BFT 258 September 2025 Reveal

[greggery peccary]

 

BFT Reveal

Sorry for the mistake of adding the reveal to the thread  I was unaware and it makes total sense to post it in a new thread  

1. Abdullah Ibrahim

“The Wedding” from the album African Marketplace.

Touted as South Africa’s Duke Ellington, for me, the majesty and beauty of this tune exemplifies why music is a universal language.

2. Roy Hargrove

“Public Eye” from the album of the same name. Of the many young lions of the 90s, I was drawn to Hargrove. This record along with his first, “Diamond in the Rough,” remain go to titles all these years later in a collection of thousands of titles.

3. Roy Campbell Jr.

“I Remember Lee” from the album “New Kingdom,” which was his first date as a leader. I first heard Campbell on a Khan Jamal title on CIMP. Again, I was drawn to his sound and the sense of adventure in his playing. New Kingdom does an excellent job of capturing this energy. As you’ll see, I have a soft spot for trumpeters. I agree with the comment that the opening is overly long- but what follows is more than worth the wait.

4. Paolo Fresu

“Cheek to Cheek.” From the album “Things,” which features Uri Caine. Fresu is another trumpeter that I enjoy. Their playful take on this classic tune that I grew up hearing radiates joy.

5. Andy Sheppard

“Bing,” from the album Movements in Color. I first heard Sheppard on his earliest Antilles titles. His work for ECM (this is from 2009) as a leader and a sideman, particularly with Carla Bley, documentsan artist evolving and maturing.

6. Anat Cohen

“Veinte Anos” from the album “Place and Time.” This is from Cohen’s debut as a leader in 2005. She was the “it” girl in jazz and from where I sit at the time she lived up to the hype. Delving deep into world music and the Jewish music of her heritage, Cohen creates a varied palette that works for me.

7. Benny Bailey

“Groovin’ High” from the 1994 album “No Refill” on TCB. This Dizzy Gillespie song opens up the record. Timeless jazz as it should be.

8. The Harper Brothers

“Remembrance” from the 1989 album “Remembrance [Live at the Village Vanguard]” which was released on Verve. Another young lions group, Winard Harper and his brother Phillip front a group that also includes a young Stephen Scott (just 20 years of age) on piano. Great stuff.

9. The Lounge Lizards

“Yak” from the album “Queen of All Ears (1998).” Led by John Lurie, who estimates about 80 people played on the band’s four albums, the lineup for this gem includes Steven Bernstein, Michael Blake, and David Tronzo. Yes, it’s something of a novelty tune. I teach elementary school and every year my fifth graders get a kick out of it. Me too.

10. Tuck & Patti

“Better than Anything.” Tuck Andress made quite a splash among guitarists around the time of the 1988 release of the album “Tears of Joy.” As a guitarist I had to check it out. While vocal jazz is not my thing, something about the album pulled me in. There is a sincerity, and as corny as it sounds, the love that they shared is palpable in the music. There is not a bad song on the album. This was one of New Age label Windham Hill’s first forays into jazz. None of their subsequent albums ever matched the beauty and musicality of this one in my opinion. Incidentally, although they have since divorced, they continue to perform together.

11. Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Harry “Sweets” Edison

“OO-EE!” Opening track from the 1962 classic “Jawbreakers.” ‘Nuff said.

12. Joshua Redman

“Faith” from the album “Moodswing.” Released in 1994 as the Joshua Redman Quartet which included Christian McBride, Brian Blade, and Brad Mehldau. Redman now has dozens of titles to his credit. This album along with the 2018 title “Still Dreaming” which includes Ron Miles are my go too titles. Lovely tune.

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