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 August 1 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!

 

 

 

[Dan Gould]

I'll second the nomination of #9 as Gene/Three Sounds.  Might be able to figure out if someone names the tune.

[Ken Dryden]

17 hours ago, Dub Modal said:

8. Maybe Sam Jones on cello?

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?

 

8, does not include Sam Jones.

10. doesn not feature Vic Dickenson nor Coleman Hawkins.

11. is not Marian McPartland.

12. is not John McLaughlin.

 

17 hours ago, T.D. said:

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.

7. is not Stanley Cowell.

13 hours ago, JSngry said:

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 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!

 

 

 

1. is Gerry Mulligan's "Swing House," though obviously not by Gerry Mulligan.

2. is Lee Konitz & Chet Baker playing "Walkin'" with Beaver Harris.

7. is "Be My Love."

8. is Oscar Pettiford.

9. is not by The Three Sounds.

10. is "Easy Does It."

13. is "Crescent."

14. does feature Phil Woods on alto saxophone.

15. is "Some Other Time."

 

 

[randyhersom]

1. drums and unison clarinets yield to a baritone.  Jimmy Giuffre?
2. live version of a Miles Davis composition, not Walkin' or So What, but very well known and familiar.  Is it Milestones?  I would be guessing Miles if that weren't an alto sax.  Chet Baker?
3. vocalist, perhaps brazilian.  The only CD's I have fitting that description are by Flora Purim.  Could this be Luciana Souza?
4, 5. couple of views of the same Bird tune.   Is it Birdland Suite?  
4. Very low register for a trumpet - could it be Bob Brookmeyer on valve trombone?
5. Hampton Hawes?
6. gotta be Bela Fleck
7. modern recording of piano trio. Mulgrew Miller?
8. add some acoustic guitar into the mix.  Eric Klugh?
9. modern recording of piano trio this time with bowed bass solo.  Bluesy.  Cyrus Chestnut?
10. I don't know of any Konitz - Marsh dates that include piano and trombone, but that's what it sounds like to me.
11. Taking our piano downtempo and dropping out the drums.  Kenny Drew and NHOP?
12. Gypsy guitar rave-up.  Hmm, multiple guitars, live date.  The Concord Jazz Great Guitars groups with Herb Ellis?
13. And the piano goes it alone.  Barry Harris?
14. two altos bebopping?  Sonny Stitt?
15. Back to the trio, midtempo relaxed.  Eddie Higgins?

[tkeith]

Getting in here while I'm prepping for a rehearsal, so apologies if my text is a bit distracted. 

Track 01 - Arrangement immediately brought me to Mulligan, then bari came in and sent me in the opposite direction.  I admire the growly edge, as well as the facility of the bari.  No idea who it is.  This may get me in trouble with Dan, but that sounds like Scott Hamilton to me.  A bit more traditional than my happy zone, but I’m fine with this across the board.  A solid 3/5, Leonard.  (I REMEMBERED!!!)

Track 02 - Gene Ammons’ Walkin’ (and I’m not sorry for referring to it as such).  Alto is quite controlled.  At first, it rubbed me, but as it goes on, this player is staying within themself and not trying to recreate anything we’ve heard, and that alone makes this a winner for me.  None of this is wowing me, but all of it is hitting the right nerves.  Drummer would grate on me after a bit, but I appreciate what I think they are going for.  Trumpet is the one catching my ear the most.  A bit like mid-60’s Art, but not him.  A happy comparison, though.  Bass is doing everything I want them to.  Fire the engineer!  (not a fan of that fade)

Track 03 - Nope.

Track 04 - Donna Lee.  I know Grachan Moncur, III used this in his teaching a lot, so I’d guess one of his students.  Player has chops.  I’ve always found the tune a bit masturbatory, though.  (let the flames begin)  3/5, though musicianship is probably higher.

Track 05 - Do I detect Billie’s Bounce?  This octopus can play the piano.  High energy throughout.  3.5/5

Track 06 - Interesting cross of eras, but not one I’m sure I’d visit very often.  2.5/5

Track 07 - Another trio burner.  Getting a Toshiko vibe from the pianist.  Tumbling drums and stabby bass are kind of confusing the issue.  There we go, now we’re locked in.  But then, no.  Then, yes.  Interesting, but a bit distracting.  If the lights were out and it was night, and I could dig into this, I’d be more into it.  I do like it, but I’m having trouble connecting to it.  3.5/5  (could get to 4 easily with the correct setting).

Track 08 - Usually the bass (or is it cello, or “piccolo bass”) used in this fashion doesn’t hit for me, but I like this.  Feels very solid and in the pocket, AND the guy has intonation (you hear me, Ron!?).  4/5.

Track 09 - Straight ahead swinging piano trio.  What’s not to like?  Only thing that would make me like this more is if it were Mal Waldron.  :D  I’ll take one of these for the road, please.  A little arco to boot.   4/5.

Track 10 - We’re back where we started.  The sweet harmonies of this pocket of the genre don’t always hit for me.  Today?  Working just fine.  Westie tenor.  Might be someone I’m familiar with, but only peripherally.  Three in a row!  That sure sounds like a valve trombone, which is a problem for me.  It’s okay, here, but I don’t want to hear  it on EVERY track.  4/5

Track 11 - Piano vamp has me recalling McCoy on the intro to Autumn Serenade, so, they have an uphill climb.  :D  Odd rhythmic interplay between piano and bass.  Not sure it works, but it’s interesting.  To my ear, this wants for a drummer, but that’s just me.  3/5

Track 12 - This is the sort of thing I can appreciate live.  On record, I could not wait for this to be in the past tense.  2/5 (should be higher just for the musicianship, but just not my bag)

Track 13 - Crescent, done differently.  I’m not loving it, but I’m wondering if this is going to be someone I know and like a lot.  As I recently heard David Murray say, “Coltrane is hard, man.”  3/5

Track 14 - Is this a tune a know or approximating something I know?  Certainly capable players.  First player has chops, but comes off a bit polite.  I could copy and paste that for player two.  That said, there is not a thing wrong with this.  Good feel from rhythm section.  Piano sounds QUITE familiar.  Almost like John Hicks, but slowed a bit (as Barry Harris to Bud Powell).  I’d take another track from this band.  Remind me a bit of Sabertooth.  3.5/5

Track 15 - Some Other Time, no?  As a rule, I don’t care for the recent trend of redoing standards with fancy rhythmic choices, but this one works.  It works very well, indeed.  I mean, I’m not getting rid of my Bill Evans records, but this is respectful of the tune, but done in their own way.  More of this, please.  3.5/5

Thanks, Ken!  There's a few in here I'd really like to spend some more time in.  I think 7 and 15 are the two I'd return to most often.

 

 

[randyhersom]

Phil Woods and Richie Cole?