Guy Berger

Are there more alternate takes than on the original albums? This is some of my favorite Monk post-Prestige. I don't have the box, but do have the original albums Monk's Music & TMw/JC. Coltrane was really coming into his own by the time of the session w/"Trinkle Tinkle" and "Ruby my Dear". "Crepescule with Nellie" is one of my favorite Monk ballads. Guy

He's smokin' on the tune "80/81", with Haden and Jack DeJ laying down some great swing. This sort of pop-jazz really isn't my thing. But otherwise, Brecker's playing on this album is really great. Especially on "Folk Song #1" and "Open". I love the groove on "Folk Song #2" -- it reminds me of "Backwoods Song" on the first Gateway album. Charlie Haden may not like playing vamps, but he's damn good at it. I just love that guy's playing. Guy

I thought the first half was funny, but it wasn't as good once it turned into a romantic comedy. Guy

I've been listening to this for the first time in a while. I'm not crazy about everything on here (the ballad on side 4 is a little cheesy for my tastes), but "Open", both Folk Songs, "80/81" and "The Turnaround" are among the best Metheny I've heard! Guy

Congrats David. Guy

In his autobiography, no less. <shrug> I guess I can't argue with Duke. But the argument that (Avakian's own words) Jones was "quite possibly the person most responsible for this explosive performance" when all the guy did was egg on the band nevertheless seems quite strange to me. <shrug again> Guy

I can honestly say that both are equally great. Get both and be doubly satisfied. Seriously. I picked up Everybodys Mouth's a Book and am very pleased with it. Will have to get the twin! Guy

It's my favorite Dylan tune, and I think it could actually sound pretty good as a jazz ballad. Has it been recorded in such a format? It's not a jazz version, but I just thought I should mention that Jon Anderson/Steve Howe's version isn't bad! Guy

Uggh. I think I will have to hold off on taking advantage of this great sale due to a large backlog. Guy

next: Monk/Trane @ Carnegie Hall after that: Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band @ the Village Vanguard

Explain. Among other things, and possibly the most egregious, is the claim Schapp makes where he says Jo Jones had absolutely NOTHING to do with the band's performance. I mean, he damn near goes so far as to say that George Avakian, who was there, didn't have a clue as to what he was talking about in his own original liner notes! Though I obviously wasn't there, it did seem to me that Avakian's story inflated Jones's supposed importance to the performance at the expense of the musicians actually onstage, and that Schaap was setting the record straight. I'll have to read it again. Guy

Explain. It's part of the atmosphere. If they'd cut out music to put it in, I'd be with you. Otherwise, program it out if you want. I've never noticed! Guy

Syd Barrett, formerly of Pink Floyd, passed away today. I know a room full of musical tunes Some rhyme Some ching Most of them are clockwork Let's go into the other room and make them work

Thanks folks, it has in fact been a great bday as I went to a friend's wedding in Maryland and reunited with some very good friends! Guy

How about you go to another "bullitin board", asshole. Guy

Happy bday, Barak. Guy

Under whose name was his stuff w/Charles Lloyd issued? Is that in the 7 cd box? Guy

Congratulations!

Hey, there's already an AOTW for this week. (Alon Marcus chose Art of Rhythm.) You should PM JohnS to sign up for a future slot. Guy

Horror of horrors. Those typically uncouth Americans. Personally, I'm not so into watermelon. Nectarines or pineapples and you might get me to compete. Guy

Your name is "chewy", after all. Guy

Crazy... has anybody come that close to Kobayashi before? Guy

SS1, how much did the second-place finisher get? Kobayashi's dominance of the field is pretty incredible. Guy

Boo frickin hoo. Guy

McLaughlin and Williams are so ON during McLaughlin's solo that it's ridiculous. No wonder Larry Coryell thought John was the best guitarist he'd heard in his life. Larry Young's solo sounds pretty wild too but he's buried in the mix. The recording quality is nowhere near "unlistenable" but it's really tragic that you can't hear Larry's (presumably) magnificent playing. Guy