Guy Berger

Ah, the parents -- only a few more years and this will no longer be a hitch. Congrats on a successful gig.

I've only heard AotT4 and it pushed getting more Mehldau stuff way down the priority list for me. A great version of "Exit Music for a Film", though. If the solo disc is anywhere near the quality of his set at the Newport Jazz Festival this year, it's worth getting. Guy

I went through an XTC semi-phase late in college and think I have 6 or 7 of their albums. Skylarking is my favorite. Nonesuch has some filler but also some incredible music ("Wrapped in Grey", "My Bird Performs", "Dear Madam Barnum", "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead", many more). I really like Apple Venus 1; Wasp Star has its moments (especially the last three songs) but doesn't have the same consistent brilliance. Why did Colin Moulding forget how to write good songs? Guy

I really like his work on the two charles Lloyd albums The Water Is Wide and Hyperion with Higgins. Guy

Alright -- barring some disaster or a show in CT (you know you want to do one!) I'm there. Guy

Hmmm.... the timing and distance is shitty for me but there's a small chance I can make it. Guy

From ESPN, Chad Ford's pre-season rankings (hence probably wrong): West 1. Spurs 2. Kings (too high IMHO) 3. Suns 4. Rockets 5. Nuggets 6. Warriors 7. Mavericks (too low IMHO) 8. Sonics 9. Wolves 10. Clippers 11. Lakers 12. Jazz 13. Grizzlies 14. Blazers 15. Hornets East 1. Pacers 2. Heat (though he says they can't win championship) 3. Pistons 4. Nets 5. Cavs (I'd put them ahead of the Nets) 6. Wizards 7. Bulls 8. Bucks 9. Sixers 10. Knicks 11. Celtics 12. Magic 13. Raptors 14. Hawks 15. Bobcats

Live without Extensions? Guy ← Yeah, those late Tyner albums [Extensions, Time for Tyner, Tender Moments, Expansions] are some of my favorite Blue Notes! Great players, great charts, great tunes. ← I like Asante and what I've heard from Cosmos better than Tender Moments and Time for Tyner, his two weakest albums from BN IMHO. (Though still pretty damn good... if only he'd gotten Freddie or Woody instead of Lee for that session, and given the musicians more blowing room!) Guy

Live without Extensions? Guy

14 only alas

They might not. A few years ago an online vendor (CDNow?) accidentally mispriced the Plugged Nickel at something like 11.98 instead of 111.98. A bunch of people ordered at the bargain basement price. CDNow cancelled the orders, apologized and gave said customers $10 coupons. Guy

I dug the first two episodes enough to watch ep. 3. Robin Tunney

Does anyone else think Jack Palance looks like Norm McDonald?

BNs that I haven't heard but really want to hear: Pete LaRoca - BASRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! various Hutchersons -- Oblique and Happenings, not sure if there's anything else Andrew Hill -- Andrew!!!! Don Cherry -- Symphony for Improvisers and Where Is Brooklyn Charles Lloyd -- the ones he did in the 80s There are a lot of other ones that I haven't heard but am not rushing out to get. Guy

Miami has to learn, but they have a whole season. Pistons will be great, again, with a solid chance of winning the east -- all the pieces except Larry are coming back. Pacers will be excellent as long as Artest doesn't fly off the handle again. Cavs will definitely make the playoffs this season and could even cause some post-season damage. The Bulls should make the playoffs again as a #5 or #6. Other than that I have no clue what's going to happen -- a bunch of mediocre teams that would get ping pong balls if they were out west. Guy

Then again, they could have saved shelf space and used 2 quad cases. As it is it looks more monumental though. ← Yeah, that wouldn't have hurt. But, if you're listening record companies, can your fancy-schmancy designs and put things in jewel cases! Guy

The best design is still the Plugged Nickel box -- jewel cases and none of this booklet garbage. Guy

I'm at 101-150, I think, but there's a bunch of live stuff I have that I haven't listened to and I'm not sure how much. Guy

Which solo -- the first one or the second? (They're both phenomenal, but maybe you have a preference.) For those who are interested we've had threads on the greatest Coltrane and Wayne Shorter solos. Not sure how many of these are overlooked. Guy

80s Genesis=>70s Genesis=>Brand X, King Crimson=>Mahavishnu Orchestra=>In a Silent Way + Miles Smiles=>Out to Lunch, Unity, A Love Supreme=>jazz!

I don't think Yes (even the '80s version) ever aspired to be greazzzzy. Not sure about greazzzzy but the guitar intro to "Siberian Khatru" is kinda funky. Guy

That would be one cool shopping center. Guy

I more or less agree with you about Shaq. The rest of the team is better, though. The west should be interesting as well. Spurs will be favorites as usual and the Mavs will be an underachieving dark horse, but who knows about the rest? The Suns will be good enough to make the playoffs, but without Joe J won't be as good as last year. I think the Kings will struggle to make the playoffs this year -- they looked terrible against the Sonics last year. The Sonics, too, won't be as good as they were last year and will struggle to make the playoffs. I'm guessing the Rockets will be a little better than they were last year, and a potential contender. The Nuggets played brilliant once George Karl arrived, but the honeymoon is over and you have to wonder whether Camby can again stay healthy for a full season. The Lakers -- no clue about these guys, but Phil and Kobe have to be good enough to get the team to a low playoff seed. The Warriors could be a real surprise if Baron Davis stays healthy for the entire season. Who knows what will happen with the Jazz. I don't think the Grizzlies, Clippers or New Orleans will make the playoffs. Guy

I'm gonna go with Miami winning the East as long as Shaq doesn't self-destruct like he did last year -- not sure what chance there is of that. Guy

(Also posted to the KJ setlist. This one sounds even more ridiculous than the first, if only for the Joshua Redman bit.) ← Sigh -- apparently Ouellette was only fantasizing. Guy