Leonard Feather Blindfold Tests

[Plays "Struttin' with Some Barbecue" by Jean Thielemans, from Man Bites Harmonica!, Riverside Records (1958). Personnel: Pepper Adams, baritone saxophone; Kenny Drew, piano; Wilbur Ware, bass; Art Taylor, drums.]

Ronnie Ross: The whole record though it has a nice feel about it. I'd give that three stars.

Leonard Feather: Why do you think the harmonica was justifiable here?

Ronnie Ross: Well he played with a lot of jazz feeling and... very good. Sort of composed a lot but generally I don't like that kind of thing.

Leonard Feather: How'd you like the rhythm section of it?

Ronnie Ross: I liked it.

Leonard Feather: Okay.

[Plays "A Foggy Day" by Lars Gullin, from Baritone Sax, Atlantic Records (1956). Personnel: Lars Gullin, baritone saxophone; Ake Persson, trombone; Jan Allan, trumpet; Rune Ofwerman, piano; George Riedel, bass; Bert Dahlander, drums; Goesta Theselius, arranger.]

Ronnie Ross: Uh, that was Lars Gullin on baritone. I think he's one of the most original baritone players to come out for a long time. I don't know who the trombone player was. I liked his sound. I think it might've been Ake Persson. But I didn't like the rhythm section very much. It didn't seem to give the backing it should do. It didn't seem to swing very much. The trumpet was good, I liked that but I didn't like the arrangement, it was a bit stereotyped. I suppose it must be a Swedish band that recorded it. I think I'd give that three stars.

Leonard Feather: Okay. Did you say what you thought of the baritone?

Ronnie Ross: I think he's very good.

Leonard Feather: Okay.

[Plays "Feather Bed" by the Ronnie Ball Quintet, from All About Ronnie, Savoy Records (1956). Personnel: Ronnie Ball, piano; Ted Brown, tenor saxophone; Willie Dennis, trombone; Kenny Clarke, drums.]

Ronnie Ross: I didn't like that very much at all. It sounds like the Lennie Tristano school. I think the tenor player might've been Warne Marsh. I don't know who the trombone player is. Seems sort of music-by-numbers to me. I only give it a couple of stars for the drummer, I thought he was good.

Leonard Feather: For the drummer?

Ronnie Ross: Mm-hmm.

Leonard Feather: How about the piano?

Ronnie Ross: I didn't like that very much.

Leonard Feather: Okay. Did you say it was a Tristano-style piano or-

Ronnie Ross: I don't know it didn't sound very comfortable. The whole thing sounded a bit...made me feel uneasy listening to it.

Leonard Feather: Okay.

[Plays "Wilbert's Tune" by Vic Feldman, from On Vibes, Mode Records (1957). Personnel: Vic Feldman, vibes; Frank Rosolino, trombone; Harold Land, tenor saxophone; Carl Perkins, piano; Leroy Vinnegar, bass; Stan Levey, drums.]

Ronnie Ross: Better I enjoyed that very much.

Leonard Feather: Good.

Ronnie Ross: I don't know who anybody is on that. I like all the solos the vibraphone, tenor, and trombone. I think the rhythm section is excellent swingin...I'd give that four stars, nearly five, just four though.

Leonard Feather: That's more your kind of music

Ronnie Ross: Yeah

Leonard Feather: Me too. Did you like it much?

[Plays "Just a Sittin' and a Rockin'" by the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra, from 5 Steps to Dankworth, Verve Records (1957). Personnel: Johnny Dankworth, alto saxophone; Dickie Hawdon, trumpet; Danny Moss, tenor saxophone; Dave Lee, piano; Kenny Clarke, drums; Eric Dawson, bass.]

Ronnie Ross: Well I've played that arrangement in England with Johnny Dankworth so...

Leonard Feather: Oh I didn't know that.

Ronnie Ross: I think Johnny's got the only big band in England that's still playing jazz all the way no commercials. Policy at all. I like the tenor solo I think that's Danny moss and the trumpet is Dickie Hawdon, drum player's very good. I think rhythm section could have been a lot better though...It sounded a bit lifeless in parts no offense John. I'd give that three stars I think.

Leonard Feather: Okay.

[Plays "Anything Goes" by Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan, from Getz Meets Mulligan in Hi-Fi, Verve Records (1957). Personnel: Stan Getz, tenor saxophone; Gerry Mulligan, baritone saxophone; Lou Levy, piano; Ray Brown, bass; Stan Levey, drums.]

Ronnie Ross: I like the spirit of that very much it was a nice swinging thing, but I think it got a bit out of hand at the end it was getting a bit coarse. I don't know who the baritone player or the tenor player were at all. I like the tenor player very much and I liked some of the baritone. I liked the rhythm section definitely strong. I think I'd give that four stars.

Leonard Feather: Okay.

[Plays "Suspensions" by Gunther Schuller and George Russell, from Modern Jazz Concert, Columbia Records (1958). Personnel: Jimmy Guiffre, composer.]

Ronnie Ross: Sounds a bit like Jimmy Guiffre's writing to me. I don't think I like It very much. It doesn't seem to have a lot of jazz content in it. I don't think that kind of thing's for me. I'll give that two stars, but it was played very well.

Leonard Feather: All right. Well I'll be doing the same thing with you that I did with Albert, see if I can get any further comments on what you heard while we're here.

Ronnie Ross: Mm-hmm.

Leonard Feather: Or what you would have liked to hear that you didn't hear anything.

Ronnie Ross: One of the highlights for me was hearing Duke's band.

Leonard Feather: Yeah.

Ronnie Ross: I believe it wasn't his best performance, but when you heard about somebody over there and you see them for the first time in the flesh, It's a bit paralyzing.

Leonard Feather: Yeah.

Ronnie Ross: Especially Duke.

Leonard Feather: What else?

Ronnie Ross: I liked the Max Roach group very much...The other night we went to hear Carmen McRae and she knocked me out. I thought that was about the best singer I've heard over here.

Leonard Feather: Any other bands?

Ronnie Ross: I'd like to hear Sonny Rollins, but I think we'll hear him on Thursday.

Leonard Feather: Oh you didn't get a chance to-

Ronnie Ross: No, no.

Leonard Feather: Is Sonny becoming popular in England? Is he acknowledged?

Ronnie Ross: Oh yes he's very popular.

Leonard Feather: Thank you for joining me. Well let me see. What would you have given five stars if I'd played their music, any five stars ratings?

Ronnie Ross: Such sweet thunder by Duke Ellington, the drummers a woman.

Leonard Feather: That'll do. We'll leave it right there.