Spontooneous

To be more specific, Track 6 is from this album. (Can't find a copy of the album art that isn't on a bootleg site.)

BFT 84 is gone from the Interwebs. I'd re-up it, but my Internet provider will charge me a lot more money if my usage goes up any further -- so it would be cheaper to make you a disc and mail it. And no real trouble. Just let me know.

Maybe Lou's gotten it mixed up with Cal Massey's "Fiesta," which Bird recorded?

Also this one.

Days later, it occurs to me that on Track 4, the composition is Clifford Brown's "Larue." (Obviously not his performance.)

Last month I was slow in posting guesses, so this month I'll just splatter it all out there quickly: 1 Oh, I know I've heard this before. It's something recorded in Englewood Cliffs in the '80s, or late '70s at the earliest. Is that Benny Bailey on trumpet? Ron Carter or Buster Williams on direct-injection bass? I'll even go as far as to guess Billy Hart on drums. I'm gonna feel like an idiot when the ID of this is posted. 2 Here I go with the I-know-I've-heard-this-before thing again. Is that a Thad Jones tune? And his chart? But this was probably recorded sometime after his death. Is that Mel on drums, or someone who learned well from him? 3 Got a serious West Coast thing going on here. At first the tenor makes me think of Lucky Thompson, but it's got too many notes for that, so maybe it's Benny Golson. Second tenor is one of those Pres-inspired guys, probably not Zoot but maybe Bill Perkins or Kamuca. Trombone solo is fun. Oh my, two trumpet soloists too, the second one trying hard to be Brownie but not getting there. Nevertheless, this is fun. 4 We're bringing the cup mute back! The tune seems naggingly familiar, not just for having a few phrases similar to "What's New?" I keep thinking it's an Oscar Pettiford tune. The trumpet is very fine. The alto saxist tries to answer the musical question, what would Lucky Thompson have sounded like on alto? Or maybe I'm just stuck on Lucky today. I'm impressed with this one. 5 An overly filtered transfer from a 78 master. Cooks nicely. Reminds me of the Stan Getz "Opus de Bop" date, where he sounds oddly like Dexter. Nice. 6 Goin' to Kansas City! The pianist wrestles with bebop, but swing wins out. Trombone reminds me of Benny Morton, or Vic Dickenson. The riffs behind the solos make me think we're in Buck Clayton Jam Session for Columbia territory. Holy mackerel, is that Earl Warren on alto? But that isn't Buck on trumpet, is it? The low note makes me think it might be Ruby Braff, the fluency makes me think of Joe Newman. The tenor ain't nobody but Coleman Hawkins. Might this be one of the sessions John Hammond produced for Vanguard? Maybe with Papa Jo Jones as leader? 7 Back to the West Coast. Like the trumpet-guitar unison. Tenor solo is too overtly Prez-ish for me, might even be Paul Quinichette. But I do love the way the arrangement sets off the solos. 8 It may not be the pianist's band, but it's the pianist's show, circa 1955. Is that you, George Shearing? 9 "Makin' Whoopee," some nice boppish voicings in there, but it's inconsistent. By the second chorus we have some Erroll Garnerisms, and I wish the player wouldn't arpeggiate so many chords. 10 Electronically re-processed for stereo, playable on all mono phonographs! Or maybe just a low-budget recording. I like the tenor player's wit. Lots of surprises in here. Is that perhaps the Vonski? Or someone else who's a local legend somewhere? This is delightful. The baritone is less delightful. He's pushing too hard, like Leo Parker did sometimes. 11 "Segment" by Bird is the tune. The altoist even pretty much repeats the bridge that Bird improvised on the record's first theme chorus. Is this Charles McPherson, maybe in the '80s? 12 A nice blowing tune on "Yes Indeed" changes. Powerful spots for alto and trumpet. The band has more of a sense of fun than Kenton usually has. Might be Maynard. This is a sweet cut. 13 "Relaxin' at Camarillo." The guitar has me thinking Herb Ellis. The pianist wants to be Horace Silver but doesn't know when to quit adding notes. I want to like this better than I do. This is the only cut here that's failed to grow on me with repeated listens. Oh well. 12 out 13 ain't bad! Thank you, Bill! Some of these are going to drive me nuts until they're identified!

London/Decca reissued the Hawkins, Strayhorn and Buddy Tate sessions on CD in the '80s. Did they get around to any of the others?

A year or so ago, another board member was trying to sell me on the virtues of Nate Morgan. I said something surly like, "You ought to get some real McCoy Tyner records." Maybe I was too harsh. I really should have figured out the Michael Carvin album, and it's inexcusable that I didn't figure out the Moncur. I'll be looking for Dadisi. This is a good time, Thom!

Big Two is one of the best.

A download, please!

Strangest thing I ever saw with my own eyes: A tank truck carrying liquefied chocolate spun out on a cloverleaf ramp in Kansas City. There was chocolate all over the highway. It dried quickly. They had to use a road grader to scrape it off.

Picking up where I left off... 8. Wow. Really beautiful. The austerity and directness of the ensemble writing make me think of Oliver Nelson, even if the playing doesn't. This gets better every time I hear it. 9 There's one on every BFT that drives me crazy, and this is the latest one. I swear I've heard this before. The alto sounds very much like Bobby Watson and his motor habits for most of the solo, except for the ending. Is it '70s Bobby? I really like the drumming. 10 This one's gonna cost me some money, 'cause I need this record. The intro is so good it's scary, and the rest is very good. The tune is Calvary and the bowed bass is especially beautiful. 11 Probably the most recent track here. Is that an EVI or some kind of laptop-processed trumpet? I confess that this New School kind of jazz often bores me with its weepiness and its convolutions, but this tune is pretty good and they don't overplay it. I'm intrigued. 12 Back to the bari. It's "burning" pretty well, but I'm not feeling it right now, especially the piano solo. 13 Whatever it is, it's a beautiful journey into ECM land. 14 At first it seems to be a big band, but then I realize there are only maybe five horns. Love the permutations of just a few figures in the head. The trombonist copes with it especially well. The trumpet reminds me of Brad Goode. This is a really good one, Thom. Thank you!

Congratulations, Allen! (And it's good to see you back regularly.) Better cash that check quick before the GOP dissolves the state arts commission, like they did here in Kansas.

OK, back for more. Here's the first half: 1. The groove really floats, even with the bongos, and the solos float too. A magical track. I was trying to think of bari players who recorded with vibes and bongos, and the list was pretty short. This track is No. 2 here. 2. I'm getting a mid-to-late-80s vibe. Is the drummer Smitty Smith? Is the pianist James Williams? The trumpet solo is really lovely. 3. Obviously I have to guess Lester Bowie. Or Malachi Thompson. A haunting take on "Motherless Child." 4. Maybe Herbie Mann in the days before Sonny Sharrock. This does less for me than the first three did. 5. You say that's not McCoy Tyner? Then it's somebody with serious imitation issues. 6. The pianist has just gotta be Don Pullen. Just gotta be. (Then again, that's just gotta be McCoy on 5.) Maybe this is one of the things Don did with Jane Bunnett? 7. See my previous post. Edited to fix stupid spellings.

Just heard it. I'm a little underwhelmed. It's interesting to note that Bob does more to mess up the show than smacked-out Jerry does, however.

Can you guys keep it down? I'm trying to watch David Gergen on CNN!

The store listed in Iowa City no longer exists. It seems to be overlooking active stores in Iowa City, Des Moines and Omaha.

More later, but quickly for now: #7 must be Track 2 here, right? I recognize the tenor, but not the performance, and I don't have this record.

Latecomer appreciates the posted link!

He prefers to spell it Bugalu.

Man, I just love CNN. I can't get enough David Gergen!

If Spade Cooley's name isn't scary, there's always the fact that he killed his wife.

There was a two-disc compilation from the European affiliate, called "Blues March: The Roulette Years." Came out in the '90s. Looks official, but maybe it isn't. I've heard from one of the players in Blakey's band in this period that there was a strong organized-crime influence at the Roulette label in the '70s.

This was wonderful, Joe. And now my Want List just got longer. The Marty Ehrlich was lurking in my collection all along. No wonder 7 seemed familiar. Thanks also for the wonderful Tom Archia link. Feel like posting that one in the "Artists" forum? More people should see it!