BFT 142 reveal

[Daniel A]

Thanks to all who participated! I can’t believe it was more than ten years since my previous BFT. Maybe I’ll do another one in just five years. 

1.    Börje Fredriksson Quartet ’Intervall’ (Fredriksson)
Album: “Intervall” (Columbia SSX 1021)
Rec: Stockholm, June 22, 1965
Börje Fredriksson (ts), Lars Sjösten (p), Roman Dylag (b), Fredrik Norén (dr)

Link to previous thread on Fredriksson: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?/topic/76194-b%C3%B6rje-fredriksson-1937-1968/

2.    Trumpetmachine, Directed by George Gruntz ’Hot Diggedy Damn!’ (Ambrosetti)
Album: For Flying Out Proud (MPS 15503)
Rec: Villingen, June, 1977
Franco Ambrosetti (flh), Jon Faddis, Kenny Wheeler, Palle Mikkelborg, Woody Shaw (tpt), Mike Zwerin (bass tpt), George Gruntz (el p, Arp 2600), Isla Eckinger (b), Daniel Humair (dr)

I find George Gruntz records for SABA/MPS to be fascinating in that they cover many different styles. This one is of course very much of the 70s, but has some distinct features. The LP cover names three trumpet soloists although there are only two solos, so I presume solo number two is only the short interlude; 1: Kenny Wheeler, 2: Franco Ambrosetti, 3: Woody Shaw. Not reissued on CD.

3.    Hampton Hawes ‘My Romance’ (Rodgers-Hart)
Album: The Challenge (Victor SMJ 7488)
Rec: Tokyo, June, 1968
Hampton Hawes (p)

I had heard about this album long before I actually found a copy. Even so, I wasn’t fully prepared to hear Hawes’ touching performances. One of my favourite solo piano albums. Inexplicably this album has to my knowledge not been reissued on CD.

4.    Friedrich Gulda und sein Eurojazz-Orchester feat. Jay Jay Johnson ‘Eurosuite, part 1’ (Johnson)
Album: Eurosuite/Variations (Preiser Records SPR 3141)
Rec: Summer, 1966
Ernie Royal, Rolf Ericson, Kenny Wheeler (tpt), Ray Premru (bass tpt), J.J. Johnson, Erich Kleinschuster (tbn), Rudolf Josel (btbn), Alfie Reece (tba), Ralf Isakson (F hn), Herb Geller (as), Tubby hayes (ts), Hans Salomon (bcl), Ronnie Ross (bari), Pierre Cavalli (g), Friedrich Gulda or Joe Zawinul (p), Ron Carter (b), Mel Lewis (dr)

This is, I think, a much better version of Johnson’s big band suite than on his own album on RCA. As a bonus you also get the third movement of the suite which wasn’t on the RCA album. Wonderful live recording from an unknown Austrian(?) location. I think Johnson was an excellent arranger who should have had more opportunities to write for big bands or larger groups. 

5.    David Amram ‘Cantina Latina, Korea 1952’ (Amram)
Album: The Manchurian Candidate complete film score (Premier PRCD 1059)
Rec:  Hollywood, Spring, 1962
Carmell Jones, Joe Gordon (tp), Dick Leith, Lou Blackburn (tbn), Paul Horn (as), Harold Land (ts), Jack Nimitz (bari), David Amram (p), unknown (b), unknown (dr), unknown (perc)

Harold Land's presence on this soundtrack was unknown to me before the release of the soundtrack on CD. Apparently Land appeared on another Amram soundtrack as well. I suppose the sound quality may have fooled some listeners as to when this track was recorded. 

6.    Michel Legrand ‘A Time for Love’ (Mandel)
Album: Cinema Legrand (Fontana International 858 069 FPY)
Rec: ca 1967
Michel Legrand (arr, cond, maybe also piano), others unknown

See my comments in the discussion thread. Not reissued on CD.

7.    George Gruntz Jazz Group+Beduinen ‘Nemeit’ (Gruntz)
Album: Noon in Tunisia “Jazz Meets Arabia” (Saba SB 15132)
Rec: Villingen, June, 1967
Sahib Shihab (fl), Jean Luc Ponty (vln), George Gruntz (p), Eberhard Weber (b), Daniel Humair (dr), Salah El Mahdi (nai, darbouka, bendire), Jelloul Osman (mezoued, bendire, tabla), Moktar Slama (zoukra, bendire), Hattab Jouini (tabla, darbouka, bendire)

Another album from Gruntz that doesn’t succeed in every respect, but is fascinating nevertheless. This was one of several “jazz meets…” albums on Saba around 1967. All of them have their merits, I think.

8.    Jazz Studio Orchestra of the Polish Radio ‘Rajd Safari’ (Milian)
Album: Jazz Studio Orchestra of the Polish Radio (Muza SXL 0569)
Rec: Warsaw, Oct, 1969
A. Mazurkiewicz, B. Dembek, F. Górkiewicz, F. Kowalski, T. Stanko (tp), A. Piela, K. Pradella, J. Munial (ts), H. Rzezniczek (bari), Jerzy Milian (vib), B. Suchanek (b), J. Stefanski (dr), J. Barz (cong), Jan “Ptaszyn” Wroblewski (ld, cond)

This is kind of a Polish rip off of ‘Maiden Voyage’, but I love the groove. Those interested are advised to search out other records from vibist Jerzy Milian. The track has been on a compilation of Polish jazz, but the album as a whole has not been reissued on CD.

9.    Harry Bäcklund Quartet ‘Body and Soul’ (Green)
Album: Remembering Harry (Anagram ANA CD 6)
Rec: Early 1960s.
Harry Bäcklund (ts), Knud Jörgensen (p), Sture Åkerberg (b), Sture Kallén (dr)

Sadly, Harry Bäcklund is a forgotten figure, even in Sweden. He was a favourite of Lars Gullin’s and is featured on a few of his recordings, but aside from that not much can be found on record. Although not distinctive in means of a unique style, I think his playing is very fine. He was troubled by unspecified “illness” and had dropped out of music by the 70s. He died in obscurity in 1978, only 42 years old. Although he never recorded an album under his own name, but his group made several broadcasts for Swedish radio. Unfortunately, all of those seem to be lost. This track was released on a compilation of Bäcklund recordings pulled from various collector’s tapes by the obscure label Anagram, run by David Reid, who also had an excellent jazz record shop in Stockholm during the 90s/early 2000s. Reid is now retired and both the shop and label are long gone.

Here’s one very rare clip of Bäcklund in a Gullin group playing ‘Milestones’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnLYkmKU5ms

I’ve got the rest of that TV broadcast on VHS somewhere.

10.    Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton ’Here’ (Mackay)
Album: Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton (Impulse  AS 9184)
Rec: Hollywood, June, 1969
Dave Mackay (p, voc), Vicky Hamilton (voc), Ira Schulman (ts), Ray Neapolitan (b), Joe Porcaro (dr), Fransisco Aguabella (cong)

Mackay and Hamilton made two albums for Impulse, but have mostly stayed under the radar ever since. This is like the Brasil 66 but with a slightly more sophisticated jazzy touch. Mackay played behind Chet Baker at one time and made a few more albums on small, independent labels. 

11.    Radiojazzgruppen ‘Zero’ (Ericksson)
Album: Höstspelor (Sveriges Radio RELP 1058)
Rec: Stockholm, April 23, 1968
Bertil Lövgren, Rolf Ericson, Jan Allan (tp), Runo Ericksson (bass tbn), Arne Domnerus (as), Claes Rosdahl (fl), Lennart Åberg (ts), Erik Nilsson (bari), Jan Johansson (p), Rune Gustafsson (g), Georg Riedel (b), Egil Johansen (dr), Sabu Martinez (cong)

Parts of this album were reissued by Dragon Records, but this track has not been out on CD. This is from the days when Swedish Radio had a part-time but permanent ensemble, led by Arne Domnerus, recording a string of new compositions and arrangements for regular broadcasts. Besides featuring some well-known Swedes it has Sabu Martinez (who moved to Stockholm in the 60s) on congas.

12.    Herb Geller ’Space a la Mode’ (Geller)
Album: An American in Hamburg – The View from Here (NOVA 6.28332)
Rec: Hamburg, January, 1975
Palle Mikkelborg (tp), Herb Geller (saxes, flutes), Rob Franken (el p, Arp synth), Gottfrid Böttger (synth), Philip Catherine (g), Wolfgang Schlüter (vib, perc), Hans-Lucas Lindholm (b), Alex Riel (dr), Mark Murphy (voc)

This was reissued on CD by Tramp Records in 2013 and is a very handsome release, but they forgot to mention any of the sidemen. In 1975 it was Geller’s first own album since the late 50s. Very nicely arranged, I think.

13.    Ingrid Jensen ‘Vernal Fields’ (Christine Jensen)
Album: Vernal Fields (Enja ENJ-9013 2)
Rec: New York, October, 1994
Ingrid Jensen (flh), Steve Wilson (as), Bruce Barth (p), Larry Grenadier (b), Lenny White (dr)

I think this is a wonderful tune, written by Ingrid’s sister Christine, and I’m surprised is hasn’t been recorded by others. I’ve always found Ingrid to be a personal and honest voice who should be more well known.

14.    Hank Jones ‘Love, Come Take Me Again’ (Wilson)
Album: Here’s Love (Argo LPS-728)
Rec: New York, October 19, 1963
Hank Jones (p), Kenny Burrell (g), Milt Hinton (b), Elvin Jones (dr)

Se my comments in the discussion thread.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Daniel A

[Hot Ptah]

2 hours ago, Daniel A said:

Thanks to all who participated! I can’t believe it was more than ten years since my previous BFT. Maybe I’ll do another one in just five years.

I hope you do another one next year!

1.    Börje Fredriksson Quartet ’Intervall’ (Fredriksson)
Album: “Intervall” (Columbia SSX 1021)
Rec: Stockholm, June 22, 1965
Börje Fredriksson (ts), Lars Sjösten (p), Roman Dylag (b), Fredrik Norén (dr)

Link to previous thread on Fredriksson: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?/topic/76194-b%C3%B6rje-fredriksson-1937-1968/

Wow, I would never have guessed this in a million years. I enjoyed this track very much.

2.    Trumpetmachine, Directed by George Gruntz ’Hot Diggedy Damn!’ (Ambrosetti)
Album: For Flying Out Proud (MPS 15503)
Rec: Villingen, June, 1977
Franco Ambrosetti (flh), Jon Faddis, Kenny Wheeler, Palle Mikkelborg, Woody Shaw (tpt), Mike Zwerin (bass tpt), George Gruntz (el p, Arp 2600), Isla Eckinger (b), Daniel Humair (dr)

I find George Gruntz records for SABA/MPS to be fascinating in that they cover many different styles. This one is of course very much of the 70s, but has some distinct features. The LP cover names three trumpet soloists although there are only two solos, so I presume solo number two is only the short interlude; 1: Kenny Wheeler, 2: Franco Ambrosetti, 3: Woody Shaw. Not reissued on CD.

You are right about George Gruntz's albums covering many different styles, because the ones I have do not sound anything like this track or Track 7 on this Blindfold Test. It is interesting that Woody Shaw was recording in this type of context as late as 1977, which is when he was in the middle of his run of albums under his own name, for Columbia.

3.    Hampton Hawes ‘My Romance’ (Rodgers-Hart)
Album: The Challenge (Victor SMJ 7488)
Rec: Tokyo, June, 1968
Hampton Hawes (p)I had heard about this album long before I actually found a copy. Even so, I wasn’t fully prepared to hear Hawes’ touching performances. One of my favourite solo piano albums.

Inexplicably this album has to my knowledge not been reissued on CD.

That is a very beautiful recording. That is inexplicable that it has not been reissued on CD. I had not heard this before, so thanks for sharing it.

4.    Friedrich Gulda und sein Eurojazz-Orchester feat. Jay Jay Johnson ‘Eurosuite, part 1’ (Johnson)
Album: Eurosuite/Variations (Preiser Records SPR 3141)
Rec: Summer, 1966
Ernie Royal, Rolf Ericson, Kenny Wheeler (tpt), Ray Premru (bass tpt), J.J. Johnson, Erich Kleinschuster (tbn), Rudolf Josel (btbn), Alfie Reece (tba), Ralf Isakson (F hn), Herb Geller (as), Tubby hayes (ts), Hans Salomon (bcl), Ronnie Ross (bari), Pierre Cavalli (g), Friedrich Gulda or Joe Zawinul (p), Ron Carter (b), Mel Lewis (dr)

This is, I think, a much better version of Johnson’s big band suite than on his own album on RCA. As a bonus you also get the third movement of the suite which wasn’t on the RCA album. Wonderful live recording from an unknown Austrian(?) location. I think Johnson was an excellent arranger who should have had more opportunities to write for big bands or larger groups.

I loved this track when I heard it and did not know what it was. Very interesting, that such a heavyweight roster of Americans combined with the Europeans. I am not as familiar as I should be with European jazz labels. Thanks so much for turning me on to this.

5.    David Amram ‘Cantina Latina, Korea 1952’ (Amram)
Album: The Manchurian Candidate complete film score (Premier PRCD 1059)
Rec:  Hollywood, Spring, 1962
Carmell Jones, Joe Gordon (tp), Dick Leith, Lou Blackburn (tbn), Paul Horn (as), Harold Land (ts), Jack Nimitz (bari), David Amram (p), unknown (b), unknown (dr), unknown (perc)

Harold Land's presence on this soundtrack was unknown to me before the release of the soundtrack on CD. Apparently Land appeared on another Amram soundtrack as well. I suppose the sound quality may have fooled some listeners as to when this track was recorded.

I love this film and have watched it more than ten times, but not for several years. I did not recognize this as part of the soundtrack. This is really intriguing. I will have to watch the film again now and wait for this track.

6.    Michel Legrand ‘A Time for Love’ (Mandel)
Album: Cinema Legrand (Fontana International 858 069 FPY)
Rec: ca 1967
Michel Legrand (arr, cond, maybe also piano), others unknown

See my comments in the discussion thread. Not reissued on CD.

I had no knowledge of this music at all. I like it for what it is.

7.    George Gruntz Jazz Group+Beduinen ‘Nemeit’ (Gruntz)
Album: Noon in Tunisia “Jazz Meets Arabia” (Saba SB 15132)
Rec: Villingen, June, 1967
Sahib Shihab (fl), Jean Luc Ponty (vln), George Gruntz (p), Eberhard Weber (b), Daniel Humair (dr), Salah El Mahdi (nai, darbouka, bendire), Jelloul Osman (mezoued, bendire, tabla), Moktar Slama (zoukra, bendire), Hattab Jouini (tabla, darbouka, bendire)

Another album from Gruntz that doesn’t succeed in every respect, but is fascinating nevertheless. This was one of several “jazz meets…” albums on Saba around 1967. All of them have their merits, I think.

What an interesting album, and one I have never heard of. I love mixtures of jazz and the music of other countries. This is one of the more successful ones I have heard. I really like this.

8.    Jazz Studio Orchestra of the Polish Radio ‘Rajd Safari’ (Milian)
Album: Jazz Studio Orchestra of the Polish Radio (Muza SXL 0569)
Rec: Warsaw, Oct, 1969
A. Mazurkiewicz, B. Dembek, F. Górkiewicz, F. Kowalski, T. Stanko (tp), A. Piela, K. Pradella, J. Munial (ts), H. Rzezniczek (bari), Jerzy Milian (vib), B. Suchanek (b), J. Stefanski (dr), J. Barz (cong), Jan “Ptaszyn” Wroblewski (ld, cond)

This is kind of a Polish rip off of ‘Maiden Voyage’, but I love the groove. Those interested are advised to search out other records from vibist Jerzy Milian. The track has been on a compilation of Polish jazz, but the album as a whole has not been reissued on CD.

Thank you for turning me on to this, and to vibist Jerzy Milian, because I know that I would have never heard of either, on my own. I know very little about Polish jazz.

9.    Harry Bäcklund Quartet ‘Body and Soul’ (Green)
Album: Remembering Harry (Anagram ANA CD 6)
Rec: Early 1960s.
Harry Bäcklund (ts), Knud Jörgensen (p), Sture Åkerberg (b), Sture Kallén (dr)

Sadly, Harry Bäcklund is a forgotten figure, even in Sweden. He was a favourite of Lars Gullin’s and is featured on a few of his recordings, but aside from that not much can be found on record. Although not distinctive in means of a unique style, I think his playing is very fine. He was troubled by unspecified “illness” and had dropped out of music by the 70s. He died in obscurity in 1978, only 42 years old. Although he never recorded an album under his own name, but his group made several broadcasts for Swedish radio. Unfortunately, all of those seem to be lost. This track was released on a compilation of Bäcklund recordings pulled from various collector’s tapes by the obscure label Anagram, run by David Reid, who also had an excellent jazz record shop in Stockholm during the 90s/early 2000s. Reid is now retired and both the shop and label are long gone.

Here’s one very rare clip of Bäcklund in a Gullin group playing ‘Milestones’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnLYkmKU5ms

I’ve got the rest of that TV broadcast on VHS somewhere.

Well, that sounds like about the most obscure thing we will ever hear on a Blindfold Test! He is a really fine player. I kept trying to guess which American giant of the tenor sax was playing.

10.    Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton ’Here’ (Mackay)
Album: Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton (Impulse  AS 9184)
Rec: Hollywood, June, 1969
Dave Mackay (p, voc), Vicky Hamilton (voc), Ira Schulman (ts), Ray Neapolitan (b), Joe Porcaro (dr), Fransisco Aguabella (cong)

Mackay and Hamilton made two albums for Impulse, but have mostly stayed under the radar ever since. This is like the Brasil 66 but with a slightly more sophisticated jazzy touch. Mackay played behind Chet Baker at one time and made a few more albums on small, independent labels.

That was an Impulse album? I will confess that I have never heard of it before. Very interesting. I had imagined that it was more of an obscure Brazilian group.

11.    Radiojazzgruppen ‘Zero’ (Ericksson)
Album: Höstspelor (Sveriges Radio RELP 1058)
Rec: Stockholm, April 23, 1968
Bertil Lövgren, Rolf Ericson, Jan Allan (tp), Runo Ericksson (bass tbn), Arne Domnerus (as), Claes Rosdahl (fl), Lennart Åberg (ts), Erik Nilsson (bari), Jan Johansson (p), Rune Gustafsson (g), Georg Riedel (b), Egil Johansen (dr), Sabu Martinez (cong)

Parts of this album were reissued by Dragon Records, but this track has not been out on CD. This is from the days when Swedish Radio had a part-time but permanent ensemble, led by Arne Domnerus, recording a string of new compositions and arrangements for regular broadcasts. Besides featuring some well-known Swedes it has Sabu Martinez (who moved to Stockholm in the 60s) on congas.

 

This is an example of the riches of European jazz history which I know nothing about. Thanks for presenting it. I always wondered what happened to Sabu.

12.    Herb Geller ’Space a la Mode’ (Geller)
Album: An American in Hamburg – The View from Here (NOVA 6.28332)
Rec: Hamburg, January, 1975
Palle Mikkelborg (tp), Herb Geller (saxes, flutes), Rob Franken (el p, Arp synth), Gottfrid Böttger (synth), Philip Catherine (g), Wolfgang Schlüter (vib, perc), Hans-Lucas Lindholm (b), Alex Riel (dr)

This was reissued on CD by Tramp Records in 2013 and is a very handsome release, but they forgot to mention any of the sidemen. In 1975 it was Geller’s first own album since the late 50s. Very nicely arranged, I think.

What an odd album, in a good way. I have some of Geller's earlier albums, such as "That Geller Feller", and would never have imagined that he would have branched out into something like this!  You do not identify the vocalist. Is it Mark Murphy, as I had guessed?

13.    Ingrid Jensen ‘Vernal Fields’ (Christine Jensen)
Album: Vernal Fields (Enja ENJ-9013 2)
Rec: New York, October, 1994
Ingrid Jensen (flh), Steve Wilson (as), Bruce Barth (p), Larry Grenadier (b), Lenny White (dr)

I think this is a wonderful tune, written by Ingrid’s sister Christine, and I’m surprised is hasn’t been recorded by others. I’ve always found Ingrid to be a personal and honest voice who should be more well known.

I should have been able to identify Ingrid Jensen. She is a wonderful trumpet player. That is a memorable composition.

14.    Hank Jones ‘Love, Come Take Me Again’ (Wilson)
Album: Here’s Love (Argo LPS-728)
Rec: New York, October 19, 1963
Hank Jones (p), Kenny Burrell (g), Milt Hinton (b), Elvin Jones (dr)

Se my comments in the discussion thread.

I happened to know this one. I think that one can never listen to too much Hank Jones.

 

 

[Jim R]

Wow, talk about getting an education.  One of the more amazing BFT's I've participated in, considering the rarity and beauty of the material.  There were a number of tracks that weren't really to my taste, but I recognized the quality in everything.

It's quite astonishing to me that I can't recall ever hearing (or hearing of) or seeing that Mackay/Hamilton Impulse album (nor even a photo of it).  I typed out the lyrics and tried searching for them, and nothing came up at all.  Zero.  That's very unusual in my experience.

The LeGrand track was the big prize here for me.  It was also good to be reminded to listen to that Hank Jones album again!

Many thanks, Daniel.

[NIS]

Interesting reveal.  Thanks.

I am one who will be checking out  Jerzy Milian.   Also, I thought I would always  be able to pick out Eberhard Weber.  I need to listen to that track a little closer I guess.

[Hot Ptah]

10 hours ago, Jim R said:

Wow, talk about getting an education.  One of the more amazing BFT's I've participated in, considering the rarity and beauty of the material.  There were a number of tracks that weren't really to my taste, but I recognized the quality in everything.

It's quite astonishing to me that I can't recall ever hearing (or hearing of) or seeing that Mackay/Hamilton Impulse album (nor even a photo of it).  I typed out the lyrics and tried searching for them, and nothing came up at all.  Zero.  That's very unusual in my experience.

The LeGrand track was the big prize here for me.  It was also good to be reminded to listen to that Hank Jones album again!

Many thanks, Daniel.

My sentiments exactly, that this BFT is quite an education, and one of the more amazing BFT's I've participated in.

[Daniel A]

 

Again, many thanks to you all for taking the time to dig into this test and sharing your thoughts. That you find the selections amazing is more than I ever would have hoped for.

Quote

I hope you do another one next year!

Yes, I forgot to add a smiley! 

Quote

5.    David Amram ‘Cantina Latina, Korea 1952’ (Amram)

I love this film and have watched it more than ten times, but not for several years. I did not recognize this as part of the soundtrack. This is really intriguing. I will have to watch the film again now and wait for this track.

It was more than 10 years I watched it, but this theme (not the Harold Land solo) is heard faintly in the background during a scene from some kind of political cocktail party.

Quote

12.    Herb Geller ’Space a la Mode’ (Geller)

What an odd album, in a good way. I have some of Geller's earlier albums, such as "That Geller Feller", and would never have imagined that he would have branched out into something like this!  You do not identify the vocalist. Is it Mark Murphy, as I had guessed?

Yes, I forgot to add that! I've edited the initial post.

14 hours ago, Jim R said:

Wow, talk about getting an education.  One of the more amazing BFT's I've participated in, considering the rarity and beauty of the material.  There were a number of tracks that weren't really to my taste, but I recognized the quality in everything.

It's quite astonishing to me that I can't recall ever hearing (or hearing of) or seeing that Mackay/Hamilton Impulse album (nor even a photo of it).  I typed out the lyrics and tried searching for them, and nothing came up at all.  Zero.  That's very unusual in my experience.

The LeGrand track was the big prize here for me.  It was also good to be reminded to listen to that Hank Jones album again!

Many thanks, Daniel.

You're welcome! I was initially uncertain if the Legrand track wasn't enough jazz, but I'm glad I included it now. 

Quote

 I think that one can never listen to too much Hank Jones.

So very true! :-)

 

Edited February 2, 2016 by Daniel A