BFT 265 Discussion

[Dub Modal]

Thrown together a bit hastily, with a few tracks that go off into the hinterlands.

Nevertheless, here is the link for the April BFT:

 

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

 

 

[T.D.]

Liking this so far.

11 is the only one I recognize offhand: A4 here, though I have it on a multi-artist compilation.

[randyhersom]

1. Something a little tart in the harmonies of the theme has me thinking early Sun Ra, but the alto solo leads me away from that.  Art Pepper?
2. Bass is upfront in the recording, suggesting late seventies or later.  I'd suspect the bass is the leader, but get no Mingus vibes at all.  Maybe not, maybe Kahil El-Zabar?
3. Post-Ayler tenor meets hand drums.  Joe McPhee?
4. Back inside.  Stanley Turrentine?
5. Back out with awesome horn control and facility.  I didn't start thinking Coltrane Interstellar Space until the second half, and I don't think it is, but that's a reference point.  The first part is edgy and precise.  How about Sam Rivers?
6. Still out, but seems to be an older recording.  The bowed bass should be a clue ...  Two basses?  Maybe Sonny Simmons?
7. Sunny inside theme.  Since I can't get a handle on the horn, I'll guess it's the pianist's data - Kenny Barron?
8. Is that lead kazoo?  Yields to excellent clarinet. Darktown Strutters Ball.  Length doesn't rule out pre-50s and the style fits.  Louis Armstrong?
9. Two different lower flutes?  alto and bass flutes?  if it were Art Ensemble of Chicago, we would hear some bass too, so no.  Cant buy Mann, Laws or Steig. Lloyd McNeil?  If so, who's the second flute, it doesn't sound overdubbed.
10. Some electric bass and R&B elements.  Fathead Newman?
11. Sounds like the vocalist is an earlier generation than the rest of the band - I thought of Al Hibbler.

[T.D.]

I also got early Ra vibes from the intro of #1, but eventually decided it's probably somebody else.

[randyhersom]

The vocalist on 8 is definitely not Louis.

[cayetano]

2. Contemporary drumming, Jay Bellerose? It sounds to me like the Jeff Parker circle without guitar.

[Dub Modal]

2 hours ago, T.D. said:

Liking this so far.

11 is the only one I recognize offhand: A4 here, though I have it on a multi-artist compilation.

Bingo. And if you're talking the Mosaic set, that's exactly where this was pulled from. 

 

2 hours ago, randyhersom said:

Something a little tart in the harmonies of the theme has me thinking early Sun Ra, but the alto solo leads me away from that.  Art Pepper?

1 hour ago, T.D. said:

I also got early Ra vibes from the intro of #1, but eventually decided it's probably somebody else.

🤔

 

 

@randyhersom you are right about Darktown Strutter's Ball being the song on # 8, as well as it not being Armstrong. 

 

 

20 minutes ago, cayetano said:

2. Contemporary drumming, Jay Bellerose? It sounds to me like the Jeff Parker circle without guitar.

Not Bellerose or Jeff Parker. Definitely contemporary drumming though. 

[JSngry]

Hello April O'Neil!

TRACK ONE - Ra, "Fall Off The Log". from the Transition sessions. Unmistakable.

TRACK TWO - No idea, but it's locked in solid. I like it.

TRACK THREE - Pretty specific alto vocabulary, spoken with confidence and command. No idea who it is. Jarman/Moye?

TRACK FOUR - Good continuity, if not particularly creative

TRACK FIVE - Sonny Simmons? Good directed energy. Direction gives shape, shape gives form. This quite coherent within itself, very nice.

TRACK SIX - Gain, great focus, direction. No idea who it is, but I like it.

TRACK SEVEN - Sure sounds like Sonny Fortune, his voice. Nice tune, and very vocally played. Sonny Fortune has kinda stayed further under the radar than maybe he deserves. This got that spling!

TRACK EIGHT - That's gotta be that comb guy - Red McKenzie, right? Oh, Hawk! Mound City Blue Blowers. Definitely a keeper, if only for Hawk, who is (hopefully) eternal.

TRACK NINE - That one flute sounds no unlike the comb on the previous cut. Was that intentional sequencing on your part? No idea who this is, not really my hunker down bag, but it's welcoming nevertheless.

TRACK TEN - Oh, the long shadow of The Meters, "Cissy Strut" in particular. That sounds like Grant, and that's definitely a Van Gelder joint. But not Grant's record. Oooh, nice tenor. I don't know this record, at least not off the top of my head, but I should probably get there sooner rather than later. Good stuff!

TRACK ELEVEN - "By Myself" at a very fleet tempo! Johnny Hartman, Frank Wess, probably from a Beehive record? Faster than I like my Heartman, but oh well about that. Cats be dealin anyway!

Very nice collection for April. Kudos 2tha Kompiler

 

[T.D.]

I really dig the bowed bass in #2, which ought to give some pointer, but no guess as yet. 

[cayetano]

10. Of course it reminds The Meters "Cissy Strut", another one similar is Reuben Wilson "Bus ride". Ultra funky.

[felser]

1 – Excellent cut, great swing and energy, no guesses.

2 – Another very nice cut, positive funk factor!  Julius Hemphill with Abdul Wadud?

3 – I hope they put him out of his pain soon.  No thanks.  AEC?

4 – Back in the groove.   Classic stuff.

5 – Now I like this a lot, where #3 annoyed me.   Dewey Redman?

6 – Way better than #3, worse than #5 to me.  It’s OK, grows old to me.  Three free cuts out of six total so far?  Dan Gould will not be amused!

7 -  Love this, a cut that gets past my head to my soul.  Can’t wait for reveal, and sure hope I have it on the shelves somewhere (or if not, that I can remedy it soon).  Master players.

8 – My wife was very fond of Bosco cartoons as a child, but this one is not for me.

9 – Also not for me.  World music, I guess.

10 – Get on the good foot!  Plays great in the background, smooth as can be.

11 –  Cut #4 from this, much better known from the soundtrack of a movie I’ve never seen.  I’ve never really connected with this singer.

What a varied BFT, thanks!   7 is sublime, 2, 4 and 5 of definite interest.  1 and 10 also winners in my book.