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Gotta get in here somewhat early this month. track 1 - Low-end forward swinging big band. Heavy on the altered extensions, but with purpose. Got a little bit of that two-chord molly thing going. Or three. Busy tenor acquits himself well. Never been a fan of that type of mute. Maybe for section work, but just doesn't sound good to me on a solo. Solid bari work. Maybe a young Cuber? Doesn't quite have his edge, but the ideas are similar. Solid starter, fun tune with solid solos. Arrangement hints to me this might not be the usual format for either band or arranger. 3.5/5 track 2 - Nice, loping feel. Can't tell what the higher stringed instrument is (or is that a double plucked single instrument?). Okay, so two tenors on a live date with a somewhat rambunctious audience (if not an attentive one). Suggests a new(ish) recording (audiences have forgotten how to behave). Okay, that sounds like a pizzacato cello to me. Getting over a cold and can't tell if I'm hearing a bass back there, as well, or it's just a drum. Or maybe that's an oud. That strolling drum beat works well, here. Appreciate that the string instrument soloed first, but really want the tenors to do something. Alas, they don't care what I want. Okay, so there IS a bass. Very solid. 3.5/5 track 3 - Angry alto player. Was brought onto a session once and given instructions to "Zorn out" at a particular point. That's how this hits me -- not a bad thing, but certainly need to be in a particular head space. (Takes a lot more energy to get there these days!) Maybe Arthur Doyle? Not sure it finds his groove, but that's the name that springs up. 2.5/5 (could be higher, but my ears aren't on that planet at the moment) track 4 - That's different flavor. Straight forward swinging, burly tenor. Very KC sound to the band. That tenor sound is ticking something in my memory. Rhythmically I'd almost say Zoot, but nothing close to his tone. Wondering if maybe somebody like Frank Wess or Jimmy Hamilton, one of those unsung "second" tenors. Very cool. 4/5 track 5 - Very busy. If this clicked, I might be inclined to think a William Parker project, but this one isn't fully hitting for me. Drummer doesn't seem to have any purpose besides busy, and bass player is having to work very hard as a result. Like the alto a lot. I probably have stacks that someone would say sound just like this, but this genre really has to hit a niche for me (and I think for most people who listen to it). This doesn't miss, but I'm unlikely to be able to ID anyone here. In a cohesive set, this might work really well. In this context, I'm just hearing it as noisy. (Thought I'm glad to see some bits like this popping up in a BFT!) 3.5/5 track 6 - That transition works well. Thoughtful opening turns more reactionary (not a negative, just an observation). I was hoping for more of the pensive stretch. Could be the same band, but I think I like this sax player a bit better. Drummer, too, though the approach is similar. Nice bow work on the bass. Percussion is a bit clangy, but as a whole, this track works better than the last for me. There's more listening and it seems more of an honest interaction. 4/5 track 7 - First thought was Sonny Simmons, but sounds a little clean for him. Love the feel of this tune and what this band is doing with it. Not so clean as the glossy covered stuff that gets promoted to radio stations, though -- this has some grunt to it. I think I know this player, but it's coming through clearly. Possible that they double? Not John Hicks, but they've heard him plenty. Solid solo by a bassist I don't recognize. 4/5 track 8 - Of the period, not just period correct. Does what it's supposed to. Not my avenue, but well done. When I got up, I clicked on the tube and an old episode of Soul! was on, and a woman was barking out a gospel-blues -- this strikes me kind of like that. I'm not surprised by anything going on, but it works. Well... then somebody has to sing. 😕 The only thing I know for sure is that I don't know who this is. Genre just isn't my bag. I respect it when done well (and this is), but it just doesn't hit me where I need to be hit. 2.5/5 track 9 - This one was neither good nor bad, just didn't really even register for me. I know there was some sort of flute, but that's about as much as it caught my attention. 2/5 track 10 - Wouldn't be my chosen genre, but does what it does very well (in spite of that atrocious bass sound!). Might be a tad clean for what it is, but it gets you moving. It's neither Gator nor Purdie, but they like those guys (who don't!?). Got a little taste of The Meters in there, too. 3/5 track 11 - Well, it's Johnny Hartman. Tenor is pinging hard. [On second listen] Okay, that's Frank Wess, so this is from this. 4/5 And the drought ends! A varied listen, which I greatly appreciate. A lot in here I want to know more about. Thanks! Damnit! Talked myself out of both Ra and Fortune. Figures.

They are in prime form here 🙂

pretty interesting day for jazz birthdays... 6-Apr †Charlie Rouse 1924-88 6-Apr †Randy Weston 1926-2018 6-Apr †Gerry Mulligan 1927-96 6-Apr †Andre Previn 1929-2019 6-Apr †Art Taylor 1929-95 6-Apr †Bill Hardman 1933-90 6-Apr †Horace Tapscott 1934-99 6-Apr Manfred Schoof b. 1936 6-Apr Gene Bertoncini b.1937 6-Apr †George Otsuka 1937-2020 6-Apr †Noah Howard 1943-2010 6-Apr John Pizzarelli b.1960

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Excellent choice.

Schlippenbach/Parker/Lovens - Detto Fra Di Noi - Live in Pisa 1981

Manfred Schoof Quintet - Resonance (ECM) Today I´d say: Flowers all over!

Arnie Krakowsky - Where The Tenor Meets The Bone (Seaside Recordings). Arnie is a local tenor player who still gigs at a lot of the smaller clubs in my area. I bought this CD and the other featuring this band, "Is It Minor Yours?" from him at a couple of these gigs. This CD is very nice, with Arnie on tenor, George Masso on Trombone, Jon Wheatley on guitar. Paul Schmeling on piano, Marshall Wood on bass and Artie Cabral on drums, "local" musicians who I managed to see perform many times over the years. Sadly, Masso & Cabral have both passed away.

SML (Small, Medium, Large) (International Anthem)

Shabaka, Of the Earth

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Simply a brilliant track !

I liked her early records on JMT. They were very forward-thinking at the time.

April 6 Manfred Schoof - 1936 - 90 today!

season finale of Dark Winds