BFT 255 Discussion

[T.D.]

Finishing up:

#8: Nice track, sounds like a duet on my bad computer sound system. Suspected a name tenor but no guess. I peeked, and then had to sleuth (withheld) due to curiosity about the pianist, who clearly is not "the usual suspect" Cedar Walton. Pianist is a prominent/prolific guy I like a lot but who sometimes gets some stick on the forum. He's in great form here.

#9: Far from my usual listening and absolutely no idea about the musicians, but I like it. Especially the bass line. Looking forward to the reveal, particularly for the bassist.

#10: Even more of a departure from usual listening and less able to guess. But a good selection. Percussion is most impressive, arrangement also sticks out.

#11: Sounds on my computer like a piano-bass-guitar trio with really nice and subtle interplay, pianist most likely the leader but perhaps it's billed as a trio. The kind of contemplative moody selection I usually like and do here. I peeked at the ECM hints but don't have any guesses and am not sure it's 21st century...could (though less likely) be as early as 1970s. Even though I'm not a big ECM enthusiast, this is a recording I'd consider picking up.

 

Thanks for a most enjoyable BFT. After seeing Jim's reveal, I feel silly about dissing #5, but I've never related to that particular ensemble as much as some others with the estimable leader. Tracks #2, 4, 9 and 11 the most thought-provoking. The #7 leader is always a welcome guest!

[Milestones]

On #11, I am thinking it's John Abercrombie and Richie Beirach, coming from one of the Abercrombie Quartet records released in late 70s (but no drums on this track).  It sounds rather familiar--maybe another Abercrombie record, maybe Gateway, maybe a Beirach record.  It certainly has the ECM moody atmosphere, for better and worse.

 

[webbcity]

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!

[webbcity]

On 6/3/2025 at 12:13 PM, felser said:

I went ahead and Shazam'd this.  And no, don't own this and am not familiar with the group at all (though certainly know the tenor player).  So this is going to be a very expensive BFT for me ! 🙂

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. 

On 6/3/2025 at 10:43 PM, JSngry said:

Yes that one. This is the .oney cut, but the whole album is worth your while!

 

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?? 🤯

On 6/3/2025 at 10:09 PM, randyhersom said:

1. Bone out front.  Can't rule out early Coltrane on tenor.  Curtis Fuller?
2. Seventies feel.  We do have a bone here to so it wold be reasonable to suspect Phil Ranelin.
3. Mellow, maybe fluegelhorn.  You already know who I'm thinking, but I've been wrong so many times I'm not going to say it out loud.
4. Either The Entertainer or Maple Leaf Rag.  Alto has some modern licks.  I don't think there's any piano on Air Lore. Braxton would be more subversive.  I think I have this but I'm not placing it.
5. Another jaunty busman's holiday for a new thing player.
6. And we we step over the line into new thing, feels like a Hat Hut date.  Joe McPhee? Been trying to remember the name of the Hat player who did the Jug tribute as an alternate guess.
7. And back in to the mainstream, on the ivoies. Tommy Flanagan?
8.  In the grand tenor ballad tradition.  Not Body and Soul, but close.
9.  Terje Rypdal, with Brandon Ross as a backup guess.  Love it.
10. Latin jam.  I have no skills in this area
11. Very quiet.  I did toy with the idea of it being Bill Evans with Jim Hall, but I'm more inclined toward, say Richie Beirach.

... Not particularly easy to google but I did find Ellery Eskelin's name

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! 

[webbcity]

On 6/4/2025 at 11:29 AM, Dub Modal said:

1 - Nice swinging groove. Sax player has full facility of that horn. Trombone was impressively controlled but the solo was just ok. Sax was better in this tune. Is this the Basie Bunch?

2 -  Sounds familiar. Love the song. Great groove and the ensemble plays well together. Feel like I should be able to guess this but nothing is coming to mind at the moment. Trombone here too, and it's very good. 

3 - Killer brush work in the intro. Is it Manne on drums? Love this quiet style of song. Drummer is impressive for sure. Corea on keys? 

4 - Throwback style with a more modern sounding recording. No guesses. 

5 - Wow, short and sweet up-tempo. Not bad at all but no idea. 

6 - Really familiar and very good. Tension is fantastic. I know this horn player but I can't name them at the moment. 

7 - Swinging tune. Pianist as leader? Deft player for sure. No guesses. 

8 - Heartfelt playing and an enjoyable track. No guesses. 

9 - Rypdal, McLaughlin or Scofield? Leaning Ryp. I dig it regardless. Definitely not Sco...

10 - Legit. Very nice. I would guess Cuban? 

11 - A bit somnambulant. Not sure who this would be. 

All in all an enjoyable mix. Thanks for putting it together! 

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. 

On 6/4/2025 at 10:13 PM, T.D. said:

Finishing up:

#8: Nice track, sounds like a duet on my bad computer sound system. Suspected a name tenor but no guess. I peeked, and then had to sleuth (withheld) due to curiosity about the pianist, who clearly is not "the usual suspect" Cedar Walton. Pianist is a prominent/prolific guy I like a lot but who sometimes gets some stick on the forum. He's in great form here.

#9: Far from my usual listening and absolutely no idea about the musicians, but I like it. Especially the bass line. Looking forward to the reveal, particularly for the bassist.

#10: Even more of a departure from usual listening and less able to guess. But a good selection. Percussion is most impressive, arrangement also sticks out.

#11: Sounds on my computer like a piano-bass-guitar trio with really nice and subtle interplay, pianist most likely the leader but perhaps it's billed as a trio. The kind of contemplative moody selection I usually like and do here. I peeked at the ECM hints but don't have any guesses and am not sure it's 21st century...could (though less likely) be as early as 1970s. Even though I'm not a big ECM enthusiast, this is a recording I'd consider picking up.

 

Thanks for a most enjoyable BFT. After seeing Jim's reveal, I feel silly about dissing #5, but I've never related to that particular ensemble as much as some others with the estimable leader. Tracks #2, 4, 9 and 11 the most thought-provoking. The #7 leader is always a welcome guest!

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. 

On 6/8/2025 at 8:05 PM, Milestones said:

On #11, I am thinking it's John Abercrombie and Richie Beirach, coming from one of the Abercrombie Quartet records released in late 70s (but no drums on this track).  It sounds rather familiar--maybe another Abercrombie record, maybe Gateway, maybe a Beirach record.  It certainly has the ECM moody atmosphere, for better and worse.

 

@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! 💯

[Milestones]

So the track is "Blue" with DeJohnette on piano, Abercrombie on guitar, Holland on bass.

 

[webbcity]

23 hours ago, Milestones said:

So the track is "Blue" with DeJohnette on piano, Abercrombie on guitar, Holland on bass.

 

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. 

[Milestones]

It doesn't even sound like the same tune on some versions.  

[webbcity]

1 hour ago, Milestones said:

It doesn't even sound like the same tune on some versions.  

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.

[T.D.]

Really interesting on #11. I once heard Jack play a live recital on piano, but would never have guessed him here. Didn't recognize the guitarist: briefly considered sleuthing under Abercrombie, he being the most likely suspect, but his ECM discography is too big so I didn't follow up.