Blindfold Test 259

[randyhersom]

As of posting, this link isn't live yet, but hopefully very soon.  As usual some whitespace so you can get to the link without seeing subsequent posts to avoid spoilage:

2025 Blindfold Tests – Thom Keith Dot Net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!!

 

[randyhersom]

And we are live!  Thanks Thom!

[tkeith]

Sorry for the delay -- upside:  actually slept!   

[felser]

The first cut is track #2 from this.  Beautiful song, beautiful performance! That album was magnificent, and such a great idea to give much-needed exposure to those three horn players.  On a quick scan, every cut on this BFT sounds like a winner to me, can't wait to dive in!

Edited 16 hours ago by felser

[T.D.]

Only sampled 2 tunes so far, but they're great.

No time to verify, but #2 sounds like it's from this album.

#7 instantly rang a bell, track 8 (it's the alternate take) from this.

Awesome selection!

Edited 16 hours ago by T.D.

[randyhersom]

T. D. Two for two, and I think you picked the hardest two to start with.

Felser correct on #1

Edited 15 hours ago by randyhersom

[felser]

1 – As I posted earlier, The first cut is track #2 from this.  Beautiful song, beautiful performance! That album was magnificent, and such a great idea to give much-needed exposure to those three horn players. 

2 – Sounds like one of those small-label free jazz albums from the late 60’s with Michael White on violin.  I’m going to continue to research this one.  I like it and am curious  for ID.

3 – Tight rhythm section.  Surely 70’s vintage with that Rhodes?  Maybe one of those Orrin Keepnews productions on Galaxy or Milestone?  Very good cut, hope I have it somewhere.

4 – I like the voicings of the background horns in the arrangement, not wild about the alto player, the trombonist or the rhythm section, though they can all play.

5 – They certainly have their Charles Mingus down (and the tenor soloist has his Booker Ervin down).   Mingus Dynasty?  Love it!

6 – Another GREAT track!  Wonderful!  Vibes/marimba reminds me of Bobby Hutcherson, but context doesn’t, as he didn’t record this late without a piano.  Chico Freeman with Jay Hoggard?

7 – Cherokee.  Bud Powell disciple.  No new ground, but good, pleasant stuff.

8 – Lovely tone, great technique from tenor.  I’m not a fan of solo sax, so I lost interest when they went “outside”, but this person can definitely play.  The guitar was not as convincing to me.  The bass has great facility, but to what end?  John Klemmer on saxophone?  Can’t think of what album it would be, but I’m not familiar with most of his Cadet stuff or with almost all of his post-Impulse/ABC recordings, so I guess it should be.  BTW, why has so much Klemmer never seen CD reissue?

9 – Variations on a theme  some from #8.  I’m not as enamored of this saxophonist, though he certainly can play.  The rhythm section just meanders aimlessly to me.  Listening through, but looking forward to it being over.  This is probably a cut I “should” like, but I don’t.  Man, this is a looong cut at 11 minutes!

10 – Sort of forms a mood trilogy with cuts 8 & 9.  Somewhere Over The Rainbow.  I like it even less, but at least it’s short(er).  Dan Gould will probably love this cut.   Maybe one of the old masters, but it almost seems too exaggerated in style to be one of them.

11 – What’s New.  Certainly sounds like Bags off the top, but maybe less so as it goes on.  Good track.

12 – Very beautiful.  Builds nicely as it goes.   I like it a lot.

Track 1 is so great.  Tracks 2,5.6.12 all have me looking forward to reveal!  Thanks for BFT!

[T.D.]

7 hours ago, randyhersom said:

T. D. Two for two, and I think you picked the hardest two to start with.

Randy, it's just a weird coincidence. I own both underlying albums.

Listen to #2 often, and that exact track always stuck in my mind because I was surprised the ensemble covered that tune.

The album of #7 imprinted on my memory because of the distinctive piano style and unusual/strange/distant recorded sound.

Edited 8 hours ago by T.D.

[JSngry]

Trick or Treat!!!!

TRACK ONE - There's the Elvin in there. And perhaps McCoy as well? I'd be shocked if I don't have this record, but having it and knowing it are two different things....that's the RVG piano sound, tho, so that narrows it down, right? LOL. Not bad, but a little abbreviated, and the bari-heavy intro has just a teence of Ra to it. First time thru, I was halfway expecting it to be a soundtrack cut!

TRACK TWO - Definitely a Billy Bang joint, but god, there's so many of them, where to begin? This one is a bit more focused than some, and Bang joints are always better with focus. A LOT of that is coming from the rhythm section. Alto player sounds old...perhaps not in a good way? But maybe so?

TRACK THREE - Of its time, in a good way. Everybody came to play, and they did. Helluva tenor player goin' on in there! A lot of influence, but no outright imitation, so yeah. WHOA on this trumpet! WHOA on everybody!!! 

TRACK FOUR - Sounds a lot like early Threadgill Sextet. I love this stuff. The only thing is....no trumpet? Or is there? No matter, this one works for me.

TRACK FIVE - Mingus, "Son With Orange", from Mingus Dynasty - the OTHER 1959 Columbia Mingus album. Perhaps highly underrated?

TRACK SIX - No idea. It's ok, not crazy about the tenor player's tone, it's almost a lot of things....I suppose they all mean well, right?

TRACK SEVEN - "Cherokee", faster than fuck, although the pianist is resisting the temptation to go there right away. Gotta be Max on drums? Not necessarily distinct, but kudos for hanging in there on that tempo! Max is on of the few who can hold that tempo that high and make it sound like as leidurly stoll. Is that Mingus? So....a Debut record? Couldn't tell you who, but those guys and that tempo....seriously badass.

TRACK EIGHT - That tenor player....whoa....virtuosity AND inventiveness working hand in hand. Always pleasing! Oh yeah, taste as well, none of the Brecker-school forced "intensity". No idea who this is, but we got a winner here.

TRACK NINE - "Chelsea Bridge", Osby or Coleman.''is that a recent Tyshawn Sorey record? If so, then that's Osby. I think I have it, and first listen was positive. Very focused and coherent, the form is intact and fluid at once, you can never NOT here the song. Wonderful!

TRACK TEN - Unmistakably Paul Gonsalves. Unmistakably. Nuff said!

TRACK ELEVEN -  Unmistakably Walt Dickerson. Unmistakably. Nuff said!

TRACK TWELVE - A bit somber, and maybe not the best thing to listen to while taking a break from baseball...but that's ok.

A fun listen! Got any peanut M&Ms?

 

 

 

'chelseas Bridge", Osby or Coleman.

[randyhersom]

JSngry nails 5 and 9 and ID's artist on 10 and 11.  Everything you said about 7 is correct, as TD's ID attests.  Yes to Elvin and McCoy in 1 as Felser has uncovered. And Billy Bang is a member of The Group.  No Henry Threadgill was incorporated in this BFT.

Edited 5 hours ago by randyhersom

[T.D.]

I'll add that the "old" alto player in #2, though not a household name, has a significant following. 🤣

[randyhersom]

No Chico Freeman or Jay Hoggard on this, but I like them both, particularly Hoggard.

And no John Klemmer.

[randyhersom]

31 minutes ago, T.D. said:

I'll add that the "old" alto player in #2, though not a household name, has a significant following. 🤣

His is the name that attracted me to this album.  I've been binging on the streamable NoBusiness catalog on Bandcamp.  Really catches the Loft Jazz moment.  There's an excellent duo album with the alto (Marion Brown) and Dave Burrell.

[T.D.]

The No Business collections Centering (William Parker) and Muntu Recordings (Jemeel Moondoc) are outstanding Loft Jazz as well.

As an enthusiast of both principals I can't explain why I haven't acquired the Brown/Burrell. 🤔

[JSngry]

Marion Brown's health began to decline, and this record is reflectively of that, which might be why I couldn't decide if he sounded old in a good way or not. His days of peak facility had already begun to be behind him.