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 February 1 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 February 1 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 February 1 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!

[cayetano]

3. Just got another one. "Language", Myra Melford from Snowy Egret.

[randyhersom]

2 hours ago, cayetano said:

3. Just got another one. "Language", Myra Melford from Snowy Egret.

Indeed, you did!

[cayetano]

1 & 13 are really intriguing, most of the musicians seem familiar to me, I should identify them.

[cayetano]

10. Unexpected find. "Kool", Mary Lou Williams. w/ Kenny Dorham, Johnny Smith and Gracham Moncur.

The women leaders work.

Edited February 2 by cayetano

[randyhersom]

2 hours ago, cayetano said:

10. Unexpected find. "Kool", Mary Lou Williams. w/ Kenny Dorham, Johnny Smith and Gracham Moncur.

The women leaders work.

Right on!

9 of 13 tracks IDed

1, 6, 12 and 13 remain a mystery.

Edited February 2 by randyhersom

[T.D.]

Re. 12, Guy Klucevsek comes to mind as an accordion player with some classical overlap, but I've no idea whether he's included.

I'm enjoying listening to this BFT so far, but expect not to have any IDs or even decent guesses.

[randyhersom]

The accordion player is not Guy and has recorded as a leader on another instrument.

[JSngry]

Gil Goldstein?

[randyhersom]

No

[Joe]

Looking forward to the reveal!

1. I’m easily won over by bass clarinet. This player is particularly plummy, James Newton on flute? The technique and trills sound Newton-esque to me. Could this be from his Blue Note Ellington songbook record? (The brass feels like it’s drawing from an Ellingtonian palette). But this doesn’t sound particularly like an 80s production. Things seem to have stabilized with the head statement. I’m now getting Andrew Hill DUSK vibes…. could the tenor be Greg Tardy. In any event, there’s a kind of organic/protoplasmic looseness to the tempo here that reminds me of the ensemble work on DUSK. Suddenly the tune sounds more Iberian or even Latin that it did at first. Definitely not that Newton record, I’d wager. Could it be the drummer’s record/gig? Seems to me it could. Intriguing opening.

2. Joni Mitchell, SHADOWS AND LIGHT, surely, with Metheny and Jaco. Can’t remember who the sax player is on this one. Michael Brecker? Sounds like him for sure. I like about 3/4s of his solo, which is usually how it goes for me with breaker. So I’m considering my bias as to who this is confirmed. Digging most how the arrangement here differs from the studio version. And the rougher quality of Joni’s voice. Superb.

3. Hard-hitting. Sounds like it could come from the contemporary British jazz scene (if I can call it that) that’s produced the Sons of Kemet. The drumming probably too busy for some, but I appreciate how there’s a reckoning here with hip-hop, jungle, techno - other beat-centric innovations that Black musicians have driven. could this be Makaya McCraven? I know the name but not the work. I like how the trumpet player drops the temperature a bit, takes their time, navigates the bar lines differently. Channeling some Kenny Wheeler almost.

4. Tick-tock, you don’t stop! The vibes popping in kind of surprised me. And strings?!?! This less indebted to Zappa in some ways… not quite “The Black Page”. “The Charcoal Page”? It’s colorful, as track 1 was, but, if this were a painting, it would be more Hard-Edge than Post-Impressionist. Now it sounds almost like several different music streaming services playing different selections simultaneously. Not necessarily unengaging; that is, I don’t mind commentary with my music. Maybe if Mingus were around today, he’d be offering commentary not unlike this?

5. Could this be a LIVE FROM MAYBECK series recording? I like this player’s left hand. The figure played there is almost Tyner-esque. Also reminds me of some figures you hear in Chris McGregor’s playing. This is not Chris McGregor AFAIK but there is something about this that feels uncannily familiar. Around the 2:50 mark, the music veers more toward harmonies I’d call “classical”. Could this be Richie Beirach? Or maybe Denny Zeitlin? One of those “trained” players who were also fluent in musics we might describe as more “vernacular”? Nice resonances around the 4:45 mark. Now it’s almost Terry Riley-esque!

6. Speaking of left hands! The bassist is the hero of this track. No idea, but ti sounds like a reinvention of a pop tune of its time (late 60s/early70s if I had to guess). Not Ramsey Lewis, but kind of in that vein. I mean, I guess that could be the great Cleveland Eaton on bass… The pianist does feel a bit like a weak link here. But the groove is still strong. Block chords always welcome. Transition at about 4:30 a little rocky. OK, a live performance. Junior Mance?

7. The great Jeanne Lee (probably my favorite jazz vocalist ever) with Ran Blake and George Duvivier. Geniuses at work. 

8. The Jack McDuff band with Red Holloway, Pat Martino, and Joe Dukes, perhaps? Guessing just based on the intro and the audience’s level of participation. But I want to say that’s a different tenor player. I almost hear some Clifford Jordan in his playing (though it’s not Clifford Jordan)… something about the way he bites into certain notes. Well, that’s because it’s Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott - I think. From those Impulse live dates. I’ll know more, I think, when the organ solos. Shirley being a master colorist. Candy Finch on drums? Yep, the organist immediately changes to a different voicing that I very much associate with Shirley. This is all incredibly tasty. 

9. Betty Carter? Chances taken for sure. And what she’s doing with the lyrics. Master class. I’ve never understood while some listeners are left cold by Carter. I don’t know who’s in the band, but A+ for the drummer and their cymbal work.

10. The return of the left hand. Etude-like, this performance. Very after-hours. Is that a muted Diz? No idea on the guitar player or pianist though. Impeccable vibes, and there’s lots here that’s unexpected; over too soon!

11. Helen Merrill and Clifford Brown. The shading and nuance of this her performance. It’s like something of a Hitchcock movie. I don’t listen to this record often; I think I need to remedy that.

12. There’s a Steve Lacy influence at work here, I think, but the tone is not Lacy’s. More Euro-centric, if that makes sense. I mean, there are times when this almost sounds like a more chill King Crimson. John Surman. Accordion, eh? Could this be the Claudia Quintet with Ted Reichman? If so, I can hear how the horn player might be Chris Speed (fine player). But I don’t know about the other winds, or the percussion. I do like how this darts around. Even more intriguing than track 1.

13. A rather contemporary rhythm. Nice massing of horn sounds, though the tenor player to me has the same kind of undistinguished tone a lot of younger payers seem to have adopted. But the intensity picks up. The vibes make me wonder if this is Joel Ross, whose work I only know by reputation. It’s a bit lacking in excitement for me. But maybe excitement isn’t what they’re going for, the surge in tempo now and then notwithstanding. It does serve well as a closing track… that last note!

Edited 12 hours ago by Joe

[randyhersom]

You nailed 2,7,8,9 and 11.  Your comments are consistently interesting and insightful.  Thanks!