webbcity

I was just going to ask the same thing.

I asked Charlie Kohlhase about Robert Ruff. Charlie played a gig with the World's Experience Orchestra sometime in the early 80s, but he said Ruff wasn't with the band at that time. He did ask a friend though, who says that Ruff is still alive and well but quit playing bass in the early 80s to raise a family. He hasn't played in public since then, but has apparently gotten back into practicing the bass a little bit.

Still praying for a Billy Bang set...

Well...okay, twist my arm. I'm in for a download. Thanks!

Reveal coming tomorrow! (I hope!)

Wow, you really got me on that Carlos tune, that's amazing... and I like me some Santana, but that one just didn't do anything for me. To be honest I think I had already tuned out by the time the guitar solo came along so I should probably go back and listen again. Funny, I had thought Stanley Turrentine for a moment on #10 and then dismissed it...damn! I will be looking forward to the reveal for more!

Okay, better late than never, I hope... haven't looked at any of the answers here yet, will just go for it and then take a look back... Side 1 Tr 1 - Boy, the vibraphonist sure sounds a lot like Milt Jackson but I can't say for sure that it's him. My reference point for Jackson is the MJQ stuff and a few other earlier recordings of his. This COULD be him in a later setting, or it could be someone else who is influenced by him. The guitar player sure sounds familiar, but I can't place him. Overall, nice tune, nice group with some tasty playing. I like the chord progression of the tune a lot too. Side 1 Tr 2 - WOW...this is really nice. What a fantastic, sinewy sound the bass player has...and beautiful playing. And the tenor player is outstanding. Damn...who is this? I have no guesses. I am digging the whole vibe of this...great players, and they are totally in sync. I need to know who this is. Side 1 Tr 3 - This is a fun little lounge-y tune, but it didn't do a whole lot for me honestly. Some nice ensemble playing, and I like the trombonist's sound, but the solo left me a little cold. Side 1 Tr 4 - Okay, I am realizing that for someone who in fact loves the vibraphone, my knowledge of vibes players beyond Bobby Hutcherson, Walt Dickerson, and Milt Jackson is actually pretty poor. Anyway...I will make a wild guess at Cal Tjader here just because of the latin flavor, though he is not a player I am really familiar with. Side 2 Tr 1 - I like the tune quite a bit, the flute player has a really nice sound and it's a good arrangement. And again, I LOVE the bass player. Didn't totally click with me once the solos started though...I feel like they are holding back a bit or something. The piano solo did it for me though. There were a few things that reminded me of Wynton Kelly there, but I really don't have any guesses as to the pianist or anyone else here for that matter. Side 2 Tr 2 - Nice mellow mood on this one. I really love what the bass player and piano player did at the beginning...I wanted more of that actually! But once the rest of the band came in, they settled into a really nice groove. Some nice, subtle interplay here. I've got no guesses, but am curious to know who this is. Side 2 Tr 3 - Not for me...nice moody feel but that's about it. The thing that throws me is the bass player-- that's gotta be Ron Carter. Side 2 Tr 4 - Sorry, not much I can say about this one. Side 3 Tr 1 - Nice energy, and some tight playing here. I like the tenor player, he had a few nice bits in there but I wish he had gotten some more actual solo time, I felt things needed to build a little more. Fun tune though. Side 3 Tr 2 - I like it. Nice & easy...sounds like an old Blue Note groover, but I think it could a tiny bit more recent. Nice bluesy solo from the tenor player. The tune itself makes me think Nat Adderley, but not the trumpet playing. But I don't know who the trumpet player is. Side 3 Tr 3 - This is cool, soulful stuff. I dig the percussion. Nice feel all around. The electric bass player has a fantastic sense of time, great groove. Even with all the percussion, I feel like it's the bass player who's really holding things together here. The piano player, while not virtuosic, does the job here. Side 3 Tr 4 - Good stuff, enjoyed the tenor solo, but even moreso the piano solo-- very nice, impeccable. That is some seriously tasty drumming. Really digging the drummer. No guesses on this one. Side 4 Tr 1 - Hmm... the intro to this tune sounds almost exactly like a little bit of a Weather Report tune. Can't recall the name of it at the moment. Unfortunately once the tune settles in, it doesn't do a lot for me. I SHOULD like this a lot more than I do...the sound and groove are right up my alley but the playing leaves me cold. I hope I don't regret saying that. Love that intro & outro though! Side 4 Tr 2 - Sorry, not my thing. Sounds like Sesame Street. That trombone player has a pretty fabulous sound though. Side 4 Tr 3 - Sadly, this one doesn't really float my boat either. Just doesn't speak to me. Side 4 Tr 4 - Now this is interesting...some fantastic interplay here. The guitar player reminds me of Jim Hall in spots but I'm not sure it's him. I really like this one, will be interested to find out who it is. Side 4 Tr 5 - Man, that sound!! Beautiful tenor playing. Holy cow, that is stunning...that tone just defies gravity. What little I know of Ben Webster makes me want to say that it's him, but I'm probably wrong. In any case, it's fantastic. Thanks Al, for all your efforts in putting this together. Some nice stuff here!

I do have this album and like it very much. He's also on an album by the "World's Experience Orchestra" out of Boston in the 70s, so I assume he was based in Boston as well, but have had trouble finding any other information on him. I wish somebody would reissue the World's Experience Orchestra record, I really enjoy that one. Most or all of it can be found on YouTube I think.

I'd love a download please!

Very interesting, especially #4! Love that clip from the Hoagy Carmichael special too. Thanks again!

Thanks for this, fun stuff! It was a crazy month here so I wasn't able to give it as much time as I'd like, but here are a few comments (and I haven't looked at anything else in this thread or the "reveal" thread yet)... 1. Sounds like a commercial for something, but isn't that Jon Hendricks on vocals? 3. Marlena Shaw...but I only know this because I saw you posting about her in another thread. Nice, easy groovin' tune though. 4. This one is a blast. I don't have any guesses though. Love the bass player. 5. ????? Al Jolson? I have no idea what to make of this... 7. I really like the feel of the rhythm section, but not crazy about the tune or the singer, to be honest. 11. Aha! This is Stark Reality, from that "Hoagy Carmichael" album. I need to get more familiar with this record, but it's great stuff! I really enjoyed 12 and 14 too, but no guesses on those. Will go check the reveal thread now... Thanks again!

Wow. So interesting that #6 is Zorn...that's a nice track! And "Greatest Jazz Concert in the World"...I remember seeing that one around years ago but had totally forgotten about it. How is the record as a whole? Does it live up to the title? Thanks again for putting this together... great stuff!

Cool, I got the Sun Ra...and amazing that it is Duke AND Oscar on 14, that is crazy! Why doesn't anyone like Oscar? I'm a big fan.

What the hell, I'm in for a download. Thanks! December will be a crazy month, but I will find time to fit it in.

I'm very late getting to this one... took on a few too many things this month. there is some seriously great stuff here, thanks for putting this together! A great eclectic mix of stuff. It's actually tough for me to pick "favorites" from this because it's honestly all good. I won't comment on every song, but here are a few thoughts and guesses: 1. I don't think I've heard this exact track before but this has got to be Sun Ra. It's not from one of the early Delmark records, is it? Love it! 2. Love it...terrific feel, the sax player is killin' it, what a sound! I'm sure I know who this is but I don't have any guesses. 4. Interestingly odd... I don't know who this is but it is reminiscent of something I've heard from the Either/Orchestra (though a smaller group here, obviously). 5. Honestly I didn't think I would like this at the beginning...the head and the feel didn't really thrill me at first. But once the solos kicked in I really started to dig it. Some very nice playing on this cut. No guesses as to who it is though. 11. I think this is "Dear Old Stockholm" right? Been a while since I heard this tune. Love the arrangement, very curious as to who this is. 12. If that isn't John Scofield on guitar, then it's someone trying to sound an awful lot like him. Other than that, I don't know...fun tune though. 14. This one actually has me a little confused...at the beginning I just thought it was Duke doing "A Train" but when the piano solo came in I immediately thought Oscar Peterson. Couldn't be him though, with a big band, that I know of... ? In any case, a great performance all the way around. 15. This reminds me a lot of a couple guys from Human Feel-- Andrew D'Angelo and Jim Black... but that is my best guess, and I have no idea on the guitar, trumpet, or bass. Wild guitar solo! Anxious to find out who this is. Excellent listening all the way around. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Wow, thanks for that...an interesting read, and I really enjoyed the tune. HUGE Harold Land fan here. So where can one see the actual film? I would give my eye teeth to see that thing. Thanks again for the post!

Oh man!! Lots of cool surprises here. I've got a number of things to add to my list now. Man...what a great selection of tunes. Thanks again for putting this together, thoroughly enjoyed it! Now I'm gonna go back and listen to everything again.

Yes, please sign me up for a download link!

I have to chime in again on this too, because I feel the same way. This was thoroughly enjoyable...awesome selection of material! I can't wait to find out who some of these are.

Yes, I'm sort of hoping/assuming this is forthcoming, but just impatient.

I emailed CamJazz asking about a Billy Bang box but haven't gotten a response yet. Maybe if they get a few emails about it they will take notice?

Yes! That Elmo Hope album is brilliant. Five star record for sure. Here are a few of my personal choices: Coltrane - Transition Henry Threadgill - You Know The Number Harold Land - Choma (Burn) Bobby Hutcherson - Medina/Spiral (both issued on one CD at one time...cheating a little here ) Oscar Peterson - Live at the Stratford Ornette - Town Hall 1962 Clifford Jordan - Glass Bead Games

Dennis Gonzalez, alright!!

I haven't heard them all, but from the ones I've heard I would agree with you! This one seems like a no-brainer...hope we see it soon.

I have lost track...has there been any news of a Billy Bang box, or not yet?