BFT 241 Reveal

[randyhersom]

1.  Jodo - Freddie Hubbard from Blue Spirits (1965): Freddie trumpet, James Spaulding alto sax, Hank Mobley tenor sax, McCoy Tyner Piano, Bob Cranshaw bass, Pete LaRoca drums

2.  Tenors of our Time - Pete Christlieb - Warne Marsh from Apogee (1978): Pete and Warne - Tenor Sax, Lou Levy – piano, Jim Hughart – bass, Nick Ceroli – drums

3.  Surely Goodness and Mercy - Dennis Gonzalez from Catechism - Dennis Gonzalez (1987): Bb trumpet, pocket trumpet, Elton Dean: saxello, alto sax, Keith Tippett: piano, Marcio Mattos: bass, Louis Moholo: drums, Rob Blakeslee: trumpet, fluegelhorn, Kim Corbet: trombone 

+1 to everything Thom said about what a great guy Dennis Gonzalez was.  And, to me, always worth hearing.

4.  Undercurrents (A Requiem) - Michael Gregory Jackson from Liberty (2013): Michael Gregory Jackson - electric & acoustic guitars; Art Ensemble Syd (Denmark): vocals & composer, Niels Praestholm, -acoustic bass, Simon Spang-Hanssen - alto & soprano saxophones, flute, Matias Wolf Andreasen - drums & percussion, Heine Steensen - violin, Thorstein Quebec Hemmet - flutes

I freely admit to holding Santana in higher regard than JSngry, and I have been a fan of this guitarist since his late 70's debut.  He veered pop/r&b in a lot of his leader dates after the first three, but Bandcamp gave him an outlet for his more instrumental and extended side (jazzier), both sessions that could have come out in the 70s or 80s but didn't and later work such as this.  I have acquired his latest, solo electric guitar date but haven't listened yet.

5.  Masculinity - Samora Pinderhughes from GRIEF (2022): Samora Pinderhughes - piano, vocals, wurlitzer, production, arrangements, Immanuel Wilkins - alto saxophone, Jehbreal Jackson - vocals, Nio Levon - vocals, Marcus Gilmore - drums, Boom Bishop - electric bass & sonics, Clovis Nicolas - upright bass, Brad Allen Williams - guitars, Argus Quartet (courtesy of The Metropolis Ensemble) - string quartet

Cross-posting my pertinent Big Ears experience here:  I have decided to forego options hat have me driving home after midnight, so this will be my last set.  I was less than 100% sold on Ahleuchatistas, although I like their name, so I investigated the alternatives before hand online and streamed some Samora.  The Transformations Suite album has me sold, and I hear just a little bit of GRIEF.  When I get to the Civic Auditorium, Samora is centerstage playing a full grand piano, with five backup singers behind him on the left of the stage, and the rest of the band to the right.  His singing is quietly soulful, but his backup singers more robust.  His piano playing is excellent.  No horns on stage, but guitarist Rafiq Bhatia fills that void.  The singing and songs convince, and I've been playing GRIEF quite a bit since coming back home.

6.  Tenderly - Robert Mazurek from Man Facing East (1994): Rob trumpet, pianist Randolph Tressler, bassist John Webber and drummer George Fludas

JSngry eventually sleuthed this one.  His next two dates were co-led by Eric Alexander, then he started veering toward spacy, populist avant-garde.

7.  Angels - Albert Ayler from Live In Greenwich Village (1967) – The Complete Impulse Recordings: Albert tenor sax, Call Cobbs piano

There's really not much like this.  I did have the unusual experience of playing Albert Ayler, having my wife walk into the room, not taking it off, nor being asked to.

8.  Fear Not - James Brandon Lewis from Eye of I (2022): James tenor sax, The Messthetics - Anthony Pirog guitar, Joe Lally bass, Brendan Canty drums

I think the reason James won over so many doubters put off by the guitar, is that the backing band is actually good, although not necessarily on first call basis when someone needs a sub at Smalls or the Vanguard.  Bass and drums were part of Fugazi, while the guitarist has made records with Michael Formanek and Ches Smith.  I'll add his name to the small group of guitarists including Vernon Reid, later Blood Ulmer and the aforementioned Santana that have played convincingly with jazz players without that being their primary style.  To me the composition has grandeur along with its power.  This track was the highlight of the James Brandon Smith and the Messthetics set at Big Ears.

9.  G-Man - Sonny Rollins from G-Man (1986): Sonny tenor sax, Clifton Anderson – trombone, Mark Soskin – piano, Bob Cranshaw – electric bass, Marvin "Smitty" Smith – drums

Pure exuberance.

[JSngry]

Is there a trumpet soloist listed on #3?

And don't get me wrong, I like Santana just fine, but I can't say that I've heard him be a really constructive influence on any other guitarist (that I can think of). His thing is just too personal imo.

[randyhersom]

10 hours ago, JSngry said:

Is there a trumpet soloist listed on #3?

Discogs says it's Dennis Surely Goodness And Mercy (Kwela For Carol) Take One Soloist – González*, Dean*

[JSngry]

Thanks.