Durium

Ditto to that, is this release going to be easily available or do you have to order it directly from the manufacturer? Their website to order it is at the bottom of the blog. Gerry Mulligan Sextet: New Live Recordings Keep swinging Durium

I see you're from Switserland? Well - then you should recognize the musicians of one of the unsolved tracks Durium

Dear friends, The discussion of the BFT # 61 Something Old Something New seems to be running dry ........ Thanks Nate, Sidewinder, Snoozer, MG, Stereojack, Alex., JSNgry, Relyles and ............ King Ubu and ....... others for your comments. Maybe you love to post your suggestions ( I gave some hints, didn't I?) - please do it before the weekend. If the discussion has been finished I suggest to post the answers of BFT # 61 later next week(end)................. to be ready to go for Nate's BFT # 62, which will run in February next. Durium

Okay - let's continue ............. I selected some of your comments to react !! #12 - "Solitude" by twin bassists, nice! This is also nicely recorded, none of that dreadful sound here! Not so sure about the clarinet... Sure, but who's who? One bass player has already been identified as Ron Carter. Who's the other? And this was part of the sound track of a film, but, probably, not even used in the film. #17 - A Monk tune, but as usual I can't name it... doing Monk covers is extremely difficult, and I'm afraid I don't approve of this attempt here... it's not all bad, but it doesn't do Monk justice I think. It gets as it goes on though! In fact it gets quite good! Who's this guy, not by any chance Misha Mengelberg? I start liking this as it goes on! Monk is Monk - no discussion about that and everybody who wants to make a record ... Plays Monk will be unmasked. Misha Mengelberg is a great suggestion - it is one of our most interesting piano players and, most of all, composers. There are some tracks in this compilation that have relations to Misha, like track 13, which is a Misha Mengelberg cokposition. Misha is fascinated by Monk's rhythmical structures and chords and that's why your suggestion, Kung Ubu, isn't so bad at all. This track, by the way, has been identified already by Nate and I have posted some comments about that in a previous post. #18 - Another retro two-beat accompaniment... the singer's voice is too high/light for my taste, but she's pretty ok. And with violin again present, this starts a wrapping up process, I guess, returning to the beggining? Something Old Something New - the treme of this compilation - you're right - a lot of old tunes played by more modern players, and modern tunes played by "elderies". And some retro bands too. I like Heather's pleasant light voice, and her versions from old tunes: I'm Old Fashioned is the title of her first album. #19 - Ha! good one! These few seconds express a lot of feelings ........... Thanks King Ubu. Although you started saying that this selection was all too smooth for you - i'm happy you didn't trash this compilation "Something Old Something New". I'm glad you( and I ) survived. Keep swinging | > 1000 times Durium

Thanks King Ubu for your comments. Of course - tastes are different - if not we would all like the pop songs on MTV, (didn't we?), so fire away ................... #1 - That's Aki Takase and her Fats Waller band, right? Eugene Chadbourne singing, Nils Wogram doing the great trombone solo... Thomas Heberer, Rudi Mahall (rather constrained here), and Paul Lovens on the swinging drums... the opening cut of the CD, "Lookin' Good But Feelin' Bad" - good opener, though of course it's a dubious retro thing... I enjoy this particular band, though (and I also liked Takase's W.C. Handy project, which used Fred Frith instead of Chadbourne, I think). Of course, Kijg Ubu, this is Aki Takase. Hope to see hear in concert once. #3 - Harp? No, guitar, but in the intro it almost sounds like harp to my ears... what's that tune, ah "Django" by John Lewis! Love the song, not sure if I find this a good version though... rather easy listening-like, I'm afraid. Gets better once the gypsy swing settles in. But I prefer such music on acoustic guitar, also the bass is a bit too much (soundwise that is, blame the engineer...) I loved to introduce you to this unknown Norwegian guitar player who made a lot of nice recordings on his electric (!) guitar. He was identified by Snoozer as Robert Normann. #4 - The tune sounds familiar... from Ahmad Jamal? But this isn't him, right? Not bad, but a bit too much on the easy side again, tinkling along... hm, or is it him? There are some sings, but I'd not rate this as a first-class performance though I love his trio with Crosby/Fournier (which I suspect this is whom we hear here, then?) Today I listened to the Ahmad Jamal Chess album Ahmad's Blues - whow great - especially tunes like Cheek to Cheek. You're correct - it isn't Jamal. The guitar player and piano player have already been identified by MG as Bola Sete and Vince Guaraldi. #6 - This one though starts out somewhat charming, I confess! And it keeps it going to the end, nice one. This tune was written by Oscar Alemán, who will be commmorated this year beause he was born 100 years ago. Snoozer gave us a lot of info about the player: Ton Van Bergeyk. #7 - Not a violin sound I particularly enjoy. Is this "Sweet Sue"? The tunes continue to be over before I start getting into them really. No, this is A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody with Leo Slab, a French violin player from the scene around Django Reinhardt, who passed away last year. #8 - Another charmer here! Lovely tenor sound, fat and old-fashioned, with a nice muted trumpet. I don't venture a guess though, except that I assume this is another retro band thing? Great to learn that you like it - most peoples fed up with the bass guitar. The tenor player is already identified as Franz Jackson, but the man who plays the muted trumpet is still unknown ( for you - not for me ) #9 - This sounds more authentic for a change, good one. Thanks - I hardly can 't wait to tell you who these plaers are. #10 - "Salt Peanuts", another retro crew doing it dixieland style. Good idea, but not really my cup of tea. Or well, maybe after all it may be more of a novelty, rather than a good idea? sure, it's a very good idea to play bebop in dixieland style ... an anachronism pur sang. There was one band in the 1970s who did do it: The Anachronic Jazz Band Well, let's have a break. The rest will follow soon. Keep swinging Durium

GERRY MULLIGAN WESTERN REUNION SEXTET The April 1956 Amsterdam recordings by the Gerry Mulligan Western Reunion Sextet have now been released. Gerry Mulligan Sextet: New Live Recordings Keep swinging Durium

Thanks Relyles for your last set of comments: 16. Relaxed performance featuring two sympathetic trombones. The relaxed vibe is maintained by all the soloists. None of the individual statements are particularly noteworthy, but as a whole this is a pleasant performance. You're right - it's a pleasant performance. 17. A Monk tune. Got a little distracted, but once the performance got past the head, it was nothing like Monk. A lot of technique – impressive even. I think I will have to come back to this one This band has already been identified by Nate. It's a pity that it has stopped now. 18. I like the pianist immediately. Good swing and flow of ideas. I also thought the bowed solo was a nice touch. The vocalist did not really do it for me. Heather has found some great accompanists, I agree. Snoozer identified the vocalist as Heather Simmons Keep Swinging Durium

Thanks Relyles for your second part: Let's have a look. 8. Nothing remotely cutting edge or obviously advanced about this track - it simply manages to generate a relaxed good vibe. I have no idea regarding any of the personnel, but I especially enjoyed the tenor saxophonist’s brief statement The tenor saxophone player has already been identified by MG as Franz Jackson. Still love to know the title and / or the others. 9. Apparently a historical performance. This is one of those things that I have had limited exposure and as a result limited appreciation of. No, it's not a historical recordings, if you mean that it was recorded in the 1920s or 30s. It's from the mid 1980s. 10. Has a sort of jungle feel to it. At least I do recognize this as “Salt Peanuts” played by a larger ensemble. I can’t completely get into that chug-a-lug guitar rhythm. The soloists were all effective within this feel. Ultimately this is not something I would be moved to listen to often. Salt Peanuts is correct. Stereojack identified the band already as the French Anachronic Jazz Band 12. I am going to want to listen to that bass again. Simple, but played with a terrific sound and feeling. Very effective. The brief clarinet spot did not really add anything – could have been a bass solo all the way through and I would have been more than satisfied. One or two bass players? One was already identificated as Ron Carter. But who's the other and for which film this track was recorded? 13. This is easily one easily one of my favorite tracks on the disc. Great solo by the pianist. The alto sounds very familiar. The first thought I had was someone like Benjamin Herman, but I can’t commit. I could listen to more of this. You're correct: it's Benjamin Herman on alto saxophone. The tune has already been identified as a Misha Mengelberg composition, but he's not the piano player. The drummer name shouldn't be difficult as I have suggested that he was also at the Eric Dolphy last date. 15. I feel like I have heard this just recently. Yes, I should know who this is. Whoever it is, I like it. Bread and butter hard bop. Can’t go wrong. The trumpeter actually sounds like someone modern – like Roy Hargrove or someone of that generation. I a useless. As Roy Hargrove is one of my favorites too ( he plays in our jazz club once a year ) it could have been, but he's not in this selection. Thanks so far. Keep swinging Durium

13. Sure, the composer is Misha Mengelberg and the title is Kneebus. Well - another hint .......... as we still don't know any names of the musicians. De drummer man also played in the the Last Session and the saxophone player actually was born in ... England, but lives his whole life in The Netherlands. Sure, EST. Great! I'll give you the details. 17. (2:40) EST PLAYS MONK Esbjörn Svensson Trio Esbjörn Svensson p - Dan Berglund b - Magnus Öström dm Evidence ( Monk) Recorded January 1996 During the last decade this Swedish band, named the Esbjörn Svensson Trio, better known as EST or E.S.T. belonged to the most wanted jazz bands in Europe. They made music that was liked by the younger generations and colud almost described as pop-music, although they used a lot of funky jazz and fushion elemants in their music. I found this album, titled EST PLAYS MONK, made more then 10 years ago, which learns that they were still playing in a way close to the jazz tradition. In May 2008 this band performed at The International Jazz Festival in Middelburg and because it would have become my fifth concert that weekend I skipped EST and Maceo Parker to join its concerts. A few weeks later the pianist and leader Esbjörn Svensson dies in a scuba diving accident on the 14th of June 2008. Thanks Nate for ithe identification of track 17. I posted some more hints a few days ago. Please use it ....... Keep swinging Durium

Thanks Nate for the last part of your first impressions. Let's have a look .................... 11: Nice swing-to-boogie version of a familiar tune. The stomping closing peroration is the best thing, & it shows that the bassist & drums aren't really needed! There's a wrong note near the end & I like how the pianist makes it sound "right" through the next phrase. Sure, he is a giant on the keus !! 12: "Solitude" for 2 basses. A little too lazybones for me--I mean, it's hard not to like this, but it's not making me jump out of my seat either, and the business-like piano just seems to be trying to avoid getting in the way. Hm.... the clarinettist sounds familiar, maybe Michael Moore judging from the tone, though I wouldn't expect some of those top notes from him. This Solitude for two basses is played in a film ( I gave that suggestion yesterday) at the end after a long evening and night playing music in a club, so .............. that's why it sounds too lazybones ........ 13: Vaguely Monkish tune on some familiar changes. The drummer sounds familiar, can't place him, I don't think I know the others. This style of alto sax definitely sounds European, it's not fashionable in the U.S., more like a Dutch sound. This sounds "different" without maybe being all that idiosyncratic. I liked it--the pianist actually did something with the Monkisms rather than just quoting them or toying with them knowingly--without its really hitting me hard. There are a lot of wise words ........ Both the drummer as the saxophone player have won their spurs in the Dutch jazz scene, although they are both from a different generation. , I suggested yesterday. So that limits the numbers of candidates for this job Both are fascinated by the music of the composer of this tune. , I wrote. The album is dedicated to the music of Monk, that's correct, but only one track was composed by a Dutch piano player ........... who, well, let's help you all, played in Eric Dolphy's last session .......... 14: Bud Powell tune, I think. I must confess that I like this style of slightly "off" piano--the touch having that poking-the-keys flavour, the notes a little cracked, the lines dragging a little behind the beat--much more than the flavourless in-control sound of most contemporary jazz piano. Probably an older guy but recorded fairly recently. It's not exceptional--I don't get the sense of a cumulative building in tension between choruses, it just seems to amble along, & there's no "spillover" in energy from chorus to chorus (everything seems to be cut off every two or four bars)--but nice to hear nonetheless. No idea who it is--sounds like whoever it is ought to be picked up by the Smalls guys, if he/she hasn't been already. No, it's not a Monk or Powell composition, but the piano man's own ...... which don't exclude that he listened to these compositions. I don't expect that you will know his name, as he passed away three years ago, rather unknown to most of us. 15: A familiar but not overplayed standard (I forget the title, though the flavour suggests it's Adair/Dennis; is it "Will You Still Be Mine?" Whatever....). Not crazy about this one for some reason.... I like the pianist most just because he keeps surprising me & because he sounds like he's pushing himself the hardest. The tenor is one of those players who just sounds like he's turning on a tap. No idea who anyone is here. I heard the tenor and trumpet player last year ........ a great concert !! The tune is titled With a Song In My Heart .......... 16: A tromboney "Our Love Is Here to Stay". Amusing to hear someone's voice after that II-V passage on the head! (I initially thought one of the musicians, but turns out this is live.) I initially thought this would be painfully cute/cozy but the double tbn solo at the start really has its own knotty intensity, & while, yeah, the pianist does seem to be trying to tickle the crowd's fancy, that's fine, I like the glisses & pranks. Olde-style bowed bass solo, surely an older guy? Only Ari Roland plays bass like that now (& he's not as good). Yeah, this is nice, I liked the feeling, which is good-humoured but not two-dimensional or lazy. Good to learn that you like that track - Sure, it's a live recordings. I told before I bought this one because of the piano man, I heard him in concert with Bert Joris in 2000 and 2007. The bass player, with the great bowed solo, was described in the liner notes as "The Best Trombone Player of this band is to be heard on bass". He started his musical career on trombone, fascinated by both Jay and Kai. Now he is a sought after cello and bass player living both in the States and Europe. 17: OK, a very fast "Evidence" done by some cool hands. The pianist starts out SO minimalistically, with all those pauses & the homeopathic doses of left hand chords, that you just know he's waiting to eat up the keyboard..... This is impressive enough but, in terms of music, I dunno, just seems to me one of those tracks where everything seems in the right place, but it's a kind of playfulness that doesn't invite me to come & play--it's jazz as self-enclosed playground. This band belongs to the best Europe had last year. ....... But ............... unfortunally, after a weekend of concerts, I missed this one - now it's impossible to listen to the piano player anymore and enjoy his minimalistic playing. 18: Good, got the vocals out of the way.... Sounds like Susanna McCorkle with less sense of pitch. The pianist is a little..... bouncy. No, it isn't Susanne McCorkle. Snoozer already identified her as the English vocalist Heather Simmons 19: Thanks! A small tune with a large title .... Thanks Nate, for your suggestions. Have look what others suggested and read my hints I posted yesterday ............... Keep swinging Durium

Thanks Relyles for your first post ............... Let's have a look. Most tracks you discuss have been identified allready, but that's not important. Let's see what you have to say 1. Ensemble plus vocal playing in a historical jazz style that I do not have much exposure to. Fun upbeat performance with solid solos from trombone, trumpet and clarinet. The clarinetist’s (possibly sax) solo almost hinted at a modern player. Fun track but I have no clues on identification. Something Old something New, remember !! That's the theme of this compilation. A classic (Waller) theme as played by a band, that normally plays in the free jazz style. Nate already identificated this band, which made a complete album dedicated to Fats Waller. 2. I am fairly certain that the alto saxophonist is Frank Morgan, but I am unable to locate a recording that this brief performance would have appeared on. I have always found his sound very appealing. You're correct. I was able to hear him at one of his last concerts. A great man with, indeed, a great sound. Sidewinder identified him ..... 3. Short performance of “Django” by a guitar-bass-drums ensemble. Kind of a country/hillbilly guitar sound. I have no idea who the musicians are. Kind of interesting, but not something I would likely seek out for further investigation. This almost unknown and forgotten Norwegian guitar player, nick named The Django of the North, deserves to be put in the spot lights. Thanks Snoozer for identifying him. 6. Solo guitar (or is it a banjo?) performance. Uke !! 7. Swinging violin and guitar feature. I know there are not a plethora of jazz violinists in the history of the music, but my familiarity with them is limited to a few modern performers. Pleasant – I am sure I should appreciate it more. I think my limited exposure negatively impacts my enjoyment. This violin player passed away a year ago, almost forgotten .................... Georg L. told me his story. Thanks so-far Relyles - you're invited to send me more suggestions ................ Keep swinging Durium

Franz Jackson? MG Sure, MG, one point for you. Do you have any idea who the other members of this sextet are? Keep swinging Durium

SOME HINTS ..... BFT #61 Something Old Something New - Keep (it) Swinging Track 5. The musician is Hamilton De Holanda. This name was already identified by Snoozer. The tune he's playing is a Samba originally composed by a well known Brazilian composer. Track 8. The tenor sax player passed away a half year ago aged in his 90s. Track 9. I saw this band in the 1980s at a major Dutch jazz festival. The members of the band aren't Europeans nor North Americans nor Asians ...... and they surprised by playing the traditional New Orleans music in a way as if they were born near to the source of this music ...... Track 12. This music was used in a film, but .......... in the film only a few fragments were used. The complete recordings were later used in a great documentary ................... Track 13 The drummer and the saxophone player have won their spurs in the Dutch jazz scene, although they are both from a different generation. Both are fascinated by the music of the composer of this tune. Track 14 An almost forgotten rather unknown Dutch jazz piano player, who passed away three years ago, and made some great music ........... Track 15 This US trumpet player lives in Germany now. I heard him playing last year with this great Dutch saxophone player. Track 16 I've memorized it several times. These "twobones" are really fascinated by Jay and Kai. I bought its album, because iI was fascinated by trombones of course, but also because of the piano player, I heard once in concert: an Italian giant on the keys !! Track 17 Last year I visited numerous concerts , but I cancelled one, because it was my fifth in one weekend ..................... now I can tear my hair, ( what is left), because that concert happened to be one of its last with this personnel ....... Track 19. Well, a very small tune with a large title............. Keep Swinging Durium

But they are very good choices for when the wife tells you to put on some dinner music for the guests to enjoy. Although I almost always go with the MJQ 'Last Concert' or the solo Kenny Barron set 'Spiral' in those cases. I try Turrentine's Salt Song first and then see if it evolves or devolves from there... Funny story though, kinda. I was over for dinner to a friend's house a while back, great cook, even greater bassist, and I brought along the MJQ's Space, you know, the one on Apple that gets a little trippy on Side One. Well, ok, I put it on. The guests are all musicians, some (too many, I'd say now, with the passage of time...) tragically hip, and sure enough this one guy starts mocking, "Oh great, we get invited over to eat, then here comes the goddamned MODERN...JAZZ...QUARTET. Now we're at a freakin' DINNER PARTY!" Well, we get into that Side One (which is where all the trippy stuff happens), & I shoot this guy a look and a raised eyebrow. He catches the gesture and says, "Hey, we're still at a freakin' dinner party. But it's a pretty hip dinner party, at least for now". We both shared a laugh, did a line or two, and went out and shot pistols in the air at random intervals to celebrate our unbridled virility and unfathomably superior taste. A passerby or two might have gotten winged, but a life without surprises and random dangers is not worth living, right? Well, it seems as if we have reached the dessert in our BFT # 61 dinner party - a hip dinner party I hope. I still expect some guesses, but I think I need to drop some hints for the unidentified tracks. Mind you can earn some extra points for that. Well I'll select the unidentified tracks and come back later ......................... Keep swinging Durium

Seeing this reminded me of Jim's guess on my BFT (when the answer really WAS Bill Evans), which had me on the floor in hysterics: Still !!! I once heard someone, who pointed to one of those small wooden jazz trumpet players you can buy in antique shops (mostly as a group), that the man who was playing the trumpet was Duke Ellington? I said, "You sure? - Yes, sure it's Duke Ellington - what do you know about it? Discussion closed. Keep swinging Durium

Thanks for your nice words. I'll be ready to shoot on it, when you're back home !! Keep swinging Durium

Dear Jostber, As I posted in my blog, there has been released recently a low-budget Saga Jazz CD, titled Oscar Alemán - Ritmo Loco - El Rey de la Guitarra Swing. (Saga Jazz 72) This one should be easily to found in Norway record shops. Keeo swinging Durium

FREDDIE HUBBARD Last week the great trumpet player Freddie Hubbard passed away at the Sherman Oaks Hospital in California. We knew about his bad health, the problems he had during the last decade to play his instrument; last month he was brought to hospital because of a heart attack. He was 70 years old when he died............. I was surprised to read that he was only 70 years of age when he passed away. I guess that's because he just started to record in 1960 as a leader and, except for some records as a side man (with the Montgomery Brothers and Five Others (Buddy, Wes and Monk Montgomery; John Coltrane, Slide Hampton and Eric Dolphy)) he didn't record in the 1950s, the period the hard bop developed into the major jazz style of the post bop period. Freddie Hubbard will be remembered, in my opinion, for his great Blue Note albums from the 1960s Freddie Hubbard - Jazz Trumpet Player Keep swinging Durium

OSCAR ALEMÁN ( 1909-2009 ) On the 20th of February 2009 we'll commemorate the fact that Oscar Alemán, el Rey de la Guitarra Swing, as he is called in Argentinia, was born 100 years ago. This fact will be celebrated in Argentina, where he is still an icon of Argentine jazz. Oscar Alemán (1909-2009) | Oscar Alemán: His Argentine career Keep swinging Durium

Thanks Nate for your new list of suggestions. Let's go ..... 6: some blistering playing on uke, I believe. Pretty damn amazing. Thanks for the nice words to the "guitar player"Ton van Bergeyk. Snoozer already identified this "ghuitar" player, now active in the Dutch Swing College Band. The tune ( and the ukulele, in fact a cavaquinho, has all to do with Oscar alemán, the Argentine guitar player, we commemorate next month that he was born 100 years ago. You can read all about it at Oscar Alemán (1909-2009) 7: odd phrase structure to this tune, which keeps making me think it's losing half a bar at one point. The guitarist is good, & I liked the somewhat strange (non-Grappelliish) violin playing with (sorry I'm not one for technical terms) the quirky bow weight & phrasing. This track was also identified by Snoozer as a recording by Leo Slab, who passed away a year ago, playing in "a traditional way" in a "modern" Hot Club setting. 8: hm, electric bass?? aside from questions of instrumentation, this is so terribly unswinging I can't take it. & what's with this non-solo by the tenor? At points this is so clunky that I assume these guys are doing it deliberately..... I hope?? Most people don't like the elctric bass 10: I like the way the trumpet straightens out the kinks in Dizzy's break...! This is knowing stylistic reversion, but, yeah, it's fun & it's done well--the rising harmony in the last chorus is a nice touch. you recognized this as "something old something new". It was already identificated by Stereojack. Thanks so-far. I'm looking forward too your last "selection" suggestions. Keep swinging Durium

TRACK ELEVEN - Always glad to hear the Shiek (watch out though, there's been rumors out of Vegas that he'll sneak into your tent naked as a jaybird!)! Perfect mid-40s club fare, I should think. A little goes a long way, but in that day and in those places, that's what the purpose would have been, right? Beyond that, it gets wearying pretty fast, but no need to worry about that on a BFT, is there now! Well, you'll have to watch out for this snake .............. as you'll be surprised who plays it !! Alex. dentified this Canadian snake ..... TRACK TWELVE - "Solitude", of course. I love this tune. Bassist seems to have been touched by Mingus (which is not necessarily the same as having been "influenced" by him). That fatass tone puts me in mind of Red Mitchell, who was one of the kings of fatass tones (at least on records...) Or maybe Ron Carter even? Ah, clarinet...a kinda stiff player, on this little hearing... Yeah, definitely Ron Carter, w/a 2nd bassist. Ron Carter has gotten (and deserved) a lot of shit over the years, but when the guy comes to play, he plays. I'm diggin' this one. You're righ in saying that one of the bass players is Ron Carter. A great one - I heard him last summer in Rotterdam in a concert to promote his Dear Miles album. This track is not from that album Who's the other bass player and who's the clarinet player. It's not a regular CD recording or live show, where you are listening to. Maybe you know for what purpose this track was made. TRACK THIRTEEN - Great drumming (and great drum tuning) on the intro. After that, it's good enough. Interesting altoist, sounds like he's pushing himself to not just play licks, with inconsistent results. But that's the risks you take when improvising (and that's also a reason why few people truly improvise) But really, that drum intro is enough all by itself! The drummer is really a great one and rather famous in this part of the world, but you should know him in the States too, I guess. He even played at the Neweport Jazz Festival in 1966, I believe. And the alto saxophone player is a rising star too in this part of the world, but from a younger generation. TRACK FOURTEEN - Ok, I think it's Bird tune, but the name escapes me. I've heard better, I've heard worse. At this point, I look at stuff like this as documents of where people were on their way to someplace else - either this zone only more fully realized or else some other zone altogether that they had to go through this one to get to. Or. occasionally, on their way out altogether. My hunch is that with this player it's one of the first two. But it's almost like you can hear/feel how the weight of trying to channel, hell, just remembering, Bird's/Bud's vocabulary is weighing on them, almost like a 250 pound weight on your stomach, yeah you can support it, and yeah you can still breathe, but not like you could if it wasn't there. This one seems to be rather difficult for al of you. some all it a Monk tune; others a Bird composition. It's none of that. The piano player composed it himself. Maybe I should give you some hints about this track - 1. The piano player passed away a few yearsago. 2. The piano player has been rather unknown, even in his own country. TRACK FIFTEEN - Great song, "With a Song In My Heart"! Very in the Brown/Roach/Rollins bag, and very cooking too...sounds to me like they come by it honestly enough. Tenor playing occasionally betrays some "schoolboy" lickage, but hides it very well. I could almost go George Coleman on this one, actually....almost. If there were more examples of this, the "it doesn't matter how old a style you play in" argument would be easier made! KUDOS TO THE DRUMMER! And the pianist's comp. These ain't no kids, and they ain't no Dictaphones either. Glad you like it - so do I. I heard this band in concert last year !! No, it isn't George Coleman, but the style (not the recording !) is, I agree, from the1950s TRACK SIXTEEN - "Our Love Is Here To Stay", Not sure that the "duetting" is working for me as well as having them play separately might have. Mr. Piano Player is a treat, though. Roger Kellaway? Roland Haana, even? Nice! No, the piano man is not Roger Kellaway nor Roland Hanna. He's from Italy, so this might help you a bit, maybe. TRACK SEVENTEEN - "Evidence". Went from not caring for it to liking it about halfway through...Funny thing, once they get going, if you could isolate the pianist's right hand and the drummer, what you'd be left with would be not at all out of place on an early fusion record! That whole motivic/pentatonic thing that sprung from Trane went into "straight ahead" & fusion jazzs both, and now they've kinda come back into one thing for many players...Kenny Barron used to play a lot like this, but I don't think that this is him...could be, though... No, it isn't Kenny Barron. I could have seen this band last year, but I was to tired - now it's too late TRACK EIGHTEEN - Not a tune with which I've ever shared much passion...and I'm afraid the same holds true for this rendition, as fine as it is. I'll take the Sinatra/Basie version and be done with it. Thanks anyway! Snoozer identified this English vocalist. I was surprised when I heard her on record for the very first time !! Thanks JSngry for your suggestions. Hope you will be surprised when you read the answers. Keep swinging Durium

You're welvcome JNgry - hope you l;iked it. Love to discuss your first selection. Some tracks, especially the first ones, have been identified; a lot not (yet). Let's seee what you think about it!! TRACK ONE - Not from my neighborhood, if you know what I mean, but I can hear and feel the fun, as well as the superb skill involved. Plus, a lot of information in less than thee minutes. That's kind of a lost art in many parts of the musical world. I enjoyed it. It's really a Fats Waller killer diller played in a special way and a good starter I think. Nate already identified the band. TRACK TWO - Frank Morgan? Sounds like something I have by him but haven't listened to in many years. What can you say? There's a mature lyricism there that is really beautiful. Sure is a short cut, though? But then again, it leaves nothing lacking, so it's all good there. Sure, JSngry, it's Frank Morgan. A very nice man. Sidewinder already identified this man and I told him about one of the last concerts, 13 months ago, where he performed with the Rein De Graaff Trio. A great concert. TRACK FOUR - "People" and, I'm assuming, Bill Evans. Not a huge fan of either song or pianist, but I do dig the reharmonization he does here. And I must say that my lack of passion for Evans is over the long-term. An occasional exposure here and there always works nice, Only now that we get into it, I'm not so sure that this is Evans! Either way, I like the reharmonization, but find the soloing quite pedestrian. I feel that some doubts have arisen concerning your first suggestion that the piano player might be Bill Evans. you're riht - it isn't. MG identified this piano player and guitarist in this live recording. TRACK SIX - Is that a ukelele? A tiple? Whatever, kudos for execution on what is probably a smallish fretboard. That's gotta be a labor of love. Sure, this is a ukulele and the most difficult of playing that instruments was to keep it in your hands ............. Snoozer identified the player, who told him that sotry about making this record. TRACK EIGHT - Electric bass? A somewhat anachronistic choice, but it works (or else my speakers don't!). Don't think the playing itself is working for me, though....doesn't seem "real" to me in some form or fashion. sorry. Trumpet almost sounds like Wynton, which would indeed be high irony, but I don't think it is, Most listeners don't like the electric bass and I can agree on that. The most important musician on this track is the tenor saxophone player. The trumpet player isn't Wynton - you're right. TRACK TEN - Something like this was circulating amongst local musicians' emails a while back. I forget who it is, but I dig it, and not just for the novelty. I mean, why not? I heard this story before and it might have been tracks from this "Anachronic" Jazz Band. It's a pity that this band only played a few years. Stereojack identfied this track. Well, this is the first half. Be back later with the second part with a lot that hasn't been identified yet ! Keep swinging Durium

Dear Nate, Thanks for your suggestions about the first tracks ................. 1: Well, it's definitely Rudi Mahall on the bass clarinet, no idea about the rest, but a guess (given the material) would put this as Aki Takase's Fats Waller album. Ehhhh.... they seem to be trying too hard to be wacky. Great !! I'd never expect that this track would be identifief - you did. Let's give the details: 1. (2:49) AKI TAKASE plays "FATS" WALLER AKI TAKASE SEXTET Aki Takase p - Eugene Chadbourne vol, banj, g - Nils Wogram tb - Rudi Mahall bcl - Thomas Heberer tp - Paul Lovens dm. Lookin'Good, but feelin'bad ( Lester A Santly-Thomas Fats Waller) recorded Hamburg - 2-3 June, 2003 (Enja CD 9152) I learned for the first time about Aki Takase and her music in a program on MEZZO TV, the French jazz and classical music TV company, thatr's here on the cable. She's a free-jazz piano pl;ayer, of Japanese origin, but living in Germany.I was glad I found the CD a few months later visiting Brussels in Belgium and I found it a great starter for this compilation "Something Old Sometrhing New" and, as you know that Fats Waller was my first idol in jazz you can imagine why I started with a tune from this album, which features other classics like Vipers Drag, Handfl of Keys and hold Tight and all those other Waller classics. I like the vocals of banjo player Eugene Chadbourne and the bassclarinet of Rudi Mahall. - a great performer on that instrument. Hope you liked this opener!! Aki Takase plays Fats Waller 2: Jiminy cricket! No idea, maybe Bud Shank, hard to get a bead on given its brevity. no, it isn't bud Shank. Sidewinder already identified this track. 3: So it starts MJQ style before switching to the hot club swing of the dedicatee. The flash is enjoyable, though there's none of the lyrical abandon of Django. This track has been identified by Snoozer and you're correct stating that this guitar player has listened to Django .... He even was at a concert of Django in Oslo, Norway, I read somewhere ..... 4: This is much more my speed than the preceding tracks. Ahmad Jamalish pianist, I forget the name of the tune. It doesn't strike me as really lifting the roof off, but I liked it. No, this live recordings isn't Ahmad Jamal. I really liked the guitar player and was fascinated by his playing. MG did identified this track. I'm anxious to read your other suggestions, Nate. Some tracks have been identified but most haven't. Thanks for your identificatiuon of the Aki Takase track. Keep swinging Durium

It must have been the Anachronic Jazz Band I refered to in my comments. Stereojack identified this band, which played be-bop arrangements in a dixieland setting. Keep swinging Durium

As promissed now I wil discuss the second part of your suggestions. Some have been identified already, but most not, so .................. let's go! 11. “The Sheik of Araby” I suspect that this was recorded in the 1940’s, and although I can hear traces of Teddy Wilson, Earl Hines, and of course the boogie woogie giants, I think this is a young Oscar Peterson, recorded at the beginning of his career. Chops to spare, but too self consciously virtuosic, always the show-off. Audiences can eat this kind of thing up, but hammering away like this leaves me cold. Your correct. Alex. pointed to that name before. 12. Two basses playing “Solitude”. No idea who they are. Clarinet reminds me of Tony Scott a little. Kind of a throwaway. Sure, two bass players. The clarinet player is NOT Tony Scott who passed away 1.5 years ago. 13. Nice drumming opens this track. This sounds like a Christmas tune to me! Things get a little static by the time the band joins in, and the less said about the alto, the better! I wonder if this might be one of the early avant garde guys like maybe Jimmy Woods? He’s barely cutting it, and he brings the whole performance down. The drummer man is a leading name here in this part of the world, like the alto saxophone player. So NOT Jimmy Woods. The theme of the tune has, indeed, some elements from the song "Gloria in excelsis Deo" 14. This sounds to be a 1950’s recording of “Swedish Pastry”, perhaps by a European pianist? I liked this OK, but it isn’t killing me. Pianist hits a couple of clams in the opening head, and is a little short of ideas during his solo. But still, this has its moments. You're correct in saying that it is a European piano player, but notfrom the 1950s and not the tune Swedish Pastry. 15. Now, this is my favorite track on the whole disc. Of course, the tune is “With a Song In My Heart”, one of many classics from Rodgers & Hart, and this arrangement reminds me of the one Sonny Clark did on “Sonny’s Crib”. But this isn’t that recording, and as familiar as it all is, I can’t identify any of the musicians. Might this be some young guys like maybe Eric Alexander & Jim Rotondi? Of course the tune is “With a Song In My Heart”. If they are young guys depends of your age - the saxophone player is 60 years old like the trumpet player. It's not Eric Alexander nor Jim Rotondi. 16. From Rodgers & Hart to Gershwin, we’ve got two ‘bone players tackling “Our Love Is Here To Stay”. I liked this, but again, aside from the obvious reminder of Jai & Kai (this isn’t them, probably something much more recent), I can’t name the players, although I did enjoy this. They both can play! The two bones were fascinated by Jay & Kai. 17. Thelonious Monk’s “Evidence”, played too fast, in my opinion. The whole thing is too choppy and just doesn’t swing. Art Blakey would have demonstrated the right tempo!! The title of the tune is correct. 19. Boop-boop-be-doop! No, not the sweet charming mrs. Boop. Thanks Stereojack for your comments. As always, some tracks may be not your cup of tea - some do. Thanks for your comments. I'm anxious to read some comments of the others left. Keep swinging Durium