Guy Berger

Sand tablets are more expensive than they used to be... Guy

I just bought 97 cent ear bud headphones for use at the gym. Sound isn't great, but not really necessary. If they last for at least a month then they'll turn out to have been a great investment and I'll buy another set as a replacement. Guy

Booby is on this one too. Guy

Is this in print? What does it sound like? Guy

$10.50 a disc doesn't sound that steep to me. ← Relative to $5.50 a disc... Guy

I think Universal only owns the distribution rights, not the catalog itself. Guy

Nobody except Wade. Aside from him, Shaq and Eddie Jones, the Heat suck. Guy

The Heat might need a center. I don't think Shaq's body can handle a full season + title run anymore, and it's only going to get worse. Guy

Not sure if they changed their packaging since I got my copy of Horace Tapscott's Dark Tree. That was annoying but completely user-friendly in comparison to W&W. Guy

And yet I like it better than some of the more straight-ahead GG dates from the early 60s -- Green Street and the Sonny Clark Quartets. Some of the solos have a quiet intensity to them. Agreed that given the personnel, the record could have been better. Definitely a great record, but not sure why you say it is undersung. It's routinely mentioned as one of the greatest BN albums, and Grant's best. Guy

Hmmm... thanks for the rec but it's a bit pricy at $95... Guy

Some of the compositions are intriguing as well. Guy

Digipaks are bad enough, but the contraption that W&W issues their CDs in is a monstrosity. Who the hell came up with the cardboard idea? Record labels, please, there's this amazing invention called the jewel box -- please use it! Guy

I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't own any E Parker -- will have to rectify that at some point! Guy

transcript of interview

I'm planning to pick up my first complete set of Mozart piano concertos, and the choice seems to boil to either Gardiner conducting the English Baroque Soloists with Malcolm Bilson on fortepiano or a modern instruments instrument recording of the English Chamber Orchestra with Murray Perahia on piano. Both boxes are comparably priced (+/-$50) and get glowing reviews in most places I've checked. The Bilson box includes the concertos for 2 and 3 pianos; the Perahia box includes two rondos but none of the multipiano concertos. I like period instrument performances of late 18th century music quite a bit -- I have the Pinnock versions of Haydn's "Sturm und Drang" and Mozart's symphonies. The presence of the multipiano concertos is an additional plus -- I'm less interested in the rondos. OTOH I'm wary of the fortepiano, don't have a bias against tasteful modern instrument recordings (ie smaller ensembles, orchestration that isn't overly lush, avoidance of romantic mannerisms), and am not interested in a "radical" or weird-sounding HIP performance. Recommendations? Guy

That's the only one I'm rushing out to buy, though I don't have the Hancock and will get it eventually. I've never bought into the RVG fetish. Guy

The rumors about Cleveland started during the Heat series -- it's implausible to argue that Brown "ripped their morale apart" only during the finals. Brown isn't stupid enough to take the Knicks job. I will do it if the money's right, Isiah can PM me if he's interested. Guy

Haifa and Tel Aviv, OTOH, are pure hell during July and August. Guy

I was out there last week. A little hot during the day (I was in Cupertino) but it's dry, the AC works miracles, and the evenings are pleasant. Guy

I read an interview where he was asked if his current lineup was inspired by Jackie McLean's quintet, and he said no, it's a coincidence and he's much more influenced by the Duke. I'm guessing that rules out the Crusaders as well. Guy

Supposedly the DVD includes the entire second concert which is only excerpted on the CD version. I might have to pick this up sometime in the next two decades... Guy

That about covers it here, too. ← Actually, today it felt more like I was around an indoor swimming pool.

I agree as well. Maybe very early in his career Jack wasn't the most subtle drummer, but he's been plenty capable of it over the past 30-35 years. Guy

Short review of the tracks: 1) "Extras" -- This is the only tune to feature solos by both saxophonists. Herbie lays out. Sam's duet with Gary, near the end, is one of the highlights of the album. (It's a shame they didn't record a sequel in 1969, when Wayne's playing had "caught up" to where Sam was in 1965.) 3) "From Before" -- This tune is a showcase for Herbie. It opens with those really weird trills by Sam and Wayne, punctuated by Herbie's piano chords. After a brief collective improvisation by the saxophonists, the rhythm trio gets to work. Some of my favorite "outside" playing by Herbie, reminds me a little of Paul Bley. There is another short collective improv by the saxophonists, and then Herbie wraps it up with a brief but brilliant solo coda. 4) "Love Song" -- The only real melody on the album. Sam plays beautifully on this. Herbie is a little reminiscent of McCoy during parts of his solo. 5) "Tee" -- Sam appears only briefly, during the initial statement of the melody. Wayne turns in a solid solo here but not one of his best. It would be awesome if BN recorded a reunion of the Spring alumni -- aside from Tony they're all still around. Guy