mail. Overseas got a 3 day head start.

This has gotten as much play from me as any new release in quite a while. The bass line from Nocturn, track 8 on disc 2 was the first thing to pull me in during background listens, and that track is a definite favorite, right up there with Running Up That Hill. Domestic bliss and family is an overriding theme, and the music is a little less hard edged than earlier recordings. On disk one she follows up her computer song from a couple albums back by singing pi to dozens of digits. It's enjoyable and the audacity is admirable, but it's not quite a highlight of the album. It does cement her place as the absolute nerd goddess Alluring is the best word I can come up with to describe the overall effect. In one fragment she duets with a bird recording, attempting to imitate its sound.

add: porter_esq

All comments welcome. Enjoy!

Here's the list. Didn't have time to match a couple to their screennames. TomStorer mikeweil O. S. In Germany AA (font?) J.W. in Massachussetts tooter Steven MartyJazz H. K. in the Netherlands Occupant in New York dutchmanx StefanWood couw I'm encouraging JSngry to join late if he can. For that matter, I'm encouraging everyone to join late if they can.

List will be posted tomorrow after the overseas disks are mailed. Late entries encouraged. One disc, nine tracks. Intended to be a bit tougher than my last one, although there are a couple of easy tracks. Hope you all enjoy. Thanks for your patience. Randy

I met Ted in person at my college radio station, and have enjoyed his playing for a long time. The Cecil Taylor sessions that make up half of Love For Sale are a particular favorite, as is Tears for Dolphy.

Last chance to send me your address for inclusion in BFT 33 1/3 to be mailed within a week Those who sent in before Stefan and I switched are already included Others send snail mail addresses to randyhersom28655@yahoo.com Thanks Randy