BFT 251: Discussion

[Joe]

This one is now available for your listening pleasure. No theme or conceit; just 12 tracks culled from my recent listening which I felt like sharing with a an audience of more than one (me).

https://thomkeith.net/blindfold-tests/2025-blindfold-tests/

Thanks in advance for the discussion!

[JSngry]

Listening in hopes of the Reverse Rapture of Miriam Adelson.

TRACK ONE - My initial gut reaction was that this was some rewritten/expanded version of :Half Mast Rapture", but it didn't take long t disabuse that notion. Second reaction was/is that this is quite well written. That bassoon is on it! Same for the cellist. The flautist is a little missing in the upper register, which tells me that it's not a classical player. And who, there are a few noticeable (on my phone, anyway)splices between composed and jazz section. the soloists are all good but not immediately identifiable. Elvin? I like this a lot, actually, especially the composed sections.

TRACK TWO - That Leo P guy? "Nica's Dream". Very barking tone/attack. Sound is impressive, ideas, not so much. Almost sounds like a smooth jazz approach to hard bop. Once or twice is enough for this one, for me.

TRACK THREE - Ok, this one I have - "Cool Struttin'" by Bennie Green, Jimmy Forrest, and Sonny Clark on Green's Time record. Green & Forrest made a good front line (and also did at least one more together) This is a good record.

TRACK FOUR - Sounds like an Eddie Harris solo record, but not one that I have. I like the textures and the notion. The actual music, not as much., which is why I don't think it's Eddie Harris. When Eddie played simply, he always had a palpable power in reserve. This? Eh...But I do like the textures.

TRACK FIVE - No idea. A bit too much for me. It's like driving through a car wash in a convertible with the top down, but the dryer is out of order. You know, why did THAT happen?

TRACK SIX - I have this one too - Benny Carter's OTHER impulse! album. I love the AM-ready reverb! The entire album is lacking the BADASS punch of the first one, but it's good, and this one is such a charmer!

TRACK SEVEN - Nice arrangement! Bud Shank? Art Pepper? Trixie Sorbet? I don't know? Kudos for not following the crowd.

TRACK EIGHT - Sounds like a late-60s/early-mid 70s Gil Evans. But if it was, I would have it and I don't. Ok, opening up into some guitar textures that came later than that. I like it, it's got a good zone, but a little Billy Harper or Hannibal (or a lot) (Or both) would do no harm one bit. Not one bit. Although this trumpeter is not unaware of Johnny Coles, thank you for that.

TRACK NINE - Oh my! Sounds like a still-forming player, but that's ok, they're going the right way(s). Sounds like they all are. What a sound, vocal like a mo! Form is reminiscent of a Joe Harriot piece, maybe? But this is not Joe Harriot. I like this one a pretty lot much!

TRACK TEN - "Sophisticated Lady". Ran Blake? But I think maybe not? But I also think why not? I like it.

TRACK ELEVEN - Not Mingus. T-ing him up.  Not Chet Baker. He gone. Tenor vibrato, say hi to Miriam. Where is Jackie Paris when you need him?

TRACK TWELVE - This one rings true to me. A ot, actually. Not "great", but TRUE.

Nice set. Stop by any time!

 

 

[Joe]

44 minutes ago, JSngry said:

Listening in hopes of the Reverse Rapture of Miriam Adelson.

TRACK ONE - My initial gut reaction was that this was some rewritten/expanded version of :Half Mast Rapture", but it didn't take long t disabuse that notion. Second reaction was/is that this is quite well written. That bassoon is on it! Same for the cellist. The flautist is a little missing in the upper register, which tells me that it's not a classical player. And who, there are a few noticeable (on my phone, anyway)splices between composed and jazz section. the soloists are all good but not immediately identifiable. Elvin? I like this a lot, actually, especially the composed sections.

TRACK TWO - That Leo P guy? "Nica's Dream". Very barking tone/attack. Sound is impressive, ideas, not so much. Almost sounds like a smooth jazz approach to hard bop. Once or twice is enough for this one, for me.

TRACK THREE - Ok, this one I have - "Cool Struttin'" by Bennie Green, Jimmy Forrest, and Sonny Clark on Green's Time record. Green & Forrest made a good front line (and also did at least one more together) This is a good record.

TRACK FOUR - Sounds like an Eddie Harris solo record, but not one that I have. I like the textures and the notion. The actual music, not as much., which is why I don't think it's Eddie Harris. When Eddie played simply, he always had a palpable power in reserve. This? Eh...But I do like the textures.

TRACK FIVE - No idea. A bit too much for me. It's like driving through a car wash in a convertible with the top down, but the dryer is out of order. You know, why did THAT happen?

TRACK SIX - I have this one too - Benny Carter's OTHER impulse! album. I love the AM-ready reverb! The entire album is lacking the BADASS punch of the first one, but it's good, and this one is such a charmer!

TRACK SEVEN - Nice arrangement! Bud Shank? Art Pepper? Trixie Sorbet? I don't know? Kudos for not following the crowd.

TRACK EIGHT - Sounds like a late-60s/early-mid 70s Gil Evans. But if it was, I would have it and I don't. Ok, opening up into some guitar textures that came later than that. I like it, it's got a good zone, but a little Billy Harper or Hannibal (or a lot) (Or both) would do no harm one bit. Not one bit. Although this trumpeter is not unaware of Johnny Coles, thank you for that.

TRACK NINE - Oh my! Sounds like a still-forming player, but that's ok, they're going the right way(s). Sounds like they all are. What a sound, vocal like a mo! Form is reminiscent of a Joe Harriot piece, maybe? But this is not Joe Harriot. I like this one a pretty lot much!

TRACK TEN - "Sophisticated Lady". Ran Blake? But I think maybe not? But I also think why not? I like it.

TRACK ELEVEN - Not Mingus. T-ing him up.  Not Chet Baker. He gone. Tenor vibrato, say hi to Miriam. Where is Jackie Paris when you need him?

TRACK TWELVE - This one rings true to me. A ot, actually. Not "great", but TRUE.

Nice set. Stop by any time!

 

 

Thanks! Bingpot on 3 and 6.

Track 1 was recently brought to my attention by a friend. It's kind of specific to one city's jazz scene (not Dallas or Fort Worth, though). A scene with some jazz history, in fact, that's often overlooked. (And, yes, that's Elvin.)

Track 2 is another new name to me. Hoping other listeners can tell me more about them!

Track 7 is an arranger you know. (Even if you don't know these players.)

Track 8 is the bassist's date. I've featured this trumpet player in a previous BFT. 

Track 10 sure feels like it should be Ran Blake... but it's not! Europe is in the mix, but the pianist is not European by birth. 

Track 12 features an obscure leader and ringers elsewhere. Will be curious to see if anyone IDs them. 

[JSngry]

Cecil McBee on #12?

[Joe]

2 hours ago, JSngry said:

Cecil McBee on #12?

[clifford_thornton]

Track 1 — no idea, but I love it. Did a little discographical sleuthing and couldn’t line up Elvin with this ensemble. Stumped. I assume this music is from Detroit?

Track 2 — “Recorda Me” but I cannot identify the group or the bari player, who seems to be coming out of Ronnie Cuber (not him, though, I don’t think)

Track 3 — already identified (I peeked) but it is nice to hear this group for sure.

Track 4 — never heard this before. Not really my cuppa, personally.

Track 5 — again, no idea, but a bari and bass sax duo is pretty unique. I both liked it all right and wished for more inventiveness or openness… something.

Track 6 — already identified but a record I’ve never spent any time with. Should rectify that.

Track 7 — excellent. Sounds left coast-y to me, but I can’t quite nail it down.

Track 8 — feels like it was done in the last 20 years; guitarist reminds me a bit of David Torn or Bill Frisell, but seems unlikely to be either. I do like this. Trumpeter is good but I cannot identify them.

Track 9 — definitely has bite, both the alto and the piano are tugging at things. The bassist has a beautiful tone. Feels relatively recent as well, and I’d like to hear more.

Track 10 —  wow. Lovely. Definitely not Ran — less spacious, less capricious — but another one I’d like to hear more from.

Track 11 — I agree with Jim, but I do like this piece. I hear what they're going for, and while that thing occurred some time before this date came around, it’s honest.

Track 12 — Cables, McBee, Hart?

[Joe]

38 minutes ago, clifford_thornton said:

Track 1 — no idea, but I love it. Did a little discographical sleuthing and couldn’t line up Elvin with this ensemble. Stumped. I assume this music is from Detroit?

Track 2 — “Recorda Me” but I cannot identify the group or the bari player, who seems to be coming out of Ronnie Cuber (not him, though, I don’t think)

Track 3 — already identified (I peeked) but it is nice to hear this group for sure.

Track 4 — never heard this before. Not really my cuppa, personally.

Track 5 — again, no idea, but a bari and bass sax duo is pretty unique. I both liked it all right and wished for more inventiveness or openness… something.

Track 6 — already identified but a record I’ve never spent any time with. Should rectify that.

Track 7 — excellent. Sounds left coast-y to me, but I can’t quite nail it down.

Track 8 — feels like it was done in the last 20 years; guitarist reminds me a bit of David Torn or Bill Frisell, but seems unlikely to be either. I do like this. Trumpeter is good but I cannot identify them.

Track 9 — definitely has bite, both the alto and the piano are tugging at things. The bassist has a beautiful tone. Feels relatively recent as well, and I’d like to hear more.

Track 10 —  wow. Lovely. Definitely not Ran — less spacious, less capricious — but another one I’d like to hear more from.

Track 11 — I agree with Jim, but I do like this piece. I hear what they're going for, and while that thing occurred some time before this date came around, it’s honest.

Track 12 — Cables, McBee, Hart?

Thank you!

Track 1 is due south (roughly) from Detroit. Almost The South.

Track 5 is not necessarily a "jazz player" - that is, they are associated with another (much more niche) genre.

Track 6 I love for just that little bit of uneasiness in possesses. Shade of Gary McFarland (who does not appear here).

Yes, Track 7 is Atlantic (not the label) rather than Pacific. But the arranger is considered by many to be a quintessential West Coast musician.

Track 9 is recent, but more of a "blowing date" from a musician whose reputation rests on some work that is more composed and, dare I say, "intertextual."

Track 10: I knew this player quite well, I thought, before hearing this record. "Wow" was my reaction too!

Track 12: Not Cables, but I can hear echoes of him here now that you mention it. The drummer is arguably a bigger name than Hart. The pianist is almost a no-name.

[clifford_thornton]

Is 9 Steve Lehman?

[Joe]

1 hour ago, clifford_thornton said:

Is 9 Steve Lehman?

No, but a nice guess! Definitely a contemporary musician. 

[clifford_thornton]

Cool — I’ll stop guessing. I haven’t heard much Lehman to be honest, but your comment about intertextuality made me think of him.

[Joe]

The saxophonist on track 9 is also known for some rather conceptual work.

[B. Clugston]

Really enjoyable blindfold test!

Track 1 is really fascinating. I agree with Jim in that it starts off Mingus-like and goes somewhere else. No idea who this is—alto player sounds like a Dolpy/Mariano hybrid, while some of the others sound like they hung out with David Baker in Indianapolis.

Track 5. Mats Gustafsson duetting with a bass saxist?

Track 10. That was nice. I feel like I know this pianist, but they aren't giving many clues.

Track 12 sounds like Jack DeJohnette on drums along with McBee, so I’m guessing Donald Smith on piano?

[clifford_thornton]

good guess on 12! I realize I own “Luv” but haven’t dug it out in many, many years… 😬

[Joe]

3 hours ago, B. Clugston said:

Really enjoyable blindfold test!

Track 1 is really fascinating. I agree with Jim in that it starts off Mingus-like and goes somewhere else. No idea who this is—alto player sounds like a Dolpy/Mariano hybrid, while some of the others sound like they hung out with David Baker in Indianapolis.

Track 5. Mats Gustafsson duetting with a bass saxist?

Track 10. That was nice. I feel like I know this pianist, but they aren't giving many clues.

Track 12 sounds like Jack DeJohnette on drums along with McBee, so I’m guessing Donald Smith on piano?

12 has been revealed!