Guy Berger

Kirk Kerkorian has sold all his GM stock. He's probably concluded that GM is caput.

The following cost me $88.89: Art Ensemble of Chicago, Fanfare for the Warriors Albert Ayler, Spiritual Unity Gil Evans, Out of the Cool Jan Garbarek, Witchi Tai To Charlie Haden, Liberation Music Orchestra Charlie Haden & Hank Jones, Steal Away Roy Haynes, Out of the Afternoon Paul Shapiro, It's In the Twilight Archie Shepp, Four for Trane Bobo Stenson/Anders Jormin/Paul Motian, Goodbye If I didn't have a 40 cd backlog I would have picked up at least 10 others. Guy

Ron's amazon review:

That is a sweet chair, free! Guy

Ron, Do you mind if I copy and paste your Amazon review here? Guy

This was the first recording I'd heard featuring Murray. I don't have a ton of his stuff, but relative to earlier octet records like Ming or Murray's Steps, this one is more mainstream and much tighter. (Not a value judgment.) Also, there isn't quite the all-star lineup that the older albums had. It's nice to hear Trane's compositions performed in this setting. Murray's arrangements generate a nice density of textures without getting bombastic. Murray's playing on this album is fantastic. As far as the song selection, it is heavily weighted toward Giant Steps; only two tunes are from the Impulse! period. (I wonder if this is a nod to Shepp's Four for Trane.) "Naima" is beautiful. "Giant Steps" has an exhilirating arrangement of Coltrane's original solos. "India" gets a very intriguing, haunting treatment with flute and tablas. "The Crossing" is really out of place -- I'm not sure why Murray chose to include it. Finally, "Acknowledgment" starts out great -- the opening collective improvisation is great, really emphasizing the links between A Love Supreme and Ascension -- but peters out somewhat near the end. I'm not sure I like hearing it played with a funk rhythm -- seems somewhat blasphemous to me. Guy

Whoops, I totally forgot that I'd volunteered for the AOTW. Personnel: David Murray (tenor sax, bass clarinet), Ravi Best and Rasul Siddik (trumpets), Craig Harris (trombone), James Spaulding (alto sax, flute), D.D. Jackson (piano), Jaribu Shahid (bass), Mark Johnson (drums) track listing 1. Giant Steps 2. Naima 3. The Crossing (David Murray) 4. India 5. Lazy Bird 6. A Love Supreme: Acknowledgment all compositions by John Coltrane unless otherwise indicated

Amazing. It's a good team. They will fade somewhat as the season continues, but it doesn't take much to succeed in the east. Guy

Not sure about 20, but you're right. Guy

I also hope they keep it somewhat "down and dirty". It'd be a shame if it is too slick. Will Teo be playing saxophone? Guy

Bill Simmons on the abysmal eastern conference (I feel like Chris Albertson) If nothing else comes out of the NBA this season, at least the Knicks suck again! Guy

No central heating? Aric moved to "northern north America" a while back -- it might be even colder than 30 degrees outside. Guy

You can listen to a concert here. Guy

Cool, I will PM you next week. Anyone else? Skeith, catesta, 7/4, maren, PhillyQ? Guy

I'm tempted to go. For those more familiar with these musicians -- is this going to be good? If so, would NY-area board members be interested in meeting up for this?

He's very good, but I've always thought his poor shooting percentage was a mark against him. Guy

First the Jazz, now the Spurs. Almost time for the meltdown. 6 blocks for Biedrins, including 3 in a row on Duncan. Guy

Huh? Guy

Blue-footed booby

Out of where? Guy

I think I heard a track from this album on the radio today. The playing was great but the vocals just wouldn't stop! Guy

Seriously, there's quite a bit of discussion about this very topic on the thread (link) I've quoted here, and posted above. The two Eddie Henderson leader dates on Capricorn (compiled together on one CD) are my favorite of this kind of music, even above Herbie's own material. See the thread above for a more detailed discussion. Cheers!! I haven't heard the Hendersons, but from descriptions it seems they sound more like Herbie's pre-Headhunters material. Hence, I am not sure they are a good recommendation. Weather Report from 1973 to 1976 might fit the bill. They definitely do the improvisation-over-funky-grooves thing. What about the Crusaders' early 70s music? I haven't heard a lot of it. Guy

Nobody especially interesting, except that so far I've outlived the Big Bopper by 37 days. Guy

I think Herbie's Thrust is better than Headhunters, but in a similar style. Guy

I do. Guy