Paul Bley Blindfold Test

[mikeweil]

This is great reading - his comments on the Keith Jarrett trio in particular.

[sal]

I read it as well. Its one of the best ones I've ever read, right up there with the old Mingus ones!

[Eric]

read it last night - I agree with the above comments

I wish jazz criticism was as candid

[Rooster_Ties]

Don't suppose this in on-line anywhere?? In fact, doesn't Downbeat have extended versions of the Blindfold Tests on-line??

[cannonball-addict]

Jazztimes's website actually lets you listen to snipets of theirs and gives the before and after comments for the artists they tried them out on. Of course these are not true BFTs, but I often prefer these. Especially for the 'After.'

Larry Appelbaum's are usually really good.

[mikeweil]

Don't suppose this in on-line anywhere?? In fact, doesn't Downbeat have extended versions of the Blindfold Tests on-line??

IIRC, only if the test was too long to fit on one page.

[mikeweil]

I wish jazz criticism was as candid

Indeed

[JSngry]

I wish jazz criticism was as candid

I wish it was as funny!

Bley's a trip as both player and commentator (and author, too - his autobiography is a blast!)

[JohnS]

A friend of mine emailed Paul Bley's website about some tune titling and this is the reply he got.

"Thank you for your interest in the music of mine and George Russell. Ever

since I recorded Jazz In The Space Age with Russell and Bill Evans I can admit

that George taught Bill everything I know. Bill taught George everything he new.

I taught Bill Everything that George knows. pb"

[JSngry]

[ghost of miles]

What about what Carla taught Paul?

[king ubu]

What about what Carla taught Paul?

I guess Carla taught Paul everything she knew. Paul taught Steve everything Carla new, and Steve taught Carla everything Paul knew... must have been this way or similar

Thanks for sharing, John! Hilarious!

[Joe G]

Bley's a trip as both player and commentator (and author, too - his autobiography is a blast!)

I read the BFT in the bookstore today, and now I think I need to get that autobiography!

5 stars!!

[Rooster_Ties]

Who's on the cover of this particular Down Beat?? (The one with the Bley BFT??)

I need to take a look for this, before it goes off the shelves at the bookstores.

Thanks!!

[Joe G]

IIRC, it's McCoy.

[Joe G]

You know, I was in Denver this last week, and we checked out a pretty cool cd store (Twist and Shout for those who might be curious). I found not one, but two different releases (one German) of the album Bley did with Jaco and Metheny. Now I'm wondering why I didn't pick one of them up. Anyone heard it?

[JSngry]

It's wild and wooly, raw and ragged. Nothing like you'd expect. Or maybe EXACTLY what you'd expect.

Joe Bob says check it out.

[mikeweil]

I remember Jaco's bass sound to be pretty enervating on this one.