Guy Berger

I hadn't heard this guy before today... but I put Mister Magic on, and I'll be damned if I didn't enjoy much of it. (I'm probably fortunate in that I didn't grow up in the 70s when this stuff got overplayed.) Nice light jazz-funk. The arrangements are erratic and at times predictable. The strings on "Passion Flower" are pretty cheesy and on the tune "Mister Magic" I would have liked a grittier backing (as well as getting rid of those frickin strings!). But Grover can PLAY and he does. "Earth Tones" was probably my favorite cut on the album, and "Black Frost" is very nice as well. I wonder what this album would have sounded like with either a grittier or more adventurous rhythm section. I'm guessing most of this doesn't count as full-blown smooth jazz but it's clearly only a few stops down the road. Guy

This may seem crazy, but the only PN movies I've seen are The Sting, The Hudsucker Proxy, and Road to Perdition. Guy

I just listened to Electric Byrd for the first time. Nice album! Definitely has a Bitches Brew/In a Silent Way vibe, though obviously shallower and without the genius of the Miles albums. I will have to check out Kofi and Ethiopian Knights. Guy

He has been discussed here. I think there might be another thread or two. Guy

I'll agree up to a point, but IMHO there are at least 10 electric Miles albums to get before this one. Guy

I've always enjoyed this little exchange. Guy

By the way, for those who missed the concert, someone recorded it and it is available at the site-which-must-not-be-named. Guy

Not sure I agree. Jarrett's whining is quite understandable -- he had to adjust to McLaughlin's presence more than any other musician in the band. The end result isn't better or worse, just different. Disc 5 sounds a lot like the other discs with guitar added on; by disc 6 the band is more adventurous and starts adopting a more guitar-oriented style. Some noteworthy parts w/McLaughlin in the band -- the last few minutes of "Directions" on disc 5 (excerpted as "Sivad" on Live/Evil), the magnificent "Honky Tonk" on disc 5 (some of Miles's best playing on this set), the great "What I Say" on disc 5, Bartz's solo over McLaughlin and Henderson's start-stop rhythms on the disc 6 "Inamorata". Guy

I always thought Leibniz's metaphysical theories were interesting (though somewhat wacky). Dr. Pangloss! Guy

Does this make sense? If anything, I would imagine that Blue Note would be especially EAGER to release a second album if the first one was selling very well. Guy

I haven't bothered with the JJ box, but my understanding is that it doesn't have the final released version of "Go Ahead John", just the various segments that make it up. I just remembered that the studio recording of "Ife" (from 1972) is not on the BB box either, though presumably it will show up on the forthcoming On the Corner and Beyond box. Guy edit- From Losin:

More or less my assessment as well. That said, I think it's several notches below Miles's best studio (and live) work of the period. Not sure if everyone is aware of this, but the most recent CD issue of BF has a lot of bonus tracks that weren't on the original vinyl (mostly lifted from the BB box set). Guy

I have this set and am extremely pleased with it. His performances of the slow movements on the final sonatas (esp. Op 101, 109, 111) are profound. Guy

I've only had their Bayou Beast, but it's delicious. No worries about not meeting up after the performance -- as soon as it was over, I jetted back to New Haven for a friend's going-away party. Guy

I've never heard anything good about this guy's playing. Guy

I don't see any options for the classical music forum. Guy

Jeez, I hope he is not risking his health. By the way, I saw William Parker (who J Larsen pointed out to me) and Henry Grimes at the concert. Supposedly Cecil T was there too. Guy

"Great Expectations" is in the BB box, "Go Ahead John" is not. Guy

Interesting, for Winwood and Auger's appearances. Guy

I think J pretty much nails it, I don't have much to add. Sam's stamina and force aren't what they were 30 years ago, but the mind is 100% (maybe 110%) there and it showed in the playing. I feel like a total idiot for arriving 15-20 minutes late. Guy

I think it's interesting that in 1968, Al Kooper and Ray Manzarek were the favorite rock organists among jazz listeners. Guy

He was on a relatively recent trio album w/McCoy Tyner and Al Foster. No clue how good it is. Guy

If so, I'm actually stunned that there hasn't been more buzz about this. I thought the "lost" tapes were indeed lost. Damn, too bad those four tracks couldn't be added to School Days! You really need to git a grip or a discography. Or an understanding of "rights" and copyrights and the legal crap from the original owners. If this is "legal" I will buy it. Chuck, I'm not sure what you are suggesting here. Is there any reason to believe that Cuneiform Records isn't a legit operation? Guy

It'll be a sad day when I eat a burger with knife and fork. Guy

Isn't he on Black Unity by Pharoah Sanders? Guy