BFT 118 discussion

[Spontooneous]

Listening to 3 again... first tenor somewhere between J-Griff and Don Byas... man, a BAD MF whoever he is. Only other guy I can come up with fitting those parameters is Arnett Cobb, but seems too agile. I'm going to throw a guess in on the second guy and say Buddy Tate.

DING DING DING! Second tenor is indeed Buddy Tate. First one is real close to Arnett, but not him.

Ah! Then it's track two from this.

Yes!

[JSngry]

Does #12 give us Dick Wilson with Andy Kirk?

[Spontooneous]

Does #12 give us Dick Wilson with Andy Kirk?

Nope. But perhaps they wished they were.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Listening to 3 again... first tenor somewhere between J-Griff and Don Byas... man, a BAD MF whoever he is. Only other guy I can come up with fitting those parameters is Arnett Cobb, but seems too agile. I'm going to throw a guess in on the second guy and say Buddy Tate.

DING DING DING! Second tenor is indeed Buddy Tate. First one is real close to Arnett, but not him.

Ah! Then it's track two from this.

Ah, one I have already

MG

[Michael Weiss]

I think #14 is "Cabaret." This type of number commonly referred to as a "flag waver."

[Spontooneous]

I think #14 is "Cabaret." This type of number commonly referred to as a "flag waver."

Sorry, not "Cabaret." A flag is being waved, though probably not a flag one wishes to see in one's own neighborhood.

Edited January 28, 2014 by Spontooneous

[page]

So nearly the end of the month. I didn't really come up with that many answers, but here's my view and experience with your BFT:

1. Happy song, sort of question/reply. It sounds familiar. It seems there are phrases mixed in it from other songs which reply to the theme every time which is slower than the phrases. Is that a kazoo which makes that buzzing sound? Piano, bass, drums for the rest.
   overall nice happy song.
2. answered this one, see my earlier reply. Still haven’t found one of his albums but iI’ll keep looking. What a joy to have discovered this man!
3. seems like an easy 12 measure blues progression although I don’t really hear a blues in it.
   Nice song, I have no clue. Piano, saxes and trumpet.
4. Beautiful piece. I can’t really a theme although maybe that is because it sounds so new to me. Piano, double bass, drums.
5. Funky stuff. No clue on this one either. Bass and drums, tenor and alto sax II think, organ (is that a Hammond?) A second tenor.
6. Also a bit funky. Nice to hear some percussion. One phrase keeps repeating itself. Overall a fun song. Piano and bass.
7. ‘Round Midnight. I think I hear a fagotto, if that is what you guys call it, we call it fagot. I first thought of a bari too, but no that’s not it. One of my favourites of your BFT, stunning! Will have to look into this artist indefitinitely! Very lovely piano playing too. Round Midnight is one of my favourite songs btw. Is there a clarinet at the beginning? Some strings too I think, cello or double bass played with a bow?
8. Very nice theme, reminds me of a Charlie Parker song but than at a piano, probably more recent than that. Piano, bass, drums. A bit bluesy.
9. Sax, piano, drums, bass. Seems like a fast jazz waltz, maybe 6/8. I like the theme but the solo is a bit too much for me at a certain point.
10. piano, bass and drums. I wrote down ‘tubes’ but I don’t know what the instrument is called although I know what it looks like. Hornplayers sound a bit bluesy. Lovely intro. Very nice.
11. already answered this one, see my previous reply, although I think I hear some rock influence in the singer. I’ve read the song is about a lovers quarrel that hopes for resolution, so I think they did a good job expressing that.
12. Nice. I don’t know which orchestra this is but I do recognize the style, sounds like the times from Benny Goodman, but I don’t think it is his orchestra since the sax has the lead. Also trumpet solo, I prefer the one of the sax over it though.
13. Still didn’t find this song. It really sounds like the Willem Breuker Kollectief, but I know that it isn’t it. I am curious who it is.
14. Piano, bass, drum. I recognize the theme but really can’t come up with a title. It doesn’t seem to be a standard, maybe some national song?

I’ve really enjoyed the music of your BFT. Some favourites are no. 7, 4, 6 and 8. Luqman Hamza (2) was a lovely surprise. If you ever run into him over there in Kansas, you can tell him he’s got a fan in Holland.
Thanks again for sharing and making this such fun!
Kind regards, page

Edited January 29, 2014 by page

[Spontooneous]

So nearly the end of the month. I didn't really come up with that many answers, but here's my view and experience with your BFT:

Thanks for sticking with this one, Page. It's all about the journey!

1. Happy song, sort of question/reply. It sounds familiar. It seems there are phrases mixed in it from other songs which reply to the theme every time which is slower than the phrases. Is that a kazoo which makes that buzzing sound? Piano, bass, drums for the rest.

   overall nice happy song.

The extraneous sound is the grunting pianist. But I love the way the pieces of the song fit together.

2. answered this one, see my earlier reply. Still haven’t found one of his albums but iI’ll keep looking. What a joy to have discovered this man!

I'll always be happy to spread the word about Luqman.

3. seems like an easy 12 measure blues progression although I don’t really hear a blues in it.

Nice song, I have no clue. Piano, saxes and trumpet.

Thom Keith figured it out.

4. Beautiful piece. I can’t really a theme although maybe that is because it sounds so new to me. Piano, double bass, drums.

5. Funky stuff. No clue on this one either. Bass and drums, tenor and alto sax II think, organ (is that a Hammond?) A second tenor.

Two tenors and a Fender Rhodes, no organ.

6. Also a bit funky. Nice to hear some percussion. One phrase keeps repeating itself. Overall a fun song. Piano and bass.

A slightly minimalist version of a gigantic pop hit. Jim Sangrey identified it.

7. ‘Round Midnight. I think I hear a fagotto, if that is what you guys call it, we call it fagot. I first thought of a bari too, but no that’s not it. One of my favourites of your BFT, stunning! Will have to look into this artist indefitinitely! Very lovely piano playing too. Round Midnight is one of my favourite songs btw. Is there a clarinet at the beginning? Some strings too I think, cello or double bass played with a bow?

Jim Sangrey posted the back of the album cover, with full personnel. Don't delay looking into this artist!

8. Very nice theme, reminds me of a Charlie Parker song but than at a piano, probably more recent than that. Piano, bass, drums. A bit bluesy.

A very Monkish tune to my ears. I'm a little surprised no one has identified it.

9. Sax, piano, drums, bass. Seems like a fast jazz waltz, maybe 6/8. I like the theme but the solo is a bit too much for me at a certain point.

A couple of people figured out that it's Bobby Watson in a loose mood. He recorded the tune, "Wheel Within a Wheel," with Art Blakey. This different version hasn't been heard as widely.

10. piano, bass and drums. I wrote down ‘tubes’ but I don’t know what the instrument is called although I know what it looks like. Hornplayers sound a bit bluesy. Lovely intro. Very nice.

Somebody identified Tommy Flanagan on piano. But it's a curveball, because it isn't his tune or his date.

11. already answered this one, see my previous reply, although I think I hear some rock influence in the singer. I’ve read the song is about a lovers quarrel that hopes for resolution, so I think they did a good job expressing that.

I like the lyric -- apparently some listeners didn't -- and the killin' New Orleans beat by Allison Miller. Much of the rest of the album is more "mainstream" and "jazzy," whatever those things mean.

12. Nice. I don’t know which orchestra this is but I do recognize the style, sounds like the times from Benny Goodman, but I don’t think it is his orchestra since the sax has the lead. Also trumpet solo, I prefer the one of the sax over it though.

I'm a little surprised no one has identified this. Maybe Jeff will waltz in at the last minute and do it. It's very much of its time and place. My favorite part is the trombone solo, which is maybe a little ahead of its time.

13, Still didn’t find this song. It really sounds like the Willem Breuker Kollectief, but I know that it isn’t it. I am curious who it is.

Close. It's a Michiel Braam thing.

14. Piano, bass, drum. I recognize the theme but really can’t come up with a title. It doesn’t seem to be a standard, maybe some national song?

I've never heard another jazz treatment of this song. (And that's probably OK.) It's a darkly humorous song, written by someone we don't think of as a composer, from a darkly humorous show. I have no idea how much it's been heard outside the USA.

I’ve really enjoyed the music of your BFT. Some favourites are no. 7, 4, 6 and 8. Luqman Hamza (2) was a lovely surprise. If you ever run into him over there in Kansas, you can tell him he’s got a fan in Holland.

Thanks again for sharing and making this such fun!

Kind regards, page

It's been too long since I ran into Luqman; I hope it happens soon. Thank you, Page!

[page]

Thanks Spontooneous, yes I understand it is about the journey. I learn so much just by listening and not even knowing who it is I'm listening too. I'd like to think of it as broadening my mind.
I didn't look at the answers since last time I posted, since I wanted to give you my thoughts/inside feelings without influence of the answers of the others, so straight from the heart so to speak; but I will look into all of them now.
re: 4 and 7, I'll look into the answers of the people you mentioned.
re: 5, I'm really embarassed I didn't recognize a Fender Rhodes, man, some more to blush over. Hope you guys will forgive me for this one. Where is a 'head-bang' smiley when you need one.
re: 11, I like the lyrics too although I didn't catch all of it, I still miss a part. I did try to write it all down as I did for the Luqman tune and will again to try to complete it. It probably will not be a surprise that as a singer I'll always notice the lyrics and will search what the song is about. I especially like the fooling around with words like in this song happened too. You can add something extra in a song by using certain words and sentences. And I really must confess I'm a sucker for a beautiful phrase.
Thanks again.

Edited January 30, 2014 by page

[jeffcrom]

Once again, I have waited until the last minute. But I've been listening over the past few days, and enjoyed most of the music. So:

1. I like the metric modulation to and from the weird little riff in seven, but I wish that the pianist hadn’t played that riff the same way almost every time – I could have stood a little more variety. Other than that, this was very enjoyable.

2. Not my kind of thing at all.

3. I recognized Roy Eldridge right away, and was intrigued by the hip rhythm section. Put two and two together and figured out that it was from Buddy Tate and His Buddies, with Mary Lou Williams and Illinois Jacquet. “Medi 2” is the name of the tune – is it a Mary Lou composition? Very nice stuff.

4. Someone has heard Paul Bley. It’s not atonal, but it’s certainly pushing the boundaries of tonality. Nice bass. Is it the bassist’s session? Really like the feel and the interaction of the trio.

5. I like the idea of this one, but not the execution, until the second tenor solo. Up to then, it was just too slick for my tastes. The first tenor solo was just too “efficient” for me, but the second one got into some Warne Marsh stuff.

6. Is this a contemporary pop song? In any case, this track didn’t do much for me.

7. I had never heard this before, but instantly knew what it was, because it’s something I had planned on checking out at some point – Illinois Jacquet playing “Round Midnight” on bassoon, from The Blues, That’s Me. Well, I’m gobsmacked. This is beautiful. I had no idea that Jacquet was such an accomplished bassoonist – I’ll admit that I assumed that when I finally heard his bassoon playing, it would be pretty rudimentary. But this is great.

8. Nice little slightly odd tune. I enjoyed it, especially the drumming – it sounds like Paul Motian. Very accomplished, imaginative improvising. I enjoyed this one even more on repeated listening.

9. Nice big Cannonball-ish alto sound. I don’t listen to much straight-ahead stuff by younger musicians, which is what I assume I’m hearing here, but these guys display just enough originality here to keep me interested.

10. I’ve heard this before, I think, but I can’t remember what it is. Not much to say about it – it’s okay, but doesn’t float my boat too much. And I hate bell trees.

11. I didn’t want to like this, but I did. Great groove, interesting melody, good singer, cool enigmatic lyrics. I’m in.

12. One of my favorite big bands – Harlan Leonard and His Rockets, playing “My Gal Sal,” from 1940. I think the first two soloists are Henry Bridges on tenor and the great Fred Beckett on trombone. I don’t know who the trumpet soloist is, but it’s the same guy who solos on the Rockets’ “400 Swing.” Thanks for including this.

13. I don’t know – I generally don’t care for ironic music, so I’m not completely on board with this one. But there’s commitment here, as in the excellent tenor solo. It sounds like the Willem Breuker group to me, but I don’t really know.

14. I like the skittering, barely-in-control quality the pianist’s improvising had. That’s not a negative criticism – it was cool. It reminded me of Elmo Hope, but the drum sound seems to indicate that this is a later recording. In any case, I enjoyed it.

Thanks for putting together this very interesting BFT.

[Spontooneous]

Once again, I have waited until the last minute. But I've been listening over the past few days, and enjoyed most of the music. So:

1. I like the metric modulation to and from the weird little riff in seven, but I wish that the pianist hadn’t played that riff the same way almost every time – I could have stood a little more variety. Other than that, this was very enjoyable.

That's about the only criticism I have too.

2. Not my kind of thing at all.

3. I recognized Roy Eldridge right away, and was intrigued by the hip rhythm section. Put two and two together and figured out that it was from Buddy Tate and His Buddies, with Mary Lou Williams and Illinois Jacquet. “Medi 2” is the name of the tune – is it a Mary Lou composition? Very nice stuff.

Right all around.

4. Someone has heard Paul Bley. It’s not atonal, but it’s certainly pushing the boundaries of tonality. Nice bass. Is it the bassist’s session? Really like the feel and the interaction of the trio.

It hasn't been the most popular track on this BFT, but I'm glad you're in the "like" column. It's the pianist's composition and date.

5. I like the idea of this one, but not the execution, until the second tenor solo. Up to then, it was just too slick for my tastes. The first tenor solo was just too “efficient” for me, but the second one got into some Warne Marsh stuff.

Another unpopular one. Glad you liked a few things about it.

6. Is this a contemporary pop song? In any case, this track didn’t do much for me.

Mal Waldron and Michael Jackson, together again.

7. I had never heard this before, but instantly knew what it was, because it’s something I had planned on checking out at some point – Illinois Jacquet playing “Round Midnight” on bassoon, from The Blues, That’s Me. Well, I’m gobsmacked. This is beautiful. I had no idea that Jacquet was such an accomplished bassoonist – I’ll admit that I assumed that when I finally heard his bassoon playing, it would be pretty rudimentary. But this is great.

Yep, Illinois was SERIOUS about that thing, and this performance thrills me.

8. Nice little slightly odd tune. I enjoyed it, especially the drumming – it sounds like Paul Motian. Very accomplished, imaginative improvising. I enjoyed this one even more on repeated listening.

Somebody finally put a dent in this one! Motian is the drummer, but not the leader or composer. I had a bet with myself that someone would recognize the drumming first.

9. Nice big Cannonball-ish alto sound. I don’t listen to much straight-ahead stuff by younger musicians, which is what I assume I’m hearing here, but these guys display just enough originality here to keep me interested.

Not a younger guy. It's Bobby Watson, but nobody's tracked down the specific recording.

10. I’ve heard this before, I think, but I can’t remember what it is. Not much to say about it – it’s okay, but doesn’t float my boat too much. And I hate bell trees.

I hate them thangs too. Reveal soon.

11. I didn’t want to like this, but I did. Great groove, interesting melody, good singer, cool enigmatic lyrics. I’m in.

Not a popular track here, but didn't expect it to be. You're showing excellent taste as usual.

12. One of my favorite big bands – Harlan Leonard and His Rockets, playing “My Gal Sal,” from 1940. I think the first two soloists are Henry Bridges on tenor and the great Fred Beckett on trombone. I don’t know who the trumpet soloist is, but it’s the same guy who solos on the Rockets’ “400 Swing.” Thanks for including this.

DING DING DING! I knew I could count on you, Jeff.

13. I don’t know – I generally don’t care for ironic music, so I’m not completely on board with this one. But there’s commitment here, as in the excellent tenor solo. It sounds like the Willem Breuker group to me, but I don’t really know.

Breuker is the popular guess. I suppose Michael Braam is a stylistic relative.

14. I like the skittering, barely-in-control quality the pianist’s improvising had. That’s not a negative criticism – it was cool. It reminded me of Elmo Hope, but the drum sound seems to indicate that this is a later recording. In any case, I enjoyed it.

It's from the Bud and Elmo bebop family tree. Still waiting for someone to identify the show tune being bopped here.

Thanks for putting together this very interesting BFT.

And thanks to you!

[page]

I guess my comments on track two came off more contemptuous towards singers than I intended.

If your comment was meant for me, I didn't take it personal and it is okay to joke.

I think not everyone who plays an instrument is a musician and not everyone who sings is a singer. The way I see it is that every musician should sing (if it were only during practise) and every singer should play an instrument (same there with the note that the voice is an instrument as well). Although I still have a hell of a lot to learn about music and people may not look at me as a musican, I do feel one and actually that is simply for the reason that the music is in my blood/my heart and somehow needs to find its way to come out. It is my way of expressing myself and while singing/making my music, it is probably the time I am the most me.

btw I didn't notice your comment until today since I didn't look at the answers after my last about Luqman Hamza. Sorry for the late response.

[tkeith]

Wha? No, my comment was for Spoontaneous in response to his reaction to my original comment. I really wasn't taking a shot at singers. I was more saying that it sounded to me like someone who plays an instrument s/he is known for, but is not known for singing. Gary Bartz would be an example, Grady Tate another. That's all.

[JSngry]

Listening to 3 again... first tenor somewhere between J-Griff and Don Byas... man, a BAD MF whoever he is. Only other guy I can come up with fitting those parameters is Arnett Cobb, but seems too agile. I'm going to throw a guess in on the second guy and say Buddy Tate.

DING DING DING! Second tenor is indeed Buddy Tate. First one is real close to Arnett, but not him.

Ah! Then it's track two from this.

Yes!

One-clicked on Sunday, arrived on Thursday. Damn near perfect world.

Halledabbledujah!

[page]

Wha? No, my comment was for Spoontaneous in response to his reaction to my original comment. I really wasn't taking a shot at singers. I was more saying that it sounded to me like someone who plays an instrument s/he is known for, but is not known for singing. Gary Bartz would be an example, Grady Tate another. That's all.

I believe you, I didn't mean to confront you or anything. Sorry if I made you think that I was. It was just a question and a comment. In some scenes singers are still not accepted as musicians, and I was just shining my light on what I think is important regardless the instrument. I do understand what you meant now, again sorry for the misunderstanding.

[mikeweil]

I had only time for one listen all through the compilation, some nice stuff among it, but I just can't find the time fpr serious listening or comments. Please take my apologies, I really appreciate the effort behind these discs. I have been offered a new day job, have to try it, maybe will have to work both for a period of transition, very busy times ....

[Spontooneous]

No need to apologize, Mike! Thanks for listening. I hope the new job is rewarding materially and every other possible way.