webbcity

Holy smokes this was good. I seriously regret that it took me so long to get to it. Definitely need to seek out a few of these. Regarding Dick Griffin, since Thom is too modest to shamelessly self-promote, I'll do it. We did a couple of gigs with Eddie Gale and Dick Griffin almost 20 years ago now (!) and here is some of the evidence. (note: don't bother trying the links in the bottom left of the video, they no longer exist)

Something is clearly very wrong with my life when I keep putting these off until the last minute. I need a mid-year resolution. Anyway... getting in BARELY under the wire... in fact I'm not certain that the reveal hasn't already been posted yet but if so I will be checking that ASAP... Track 1 - Forget your troubles, come on, get happy! This does make me happy. And dammit, I know this pianist...I'm sure I do. Sounds very Elmo Hope actually. Wait, it's Mal! There were a few giveaways in there once he got rolling. I get a similar thing from Mal as I do from Elmo-- like I can hear him feeling and thinking. Man I love this. I do not have this record but I need it. Great kickoff! Track 2 - Well right off the bat I love the tenor sound. Not sure that I know the tune. The tenor player manages to somehow sound both comfortable and unpredictable at the same time. Love it! What a great solo. I really like the piano solo too. Tenorist almost sounds like Sonny (Rollins) to me but I'm not certain. Track 3 - Wow, great head and I really dig the flute and piano working together. Flute player is KILLER! I don't know why I'm tempted to say Ken McIntyre, but I'm saying it. The whole group is just right in the pocket on this one. Again, some tasty piano as well. The bass & drums trading is a good time too... love the sinewy sound the bassist gets. Is the drummer Roy Haynes? Whoever this is, we are 3 for 3 at this point. Track 4 - Interesting head, again, and whoever is playing the unemployment stick (as you call it) has a great sound. There are bits that remind me of Lateef or Jimmy Heath, but no. Not sure who this would be. Definitely some cool lines in the solo. Anxious to find out who this is! Track 5 - Oh, I love this tune but have completely forgotten the name of it. That sound! Damn. Beautiful. Soooo smooth. And the rhythm section is wonderfully supportive. Love this. No guesses but it's fantastic. Track 6 - Nice driving trio. Nothing that's jumping out in terms of a clear ID, but I like the overall sound, soulful and solid. Feels like there could be a Chicago element in here? Or maybe I'm just projecting what I want onto it. 🙂 Track 7 - OK, now I swear I know this one. Very different conception from the previous track. Bit of an Ahmad Jamal feel/inspiration to this. The longer this goes the more I get into it! Boy do I like this group. The pianist especially, but they just work together so well as a unit. Beautiful feel on this. Also, Keith Jarrett take note: this is an example of how to sing along with what you're playing. Track 8 - Heading in a totally different direction! And straight into the 70s. I dig the feel. First impressions are leading me to think Gerald Wilson. Nice and laid back... great muted trumpet work and the piano solo is perfect for this. Nice track. Track 9 - Bobby. Harold. McD. One zillion stars. I have no other words. Track 10 - Don't know the singer nor the tune but boy this is nice. Oh wait! "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered," of course. That must have been the verse at the top? Don't think I've ever heard that part before. The vocalist is outstanding. And holy piano solo Batman! The change in feel for the bass solo is kind of interesting but I don't actually love it. Getting further into the solos, some of it sounds a touch mechanical and starts to leave me a little cold. But again... the singer returns and all is good. That doesn't happen all that often! 😉 Oooh, I really do like the outro actually... this feels similar to what they did for the bass earlier but it works better here somehow? Anyway, interesting track over all, some cool stuff happening here & I'm particularly curious about the vocalist. Track 11 - You had me at bari. The melody is dark & mysterious. Oh, and hello, this trumpet player is fantastic. Love the mood captured by the group overall, terrific feel. Rhythm section laying it down. Piano solo is good. Ahhh but the tenor solo is even better still! To be topped only by... the bari. Holy smokes. Oh yeah I need more of this. Great stuff. Track 12 - Is this a show you were at, I'm guessing? One of your own recordings? That could narrow it down, I suppose. A tad hard to hear, but what I'm hearing, I'm digging. Really cool figure in the rhythm section and needless to say I LOVE what the tenor player is doing on top. Wow... ok this is amazing. I actually have to cut it short due to time restraints but I am coming back to this for sure! Track 13 - DG! One million stars. 'Nuff said. Thanks for this, sorry it took me so damn long!! Great stuff, no surprise there!

Cheers all! Glad the Lightmen Plus One were such a hit. I myself need to get their other albums now! And yep, Allison Miller is outstanding. First learned of her from seeing her own group performing at a local club, she was incredible.

Track 9!! Track 9!!!!!! 😎🔥🎉 (more to come... 😁)

Here you go, the juicy details! I think most of these were ID'd, but I believe there were at least a couple remaining to be found out. Thanks to all who participated! 1. Bennie Green Quintet - Glidin' Along (Babs Gonzales) https://www.discogs.com/release/6663275-Benny-Green-Quintet-Glidin-Along This one was a very recent discovery, I wasn't really familiar with Bennie Green at all, but he sounds great here to my ears. And Johnny Griffin? Yes please! 2. Lightmen Plus One - Cold Bair (Joe Singleton) https://www.discogs.com/release/13071110-The-Lightmen-Plus-One-Energy-Control-Center In this case, have been aware of this album for quite some time but it took me a while to get to it. Really love the groove on this one. 3. Artemis - Komorebi (Noriko Ueda) https://www.discogs.com/release/33295539-Artemis-Arboresque Have been aware of this group as well but hadn't really investigated, despite being a fan of both Nicole Glover and Allison Miller. I really like this whole album... this is one of the quieter cuts on it. 4. Anthony Braxton with Muhal Richard Abrams - Maple Leaf Rag (Scott Joplin) https://www.discogs.com/release/1035181-Anthony-Braxton-With-Muhal-Richard-Abrams-Duets-1976 The first half of a two-part AACM "tribute to the masters"... from The Masters themselves. 5. Air - King Porter Stomp (Jelly Roll Morton) https://www.discogs.com/release/1092921-Air-Air-Lore One of my all-time favorites, and I knew a lot of people would get it, but what the hell. 6. Mai Sugimoto - Departure (Sugimoto/Abrams/Spencer) https://www.discogs.com/release/31196998-Mai-Sugimoto-Joshua-Abrams-Isaiah-Spencer-Sunlight-Filtering-Through-Leaves Continuing with the Chicago vibe, this is a recent discovery for me and I really love the exploration in Sugimoto's playing. And for bonus points: Isaiah friggin Spencer!! 😮 7. Elmo Hope Trio - Boa (Hope) https://www.discogs.com/release/33056394-Elmo-Hope-Trio-Elmo-Hope-Trio And speaking of exploration! That's what I hear in Hope's playing, and it's in full evidence here. 8. Clifford Jordan - No More (Toots Camarata/Bob Russell) https://www.discogs.com/release/3548879-Clifford-Jordan-The-Adventurer I sort of forgot about this track but came across it again recently and it just knocked me out. Can't go wrong with Clifford. 9. Harriet Tubman - Unseen Advance of the Aquifarian (Gibbs/Ross/Lewis/Harding) https://www.discogs.com/release/13353639-Harriet-Tubman-The-Terror-End-Of-Beauty Glad so many enjoyed this one. I came for Melvin Gibbs, and I stayed for Brandon Ross and J.T. Lewis. Unbelievable playing and sounds on this record. 10. Willie Colon - Sigue Feliz (Carlos Roman) https://www.discogs.com/release/2678601-Willie-Colon-Wanted-By-FBI-The-Big-Break-La-Gran-Fuga Ever since visiting Puerto Rico for the first time a few years ago, this music is one of my new happy places. 11. Gateway - Blue (Jack DeJohnette) https://www.discogs.com/release/532703-John-Abercrombie-Dave-Holland-Jack-DeJohnette-Gateway-2 Wanted to end with a special one, this tune has a kind of magic for me that I can't easily express in words. It's DeJohnette's tune and I LOVE the way he plays piano on it.

A few comments in-line... Bingo! 👍

Nice hunting! I hope they come through. I only have this one album and might need to pickup the others soon myself.

Yep, very true. I think the first time I heard the Dave Holland Trio version I didn't recognize it as the same tune for quite a while. The melody is there, but the way the piano part holds together the Gateway version, it's like a whole different universe.

Yes indeed! I've heard a couple other versions of this with Jack on drums, but to me his piano playing here is what makes this magical.

Again, some of your questions have now been answered, but wanted to add a few additional comments. Yep, the saxophonist is a big part of the draw for me on #1! On #3, no Corea, but I share your enthusiasm for the drummer. If you know the saxophonist on #6 I'll be impressed! I'm really glad you liked the track. And if course you're correct on #7 re: pianist as leader. I'm surprised to hear that the pianist on #8 gets some flak here! 😮 The bass player on #9 is a big favorite of mine. I'm pleasantly surprised that nobody has gotten #11 yet, but yes, definitely ECM. The entire album is not like this, but it sure is an amazing record and has long been a personal favorite. @randyhersom also mentioned Beirach, and that's a good guess but no. However!... You are correct on Gateway, so I must amend my above comment about nobody getting this one yet! 💯

As @T.D. mentioned earlier in the thread, Dusty Groove has this for cheap and in fact that's where I got mine, a few months ago! At the moment they're out of stock... I wonder if they'll get any back at the $6.99 price. Man, you ain't kidding! Playing it now. Thanks for adding another one to my want list. Wait... Isn't that supposed to happen the other way around on BFTs?? 🤯 Some good guesses! You now know the answers on some of these. Phil Ranelin was a good guess on #2 though. You were correct re: Braxton on #4! And if you had saved your Tommy Flanagan guess for the following track, you would have been correct on that count. 😉 And on track 9? Your "backup guess" is correct-- it *is* Brandon Ross on guitar!

Hi all, I'm so sorry to vanish, have had a hell of a week here between day job, rehearsals, gigs, and other general nuttiness. But I promise I'm gonna get back to it here and catch up. Thanks for your patience!

Continuing to catch up...

Some more responses! Inline below... (catching up slowly here...)

Correct! This particular album was my introduction to Hope, and still probably my favorite from him. And I love Frank Butler! 🙂 Correct on both counts! Thought it would be nice to have a couple tracks of AACM legends paying homage to past masters. Further comments below, inline...