BFT245 Link Available

[Ken Dryden]

Here's my BFT for August. Hope you enjoy it and discover some music of interest.

https://thomkeith.net/blindfold-tests/current-tests/

[Dan Gould]

Well I gotta say the picking were slim on this one, Ken.

When I got to track 4, I thought, comparatively speaking this is 5 stars but in reality, about a *** track.

Same on track 6.

Track 7 is Sweet Georgia Brown but you can keep this rendition.

Track 8 is Star Eyes at ballad tempo and far and away, not even close, the star of the show.  4 stars.

Track 9 sounds Pre-Felser to me and that's all I got.

Track 10 - Confirmation (?)  Al Haig or someone like him?

Track 11 - Stitt on alto?

12-15 we're back in that wide zone of not my thang, sorry. 

Track 8 is of definite interest, 4, 6, 10 and 11 less so.  Thanks for  putting this together. I am sure others will find more to savor and guess at or ID.

[T.D.]

Page isn't loading for me right now.

Greatly enjoyed track 1, a tune I recognize (but can't name offhand) and that's on several recordings I own. No idea of the performers, but deserves research. The next two tunes made less of an impression. Can't say more until the page comes back.

[JSngry]

Baseball sucks today, and cricket is all highlights, so...

TRACK ONE - "Little Niles". Alto is ALMOST too ripe, but I stress-  almost! I like it ok, kinda late in the game if it's new-sih, but that ok. Maybe it's an older player?

TRACK TWO - Not in the mood for this vibe. Not at all. Sorry.

TRACK THREE - Ah,,,but no. A bit too much of not enough. It's like Oscar Peterson with a lot more brains, ultimately meaning that it's still like Oscar Peterson.

TRACK FOUR - "Azalea". The original is one of the greatest ever. But the tune is AFAIK, largely uncovered. So what are you supposed to do? You can't let the original die. But a relatively flat-line version like this does it no favors. How about people taking a spot on their records an just put in the original and call it, "We We Going To Do This Tune, But Why Bother? Just "Listen To This Instead".  I might buy that record and never listen to it once, just out of respect for honesty. And oh, the lyrics are epic the way Louis sings them. This is not epic, not at all. Too bad about that.

TRACK FIVE - More flat-lining of an Ellington Classic. This isn't a theme, I hope? "Sunset and the Mockingbird" for "The Queen's Suite. Whoever it is doesn't matter. Nothing added, just flat-lined. So it's live, good, people can hear this live and then go out and buy the Ellington record. And live is always good. But it's not always better.

TRACK SIX - "Parisian Thoroughfare". It's ok, very expert players, but again, flat-lined. Can't fault the notes, though. Just don't really like how they don't bounce.

TRACK SEVEN - Piano duet(?) on "Sweet Gergia Brown. Not bad. They(?) work together quite nicely. Funny though, these four hands aren't as confounding as Earl Hines' two!

TRACK EIGHT  - I think this is Lew Tabackin? Playing "Star Eyes". If it is Lew, he sounds like he's gotten to be at peace with his inner Ben. This one is just dandy1

TRACK NINE - Took me a whole to jog out the cobwebs, but this is the Cat Anderson Black & Blue album. What finally did it was hearing the temor and finally glomming that YES - Harold Ashby!!!! That's not a bad record, and Cat was a lot more than a high not show!

TRACK TEN - No idea who else the trio is, but that drummer is Alan Dawson. "Scrapple...." is such a tired head, but you only gotta play it once at the top and then again at the end. In Between is up to you. And this is SPLENDID!

TRACK ELEVEN - This sounds like a 10"...and like heroin! Shooten up and Bebop. "Stella By Starlight". I like it a lot, it's not at all flat-line, that shit bobs and weaves, and that's the way I like my bebop. It's funny that now that everybody's supposed(?) to be sober, their shit don't swing, but I would wager that there a bare minimum of one junkie in this band, possible more, and this shit SWINGS!!!! No idea who it is, but I would buy it. Sober.

TRACK TWELVE - See #11. This is deadly sober. And not in a good way. Innie or Outie?

TRACK THIRTEEN - Gil & Ten. "Nobody's Heart". the first in a long, distinguished like of Gil Slo-Mo Big Hairy Spiders charts, each on better the the one befoore (with the stipulation that "Barbara Song" is in a world of its own).

TRACK FOURTEEN - At first I was thinking Stephane Grappelli and I was like oh GOD no, but then it got some grit, so I will guess at Stuff Smith? I'm not real deep on him, but what I do know is awesome. I like this one even if..."How High The Moon"? I guess you gotta play something. So play "Ornithology"! LOL!

TRACK FIFTEEN  - Brubeck, pre-Morello judging by that bombing bass drum. They're in a dancing mood, they are! So let's dance then!

Some fine stuff in here. Thanks!

 

[Ken Dryden]

2 hours ago, Dan Gould said:

Well I gotta say the picking were slim on this one, Ken.

When I got to track 4, I thought, comparatively speaking this is 5 stars but in reality, about a *** track.

Same on track 6.

Track 7 is Sweet Georgia Brown but you can keep this rendition.

Track 8 is Star Eyes at ballad tempo and far and away, not even close, the star of the show.  4 stars.

Track 9 sounds Pre-Felser to me and that's all I got.

Track 10 - Confirmation (?)  Al Haig or someone like him?

Track 11 - Stitt on alto?

12-15 we're back in that wide zone of not my thang, sorry. 

Track 8 is of definite interest, 4, 6, 10 and 11 less so.  Thanks for  putting this together. I am sure others will find more to savor and guess at or ID.

Tracks 7 i & 8 are correctly identified.

Not Al Haig on track 10.

Not Sonny Stitt on track 11.

 

1 hour ago, JSngry said:

Baseball sucks today, and cricket is all highlights, so...

TRACK ONE - "Little Niles". Alto is ALMOST too ripe, but I stress-  almost! I like it ok, kinda late in the game if it's new-sih, but that ok. Maybe it's an older player?

TRACK TWO - Not in the mood for this vibe. Not at all. Sorry.

TRACK THREE - Ah,,,but no. A bit too much of not enough. It's like Oscar Peterson with a lot more brains, ultimately meaning that it's still like Oscar Peterson.

TRACK FOUR - "Azalea". The original is one of the greatest ever. But the tune is AFAIK, largely uncovered. So what are you supposed to do? You can't let the original die. But a relatively flat-line version like this does it no favors. How about people taking a spot on their records an just put in the original and call it, "We We Going To Do This Tune, But Why Bother? Just "Listen To This Instead".  I might buy that record and never listen to it once, just out of respect for honesty. And oh, the lyrics are epic the way Louis sings them. This is not epic, not at all. Too bad about that.

TRACK FIVE - More flat-lining of an Ellington Classic. This isn't a theme, I hope? "Sunset and the Mockingbird" for "The Queen's Suite. Whoever it is doesn't matter. Nothing added, just flat-lined. So it's live, good, people can hear this live and then go out and buy the Ellington record. And live is always good. But it's not always better.

TRACK SIX - "Parisian Thoroughfare". It's ok, very expert players, but again, flat-lined. Can't fault the notes, though. Just don't really like how they don't bounce.

TRACK SEVEN - Piano duet(?) on "Sweet Gergia Brown. Not bad. They(?) work together quite nicely. Funny though, these four hands aren't as confounding as Earl Hines' two!

TRACK EIGHT  - I think this is Lew Tabackin? Playing "Star Eyes". If it is Lew, he sounds like he's gotten to be at peace with his inner Ben. This one is just dandy1

TRACK NINE - Took me a whole to jog out the cobwebs, but this is the Cat Anderson Black & Blue album. What finally did it was hearing the temor and finally glomming that YES - Harold Ashby!!!! That's not a bad record, and Cat was a lot more than a high not show!

TRACK TEN - No idea who else the trio is, but that drummer is Alan Dawson. "Scrapple...." is such a tired head, but you only gotta play it once at the top and then again at the end. In Between is up to you. And this is SPLENDID!

TRACK ELEVEN - This sounds like a 10"...and like heroin! Shooten up and Bebop. "Stella By Starlight". I like it a lot, it's not at all flat-line, that shit bobs and weaves, and that's the way I like my bebop. It's funny that now that everybody's supposed(?) to be sober, their shit don't swing, but I would wager that there a bare minimum of one junkie in this band, possible more, and this shit SWINGS!!!! No idea who it is, but I would buy it. Sober.

TRACK TWELVE - See #11. This is deadly sober. And not in a good way. Innie or Outie?

TRACK THIRTEEN - Gil & Ten. "Nobody's Heart". the first in a long, distinguished like of Gil Slo-Mo Big Hairy Spiders charts, each on better the the one befoore (with the stipulation that "Barbara Song" is in a world of its own).

TRACK FOURTEEN - At first I was thinking Stephane Grappelli and I was like oh GOD no, but then it got some grit, so I will guess at Stuff Smith? I'm not real deep on him, but what I do know is awesome. I like this one even if..."How High The Moon"? I guess you gotta play something. So play "Ornithology"! LOL!

TRACK FIFTEEN  - Brubeck, pre-Morello judging by that bombing bass drum. They're in a dancing mood, they are! So let's dance then!

Some fine stuff in here. Thanks!

 

All songs and musicians are as you stated, obviously not Oscar Peterson as you compared the pianist to, an unusual comparison for the artist.

Good job, Jim.

 

 

[Milestones]

Geez, I mis-identified the Ellington tune.  "Sunset and Mocking Bird" indeed, which sounds decent to me--wondering who performs this.

Edited August 1 by Milestones

[Ken Dryden]

3 hours ago, Milestones said:

Geez, I mis-identified the Ellington tune.  "Sunset and Mocking Bird" indeed, which sounds decent to me--wondering who performs this.

Track 2 is identified correctly.

Tracks 9 & 13 wee previously identified by JSngry.

Tracks 14 & 15 were previously identified by JSngry.

 

 

[JSngry]

A little sleuthing reveals that #1 is James Spaulding!

[Dan Gould]

12 minutes ago, JSngry said:

A little sleuthing reveals that #1 is James Spaulding!

One of his Muse recordings?

[JSngry]

Yep.

[Dan Gould]

Not one I have ever seen in the wild. And I assume you matched track time because he performed it on a later album, post-Muse.

[Ken Dryden]

That it is.

[Dan Gould]

10 minutes ago, Ken Dryden said:

That it is.

The later recording?

[Milestones]

Maybe I need to listen to #1 again, as I'm normally inclined to enjoy Spaulding's solos.  

[Ken Dryden]

58 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

The later recording?

It is the Muse CD.

[JSngry]

Yeah, I found the album on YouTube (after querying Discogs by song title and looking at a buttload full of hits) and matched the cut exactly.

I figured it was an older guy - or maybe even a really stealth smooth player - because of the way he worked his tone. Some people call it "worrying" a note, but this is more than that, it's more simply a vocalizing of the notes. It's not at all flat-lined - not only did the accents bob and weave, the tone does too.

Personally, that what I look for in music of any kind, And this has it!

[randyhersom]

is 12 Maria Schneider?  from Data Lords?

[Ken Dryden]

No, not Maria Schneider.

[Dub Modal]

1 - Nice intro from the saxophone. Hearing some James Bond theme in that melody. Drummer is on point. Sax player seems to incorporate some Charles Lloyd style playing although it's definitely not Lloyd with those Sanders-esque notes. And they're going so long that I'd say it's their date. Piano solo is nice. Overall a good song. 

2 - Sounds like Billy Bang with that Chinese style melody. Beautiful playing. This is the kind of intro that brings a listener in. No other guesses. I ended up just letting this play and didn't take any other notes. Fantastic tune. 

3 - Someone is all over those keys. Bassist is going 100 mph too. Not a fan of what the pianist is doing early on here. It's like the focus is on the tempo and facility and all else is abandoned. It's the complete opposite of track 2. Got to be the pianist's date right? 

4 - Good playing. A bit of a "by the numbers" approach to me. Trumpet tone is nice. Around the 3 minute mark this gets better. No guesses. 

5 - The arrangement is nice, reminiscent of Duke Pearson almost. Good playing. No guesses. 

6 - The trumpet playing a fantastic. Good tone and carries this song IMO. Lots of notes, but there's something behind them. 

7 - Upbeat piano - no guesses. 

8 - Great sax playing and nice song but no guesses. 

9 - I like this one, the playing is nice and they're all in here. 

I'll have to come back for the last few tracks. Not that I'm sharing anything of worth, but who fucking cares anyway. Here's an emoji 🐼

[Ken Dryden]

2 hours ago, Dub Modal said:

1 - Nice intro from the saxophone. Hearing some James Bond theme in that melody. Drummer is on point. Sax player seems to incorporate some Charles Lloyd style playing although it's definitely not Lloyd with those Sanders-esque notes. And they're going so long that I'd say it's their date. Piano solo is nice. Overall a good song. 

2 - Sounds like Billy Bang with that Chinese style melody. Beautiful playing. This is the kind of intro that brings a listener in. No other guesses. I ended up just letting this play and didn't take any other notes. Fantastic tune. 

3 - Someone is all over those keys. Bassist is going 100 mph too. Not a fan of what the pianist is doing early on here. It's like the focus is on the tempo and facility and all else is abandoned. It's the complete opposite of track 2. Got to be the pianist's date right? 

4 - Good playing. A bit of a "by the numbers" approach to me. Trumpet tone is nice. Around the 3 minute mark this gets better. No guesses. 

5 - The arrangement is nice, reminiscent of Duke Pearson almost. Good playing. No guesses. 

6 - The trumpet playing a fantastic. Good tone and carries this song IMO. Lots of notes, but there's something behind them. 

7 - Upbeat piano - no guesses. 

8 - Great sax playing and nice song but no guesses. 

9 - I like this one, the playing is nice and they're all in here. 

I'll have to come back for the last few tracks. Not that I'm sharing anything of worth, but who fucking cares anyway. Here's an emoji 🐼

You listened to the music and shared your thoughts. That is more than enough for me.

[Dub Modal]

Sorry - that came across harsher than intended. Shouldn't let a bad day bleed over into a post here. My bad. 

To finish up the tracks...

10 - Here we go. I recognize this from some recent Bird listening spree but I can't name the tune. It's obviously not Bird as it's a much later recording. Players are obviously having fun and enjoying it. I dig the whole thing. They are grooving something serious and it's a fun listen. 

11 - Terrific track. I'm pretty sure I've heard this and likely have it in the collection but I can't name it right now. Is this from the Savoy label by chance? The pianist and trumpet have a clear style that should be obvious but I'm coming up empty. Great stuff though. 

12 - A definite change in style here, and I like the overall composition. The restraint builds some tension which is a nice touch. I sense some classical influence on whoever wrote this. The brass crescendo was a bit off, and there's something here that keeps this tune from being really good. It's a bit cold, maybe that's the point...overall it's like this was made at an intersection of 80s ECM and the Jones/Lewis big band. 

13 - This is interesting...not necessarily a fun tune but interesting. The horns are arranged well. Oh wait - much better as it gets to the 3 minute mark. The feel of this to me comes across as a bridge tune on an album, trying to tie some other songs together for a thematic emphasis. On it's own though it doesn't hit all the buttons for me.  

14 - Is this Grappelli? He's a great player but there's some maudlin stylings that are coming through. But there's also some bluegrassy moments that make me think this isn't Grappelli. Hmmm....

15 - This sounds live, and I love how they captured this drummer. Sax sounds an awful lot like Paul Desmond. Wow. Yeah, that's Desmond so is this Brubeck? Interesting if so. Brubeck really plays to the crowd, like he's simplifying everything. Was this one of his calling cards? 
 

Thanks for putting this together. There's a ton of variation here which made for some interesting twists and turns. 

[Ken Dryden]

19 hours ago, Dub Modal said:

Sorry - that came across harsher than intended. Shouldn't let a bad day bleed over into a post here. My bad. 

To finish up the tracks...

10 - Here we go. I recognize this from some recent Bird listening spree but I can't name the tune. It's obviously not Bird as it's a much later recording. Players are obviously having fun and enjoying it. I dig the whole thing. They are grooving something serious and it's a fun listen. 

11 - Terrific track. I'm pretty sure I've heard this and likely have it in the collection but I can't name it right now. Is this from the Savoy label by chance? The pianist and trumpet have a clear style that should be obvious but I'm coming up empty. Great stuff though. 

12 - A definite change in style here, and I like the overall composition. The restraint builds some tension which is a nice touch. I sense some classical influence on whoever wrote this. The brass crescendo was a bit off, and there's something here that keeps this tune from being really good. It's a bit cold, maybe that's the point...overall it's like this was made at an intersection of 80s ECM and the Jones/Lewis big band. 

13 - This is interesting...not necessarily a fun tune but interesting. The horns are arranged well. Oh wait - much better as it gets to the 3 minute mark. The feel of this to me comes across as a bridge tune on an album, trying to tie some other songs together for a thematic emphasis. On it's own though it doesn't hit all the buttons for me.  

14 - Is this Grappelli? He's a great player but there's some maudlin stylings that are coming through. But there's also some bluegrassy moments that make me think this isn't Grappelli. Hmmm....

15 - This sounds live, and I love how they captured this drummer. Sax sounds an awful lot like Paul Desmond. Wow. Yeah, that's Desmond so is this Brubeck? Interesting if so. Brubeck really plays to the crowd, like he's simplifying everything. Was this one of his calling cards? 
 

Thanks for putting this together. There's a ton of variation here which made for some interesting twists and turns. 

I didn''t take your initial reply as harsh at all.

Track 14 was previously identified as Stuff Smith, along with the tunes. Stuff's sound is pretty distinctive and edgier than Stephane's, it's fun to hear their recordings together. though there is only one violinist present here.

Track 15 was previously identified with a bit of word games as the pre-Joe Morello Dave Brubeck Quartet with Paul Desmond.

 

 

[Dub Modal]

4 hours ago, Ken Dryden said:

Track 15 was previously identified with a bit of word games as the pre-Joe Morello Dave Brubeck Quartet with Paul Desmond.

Pre-Morello Brubeck is interesting for sure. Whoever it is does well, works that kick drum to good effect. 

[randyhersom]

I took my notes on another computer, then changed to a new one.  They were not changed after I read the thread

1.  Is that Jitterbug Waltz?  Took me a couple plays to decide yes.  I think Jason Moran's version was reaching out to an R&B audience, so I'll go with Cory Weeds as a guess.
2.  Oriental sounding instrument.  For some reason it makes me think Pharoah Sanders, although not representative of his body of work.
3.  Virtuoso piano, Barry Harris or Mulgrew Miller?  
4.  Lyrical trumpet, maybe Kenny Dorham?
5.  Airy arrangement with featured clarinet.  Peplowski?
6.  Familiar composition, but I can't place it.  Lee Morgan?
7.  Sweet Georgia Brown?  Art Tatum? 
8.  Star Eyes  Getz and Barron?
9.  Roy Eldridge?
10. Is that Yardbird Suite?  Maybe Hampton Hawes?  When I hear the applause at the end I question that choice.
11. Charlie Parker?
12. Maria Schneider?  From Data Lords?
13. Gil Evans makes sense in this context.
14. Stephane Grappelli?
15. Woody Herman?

[Ken Dryden]

15 hours ago, randyhersom said:

I took my notes on another computer, then changed to a new one.  They were not changed after I read the thread

1.  Is that Jitterbug Waltz?  Took me a couple plays to decide yes.  I think Jason Moran's version was reaching out to an R&B audience, so I'll go with Cory Weeds as a guess.
2.  Oriental sounding instrument.  For some reason it makes me think Pharoah Sanders, although not representative of his body of work.
3.  Virtuoso piano, Barry Harris or Mulgrew Miller?  
4.  Lyrical trumpet, maybe Kenny Dorham?
5.  Airy arrangement with featured clarinet.  Peplowski?
6.  Familiar composition, but I can't place it.  Lee Morgan?
7.  Sweet Georgia Brown?  Art Tatum? 
8.  Star Eyes  Getz and Barron?
9.  Roy Eldridge?
10. Is that Yardbird Suite?  Maybe Hampton Hawes?  When I hear the applause at the end I question that choice.
11. Charlie Parker?
12. Maria Schneider?  From Data Lords?
13. Gil Evans makes sense in this context.
14. Stephane Grappelli?
15. Woody Herman?

Track 1 was previously identified as "Little Niles," played by James Spaulding.

Track 2 does not feature Pharoah Sanders, I believe it was previously identified.

Track 3 is not Barry Harris nor Mulgrew Miller. Hint: the pianist is still living.

Track 4 is not Kenny Dorham.

Track 5 is not Ken Peplowski.

Track 6 is not Lee Morgan.

Track 7 is correctly identified, but it is not Art Tatum.

Track 8 is "Star Eyes," but doesn't feature Stan Getz and Kenny Barron.

Track 9 is not Roy Eldridge.

Track 10 is not "Yardbird Suite" nor does it feature Hampton Hawes.

Track 11 is not Charlie Parker.

Track 12 doesn't feature Maria Schneider.

Track 13 was previously identified as Gil Evans.

Track 14 was previously identified as Stuff Smith.

Track 15 was previously identified as the pre-Joe Morello Dave Brubeck Quartet playing "I'm In A Dancing Mood."