BFT257 - August - Link & Discussion

[Ken Dryden]

Here is the link for the August BFT. Have fun!

https://thomkeith.net/blindfold-tests/2025-blindfold-tests/

Edited yesterday at 03:20 AM by Ken Dryden

[Dub Modal]

1. Nice, swinging song. Reminds me of some older Gerry Mulligan but I think it's a newer recording....maybe. The drummer betrays a more classic style. Is the bari player the leader? Tenor sounds really good. 

2. Ok, I just played another version of this tune the other day and Ive already forgotten the song name. Someone will guess it immediately. This is live obviously and the tenor opens very well. Good song but no guesses. Sounds like a group of players that are familiar though. 

3. Not guessing this one either. I enjoy it though. The guitarist is in full control. The singer's style is reminiscent of some of the Braxton albums with vocals. I suspect this song won't be very popular here. It seems to deconstruct more and more as it goes on. 

4. Trombone on fire for the opener here. Tone reminds me of Curtis Fuller a bit. 

5. Ride cymbal coming through loud and clear. Drummer and pianist are really sympatico and it's nice to hear. No guesses. 

6. Sounds like a banjo here. Not sure I know any jazz banjo player. 

7. No ideas here either

8. Maybe Sam Jones on cello?

9. Another familiar tune. Don't know what it is about jazz but I can rarely remember song titles. Not a problem with other genres, go figure. Anyway, bluesy piano tune that I enjoy. No guesses. 

10. Beautiful tenor playing. Trombone player is no slouch. Excellent tune. Dickenson and Hawkins? 

11. Love the intro. Never heard this tune before. Very nice. McPartland? 

12. Live and classical, and again I can't name this familiar tune. McLaughlin?

13. Piano heavy BFT. Great playing but no guesses. 

14. Not sure of who this is either. Sounds like two alto saxes? Bass solo is good, and a good groove over the whole thing. 

15. Piano intro again nails it. Good song! No ideas here though. 

[T.D.]

Pianist on #7 sounds like Stanley Cowell. At work so can't go any further right now.

Good program with a lot of tunes (but not necessarily performers) I recognize.

[JSngry]

August, wow...

TRACK ONE -  I recognize the tune as "Swing House", a Mulligan thing that he did both with the OG quartet and also in a big band chart for Kenton. Not particularly lively, but no harm done, sounds like they had fun doing it.

TRACK TWO - "Walkin'", Lee Konitz & Chet Baker. I love lee, and am severly indifferent about Baker. Nothing here to alter that, Is this the live record with Beaver Harris? Whoever it is is hitting it nicely. Bassist is in there good too. Chet...one of his better "zones", but still...

TRACK THREE - Not feeling this one at all. Chamber music, but is it a chamber or a jail cell? If it's the latter, why aren't they trying to get out of there? Sounds like they're doing a concert for civilian inspectors to convince them that they're happy being there. Good chops by everybody, though? Plenty of time to practice, I guess?

TRACK FOUR -  Twice the notes and half the feel. Not just anybody can do that!

TRACK FIVE - That head is familiar, an old bebop tune, but I can't remember the name. Good enough performance, no surprises. Doesn't really swing as much as it pushes. Kind like a well-mannered, second-tier Oscar Peterson. the routines sound built in. By the time it's over, I was glad.

TRACK SIX - No idea who, what or why. But kudos to the dedication, to say nothing of the ability to get/have the money necessary to get a record like this made.

TRACK SEVEN - Is that "Be My Love"? At this tempo, it sounds all squished together, and I don't hear the interaction in the trio I would like. But kudos for plating that tune, it's almost forgotten today.

TRACK EIGHT -  Oscar Pettiford? Not really digging that guitar sound, but that was probably necessary for the tune. Otherwise it's all good. Can't get enough Oscar Pettiford!

TRACK NINE - Three Sounds? Just not in the mood for this type of thing these days, at least not like this one. Red Garland trio? Sorry to all concerned.

TRACK TEN - "Easy Does It", an old Basie number. This tenor player is very much of Brew Moore's "anybody who doesn't play like Lester is WRONG" camp, I mean, that's ok, and this guy is good at it. Trombone is a bit blurty, but the piano solo is just right! I like this one well enough, yeah!

TRACK ELEVEN - Nice tune. Maybe could have done more with it, but maybe not? Ok, more is done with it after the bass solo. Good one!

TRACK TWELVE - I can see the jugglers and/or plate spinners! I miss Ed Sullivan.

TRACK THIRTEEN - "Crescent"? Kudos to the pianist for re-contextualizing it, yet still keeping it true. I like it.

TRACK FOURTEEN - One of those altoists needs to be Phil Woods or else there's evil afoot! 

TRACK FIFTEEN - "Some Other Time", which is what I say about this one. Way too...polite for my tastes. Pretty, not beautiful.

Ok, thanks for your time!