randyhersom

It might be a good idea to set up a separate topic for each disk, identified clearly by the same name that is on the disk. Then the busiest of us could comment on disk one now, and disk two a couple days later without being inundated with clues about disk two. I like it because compilers don't have to omit that absolutely awesome eighteen minute track due to time constraints.

Google and your library are good answers to that question. This was the best site I found on a quick look through Google. http://uweb.superlink.net/~rayash/nielsen.htm

I think I'll hijack this thread back on topic. Nielsen's 4th and 5th Symphony are great, I like the Naxos pairing as well as some others. More than any other recording, this obeys Nielsen's annotation in the 5th that the drummer plays "as if at all costs to stop the forward motion of the orchestra". Schubert's C Major Quintet d. 960 is very great, much more heart-on-sleeve than the elegant Trout quintet. The Melos Ensemble does nicely by that one.

Very enjoyable, and I'm pleased to have gotten three artists right. That's three more than last time. I promise when I get my chance I won't bait Jim with a copyist. : )

1. A nice, Brazilian groove, played with polish and subtlety. The melody calls to mind a Target commercial with the sung words "sweet happy life", but I can't quite place the souce. It feels familiar. It would be kind of clever and flashy to begin two straight tests with Jack Wilson. That's a possibility, and without a better guess at hand, I'll go with that. 2. A vibes and piano led quartet, swinging easy. The unobtrusive drums could well be Connie Kay, and nothing else rules out the possibility of the Modern Jazz Quartet in its less chamber-jazz oriented moments. 3. This has a west coast feel, but not conclusively. I can't rule out Lee and Wayne either. Not dark enough to guess Miles, I'll go with Lee Morgan. 4. Sounds like the guitarists date. Somebody just a shade more modern than Wes Montgomery. Pat Martino perhaps? 5. Nice chops, but the tenor is also quite willing to luxuriate in his tone, Clifford Jordan is a possibility. 6. Absence of drums suggests a couple of possibilities. I'm going with Ray Brown trio instead of the earlier Oscar Perterson trios. I'll guess Gene Harris and Barney Kessel. 7. My guess is Joe Pass and Oscar Peterson. Not as showy as I'd expect from Oscar. Not sure who else Joe duetted with. 8. I already had Stan Getz in mind before the voice came in, and knowing he made albums with Jobim, Bonfa and Gilberto, I'm inclined to stick with that guess. 9. Unusual line-up, Alto, Tenor and Baritone over rhythm. Not much clue. Duke Pearson? 10. Kenny Burrell? Nice rhythmic feel. 11. I'm thinking Hampton Hawes, although I can't put my finger on exactly why. Quite lovely. 12. Stanley Turrentine is a possibility. Perhaps Horace Parlan on piano. 13. A Bird tune for sure, I'm pretty sure it's Yardbird Suite. I'll guess Jimmy Bruno, but it could easily be somebody earlier and more famous. 14. Sarah Vaughan singing Double Rainbow. There are little production touches that may suggest a later recording, but I'm thinking this is Pablo era Sassy. 15. I can't quite peg this as Soprano or Alto sax for sure. I'm leaning toward Soprano. Reminds me some of Clifford Jordan's playing on Art Farmer's Blame it On My Youth. With the soprano featured so much more than the other horns, I'll guess that this is Clifford's own date. 16. I'm enjoying this lush, heart on sleeve ballad approach. Kenny Barron could pull this off. I'm not sure who else could or would, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Interesting that they're being acquired by a private limited partnership. Any way to find out if record company interests bought it to kill it?

It's the end of eMusic as we know it. I too will be cancelling, but I'll also be checking the new releases (if they let me) and rejoining for a month when the right 65 tracks accumulate. It sure has been great.

Yes, I'll be playing. The tournament will be in English using a combination of the US word source and one of British origin based on The Chambers Dictionary. Having been beaten by Malaysia's Mr. Ganesh Asirvatham in '99 in Melbourne, Australia, I can assure you that they play a wicked game of Scrabble in English in Malaysia. The Southeast Asia players I have met have generally been able to converse well in English also. It's generally accepted that the world's largest Scrabble tournament is held in Thailand each year, using English word sources, with lots of schoolchildren in the field. We just had a North American All-Stars tournament which is supposed to be televised on ESPN November 2.

Just curious what sort of time frame Jim R has in mind for #3. I'm headed to the World Scrabble Championships in Malaysia on October 15th and will get back late on the 25th. I'd still want in even if I would be the last poster. Thanks Randy

An old quote that I don't know the source of: Good artists copy. Great artists steal. This would express the opinion that with sufficient internalization (understanding?) of the source material, greatness can occur in derivative work, and also seems to imply that all artists borrow materials to lesser or greater degree. Jim, do you feel the same way about Charles McPherson that you do about Eric Alexander? He's somebody from the previous generation that fought a copyist label for much of his career. For that matter the same could be said of Sonny Stitt and Joe Henderson.

My ears have a long way to go. I talked myself out of my only correct guess on a leader, and was sure #10 was an alto. At least I mentioned the theme in passing : ). Cool Jack Wilson rarity! Great fun and I hope I get to spin the platters for you all soon.

I enjoy this way too much to be careful about looking stupid. I'm not able to listen as much as I'd like to these days and much of my listening is in a multitasking environment. Beside I can't hear you all laughing at me ; ) 1. Live recording very churchy, bluesy number Trouble in Mind?. Ahmad Jamal or maybe the Three Sounds. Sixties or late fifties. 2. Joe Williams? I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water. The doubts I have are that I remember Joe Williams singing a little more full-voiced and usually with a bigger band. No, No, No the spoken stuff makes me pretty sure it's Lou Rawls. So who could that be on piano? 3. Early Rock and Roll feel. Did King Curtis play some alto too? I think I'll try the more logical Hank Crawford on this one. No idea on the tune 4. I'm beginning to wonder if the theme isn't Gene Harris. None of the tracks are absolutely not him. I'm thinking this is Stanley Turrentine with the Three Sounds. 5. Nice swinging theme. First tenor has a brawny tone that makes me think of Coleman Hawkins a bit. The second tenor solo has a lighter sound. Al and Zoot? 6. Jazz Messengers with Benny Golson and Curtis Fuller? No, the absence of trumpet in the ensembles seems to rule that out. Benny Golson as a leader is my best guess. 7. A Parker tune, Now's the Time, I think. The piano style is more modern. The alto's not trying to be a Bird copyist here. Enjoyable, maybe early Lou Donaldson. 8. Since I Fell For You, or a very similar tune. Lockjaw Davis and Shirley Scott? 9. Tatumesque piano opening leads into slow soulful tenor statement. The tune may be My One and Only Love, I think it's one of those tracks where the theme follows some improvisation. Did Dexter Gordon and Tommy Flanagan record together. Maybe even Barry Harris. 10. Funkier piano style here. Maybe Cannonball with Joe Zawinul or Vic Feldman. 11. I get a bossa nova feel from the drum pattern. Echoes of both Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner. If it was Tyner it would have to be very early. I'll say Bill Evans. 12. Sounds like Jimmy Smith on Verve with Oliver Nelson arranging a big band. 13. Slow greasy blues. Maybe even greazy. Bobby Timmons comes to mind, but he's known more for trio sessions. Very clean, yet very expressive tenor sax. I'm leaning toward Johnny Griffin over Dexter Gordon.

Dan, in case my PM didn't get through, my disk was blank. You can email me at randyhersom@mindspring.com. Thanks Randy

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. My first reaction was "that's familiar" rather than "That's Metheny", but I wasn't able to dredge up the better fit. I was listening to a Jack DeJohnette tape with Abercrombie and Lester Bowie in the car a couple weeks ago, but didn't make the connection.

If any moderators prefer not to have this thread used on their CD, I'll honor that and not post here. It's not real likely to catch on anyway, but you never know... Thanks for the feedback.

Well done DrJ. Gave my Americentric ass a good swift kick! I enjoyed it thoroughly and hope to get better. I really have trouble finding time for concentrated listening, so I'm not expecting too much of myself. I'll be playing the CD again for pleasure and it worked quite nicely as a radio show. Thanks to Jim and DrJ

Fun, but pretty humbling. Twenty years ago, I used to be able to be able to pick out musician, but that was quate a while ago. Track one solo guitar, old recording. No real clue. Track Two West coast sounding, trombone solo first. I admit to being influenced by some comments I'd read before receiving the dIsk. I'll guess JJ Johnson, Stan Getz, Lou Levy, Shelly Manne. Track 3. I'm guessing Bird on tenor with Max Roach, Curly Russell, Al Haig. I'm not terribly sure he recorded in tenor without Miles, but that's what I'm thinking. A very long track for Bird too, not obviously live. I think I'll back off on Bird. Hmm ... Max as a leader with Mobley or Rollins? Track 4 Definitely Jitterbug Waltz composed by Fats Waller. Was this on that Modern Jazz Society album that John Lewis put together? Getz, Bags? , I think someone other than Lewis on piano. Track 5. The solo intro makes me think Rollins, and nothing else is popping out. Major tenor chops, smooth and full of ideas. I'm thinking Horace Silver on piano. Track 6. I like the eastern sounding solo intro, and indeed the whole track. Not as percussive as I'd expect from Horace Tapscott, but his name entered my mind. Track 7. Mid period Art Pepper, perhaps? Meets the Rhythm Section? The more I listen the more I think Jay Mac instead. Jackie McLean. I know he recorded some with Pete LaRoca. My mind went back to a good bass solo, I think it was on this track. I thought of Wilbur Ware and Richard Davis, it sounds too late for Oscar Pettiford. Track 8. I'm thinking this is the Duke Ellington Jazz Violin Summit with Ray Nance, Svend and Stephane. I think one of them plays viola on the date. Track 9. Definitely a different concept of organ and guitar. I'll guess Grant Green, from Iron City with Larry Young miscredited as Big John Patton. Something about the organ sound calls to mind discussions of the organ sound on that album. If so, that's Ben Dixon on drums. Track 10. I like the Jones/Lewis big band for this one. Might be Billy Harper on tenor, Roland Hanna on piano. Very exciting arrangement. Track 11. Still a larger ensemble. Not all that many of them that sound this modern. Not as modern as most Gil Evans I've heard, but still feels too modern for Woody Herman. Very nice. Track 12. The piano starts out unusually chromatically. Not Cecil's style, but plenty of adventure. Maybe Jay Hoggard on marimba with Geri Allen? Hill and Hutch? Track 13. Taking us back in to the safe and familiar sound. The guitar calls to mind Metheny while no names pop out on the soprano. Maybe this is from the Joshua Redman album with Metheny, Wish. Track 14. When I think Jarrett, but don't hear vocalizations, I think Mehldau. Not all of this called up Jarrett for me, but some of it did. Relistening to track 7, I hear the phrase that called Pepper to mind, but I hear a whole lot more of Jackie Mclean's tenorlike tone.

I'd like to throw an additional and very optional wrinkle into the Blindfold tests. Anyone who wishes to may post their guesses/determinations of Group/Leader, Title, Composer and up to five musicians for each blindfold test track. On the honor system, what you post here must be typed or written down *before* viewing any threads discussing the blindfold test in questions, and without any use of references. No printed or internet research, not listening to another CD to help decide. After the tracks are revealed, if you are not sure an answer is correct, post a request for a ruling. For example, I personally would rule "correct" if you answered Sun Ra and the CD was Sun Ra and his Myth Science Cosmos Arkestra. I would rule incorrect however, if the guess was Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band and the answer was Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. Anyone but the asker may rule and the decision of two of the first three rulers is final. No point penalty for incorrect guesses. I realize this will encourage some way off the wall guesses, and that's part of the fun. 5 Points each for Group/Leader, Title and Composer, one point for each of up to 5 musicians named correctly, which may include the leader. I suspect many others, like me, are already disqualified from guessing on Blindfold Test #1, so I'll be starting this out with Blindfold Test #2. Don't discuss the selections at all here. I don't want to take anything away from the other threads. Just post your guesses, than come back and tally and post your final score after the answers are revealed.

Yes Virginia, there is an RIAA.

The question is unclear, and perhaps unfairly limited. It sounds like the first item on the ballot is to allow the listener to somehow choose what will be on their blindfold test CD. Perhaps you meant to say the user would choose the distribution media, but that wasn't clear. In order to vote for the second option you must also vote for a 6-10 track limitation over the compilers option to include as many tunes as they would like. I have no problems with compiler and participant agreeing to a different distribution method than the norm. It is important that organissimo.org not participate in distribution. I would vote against any prior limitations on the compiler. I wouldn't object to an agreement that one board member listen to the disk for appropriateness and general interest before it is sent to everyone. We don't want press teams or devotees of other genres to have our street addresses just by asking.

I have been wanting to do this for a while, suggested it once and got soundly ignored. Thanks to whoever made it happen. Dan, count me in for the next round, and I'd love to create a CD a little later too. I'd hope that themes are at the option of the conductor, rather than required.

I think the yellow album you speak of is Extensions. I too got to see the Milestone Jazzstars tour and enjoyed it thoroughly. Horizon is a very underrated McCoy Tyner Milestone date. John Blake is wonderful on violin. What a body of work!

Matt Hopkins would love to have her visit the Philly club. Maybe her school can get involved in the School Scrabble championships next time around. We've had children as young as ten participate in sanctioned tournaments playing against adults. If you're interested I'll get you Matt's e-mail address.

Jim R - on the tournament scene, the way to even out the luck of the draw is to play enough games. It's not 100% effective, but in longer tournaments skill and word knowledge will rise to the top a large majority of the time. There is a variant called duplicate scrabble, popular in French language play, where everybody tries to find the highest score with the same letters. The highest scoring play gets made and letters are drawn to fill out the rack and shown to all. It's a very different game, and less strategic than one on one Scrabble. The luck is evened out, but it's not nearly as popular in the US. Boggle is a very common side event after hours at Scrabble tournaments. I'm good because I know a lot of words, but I have seen some jaw droppingly great Bogglers that I'm very lucky to steal an occasional round against. Thanks to all for the best wishes. Randy Hersom

I've qualifed for a couple of big invitational Scrabble tournaments recently. This weekend, August 16-18 is Scrabble All-Stars 2003. It will be shown as a one hour program on ESPN later this fall. October 21-24 is the World Scrabble Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both will be covered at www.scrabbleassociation.com . Any other Scrabble ® players out there? Randy Hersom