BFT245 Link Available

[tkeith]

With apologies, this month, along with the rest of summer got VERY quicky away from me.

1 - Off the bat, sounds a bit like Sonny Criss, but hasn't quite got that *thing* he had.  It's in 3, so I love it. I know that sound, though.  Oh!  James Spaulding, of course.  One of those guys who started strong and got better with age.  Drums are busy, but it works.  On the phones and the bass sound is a bit... I dunno, off.  I like what I'm hearing in terms of ideas, but the sound sounds... maybe it's direct?  Dunno, it's a bit cab-forward.  Almost sounds like a fretless.  Patient pianist.  Guessing this might be a Muse date with that sound.  Drums have almost an Elvin thing going, but doesn't seem quite that tight.  Very curious.  Seems like there may be a hole in my JS collection.

2 - Know not what it is, but we used to eat at a Chinese restaurant in the area that would play stuff sort of like this -- not QUITE Jazz, but rubbing elbows with the obvious overtones of traditional music.  This reminds me of that, and now my stomach aches.  Other than that, I quite like this.  Horns don't bully the violin, and that line played on the violin is absolutely haunting.

3 - Nope.  "I have no kick against modern Jazz, unless they try to play it too darn fast, and change the beauty of the melody, until it sounds just like a symphony..."  This suffers from that... greatly.  Reminds me of that period where McCoy played everything too damned fast... only this isn't McCoy.  [And, if on the off chance I'm wrong about that and it is, my point is proven]

4 - Much better.  Don't feel on edge, can just listen.  Not sure on the trumpet.  Maybe Graham Breedlove?  Nice tune, tastefully played.  Not sure this is the stuff a desert island collection is built on, but it's quite nice.

5 - A little Ellington -- nice!  Never heard this covered before.  It is about damned time!  No idea who it is, but totally props for the cajones to try this gorgeous Ellington tune.  The original has to be one of the great pieces of music written in the 20th Century (worded that way because you can't beat the Ellington arrangement/performance... you just can't).  Endless Kudos to this band for playing something DEEP outside the box.  

6 - Parisian Thoroughfaire!  My favorite Bud tune.  Very well executed.  Was thinking John McNeil, but now I'm leaning Tom Harrell.  No idea on the piano.  I'm only slightly familiar with Harrell, but the precision suggests that's a pretty good guess.

7 - [Spins basketball on right index finger]  Tune is pretty obvious.  Double piano, but something odd in the rhythm of the second guy (almost seemed to lose the thread/tempo).  Second exchange same thing -- almost like second person is lagging the beat.  Okay, it's consistent, so I'm guessing that's what I'm actually hearing.  Kills it for me.

8 - Star Eyes, but damned near fooled me.  Like the tenor a lot, but the affected breathiness at the end of a phrase goes ALMOST too far.  Shades of Newk.  Shades of Red Holloway.  Shades of Ricky Ford.  Rhythmic precision is beyond the lot of them.  Even with the breath thing, this is pretty epic.  I think I need this.  If this were Dan's test, I'd guess Percy France.

9 - Well done tributary music, but not really my thing.  Well done and appreciated, but would likely not queue up a 2nd time.  

10 - Maybe my favorite Parker tune.  Cymbals on the bridge have me thinking Mel Lewis on drums, but this seems more recent (in terms of recording quality).  Well executed take on a classic.  Drums are way too busy to be Mel.  No idea.

11 - Stella.  Like the alto solo.  Sounds like Parker on 1/2 speed (which means it's only incredible).  Guessing we're off Main St., but not far.  Trumpet could be Miles on 1/2 speed.  Is this one of those weird things where it's like the best-of-Europe from the same era?  Could almost be Max on drums.  Whatdawegot here?

12 - Nice feel.  Reminiscent of Avishai Cohen but without the need to flex so much.  This is lovely.  Even the unemployment stick works.  

13 - No idea.  Kenton-ish arrangement.  Pleasant, but almost too much so.  Reminders of my grandmother's on Wednesday afternoon.  

14 - Sure sounds like Ray Nance' violin.  Live and the drums sure make this sound like a JATP date.  Not sure.  I'll stick with the Ray guess.

15 - My first impressions are Brubeck.  And that certainly sounds like Desmond.  Clearly live, and not a stellar recording, but the music surely works.  

A lot to like in this one, Ken.  Thanks!

[Ken Dryden]

4 hours ago, tkeith said:

With apologies, this month, along with the rest of summer got VERY quicky away from me.

1 - Off the bat, sounds a bit like Sonny Criss, but hasn't quite got that *thing* he had.  It's in 3, so I love it. I know that sound, though.  Oh!  James Spaulding, of course.  One of those guys who started strong and got better with age.  Drums are busy, but it works.  On the phones and the bass sound is a bit... I dunno, off.  I like what I'm hearing in terms of ideas, but the sound sounds... maybe it's direct?  Dunno, it's a bit cab-forward.  Almost sounds like a fretless.  Patient pianist.  Guessing this might be a Muse date with that sound.  Drums have almost an Elvin thing going, but doesn't seem quite that tight.  Very curious.  Seems like there may be a hole in my JS collection.

2 - Know not what it is, but we used to eat at a Chinese restaurant in the area that would play stuff sort of like this -- not QUITE Jazz, but rubbing elbows with the obvious overtones of traditional music.  This reminds me of that, and now my stomach aches.  Other than that, I quite like this.  Horns don't bully the violin, and that line played on the violin is absolutely haunting.

3 - Nope.  "I have no kick against modern Jazz, unless they try to play it too darn fast, and change the beauty of the melody, until it sounds just like a symphony..."  This suffers from that... greatly.  Reminds me of that period where McCoy played everything too damned fast... only this isn't McCoy.  [And, if on the off chance I'm wrong about that and it is, my point is proven]

4 - Much better.  Don't feel on edge, can just listen.  Not sure on the trumpet.  Maybe Graham Breedlove?  Nice tune, tastefully played.  Not sure this is the stuff a desert island collection is built on, but it's quite nice.

Not Graham Breedlove.

4 hours ago, tkeith said:

5 - A little Ellington -- nice!  Never heard this covered before.  It is about damned time!  No idea who it is, but totally props for the cajones to try this gorgeous Ellington tune.  The original has to be one of the great pieces of music written in the 20th Century (worded that way because you can't beat the Ellington arrangement/performance... you just can't).  Endless Kudos to this band for playing something DEEP outside the box.  

6 - Parisian Thoroughfare!  My favorite Bud tune.  Very well executed.  Was thinking John McNeil, but now I'm leaning Tom Harrell.  No idea on the piano.  I'm only slightly familiar with Harrell, but the precision suggests that's a pretty good guess.

It is Tom Harrell.

7 - [Spins basketball on right index finger]  Tune is pretty obvious.  Double piano, but something odd in the rhythm of the second guy (almost seemed to lose the thread/tempo).  Second exchange same thing -- almost like second person is lagging the beat.  Okay, it's consistent, so I'm guessing that's what I'm actually hearing.  Kills it for me.

8 - Star Eyes, but damned near fooled me.  Like the tenor a lot, but the affected breathiness at the end of a phrase goes ALMOST too far.  Shades of Newk.  Shades of Red Holloway.  Shades of Ricky Ford.  Rhythmic precision is beyond the lot of them.  Even with the breath thing, this is pretty epic.  I think I need this.  If this were Dan's test, I'd guess Percy France.

Not Percy France.

9 - Well done tributary music, but not really my thing.  Well done and appreciated, but would likely not queue up a 2nd time.  

10 - Maybe my favorite Parker tune.  Cymbals on the bridge have me thinking Mel Lewis on drums, but this seems more recent (in terms of recording quality).  Well executed take on a classic.  Drums are way too busy to be Mel.  No idea.

11 - Stella.  Like the alto solo.  Sounds like Parker on 1/2 speed (which means it's only incredible).  Guessing we're off Main St., but not far.  Trumpet could be Miles on 1/2 speed.  Is this one of those weird things where it's like the best-of-Europe from the same era?  Could almost be Max on drums.  Whatdawegot here?

12 - Nice feel.  Reminiscent of Avishai Cohen but without the need to flex so much.  This is lovely.  Even the unemployment stick works.  

13 - No idea.  Kenton-ish arrangement.  Pleasant, but almost too much so.  Reminders of my grandmother's on Wednesday afternoon.  

14 - Sure sounds like Ray Nance' violin.  Live and the drums sure make this sound like a JATP date.  Not sure.  I'll stick with the Ray guess.

Previously identified as Stuff Smith.

15 - My first impressions are Brubeck.  And that certainly sounds like Desmond.  Clearly live, and not a stellar recording, but the music surely works.  

Previously identified as the Dave Brubeck Quartet with Paul Desmond, pre-Joe Morello.

A lot to like in this one, Ken.  Thanks!

 

[Quasimado]

11. Piano sounds like Richard Twardzik, with Charlie Mariano on alto. Trumpet is competent but lacks something ... JSngry's hint helped ...

 

[Ken Dryden]

6 minutes ago, Quasimado said:

11. Piano sounds like Richard Twardzik, with Charlie Mariano on alto. Trumpet is competent but lacks something ... JSngry's hint helped ...

 

Mariano and Twardzik are on the record.

 

[webbcity]

MANY profound apologies for my late appearance here, and in fact I feel like I should apologize to everyone here in BFT-land for disappearing for so long. Life has been a lot this year! But I've missed this. This was really fun to do again, even if I'm coming in at the tail end of the party. Here are my quick thoughts as I listened:

Track 1 - Little Niles! Randy Weston. Love the way this starts out, took me a second to realize what tune it was. Really digging this alto player and the band is right there too. Damn! After that fiery alto solo the more introspective piano solo is a nice break. This is great. Yeah, I could use a whole album of this!

Track 2 - Ah yes! Two Flowers On a Stem - Jon Jang. First heard this last year and it's been on my want list. Such a beautiful tune, and what a lineup on this record. If I remember right, David Murray, James Newton, Billy Hart? I forget the others. Outstanding!

Track 3 - Wow, what a great and diverse bunch of tunes so far. Love the energy here, this group is right on the edge. Immediately the drummer sounds like Steve Ellington to me. And it sounds like the pianist has some avant-garde cred. Actually...huh...maybe this is Hal Galper? It's not *all* working for me but I do like the intensity of this one.

Track 4 - Boy, beautiful sound out of that horn. Don't recognize the tune though I feel like I should. Trumpet solo is very tasty but I do find it maybe a bit too careful. Piano solo very nice also, but same comment could apply. Overall I enjoyed this track though.

Track 5 - Well this is kind of magical. I'm in another world and I like it! Beautiful. The feel on this is perfect. Arrangement is nice too, though I'm not sure any individual players are grabbing me on this one. Very nice though.

Track 6 - Oh man, I am blanking on the name of this tune but I do like this one. What a cool head. This duo is very sympatico. Great playing and a fun sense of energy here-- clearly a good time was had by all (both). And they got chops!

Track 7 - I do love a bit of Sweet Georgia Brown. The pianist is impressive from a chops point of view but not at the expensive of feeling or musicality. Wait a sec. Two pianos? I like this a lot.

Track 8 - Beautiful intro from the piano... and holy cow what a tenor sound. Star Eyes! This is like buttah! Yeah, this is just fantastic. REALLY digging the tenor player and looking forward to the reveal on this one.

Track 9 - A newer group playing an older style, a style that's normally outside of my bag but I do like this kind of thing when done in a particular way. This one isn't really reaching me today though. Oh... well, actually... ok. I do like the tenor player! Once again.

Track 10 - Scrapple! Nice solid trio, fabulous piano solo. OK, that drummer ain't bad either! Wow. Wondering now if this is the drummer's group. Very tight... nice reading of this.

Track 11 - Oh wow, Stella! That interesting little piano intro threw me off--in a good way. I'm sure I know this alto player, there's something very familiar sounding here. Whatever the case, really like the sound and concept. Trumpet solo is perfection too. Boy... yeah, this pianist really IS interesting. This track is a big winner for me & I'm very curious about it.

Track 12 - Very nice arrangement, lush brash... not sure if this one gets off the ground for me though. The soprano player brings the energy but the playing is not totally reaching me.

Track 13 - Again, maybe just not my thing. Obviously very well done. Sounds a bit Gil Evans, maybe? Have had trouble getting into his stuff (sorry Thom ). I do like the piano solo that comes in around 2:45 though.

Track 14 - Why yes, I do like a bit of jazz violin from time to time. Ah, How High the Moon. That took me a minute. I do like this, particularly when they kick into the higher tempo. No guesses, although it should be a bit easier to guess violinists than tenor players?

Track 15 - Yeah, I like the feel of this one a lot. Cool tune, I like the "grand" part at the beginning as well as when it kicks in with the alto player. Maybe Desmond/Brubeck? Not an expert here but it seems like that's the neighborhood. Me like!

Some great stuff here Ken, thanks for your efforts! And I see the reveal has already been posted, so I'll now head straight there to be enlightened...