BFT 263 Discussion

[randyhersom]

Link:

https://thomkeith.net/2026-organissimo-blindfold-tests/

Enjoy!

Some whitespace to avoid spoilers:

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[Dub Modal]

Diving in

1 - I dig it all right. Nice song they segue into after the intro. Drumming makes me think this was recorded recently. It's got an ECM feel at moments but those are fleeting, and mainly in the quieter moments. It could very well be a new Blue Note album as well. Hard to pin down anything about this. Wild guess but is Kenny Garrett involved?  

2 - Warming up to this one. Took me a minute or so but I caught the groove. The bassist is playing very well. The whole band is pretty tight. They've got that pop-jazz sound going on. Not as slanted toward R&B as Sade though. The sound is more in the vein of rock, and I think that's coming from the guitar style. No guesses but a good song. 

3 - The guitarist is the leader? They've got the best recorded sound here. Drummer is all over that snare. He's not letting that thing go anywhere. Trumpet is nice. Kenny Wheeler? My least favorite song so far. Good playing but I'm not able to get around how forward these drums are in the mix.

4 - From the big cavernous studio of track 3 to this tight corner. Quite a contrast. That guitar won't be going over well lol. Rypdal comes to mind here but I usually hear him with more sustained notes. This kind of reminds me of Crazy Doberman but it's a little too "happy" to be them. I've got no guesses. 

5 - Solo piano. Corea? I got nothing.  

6 - Guaraldi-esque piano style. Is it him? Great breakdown toward the end of the song. Nice one. 

7 - Evil Gal Blues but not a version I recognize. 

8 - Reminds me of Turrentine and Jimmy Smith. Great tune. 

9 - Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love. Again stumped on the singer. Betty Carter maybe? 

10 - Love this one. First thought is Earl Hines but then I went to Teddy Wilson. I'm not sure. 

11 - Another great jazz vocal tune. I've enjoyed all that you've put on this BFT. This one is What's New. The mic is highlighting the singer's t's, to the point where it sounds like a modern recording. Or she's singing through a Tascam. I could be totally wrong there. Regardless I have no idea who this is. 

12. I'm getting that accordion coming through. Outside of Dino Saluzzi I don't know who to guess. 

13. Another good tune, with vibes that are played very well. No guesses though. 

Thanks Randy! Good stuff as usual. Eclectic selections which made for a fun listen. 

[felser]

BFT 263

1 – This is a really interesting track, I like it quite a bit, and can’t wait to find out what it is.  No ideas on ID’s.

2 – Joni Mitchell (which hopefully will fool no one), “Black Crow”.  A live version with, sounds like, Brecker and Jaco.  The original was on ‘Hejira’.  Is this from the Archives 4 box set that came out?  I can probably sleuth it out if so.  It’s good.

3 – I like that they use acoustic piano on this.  The guitarist is impressive.   But the cut leaves me fairly cold, though it’s OK.

4 – Quite the eclectic BFT, I’m enjoying that aspect!  They had more fun recording this than I’m having listening to it, the first clunker for me, though there are probably others who will dig it.  I saw it’s only four minutes long, but it felt much longer.

5 – Antidote to #4.  It’s good, and it’s pretty, though not something that would pull me back.  Could almost be a Windham Hill artist.  Deeply influenced by those initial Keith Jarrett ECM solo albums, as so many are.

6 – This will be Dan Gould’s favorite cut.  I like it OK.  Functions great as background music for me, I don’t hear any barriers being broken, but am enjoying it.

7 – I’m enjoying this!  No guesses, but good singer, and I could see a whole album by her possibly working for me.

8 -  Good listening, quite enjoyable!  Can’t see anyone disliking this, it’s so solid.

9 – A Cole Porter oldie done by one of the most celebrated jazz singers.  Cut #5 from this .

10 – Good for what it is, but from before my listening domain.

11 – She was a great, sadly undersung jazz singer, one of my all-time favorites!  Cut #6 from this .

12 – This sort of thing is totally lost on me.

13 – This is nice, very soothing.  Good arrangement.

Thanks for a really good listen and for drawing attention to the singer on #11, I am excited to get the ID on that first cut!

 

[cayetano]

1. The beginning sounds like post-free, but then turns into contemporary jazz rhythm. Disoriented.

2. "Black crow", live Joni.

3. It sounds like an eighties ECM to me, maybe I'll try later, something familiar.

4. Too bombastic. Not my cup of tea.

5. Geri Allen. I don't recognize the theme. Edit: "Red velvet in winter" from Flying toward the sound.

6. It leaves me indifferent. 

7. "Evil Gal blues", Jeanne Lee with Ran Blake. Wonderful.

8. Soul jazz, maybe a Prestige, I don't recognize the sax now.

9. I think the singer is unknown to me, but maybe I'm wrong.

10. Too old for me to recognize this.

11. "What's new", not my fav singer style.

12. Completely disoriented at the moment.

13. Contemporary jazz, I don't like too much.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by cayetano

[JSngry]

February already? Time for Valentines!

TRACK ONE - No idea who this is, but I like it pretty well. Sounds like it's on its way to Mingus' house, put goes to another house on the same street. I like the path and design of the composition, it's going somewhere and gets there with no wasted motion. Credit to all concerned for staying together on their path, It's a good one. I especially like how the tenor play sounds like they're going to break into the usual cliches but never does.

TRACK TWO - That's Joni, the Shadows and Light band. I have a VHS of the concert and it's just fine. Not big on Michael Brecker, Wayne would have been better of course, but oh well, this is the band she got and I think it's excellent. I guess that some of her fans don't like this one at all, but I think it's wonderful!

TRACK THREE- What a wonderful CHURN!!!! Another well-structured piece with direction and purpose. Trumpet solo lowers the flame just a little bit, but everybody else picks it up and keeps it up, Nice!!!

TRACK FOUR - I like this one too. Pretty busy meter-wise, but it sounds like the players have internalized it, and that makes it feel natural. Works for me!

TRACK FIVE - Geri Allen is still missed. Greatly.

TRACK SIX - Not Ahmad Jamal, but similar in group concept. That left hand is workin it. The longer it goes on, the deeper it gets. No idea who this is, but do let me hear more!

TRACK SEVEN - Jeanne & Ran. Unmistakable, indelible, and still unsurpassed.

TRACK EIGHT - Lather up, your majesty.

TRACK NINE - BC. again, unmistakeable, indelible, and still unsurpassed. I've seen live videos and yes, she led her band. Let it very strongly. Sam her live one time at Blues Alley in DC, had to s it behind the bandstand, but nearly front row, and that turned out to be a revelation, because I get to see her turn around and stare fire into the band to get them to go with her. Hell, it scare ME! But she was a total badass, Betty Carter was.

TRACK TEN - Interesting...sounds like bebop thinking, but more...considered, like an evaluation than a statement. Trumpeter sounds a bit like early-ish Miles, but not exactly. Again, interesting.

TRACK ELEVEN - That's pretty damn good singing. Kinda reminds be of Miles, the direct attacks. Plus, very controlled and strategic vibrato, That's gotta be Helen Merrill. She is easy to overlook, but impossible to ignore once you get bitten but her voice. So much feeling. Excellent! Ok, that's Clifford Brown. Seals the deal. A classic album of her's.

TRACK TWELVE - No idea. I did a skelatal /google searh for soprano saxophone piano and accordion and nothing really came up. Whatever it is, I like it a lot. Sounds like strongly jazz-informed classical (or very well vice-versa), very well executed, and even more well-conceived. I'd like to hear more.

TRACK THIRTEEN - Very nice! Again, no idea, but would like to hear more by this band. The changes show a familiarity with some of the more advanced "acid jazz", which is always welcome here, different maths create different worlds. Kinda sounds like the same band on Track 3?

A consistently delightful set here. Would I be wrong in saying that these are indeed Valentines of sorts, that all tracks are by women leaders? It's about time!

[cayetano]

4. Just I got it, Patricia Brennan  "Andromeda" from Of the near and far.

[randyhersom]

4 hours ago, Dub Modal said:

8 - Reminds me of Turrentine and Jimmy Smith. Great tune. 

9 - Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love. Again stumped on the singer. Betty Carter maybe? 

Stanley Turrentine is a sideman on #8

#9 is Betty Carter, absolutely

The guitarist is not the leader of #5

If I don't comment on a player name guess, that guess is incorrect.

Thanks for listening and the feedback.

2 hours ago, felser said:

2 – Joni Mitchell (which hopefully will fool no one), “Black Crow”.  A live version with, sounds like, Brecker and Jaco.  The original was on ‘Hejira’.  Is this from the Archives 4 box set that came out?  I can probably sleuth it out if so.  It’s good.

9 – A Cole Porter oldie done by one of the most celebrated jazz singers.  Cut #5 from this .

11 – She was a great, sadly undersung jazz singer, one of my all-time favorites!  Cut #6 from this .

Artist and title correct on 2, full IDs on 9 and 11

 

Correction, Full ID on 9 but incorrect on 11.  JSngry nails it below.

Edited 30 minutes ago by randyhersom

[randyhersom]

1 hour ago, cayetano said:

2. "Black crow", live Joni.

5. Geri Allen. I don't recognize the theme. Edit: "Red velvet in winter" from Flying toward the sound.

 

Correct title and artist on 2, full ID on 5.

 

1 hour ago, JSngry said:

TRACK TWO - That's Joni, the Shadows and Light band. I have a VHS of the concert and it's just fine. Not big on Michael Brecker, Wayne would have been better of course, but oh well, this is the band she got and I think it's excellent. I guess that some of her fans don't like this one at all, but I think it's wonderful!

TRACK FIVE - Geri Allen is still missed. Greatly.

TRACK SEVEN - Jeanne & Ran. Unmistakable, indelible, and still unsurpassed.

TRACK EIGHT - Lather up, your majesty.

TRACK NINE - BC. again, unmistakeable, indelible, and still unsurpassed. I've seen live videos and yes, she led her band. Let it very strongly. Sam her live one time at Blues Alley in DC, had to s it behind the bandstand, but nearly front row, and that turned out to be a revelation, because I get to see her turn around and stare fire into the band to get them to go with her. Hell, it scare ME! But she was a total badass, Betty Carter was.

TRACK ELEVEN - That's pretty damn good singing. Kinda reminds be of Miles, the direct attacks. Plus, very controlled and strategic vibrato, That's gotta be Helen Merrill. She is easy to overlook, but impossible to ignore once you get bitten but her voice. So much feeling. Excellent! Ok, that's Clifford Brown. Seals the deal. A classic album of her's.

Got the album name in there for 2, so that's a full ID by the team

Artist correct on 5 and 7, full IDs above

Your clever response on 8 gets full ID credit, no way you don't know all the details

Correct on 9 and 11

The artist for #13 appears elsewhere on the BFT, but it's not track 3.

No ID's so far conflict with your closing hypothesis.

 

29 minutes ago, cayetano said:

4. Just I got it, Patricia Brennan  "Andromeda" from Of the near and far.

Full ID, well done

Edited 47 minutes ago by randyhersom

[JSngry]

Tack 1 I meant to say. 1 & 13.

[randyhersom]

1 minute ago, JSngry said:

Tack 1 I meant to say. 1 & 13.

That is corect.

[cayetano]

53 minutes ago, randyhersom said:

Stanley Turrentine is a sideman on #8

8. OK, "Rapid shave", Shirley Scott from Queen of the organ live at the Front Room. Very nice tune.

[randyhersom]

4 minutes ago, cayetano said:

8. OK, "Rapid shave", Shirley Scott from Queen of the organ live at the Front Room. Very nice tune.

Correct!