Guy Berger

Jack D has played in one of the premier piano trios in the history of jazz for the past 23 years. Yet oddly, his discography outside of the Jarrett trio consists of only a few piano trio dates.* I find this somewhat surprising. Any ideas/explanations? Since I imagine that demand is high, my guess would be a supply-side issue. Guy *Interestingly, all three of his non-Jarrett piano trio dates since 1990 have included Dave Holland.

Any fans of this album? I picked it up about a year ago but only started listening to it a week ago. Not a classic by any means but some nice playing by Bley and Peacock. The drummer on the first 5 tracks in Paul Motian; Billy Elgart replaces him on the last 3. The music is more straight-ahead than some of Bley's later stuff. Guy

I thought Clem's comments were right on. Guy

I'm really digging this album. Profound music. Haden and Jones, both masters of economy, are just the right guys for this sort of thing. Guy

I've been really enjoying both Monk's Music and With John Coltrane over the past two or three days. For whatever reason, I think MM is a better realization of Monk's Music than Brilliant Corners. Not something I can explain. Maybe it's because the tunes were more familiar to the musicians? Coltrane is really in excellent form on the three quartet tracks from WJC. Some of his best work up until that point. Guy

I haven't heard the album yet, but if what you are saying is true then Dylan has acted unethically. Guy

If he owns Ah Um, it's in a partnership with Booker Ervin. I think he outshines Booker on Dynasty, however. It's great to hear them with Mingus regardless. Guy

Since I picked the AOTW, I should probably offer my thoughts about it. The ensemble sections on this album are great, and probably my favorite thing about the album. I like Mingus's quintet and quartet albums too, but there's just something special he could bring out of a mid-sized ensemble. Instead of conventional big-band writing, there's this wonderfully raucous polyphony. "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" is the first of Mingus's 1959 gospel-infused tracks. Unlike "Slop" and "Better Git It In Your Soul", the melody is simpler. It's also rawer than the other two. I think I like it better. "Cryin' Blues" has a classic bass solo. I also really like Jackie Mac's playing on this one. "Moanin' " is the crowning achievement of this album. The way the riffs pile on top of each other, Pepper Adams's baritino, and Booker Ervin's solo... Damn. "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too" I heard after "Hora Decubitus". Usually I tend to prefer the first version of a track that I hear. Not in this case. While Dolphy's solo on the latter is a classic, it has little of the wild ensemble playing that the original had. Too clean. I like John Handy with Mingus a lot, but feel that he was in better form on Ah Um, Mingus in Wonderland and Dynasty. Guy

The second concert is as good as the first. While I agree that these concerts are more conservative than the fall concerts, they do have the upside of featuring different material. Guy

Both recordings (Dance and Le Voyage) are on CD, but only in Europe. Guy

Do you mean the 7-25-69 Juan Les Pins concert? Guy

I've had mixed experience with them. Sometimes they delivered stuff promptly, but occasionally they have trouble getting out-of-stock stuff. One time they kept telling me they would have an item within 10 days, and repeated the mantra after the 10 days expired. Nice prices, though... Guy

The Dolphy solo is nice, but other than that "Hora Decubitus" is much more tame, especially in the ensembles. This is also my favorite Mingus album. I like Ah Um a lot, but the rawness and sheer explosiveness here really gets to me. I mean, how can you argue with Pepper's baritone riff on "Moanin'"? Interesting about comparison to the other Atlantics -- I like this one substantially better than Pithecanthropus Erectus or the (IMHO) overrated Oh Yeah. Guy

I like New Directions in Music with Carlos Ward. Rashied is also on David Murray's Body and Soul, which is pretty good. Guy

1. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting 2. Cryin' Blues 3. Moanin' 4. Tensions 5. My Jelly Roll Soul 6. E's Flat Ah's Flat Too 7-10 bonus tracks on deluxe edition Musicians: Mingus (bass), Willie Dennis & Jimmy Knepper (trombones), John Handy & Jackie McLean (alto saxophones), Booker Ervin (tenor saxophone), Pepper Adams (baritone saxophone), Horace Parlan & Mal Waldron (piano), Dannie Richmond (drums)

Put me in the like him, don't love him category. Guy

I finally got around to hearing Lovano and Harrell's "Shades of Jazz", performed with a pianoless quartet. It's a fun little romp, and I like both horn players, but boy does it fall short of the original (and for that matter, the alternate take). Guy

My BMG settlement shipped today: MOTIAN, PAUL BAND GARDEN OF EDEN ROLLINS, SONNY BRIDGE - REMASTER. TAYLOR, CECIL CONQUISTADOR! MCLEAN, JACKIE CONSEQUENCE (REMAS

Looks like it to me too. Guy

When internet and real world friends collide! I caught two sets of the Paul Motian trio tonight at the Village Vanguard. They played "Misterioso", "Jack of Clubs", "I Have the Room Above Her", "Monk's Mood", "Body and Soul", "Yahllah" (played with a rock-ish beat -- maybe this is how "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down" would have sounded like with Motian on drums), "Dance", "Drum Music", and a bunch of tunes I didn't recognize. Motian himself was terrific -- he was particularly brilliant on "Body and Soul". I spoke to him after the show and he mentioned that a new album has already been recorded for ECM and will be coming out in January. Good to run into David (7/4) again, one of the fellow Motian nuts on the board. Guy

Ali G fans have probably already seen this, but here's a segment where Borat learns about American dating. Here he learns about American democracy. "In Kazakhstan, women can vote but horse cannot!" Guy

Happy birthday, Adam. Guy

I seem to recall that I like volume 2 better than volume 1. Which one has "A Night in Tunisia"? (Or is that on the Bohemia sets?) "Confirmation" is terrific. Guy

Good to hear you are (or will soon be) alright, Paul. Guy

Interesting. Given your professed dislike for Mr. Jarrett, what were you doing there? For the sidemen? Guy