BFT 250 Discussion - Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends

[mikeweil]

Okay, let me see how far i get. I do not listen to much jazz these days, and please excuse if I am too critical with details.

1.  Dahoud - would have liked the intro better with the second note before the beat. Hate the bass direct sound. Could it be there are transcriptions of original solos. This band would sound much better when recorded in a natural ambience - production makes it hard for me to listen through it. That insistent bass makes it a bit hectic. I wouldn't buy this.

2. A Charlie Parker tune - strange to awful piano sound, but definitely intended. A bit fast for my taste. Like the soloists much better than on the first track, some solid bebop played here. Sounds less like studio routine, but like fun and engaged playing. Oh, a live recording. Was hoping for a piano solo, and there it is. Is that Terry Adams? Like the drummer, and the horns, too. Okay, that's something I would buy.

3. This slower tune comes as a relief , to me at least. Liked it from the beginning. Some Ellington tune? Another bass direct sound, but warmer - that's more like it. Cello? No, guitar, sounding like a pizzicato cello in the first bar. That's a nice performance. Would have to hear more before I buy it. 

4. I know that tune, but listening to less jazz affect my memory of tunes. Strange sound, obtrusive kickdrum. Could be some swing veterans. They know what they're doing. Good soloistst having fun. Why is the piano so low in the mix? Nice, but too much like JATP for me to buy it. 

5. Symphony Sid, or what it's called. The alto player is good and enjoys himself, but I don't like the tempo, and, you guess, the bass sound. So I wouldn't buy it.

6. Another tune who's name I don't remember. Too fast for the piano player, he's on the border of what he can execute properly. Why are all these tracks in the fast tempo range except # 3? Most jazz guys seem to have high testosterone levels. Another no buy.

7. Django by John Lewis, but that's not him. Not his touch or voicings. That's ome very blues drenched player, like Les McCann, someone who transforms everything he plays into a blues type feeling. But there's a nice change of mood at 2:20. Would like to know who it is before I decide on buying it or not.

8. This direct bass sound might be one of the reasons whiy I don't like many newer recordings. Or is it the sound engineers making it too easy for themselves? Interesting pianist. Nice chops and a variety of stylistics. That's the same Parker tune as # 2. I have heard that alto player, but cannot identify him. Nice attempt at combining his bop roots with some whaling, without screaming, he has control. But I'd rather not buy this, I think.

9. Dahoud, once more. Doesn't enchant me as much as Clifford's version.  These modern guys are well schooled, but I want more feeling. So I wouldn't buy this.

10. What a contrast. Something like Night Train. A bit rough, but I like this. But would I buy it? Dunno, need to hear more.

Okay, I have to go to bed, got a gig coming up tomorrow night, with this guy (for speakers of German only, I guess): https://www.klemens-althapp.de

More later, I won't look at the others' comments.