Peter Johnson

On to disc 2. #1. Fever? No. What the hell…I know this tune, but not the players. Nice and dirrrrty track. Almost overblowing by the lead sax player—should be able to figure it out from that, but can’t. I like! #2. Same song, much newer version. Pianist was schooled classically—lots of time with Bach. No idea what this is. An entire disc of the same song, different versions? #3. I guess not. I’m not up on my big bands. If I had to guess…well, is it Duke? Shameful. I should know who this is. #4. Aaaack, again, I should know who this is. I don’t. But I love it—I need to get more exposure to ‘40’s jazz (which is what I think this is…who knows!) Neat sax section work. #5. Another one I’ve heard, but should know, but don’t—can’t even place the singer. I like this one a lot. #6. GREAT ensemble work! Similar to St. Louis Rundown? Again, I should know this. I’m going to get an education with this disc. #7. South of the border. I like this—great percussion, very nice alto solo. No idea who this could be. #8. I think I have this, whether it’s a 78 or a 10-inch lp…man, when I do these tests my mind just breaks the hell down. Is this Bud Powell? Yup…I’m gonna get schooled. I love this track, which will have me pulling down my old records to find out what it is. #9. Grappelli? (Only jazz violinist I know, other than Ornette Coleman! ) I like the changes, but could do without the violin solo. Fortunately, it’s not totally omnipresent, so I can deal, and the sax solo more than makes up for it. #10. NMCOT—I’m not wild about bass solo or leader recordings. Going to have to fast forward this one. #11. Very nice track. Love the saxophone player, but again, I have no idea who it is or what it is. Interesting how the initial chorus just stops and the piano player comes in. Could this be an alternate take of something? #12. My favorite track of the disc. I should know this tune—chord progressions here are very cool. Thought is was vibes/piano duet until I heard some nice bass plectrum work. Good stuff. Vibe solo lapses into sameness after a while, but the drums and piano solo recapture my attention. I’ll have to seek this out. #13. Sounds like Kenny Burrell to me, although the I lose interest in the track after a while. Not a big fan of guitar/piano/bass combination. Gimme some drums! #14. Speaking of drums! Nice! Gee, Mike, do you like percussion? I love this track, and will have to find it. Pianist sounds like he was recorded in a bathroom—and I mean that in a good way. It works for this track! I’ve heard the tune played by others, but again—can’t place it. Can’t wait to find out what this is. Hmmm, pianist sounds like Gene Harris crossed with Ahmad Jamal. Could it be…??? #15. Nice track. The bass and piano play VERY nicely together. This is another keeper. Sounds pretty recent—bassist sounds like Jay Leonhart—longshot! Oh man, why did the guitarist have to come in and kill my buzz? Liked until then… Oh well. Maybe he’s not on the other tracks? I’ll get to the other tracks later, but for now, Mike, I’ll thank you for this very fun and challenging BFT. As you now know, my specific recall of tunes and personnel, particularly obscure stuff, is for shit—but I had a hell of a good time. Now I’m exhausted! Looking forward to hearing the responses! Thanks again!

Intresting...I was thinking I'd get some clues for track 9 after reading the posted answers, but...nothin'! Not much love for the track, either--interesting! Well, I love it...particularly the break at the 5:30 mark. Niiiiice.

Finally getting a chance to be along with my thoughts and this BFT. Nice work, Mike—a bunch of really enjoyable stuff here. #1: Nice vibe work. I first thought it was Booby Hutch, but after a few listens, it’s either late Bobby or someone else. I have no idea what the tune is. Occasionally strange intonation on the vibes—as if they’re being hammered too hard, or something. Not being a percussionist, I don’t know what would cause that…recording, maybe? Enjoyable track. #2: I love the drum intro. Great beats. Fretless bass—must be fairly recent. I dig the vocalese, but have no idea who or what tune this is. I wouldn’t listen to this to relax, but it would be a good track to drive to work to! Good fender rhodes solo. Three blind mice quote in the bass. Two thumbs-up! #3: I love how this track is recorded. Great sound, except for the slightly too-boomy bass drum. Very clean alto sound. Again, HAFC. #4: Lots of organ on disc 1—fine with me! Trumpet/bari doubling is nice—real fat mid-register trumpet sounds like Freddie Hubbard to me, but I’m fairly certain this is not a CTI side. Baritone solo seems a little derivative and unimaginative; I think the player could have done more with less. The very end has these folks playing a LOT like the Red Clay lineup. Hmmm…??? #5: I recognize this tune, but can’t play it. Could this be Rahsaan Roland Kirk playing one of the horns (right channel), or maybe both (miked separately)? Braith? Definitely not Braith. This has got to be RRK—it’s just on this side of free where he loved to be. Diggin’ this track. #6: Beautiful solo piano version of Lush Life. With 463 entries for this on AMG, that site will be no help whatsoever. Parts of this get a little George Winston-ish for my taste, but on the whole, I like it. It’s recorded beautifully. #7: My initial reaction was Bobby McFerrin, but of course, it’s a woman singing! Ugh, though, I hate “Paper Moon,” so my interest dropped altogether after the fun opening. Scat is not nearly as accomplished as that on track 2. NMCOT. #8: This sounds like Soulive or Rodney Franklin, some recently recorded cats. Whoever it is has got to be playing a Gibson hollow body axe. Too accomplished to be GG Jr.; but I’ve got no idea who it is. Nice track. #9: Another great drum opening; is it DJ Logic on the tables? Oh YEAH! This track ROCKS!!! This is definitely MCOT! Can’t wait to find out what this is—this track will result in a purchase for sure. Hella funky—but no idea who it is. #10: Sidewinder. I never feel this way, but on this particular song, for my tastes, there’s nothing but the original. The vocals do nothing for me—remind me of the college jazz choir (“Jazz Hands!”). I miiiight get into this over time and with repeated listening… #11: Aiiiieeeeeeeeeeeee! HAFC—NMCOT! I tried to like this symphony for arco bass, assorted percussion, detuned harp and prepared piano—but just could not get in to it at the end of the day. #12: Sounds like the singer from track 10—without lyrics this time. I dig this one, but again have no idea who or what it is. Neat track. AWESOME vocal “drum solo!” Very impressive. Thanks for a great disc one, Mike—VERY challenging—in terms of some of the tracks which were tough to listen to, and in terms of others, which I felt I knew but probably didn’t. I’m looking forward to disc 2, but REALLY looking forward to the answers.

You've got mail!

For BN you seem to have been born between Grant's Visions (5/21/71) and Hutcherson's Head On (7/1/71). Thanks, Chuck! Visions. Hmmmmmm....

Who's got the BN discography and can tell me what was happenin' on or around June 25, 1971?

33!

Rooster, did you try the "wayback machine" to try to capture the old threads from the BNBB? Check out archive.org, maybe that will help. Good luck--the project sounds cool! PJ

I received "Now" and "Dance with Death" today from CD Universe. I listened to them both at work, and was wholly unimpressed with Now, which I have on wax but only listened to a couple of times (I almost came to Org and offered to sell it!), but loved Dance with Death (which I'd never heard). I'm listening to Now right now on headphones, and I have to reassess my opinion. I think this is a great record. I had no idea before today that Gene McDaniels did the lead vocals on this session (I've loved Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse for years), and had forgotten about the subtle addition of guitar. It works in a strange, late-sixties, "what is happening to jazz" kind of way! I primarily got this CD for the LA Phil session that's been tacked on to the end, but it's nice to give a fresh listen to the entire record. The sound on the first five tracks is a little muddy and bass-heavy, I think. I can't figure out the remastering--the back says that Addey remixed tracks 1-5, but that McMaster mastered to 24-bit. Hmmmm. Why oh WHY can't they engage Addey to do all of these!!! The sessions with the LA Phil are wonderful. The orchestra wasn't recorded as well as it could have been (the orchestra is way back in the mix and the bass is too far forward, imho; it's also hard at times to discern the instrumentation), but again, it works in some strange way. It would have been neat to hear this live. The discs (U.S. Version) ARE NOT copy-protected (not sure if anyone's addressed this definitively yet), but there is a nasty little "FBI ANTI-PIRACY WARNING" on the back, and a "you don't own the copyright" blurb in the jacket. Oh well. It might take some getting used to, but I recommend Now!

Thanks, Jim!

Up for Jim, and any other thoughts on these. Did you make a selection? I'm listening to quartet No. 4 right now (Takács recording), and parts of it make me want to weep with joy. The voicings are so raw, so beautiful...particularly the third movement (Non troppo lento). This movement contains chords that are way beyond my ability to understand, and I've studied Bartok's piano music and the music theory behind it. The Takács gives these quartets a very "earthy" reading, if I can use the term; they seem to use much more vernacular phrasing and are much more liberal with the tempi they ascribe to the movements, as compared to the Emerson reading, which I've heard since I purchased the Takács (although did not buy). With Takács as my entree into this world, I found Emerson reading sterile--masterful and technically perfect, perhaps, but sterile. Jim, if you're still considering which set to get, I strongly recommend you listen to or pick up the Takács--I think you'll like it.

Happy birthday, my friend!

Think of it...if you did, he'd get 400 email notifications!!!

Sorry if this has been discussed already, butttttt.... I was in tower this afternoon and almost bought the JGB 3-disc set live from Kean College, 1980. Seems to have just been released. I hesitated, then put it back. Setlist looks great--but how is it, really? I'm confident someone here has it! PLease weigh in! Thanks!

Whoaaaaaaaaa. This is extraordinary stuff. As one who just recently got into the BB's (Pet Sounds period onward), who didn't get a chance to experience first hand the mythology of the existence of this record, I have to say I'm blown away. It's beautiful. I have to listen to it a few more times, but so far I agree with Sangrey's praise...it's just completely cohesive, a beautiful vision.

You're kidding me. Newport '58? I always thought that was really live. Joke's on me!

LMAO!!! Funniest thing I've read it a while!

Yummmmm. Maple syrup. Pecans. How can it be bad!!! Thanks for the heads-up!

Lon, Sangrey, other Texans or southerners: Who's got a good recipe for sweet potato pie? Just picked up some farm-fresh sweet potatoes, and with this weather, I'm ready for some comfort food!

Don't forget Root Down--it's a steaming, heaping plate of greeeaaazzzzeeeee!!! With studio folks from L.A. ca. 1972--Arthur Adams on guitar, Buck Clarke on percussion, Wilton Felder on bass & guitar, and Paul Humphrey on drums--it's really different from Jimmy's other sessions, and it totally cooks.

Catesta, I agree the M-class is good value. Unfortunately, Gail's not into it--not sure whether it's body style (not the prettiest, I have to admit) or perceived "snob factor", but I don't think it's an option since this will be her daily driver.

You bastards, now I have to go buy this tonight! At least someone could have panned it!

Funny you mention it! Gail currently drives a 1987 240 that's been in my family since it was new. 189000 on the clock. 2 big problems: the main seal is deteriorating so it leaves oil everywhere, and it's terrible in the east coast winter weather (rear wheel drive). She often drives alone at night to/from Northeast Philadelphia (on call), so reliability and winter safety are the key factors. And getting someone else to pay for the depreciation is also a goal. She really wants an SUV (higher driving position, and she used to drive a Jeep Wrangler, so she's SUV-driving capable), and we've narrowed our choices down to the X5, Touareg, Grand Cherokee and possibly the Discovery (anyone with experience with these, please weigh in!)--all of which (except for the Jeep and Disco) are really elevated all wheel drive station wagons. We've found a 2001 lease return x5 with under 20k on the clock; with such low mileage, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to dicker on the price. But we need to get it before the bad weather hits--at that point I'll have NO negotiating room!

Thinking about pulling the trigger on a new car (my wife's car is 14 years old, mine is 12), and we have our eyes set on a few lease-returns with low miles at dealers. I get the sense prices for such cars can be flexible, so do any of you have experience knocking some zero's off? Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the reprieve, Tom! I've been travelling, but will try to get my answers up tonight. HAFC[superscript]tm[/superscript] on most for me, but I dig the compilation.