[78-L] Blindfold Test

[Bill McClung]

Yesterday in Richmond, VA I bought a copy of Leonard Feather's *New Yearbook
of Jazz* in a British edition published in 1959.  One section is "The
Jazzman as Critic: the Best of the Blindfold Test, 1951-1958."

This book contained about twenty pages of the Test and it was great
fun. I've always enjoyed reading these whenever I've come across them.

Ten examples. One star is poor and five stars is outstanding:
Pearl Baily on Annie Ross's *Farmer's Market*/0 stars "What in the world is
*that*?"
Kai Winding on Turk Murphy's *Tom Cat Blues*/0  "It's pretty corny."
Coleman Hawkins on Jelly Roll Morton's *Grandpa's Spells*/2  "I suppose
those fellows did the best they could."
Les Paul/Mary Ford on Django Reinhardt's *Impromptu*/2   "His technique
wasn't very clean."
Miles Davis on Duke Ellington's *Stormy Weather* on Capitol/25 (he really
liked it)  "I think all the musicians should get together on one certain day
and get down on their knees and thank Duke."
Benny Goodman on Dave Brubeck's *Rondo*/0   "I don't think it should be put
out on a commercial record."
Buddy Rich on Art Blakey's *Mayreh*/0  "It doesn't swing at all."
Leonard Bernstein on Duke Ellington's *Satin Doll* on Capitol/0
"...dull--methodical and extremely slick...but dull."
Dinah Washington on Jane Russell's *Do Lord*/0  "They should all be punched
in the face."
Nat Cole on Nat Cole's *Return Trip*/2  "That shows you how far I've gotten
away from playing like myself."

Were these Blindfold Tests ever collected in book form or are they only
available in copies of Down Beat?