Blindfold Test 259

[JSngry]

George Garzone. Turns out I have that record.

George Garzone is a baaaaad man.

[randyhersom]

Thought you might find another name on further listening.  The sax on 8 is George Garzone.

[tkeith]

track 01 - Odd tune.  I kind of like it, because it reminds me of a Billy Harper tune.  Working agaist it, it's NOT that tune.   Okay, I know this pianist.  It's got a McCoy feel to it, but he doesn't seem to be going right at it the way McCoy would.  Snappy brush work.  Okay, I was thinking Roy Haynes or Freddie Waits, but that's Elvin, no question.  And it's McCoy.  Wait... egad, I have this.  It's track 2 from this.

track 02 - Strange strings combo.  Oh, that head sounds familiar when the horns come in.  Mayhaps something from the CIMP catalog?  I don't think it's Bang... maybe Leroy Jenkins?  This has "it" whatever "it" is.  It's certainly not polished and not perfect, but it's REAL, and that's more than enough.  Tune almost has the feel of a Steve Lacy tune.  It's not Frank Lowe, but it's in the neighborhood.  Wondering if this is someone I'm more familiar with as an alto player.  I read where Gary Bartz said he tends to like alto players who started with tenor and tenor players who started with alto.  That's what this sounds like to me.  Now I'm not convinced that this is not an alto.  I was thinking tenor, but around the 6 minute mark, no that's an alto, with a beastly mid-range.  So, early on, I was thinking maybe Jimmy Lyons, but it's a way beefier tone.  LOVE the bass.  Acutely interested in this one.  Live recording would account for the "Cadence sound."

track 03 - Horrendous 70s drums sound.  Very busy band, maybe soprano lead?  Could be Thad/Mel, but doesn't seem to have that facility.  Mayhaps an offshoot band of former members?  Sounds a lot like Joe Farrell.  I don't love this -- could just be the track, but something isn't hitting, here.  It lacks what the last track, had.  Not sure I know the tenor, unless it's a very early recording of someone I do know.  That could be Randy Brecker, but seems a bit more chancy in the approach.  That Rhodes is very forward in the mix.  Liking the trumpet more than the tenor.  Sounds familiar adjacent.  I'm getting flashes of recognition, but I don't trust them.  I don't think I know this.  

track 04 - Horrendous 70s drums replaced by horrific 80s bass and drums.  "Why you do this to me, Demi... why?"  It's not the Black Saint guys.  My first thought was that it reminded me of a Threadgill project, but it seems neutered by comparison.  Thomas Chapin?  Bone reaches me more than the alto.  Could be Steve Swell.  Those drums combined with the pep-band head just doesn't work for me.  It's serious music and the soloists being a lot to it.  The "tune" is kind of rubbish.  Man, I really don't think that's Threadgill, but it *could* be, if he's working with another band.  Muhal?  No, that's not Henry.  Sound is awfully familiar.  I keep coming back to Chapin.  I'll commit to that guess, but I don't know this.

track 05 - Sounds like a Mingus composition.  Okay, it's Mingus.  Booker fools no one.  Oh yeah, that's Knepper.  #badass  If I have this, I haven't played it quite awhile.  Mingus always has a degree of familiarity, but my collection is by no means exhaustive.  That's not Pepper on bari, though.  Mingus doesn't get covered NEARLY enough.

track 06 - This sounds like an Anthony Branker project, but that's not Tim Warfield.  I like most of this, but those drums lack dynamics.  He's just beating the hell out of my ears.  Too bad, because this is really interesting.  Conservatory guy on tenor.  He's damned good, but there's a little too much muscle memory happening here to reach me.  It's good, but... there's just something missing.  Incredibly capable tenor, I'm just not buying it.  Craig Handy could sell me this, but this guy (woman?) is not making the sale.  Wow... eat up space, much?  More ego than fire.

track 07 - Cherokee.  Never a fan of the tune, but these guys are working hell out of it.  I have a listening allergy to this tempo (and a SEVERE playing allergy).  It DOES, however, bring to mind this tale: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WScoPutUeiY

They're pulling it off, but it's just not my thing.  It's a bit masturbatory.  LIke the bass, but feels like he's at the end of the rope at this tempo.  Someone has studied Max.  Weird.  Seems like I probably need to know this, but don't.  If that's NOT Max, I'll be shocked. 

track 08 - Shades of Charles Lloyd, a touch of Pharoah Sanders, a WHOLE lotta chops... maybe early Lovano?  About the one minute mark, that guess feels REALLY on target.  Jesus.  This dude has his Coltrane DOWN.  I'm not in, yet, but no denying the chops.  electric bass and I don't want to throw the guy off a tower, so I'm going to guess Jamaladeen Tacuma (about the only guy who reaches me on the electric).  Really nice feel.  Flirts with Wise One, a bit.  Those hyper-compressed drums present a problem for me.  The feel is stellar, though.  Yeah, that's got to be JT on bass.  Coltrane/Pharoah is back.  Almost a touch of Bergonzi in that tenor, but there's a sort of prettiness to the tone that tells me no.  Sick range.  I heard Garzone play My One And Only Love once, and he got this sort of sound, but I'm not convinced his him.  This one works, though, in spite of the drums.

track 09 - That sounds like Sonny Simmons right off the bat.  Nope.  Now it got all clean.  Clearly a player with some pretty serious chops.  I thought I was hearing one tune, but we've arrived at Chelsea Bridge.  I thought I was hearing I Loves You Porgy.  I think I would like this more if I *hadn't* recognized the tune.  Just not sure you need to do this to Ellington.  But, they have, and they've done it well.  No idea who THEY are, though.  Oh... live.  Okay, that opens my acceptance level a bit.  They're going for it, and I respect that.  

track 10 - Gonsalves.  There is no substitute.  Over The Rainbow.  Man... I'd listen to this guy sleep.  Raw soul.  I detest this tune and he is absolutely slaying it.  It's brutal what this guy did to himself, but MAN, could he play.  No idea what the record is, but I will never find enough Paul Gonsalves to please me.

track 11 - What's New.  Dickerson, at his absolute best.  If this album isn't in the desert island collection, that island does not exist.  Friggin' travesty that this guy isn't one of the pivotal figures known by EVERYBODY.  Try to find an off moment on this album -- go ahead, I'll wait.  First time I heard this on CD, I heard the drums on the title cut for the *first* time.  This guy was an absolute gem. 

track 12 - This is really nice.  Not sure what it is.  LOVE the bass.  Ah!  About 2:00 mark, we have slidy piano keys and he's taking up a LOT of the space.  Sounds like Blackberry Winter, so I'm going to say Jarrett.  LOVE the bass, did I mention that?  I've got my issues with KJ, but no denying, the dude can play.  

This is most certainly among my favorite BFTs of 2025.  Well done, sir!  

 

 

I'll be damned.  Garzone.  And it WAS Bang.  And a whole lot of other stuff I should probably know and a bunch I DON'T know.  So much to learn, so little time.

[randyhersom]

And Thom nails the bass on 8, it is Jamaladeen Tacuma.  And the piano on 12 is Keith Jarrett.  Elvin, Mingus, Gonsalves and Dickerson right on target, and Bang and Garzone despite yourself.  I will drop clues on 3 and 4 in about a week if Tim hasn't gobbled them up by then.  6 is likely to evade identification.

I first became aware of Jamaladeen Tacuma under his previous name Rudy McDaniel when Walt Dickerson brought a test pressing of his second Steeplechase album, Serendipity to WRTI, the Temple U radio station, all jazz at the time.  He spoke highly of the teenage electric bassist.

 

[Milestones]

I have heard some Garzone and really enjoyed his playing.  He is someone who should be much better known.

Damn, that's Jarrett and Haden on "Prayer."  Lovely tune and a highlight from Jarrett's early career, when he played with Haden a lot (usually in trio and quartet).

 

 

[Dub Modal]

On second listen through Cyrille is killing me on track 2. Sitting here thinking this would be better with no drums and that's a rare spot for me to be in. Love the rest of it though. 

Is that a Buddy Rich band on track 3? 

4 is reminiscent of Le Rex. Drumming sets it as recent I think. 

Is track 6 from a recent reissue? 

[randyhersom]

Yes, #12 is Prayer.

No Buddy Rich or Le Rex.  Thom was correct about the decade of #4.  I don't agree with the "Horrific" part.

#6 does not appear to be a recent reissue.

Edited 16 hours ago by randyhersom

[randyhersom]

1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are identified so far by artist and title.

Two musicians known on 8

No musicians IDed on 3, 4 or 6

[Dub Modal]

Those un-ID'd songs bear repeated listens really well. Arthur Blythe on 4?

The solos on track 3 are really enjoyable, including the Rhodes which isn't easy to pull off. This one gets better as it goes along. I struck out on Buddy, but how about Billy Higgins on drums? Whoever these guys are they are really good. 

 

[T.D.]

I really enjoy #3, which is somewhat of a surprise as I don't have so many recordings with electric piano and many of those have a Japanese connection (which is unlikely here). No idea of personnel.

The trumpet particularly impresses. Hannibal Marvin Peterson (of whom I'm a fan) played on some records kinda like this (e.g. with Roy Haynes and Gil Evans), so he came to mind. But I don't believe he's involved. Nor Haynes or Gil, for that matter.

Edited 13 hours ago by T.D.

[JSngry]

I cheated. It's a "local" band. I have the LP, but it's plowed, so this clean digital transfer is a revelation!

[randyhersom]

No Blythe, No Higgins.