Got my disc yesterday - thanks Dan!
I've been holding off reading any comments on this thread because I want to post my initial thoughts before delving into AMG, my own CD and LP collection, or being swayed by any comments here. So I'm sure I'll embarrass myself a time or two with my guesses, but I already told you before that I'm not very good at this sort of thing. Nevertheless, it's been an absolute blast exercising my listening muscles and trying to determine who's playing what rather than knowing everything beforehand. It's an interesting process for me, and I feel that I'm already learning a lot just by listening, well, differently than usual.
First, a few overall thoughts.
*Dan mentioned that there might be some sort of theme here. Not sure exactly, but a lot (all?) of these cuts are taken from LPs. A bunch of 'em are live. Perhaps they're all from albums that aren't yet on CD?
*I recognize most of the tunes even if I can't quite come up with some of the titles. I can't tell you how much that pleases me - I already don't feel so stupid.
*I listened to the CD at work today on what's essentially a boombox, so I know I'm missing some of the sound quality clues. I'm now sampling the tracks at home, and I'm sure as I listen more throughout the week I'll refine some of my "guesses."
*Finally, I really dig every one of these cuts. I don't know if that means I'm easy to please or that Dan's simply got good taste. I'd like to believe the latter.
Now on with the test:
1. I’m pretty certain the tune is “Drown in My Own Tears,” and I’ll guess from the soulful groove, overall sound, and the live recording that this is The Ramsey Lewis trio on one of their live Chess/Argo albums.
2. I know who this is, so I won’t mention it here just yet. Don’t know the specific album, but it's live and probably a later recording (Verve?).
3. “Stand By Me.” Is this Stanley T.? It doesn’t quite sound like his tone to my ears, but it’s the kind of 60’s cover tune he was drawn to at the time. Could be Lou Donaldson or Sonny Criss, though I’m guessing that not so much because I can identify their unique tone than because I recognize their penchant for such material. As are many of these tracks, this is taken from an LP. If Mr. T, it definitely doesn't sound like a BN or RVG recording. May be one of the Lou Donaldson Argos?
4. “Watermelon Man.” I’m gonna guess Eddie Harris & Les McCann, though not from “Swiss Movement.” This tune would sound great played on spoons!
5. Really no idea. An older track to be sure, again off of an LP. I love the walking bass (nicely recorded by the way).
6. The trombone would suggest Benny Green or Curtis Fuller, though I don’t recognize this from any of their leader sessions that I have. Since it’s also from an LP, there’s a chance that it’s not yet on CD.
7. Damn, I know this tune, but can’t come up with the title. I’m thinking something be-boppy like “Move” or “Dig.” This sounds like the oldest tune on the CD, maybe early 50s (it sounds too good to be much earlier). This sounds like something Bird and Diz would have done (maybe I have their version?), but the sax doesn’t sound quite like Charlie Parker to me. Trumpet could be Dizzy, but I’m thinking more like Fats Navarro or Howard McGhee. Ah, listening again at home I'm thinking it is Bird after all, but now the track seems too long and the sound too slick for the era. Is that Bud on the piano? Nah, I thought so earlier at work, but not now that I'm hearing it better. I just know I'm gonna kick myself when I learn the answer to this one!
8. Is this “Since I don’t Have You?” Again live and from an LP. This sounds just like any number of Lou Donaldson or Stanley Turrentine funky organ combos. In other words, I love it. No clue who’s playing the organ; I don’t think that’s Grant Green on guitar, but it wouldn’t surprise me if I’m wrong. I really should think beyond Blue Note. This could just as easily be something Jack McDuff did for Prestige.
9. Now this is pretty, but I haven’t a clue who’s playing. I was first thinking Art Tatum and Ben Webster from that Pablo disc, but this sounds like a stereo recording to me, so that's not right.
10. Again, sounds like a Turrentine or Donaldson 60s session to me.
11. The tune is “Footprints.” Is that an electric bass? It sounded like it earlier on the boombox but now I don't think so - but it is more modern sounding and recorded up in the mix. I dunno, but I love it. Could it be Herbie's trio with Patitucci? If so, that probably shoots down my live and/or Lp-only theme...
12. As you can probably guess by now, I can’t tell one organist’s tone from another, but given the context of the recording I’m going to guess that this is Jimmy Smith on one of his Verve albums arranged by Oliver Nelson.
13. "Lonely Avenue?" No real clue here, but the recording sounds a bit more modern – and by modern I mean from the 1970s. Is that an electric bass? My first thought was Junior Mance, but I don’t think that’s right. Maybe Red Garland on one of his 70’s Prestige dates? Again, the sax sounds like Turrentine or Donaldson to me - but then I say that about every funky sax player. Damn, I love this rhythm section!
Okay, enough guessing for now. I'm gonna post this and then read what the rest of you have to say...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
