Blindfold Test #13 - Official disc

[EKE BBB]

Well, it´s time to post the answers.

I hope you have enjoyed this BFT, have discovered new music and musicians or, at least, have felt the need to take some old discs from your shelves!

DISC 1, THE OFFICIAL BFT #13

1.- CLAUDE BOLLING BIG BAND

Cotton tail (Duke Ellington)

Jazz brunch. Live recording at the Meridien – Paris

Columbia, 1985

Jacques "Kako" Bessot (tp); Maurice Thomas (tp); Jean-Claude Verstraete (tp); André Paquinet (tb); Charles Verstraete (tb); Emile Vilain (tb) ; Jean Eteve (as); Pierre Schirrer (ts, ss) ; Dominique Vernhes (ts) ; Claude Tissendier (bs, cl) ; Claude Bolling (p); Pierre-Yves Sorin ( b ); Vincent Cordelette (d)

My BFT had to start with a Duke Ellington song. I bought this disc in a trip to Paris a few years ago, and have enjoyed it ever since. The whole disc is fantastic, full of swing and with very good arrangements and solos. Any further recommendations for Claude Bolling? brownie? (I also had "First class" with Stephane Grappelli and it´s another interesting one). Annette Lowman on some daring vocals, doing both vocalese (over the famous head line) and scat (right after this solo) on this track. Here´s here website: http://www.annettelowman.com/welcome.htm. She has also recorded with Archie Shepp, for instance.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=Aqjjw7i28g75r

2.- ELVIN JONES

Have you seen Elveen? (Nicholas Payton)

Youngblood

Enja, 1992

Nicholas Payton (tp); Joshua Redman (ts); Javon Jackson (ts); George Mraz ( b ); Elvin Jones (d)

I had decided to include a Elvin Jones leaded side long before he passed away, but now I´m even happier with my decission. In a reduced scale, his Jazz Machine was as wonderful and long lived school for new players as Blakey´s Jazz Messengers. This is a great disc, probably my favorite of him (I haven´t got the Mosaic, I know I´m missing many great sessions), where the machine regenerated with a new sound. Payton, Redman & Jackson, three Young Lions roaring! As liner notes don´t mention solos order, could anybody whose tenor is playing each? I guess Javon Jackson´s is first, as he´s got a bigger tone. And this disc includes some of my favorite Nicholas Payton solos.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=A8uaxqj1yojaa

3.- RENÉ THOMAS

L'imbécile (René Thomas)

The real cat (Jazz in Paris vol.16)

Barclay LP 84 / Universal, 1954

André Ross (ts); René Urtreger (p); René Thomas (g); Jean-Marie Ingrand ( b ); Jean-Louis Viale (d)

My discovery of this Belgian guitarist took place a few years ago with the other Jazz In Paris disc by his name ("Meeting Mr. Thomas") and was impressed by his very boppish playing. This CD combines two separate dates originally made for Barclay and Polydor. BTW: I still haven´t picked "Guitar groove", ubu ...but I know I should.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=A6p9yxd7b3olg

4.- CLIFFORD BROWN (GIGI GRYCE - CLIFFORD BROWN SEXTET)

Salute to the band box (Gigi Gryce)

The complete Paris Sessions vol.2

Vogue / BMG France, 1953

Clifford Brown (tp); Gigi Gryce (as); Henri Renaud (p); Jimmy Gourley (g) ; Pierre Michelot ( b ); Jean-Louis Viale (d)

Brownie... nuff said!

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=A5pkzu3ejan6k

5.- J.J. JOHNSON

Deak (J.J. Johnson)

Pinnacles

Fantasy / OJC, 1979

J.J. Johnson (tb); Oscar Brashear (tp); Joe Henderson (ts); Tommy Flanagan (p); Ron Carter ( b ); Billy Higgins (d)

JJ was out of the scene for a seven years period, from 1970 to 1976. This is one of the albums he did after his comeback (this one for Milestone, a few others for Pablo). I´m not very fond of electric keyboards, electric bass or exotic percussion, so I shouldn´t like this CD because there´s plenty of them (Tommy Flannagan shows a big arsenal of electric keyboards in half of the selections). However, I find it very pleasant and it contains some good JJ, Oscar Brashear and Joe Henderson solos (not in "Dreak" for the later).

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=Ac098s31ya3zg

6.- DONALD LAMBERT

Hallellujah (Vincent Youmans/Leon Robin/Clifford Grey)

Recorded 1959-1961

Storyville, 1961

Donald Lambert (p)

A very recommendable disc by one of the (sadly) most underrated and underrecorded stride pianists, Donald Lambert, the Lamb. From the very good Dick Wellstood´s liner notes: "Hallelujah: this is Lambert´s major effort on this record. After playing the verse, which is pretty even if it goes on a bit, Lambert plays nine choruses as follows:

(1) he states the melody with no attempt at fancy harmonies

(2) here comes the Jersey Rocket again, with his tricky bass line and some fancy reharmonization. How clean Lambert could play on good days!

(3) now we get syncopations in the bass and some tricky phrasing. Notice how the bass carefully outlines the tonic triad just before the bridge

(4) we change key for the interpolation of the Marine´s Hymn. Wonder who was in the house that night

(5) we play a chorus similar in feeling to #2. After the bridge Lambert adds what I like to think of as a drunker waterfall

(6) after a fancy bridge, he closes with swinging "shout" figures in the right hand, and one would expect him to end there, but he doesn´t

(7) and now the Mexican brass make their appearance; and the waterfall again

(8) the waterfall keeps up good-naturedly and gets Lambert a little fuddled, so that he goes to the bridge eight bars too son. But no one cared that night, and I don´t care now (9) more shout figures, a fancy bridge, and some Walleresque wallpaper to close. What a lovely rich way to play the piano. It has been lost to us, probably in accordance with the operation of Wellstood´s law, which is that we get what we deserve..."

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=A68rv284l054a

7.- PAOLO FRESU

Que reste t´il de nos amours (Charles Trenet)

Mèlos

BMG France, 2000

Paolo Fresu (tp); Roberto Cipelli (p); Attilio Zanchi ( b ); Ettore Fioravanti (d)

This prolific Italian trumpet player came out of Enrico Rava´s Sienna Summer Jazz Seminars. I find his style highly indebted to 50s Miles (as most of the participants, now I see... ). He has mantained a very stable quintet since more than fifteen years ago: tenor and soprano saxophonist Tino Tracanna, pianist Roberto Cipelli, bassist Attilo Zanchi and drummer Ettore Fioravanti. This 2000 release is not one of his most known CDs, such as Mamut, Ballads or Ensalada Mistica. ""Que reste t´il de nos amours" shows him with the rhythm section alone. Another European musician to follow. couw, tell us why you hate Fresu.

8.- EDDIE LOCKJAW DAVIS - BUDDY TATE - COLEMAN HAWKINS - ARNETT COBB

Lester leaps in (Lester Young)

Very saxy

Prestige / OJC, 1959

Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts); Coleman Hawkins (ts); Arnett Cobb (ts); Buddy Tate (ts); Shirley Scott (org); George Duvivier ( b ); Arthur Edgehill (d)

A more than highly recommendable blowin´ session. Not a tenor contest or a battle of saxes, by any means. As the liner notes state "when four veterans like Hawk (55 at the time), Tate (49), Davis (38) or Cobb (41) get together, no longer young bucks who have to promote themselves, they still like to assert their musical masculinity. It is like four old friends in their shirtsleeves or T-shirts, having and old fashioned bull session over beer and pretzels or an equivalent. There is talk of old times, back-slapping, head-shaking, low humor and high hilarity. Troubles of the present are forgotten temporarily as old bonds are reweaved". The order of the solos is (surely many of you have already identified them): Davis, Cobb, Tate, Hawkins (followed by four bar exchanges in same order). In fact this is a Lockjaw Davis Quartet date, with bassist George Duvivier, drummer Arthur Edgehill, and organist Shirley Scott (whose Hammond gives a groovy background for the reeds).

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=A0vdaylm8xpsb

9.- JOHNNY DODDS - SIPPIE WALLACE

I´m a might tight woman (Thomas)

Blue clarinet stomp

Victor / Frog, 1929

Natty Dominique (cnt); Johnny Dodds (cl); Honore Dutrey (tb); Sippie Wallace (p, voc)

My intention was to include some early NO clarinetist and some early female blues vocalist, avoiding more obvious and easily recognizable choices as Bessie -well, now I see Bessie was not so recognizable -. It was easy to pick a song with both, as many, many early blues sides are fulfilled with top-notch jazz instrumentalists. Not one of the most outstanding or recognizable Dodds works, but a nice track, featuring other two NO heroes, Natty Dominique and Honore Dutrey.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=Ant2ibks9hakc

10.- CHANO DOMÍNGUEZ

Alma de mujer (Chano Domínguez)

En directo. Piano solo

Nuba Records, 1997

Chano Domínguez (p)

I wanted you to discover this Spanish pianist, one of the piers (another one´s Jorge Pardo) of the so-called Spanish Jazz-Flamenco movement. He is a very capable player, highly technically skilled and Monk-influenced, in spite of some mannerisms and gimmicks when playing live (I´ve seen him playing solo or in small ensembles four times). If you can find it, this double CD of solo piano is a great choice to start, as it´s not as Flamenco oriented as other releases and it doesn´t include any Flamenco chant or clapping. "Alma de mujer" a song "por colombianas" is evocative of his Spanish cultural background.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=Ay3ke4j475wa4

11.- ROY HARGROVE QUINTET

Valse hot (Sonny Rollins)

With the tenors of our time

Verve, 1994

Roy Hargrove (tp); Brandford Marsalis (ts); Ron Blake (ts); Cyrus Chestnut (p); Rodney Whitaker ( b ); Gregory Hutchinson (d)

Probably my favorite Sonny Rollins composition. This disc was part of a 100 CDs collection that Verve and Time Life put out in Spain a few years ago, with original discs and covers, including some rare and even to my knowledge OOP discs. My first release leaded by a Young Lion, as well: Roy Hargrove quintet with Blake, Chestnut, Whitaker and Hutchinson. I discovered who Brandford Marsalis, Roy, Ron Blake and Cyrus Chestnut were here. The rest of the tracks also include Johnny Griffin, Joe Henderson, Joshua Redman and Stanley Turrentine. Sorry to hear many listeners didn´t like the track, as it´s an old fav o´mine.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=Ay69as36ua3mg

12.- DAVID MURRAY AND THE LOW CLASS CONSPIRACY

Flowers for Albert (David Murray)

Flowers for Albert

West Wind, 1977

David Murray (ts); Don Pullen (p); Butch Morris (cnt); Fred Hopkins ( b ); Stanley Crouch (d)

This music was recorded on August 18, 1977 at the Bimhuis, Amsterdam. This CD, released on 1990, consists of the material on the DAVID MURRAY AND LOW CLASS CONSPIRACY LIVE vols. 1 & 2 LP volumes, with ""Dewey's Circle"" omitted. It has no connection with the earlier issued album of the same name. The eight notes melodic line, repeated ad nauseam with horns almost out of tune, may perforate your brain till you shout ""Stop!"" and it does, as it´s a very short track.

Cover:

http://members.tripod.com/go54321/dm/ww2039.jpg

13.- GEORGE SHEARING QUINTET WITH NANCY WILSON

The things we did last summer (Cahn/Styne)

The swingin´s mutual

Capitol, 1960

Nancy Wilson (voc); George Shearing (p); Warren Chaisson (vib); Dick Garcia (g); Ralph Pena ( b ); Vernell Fournier (d); Armando Peraza (per)

Guessed it would be easily nailed (and it has been!!!) as I think it has been recently reissued. Nice vocals and a great pianist, somehow neglected due to his more commercial side. But a guy who composed "Lullaby of Birdland" (one of my all-time favorites, just listen to THE VERSION with Clifford Brown and Sarah Vaughan) deserved to be included here!

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=Axev8b5p4bsqf

14.- ERSKINE HAWKINS AND HIS ORCHESTRA

Tuxedo junction (Bill Johnson/Julian Dash/Erskine Hawkins)

1938-1945: The original Tuxedo Junction

RCA-Bluebird, 1939

Erskine Hawkins (tp); Sam Lowe (tp); Wilbur Bascomb (tp); Marcellus Green (tp); Edward Sims (tb); Robert Range (tb); William Johnson (as); Jimmy Mitchelle (as); Julian Dash (ts); Heywood Henry (cl, bs); Avery Parrish (p); William McLemore (g); Leemie Stanfield ( b ); James Morrison (d)

Another tribute to bing bands, in concrete to a lesser-known orchestra. Despite creating three significative hits, all three included in this disc (Tuxedo Junction, After hours and Tippin´ in), the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra never received more than an aside comment in jazz books. Maybe this is because they played almost entirely for black audiencies. So, although the band was highly popular with that following, it simply did not generate anything like the publicity given to comparable white groups. Yet for nearly a decade it suceeded Chick Webb´s band as the favorite at Savoy Ballroom.

Tuxedo junction was named for a street-car terminal near a dance pavillion where young EH had made on of his first public appearances on trumpet. Put together in an oral arrangement by Hawkins and saxophonists Dash and Johnson, it was a great hit with dancers (and even more when Glenn Miller did his copycat version the following year). Introduced and concluded by EH, it features Bill Johnson on alto, Heywood Henry on clarinet and Dud Bascomb on a memorable chorus (Bascomb´s inventive and lyrical style impressed many other trumpeters among them reputedly Dizzy and Clifford) this track became the band´s theme and opening track in concerts. So, it should have been the first in the disc and not the last one, but again, I wanted to start this BFT with EKE!

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=Agr4zeflk7gfo

THANKS FOR LISTENING!!!

Edited June 30, 2004 by EKE BBB

[king ubu]

Thanks for this disc, Agustín! Wow, so it's Bolling on the opening number! Should check that out!

And did I mention you ought to buy "Guitar Groove" soon?

So Fresu is that Milesian trumpet man... the only CD of his I have is with the "Treya Quartet", their Fauré project, which I consider very successful. The pianist, Waters being his name, is at home equally in classical music and in jazz, while the rhythm players are jazzers (Tony Overwater and Gilbert Paeffgen). Check it out, EKE, I guess you would like it!

ubu

Edited June 30, 2004 by king ubu

[EKE BBB]

...Wow, so it's Boland on the opening number! Should check that out!

Bolling, not Boland.

[king ubu]

...Wow, so it's Boland on the opening number! Should check that out!

Bolling, not Boland.

That was a typo, of course. Corrected it above.

ubu -_-

[mikeweil]

I already became curious about that Donald Lambert when I read through the stride piano thread - it's a relief this seems to be avaialble.

A few surprises here - Paulo Fresu etc. Will have to listen once more with the list at hand. Muchas gracias - I hope to return the favor soon!

[Big Al]

Yep, DEFINITELY gonna pick up Very Saxy!!!

[brownie]

Some surprises!

So it was Claude Bolling on the opening track! Good I did not chase on that one because I would not have guessed it. Pleasantly surprised now that I know where the music comes from. Will try to check that one.

Same goes for track 3. Not really familiar with later Elvin Jones albums.

Track 5, JJ Johnson I had no problem recognising but I did not nail the right disc. Boo on me since I did not bother to check that 'Pinnacles' album. I have that LP and spinned this after it was identified. And enjoyed relistening to it.

Track 7 was Paolo Fresu. What I heard was just a confirmation of what I think about this overrated trumpet player. A Miles Davis clone. Who needs this? I'll stick to the real Miles!

Track 9. Johnny Dodds I had recognised but I was pretty sure it was Armstrong on

cornet. I need to listen to more Natty Dominique...

Track 10 Chano Dominguez. Interesting. A new name to me.

Track 12 David Murray 'Flowers for Albert'. I should also have recognised this because I was a fan of this musician when he appeared on the scene. I think he never really lived up to his potentials and have not been very happy about this later albums.

[EKE BBB]

Track 12 David Murray 'Flowers for Albert'. I should also have recognised this because I was a fan of this musician when he appeared on the scene. I think he never really lived up to his potentials and have not been very happy about this later albums.

Have you noticed who´s on drums? B)

That critic (and former drummer) who is almost as hated as the trumpet player that irritates so much so many people around here...

[EKE BBB]

Track 10 Chano Dominguez. Interesting. A new name to me.

Here´s the link for his website:

www.chanodominguez.com/

...but it seems that it´s no longer working!

[brownie]

Track 12 David Murray 'Flowers for Albert'. I should also have recognised this because I was a fan of this musician when he appeared on the scene. I think he never really lived up to his potentials and have not been very happy about this later albums.

Have you noticed who´s on drums? B)

That critic (and former drummer) who is almost as hated as the trumpet player that irritates so much so many people around here...

Please, let's not discuss this right now! I have already commited a major sin today by praising a Wynton Marsalis on another thread.

One major sin a day is more than I can already take

[EKE BBB]

Track 12 David Murray 'Flowers for Albert'. I should also have recognised this because I was a fan of this musician when he appeared on the scene. I think he never really lived up to his potentials and have not been very happy about this later albums.

Have you noticed who´s on drums? B)

That critic (and former drummer) who is almost as hated as the trumpet player that irritates so much so many people around here...

Please, let's not discuss this right now! I have already commited a major sin today by praising a Wynton Marsalis on another thread.

One major sin a day is more than I can already take

[Dan Gould]

Thanks again for a fine BFT.

This was definitely one to bring back the "you have at least one of the recordings in your collection" rule, as between this and the bonus, I have no fewer than FOUR and I missed every one of 'em.

I do very much enjoy the Roy Hargrove disc, though I probably prefer the soul jazz compositions with Griff and Turrentine.

And no excuses for missing Very Saxy.

Good job!

[John B]

Very interesting! Another disc where I was unable to guess any of the tracks. I've had the Paolo Fresu and the Chano Dominguez discs on my "to buy" list for quite a while based on recommendations I received. I was underwhelmed by the Fresu, and will hold off on picking up that album, but the Dominguez was great! I'll have to track down a copy of it soon.

Thanks again for putting together this BFT! Not all of the tracks are to my liking, but I really enjoyed listening to this.

[brownie]

On the strength of track 13 Nancy Wilson/George Shearing, I bought that 'The Swingin's Mutual' album, a record I have seen (but never heard) many times and never bothered to check.

Easy listening jazz like that, I love! And the recent (copy-controlled ) CD I bought says it's Eddie Costa on vibraphone - not Warren Chiasson - throughout. One more reason to dig this one!

Always enjoyed George Shearing! Listening to his quintet has always been a very enjoyable experience.

The Mosaic Shearing box only strengthened the positive feelings I had for Shearing's music. Too bad, it's no longer available.

[RDK]

Wow, this one really blindsided me! I do have a couple of the discs but failed to recognize them. Conversely, a couple that I thought I knew proved to be wrong. More importantly, for me at least, there are a few names here that I'd never heard before who I definitely want to check out again. Hearing someone like Chano Dominguez for the first time is the sort of stuff that makes these BFTs so gratifying...

Many thanks!

[EKE BBB]

FYI

Further recommendations on Chano Domínguez:

Imán (2000, Nuba Records)

Hecho a mano(1996, Nuba Records)

10 de Paco(1995, Nuevos Medios?)

Edited July 2, 2004 by EKE BBB

[Peter Johnson]

Wowwwww....my worst performance so for--a whopping ZERO correct!

Great disc though--it was enjoyable watching the discussion. Thanks!