BFT74 discussion thread

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

1. No idea who it is, but enjoyable. I also know this song - but can't think of the title, it's a crossover soul classic hit, right on the tip of my tongue. I think they do it justice, bringing in a new angle. I do feel the piece doesn't quite deliver fully on the initial promise - the band comes storming out of the gate with a very locked in rhythm section, but some of the solos are rather routine. The last alto solo though is pretty superb. Love the use of tuba. Will be interested to see who this is, I'm sure on a good day for the soloists these guys would be incredible to see.

I reckon you're right about this band live. Never seen them myself. I did like the opening tenor solo, though.

3. Lou Donaldson with Charles Earland, Jimmy Ponder, and Leo Morris, playing "Summertime," this is from the SAY IT LOUD! album on Blue Note, I have this on vinyl. SUPERB. Love it. 5 stars. This is a just a great, floating treatment of this tune, makes me visualize a very lazy, hot summer day.

Nope. But it IS Poppa Lou.

4. This is an odd, odd piece. The guitar in the left channel and clarinet on the right sound like they were recorded on two different continents several decades apart. Were they? I DO NOT like the guitar on this...too much meaningless filigree, plays over the lovely simple clarinet lines to the point of distraction. No idea who it is. The guitar SOUND is not unlike Joe Pass, but I've never heard Joe play this tastelessly, doubt it's him.

It's not Pass, as you say. I think you might be surprised when I get home and post the answers

6. Hodges type sound on alto, but I don't think it's Hodges, not quite "sweet" sounding enough. Willie Smith? Sounds like someone from that era. Enjoyable. Positively AWASH in reverb, what's up with that?

Not Willie Smith, but close. Big Hodges influence on both men.

8. I'm terrible with song names - I think this is a classic Glenn Miller tune but I can't think of which. Anyway, this was quite enjoyable, but again I'm not sure who it was. Charles McPherson or again Sonny Stitt (don't think so)? Don Patterson on organ? I liked this, but what's with the crazy heavy reverb again?

Not any of those guys.

9. Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys? I'm not against use of unconventional instruments in jazz but this just didn't grab me, felt like a lighthearted novelty.

Not Bob Wills. Several times here in Texas I've been tempted to pick up a box of Wills, but have resisted.

12. Maiden Voyage - this is going to I'm sure be a big puzzler, I'm a bit stumped. The tenor sounds a bit like Harold Land, beefy and slightly nasal quality, but I don't think it's him. I'm really looking forward to finding out the identity of the players. Enjoyable though not a superb cover either.

Jim (I think) nailed this one.

13. I LOVED this. 100 stars. Swung like mad, great playing by all. Is this a recording by Clarence Williams, who I believe introduced this tune? I will buy this in a heartbeat when I find out.

Not Clarence Williams. This one has been nailed, too, so you can find a number of compilations knocking about, I imagine.

15. Sounded like they were humorously sending up jazz/rock stuff or something. Lester Bowie on trumpet?

Definitely NOT a send-up. I very much doubt if these players had even heard of Jazz/Rock at the time. I think this is the way they naturally play. So it's not Lester.

So at least a couple of things I will need to buy when I find out WHAT to buy. This was a very nicely paced disc, great car listening, thanks!

Glad you enjoyed it.

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

3. Lou Donaldson with Charles Earland, Jimmy Ponder, and Leo Morris, playing "Summertime," this is from the SAY IT LOUD! album on Blue Note, I have this on vinyl. SUPERB. Love it. 5 stars. This is a just a great, floating treatment of this tune, makes me visualize a very lazy, hot summer day.

Wow! I gotta find this SAY IT LOUD album, cuz this version ain't from that record, but after looking at the lineup you listed, all I can say is..... WOW!!!

"Say it loud" is probably still in print - Water reissued it two or three years ago. Shouldn't be hard to find. And I agree with Tony - it's a hell of an album. But "Summertime" is played to some kind of cha cha rhythm

MG

[Hot Ptah]

I don't if any of y'all have ever had the pleasure of listening to a BFT with its creator, but I can now say that I have. MG & me had a blast (no, a FANTASTIC time) last night, driving thru downtown Ft. Worth listening, dissecting, and discussing the various tracks on his BFT. MY only regret is that I didn't have some sort of recording device to pick up the discussion. Not that we said anything earth-shattering, but it was fun and I, at least, would've enjoyed letting the rest of the BFT community hear the nattering of two jazzheads who apparently have strikingly similar spouses!

A nice wrap-up to the weekend: roaming the Stockyard section of Ft. Worth and stuffing ourselves with Mexican food, despite weather that was more akin to London than Ft. Worth!

Alas, I have no more answers than when I started the evening! But I do have a groovy t-shirt from Spillers Records, the world's oldest record store! I shall wear it with pride and, with any luck, get my picture in next year's Spillers calendar wearing it!

That sounds like a lot of fun! I hope The Magnificent Goldberg gets to Kansas City the next time he visits the United States--the several Org members here would stuff him full of something or other.