Guy Berger

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

I'm not a huge fan of the Clark-Green quartets, but that's probably more idiosyncratic personal tastes re: the instrumentation, musicians and style. "It Ain't Necessarily So" is awesome, though. Guy

I've wondered about the abrupt ending as well. Guy

Probably not as bad as in some other places, but it's muggy as f*ck out here. Guy

Disagree. The first season that he got a good supporting cast for KG, they made the conference finals. The second season was more about certain players' egos than about his coaching. Guy

It doesn't bother me that the article was anonymous. It bothers me that it was stupid. Guy

Saunders is a very good coach -- maybe not as good as a well-motivated LB, but definitely better than a bored LB. Guy

Kirk is really great on The Jaki Byard Experience. Guy

Congrats! You are like every 80 year old in the world. ←

OK, here goes: I guess the first thing that's interesting to me is that if you were to tell someone who hadn't heard this CD that it was an avant-garde session from August 1965 with two tenor saxophonists, they'd probably imagine something quite different from what appears on this album. Six weeks prior to this session, Coltrane recorded Ascension, and Pharoah would join his live band about six weeks later. But this music is almost the opposite of Trane's ecstatic, spiritually-oriented 1965 recordings -- it's an extremely introverted and cerebral date. And it's also different from another a-g prototype -- the more "folky" (for lack of a better term) sound of Ornette's group with Dewey Redman. You have two of the most "brainy" tenors of the era matching wits, slithering and snaking past each other. The second thing that's interesting to me is that it's one of 5 albums recorded by Miles Davis's sidemen for BN between E.S.P. and the Plugged Nickel engagement -- the others are Maiden Voyage and 3 Shorter albums. Personally it's my favorite or 2nd favorite, depending on how I feel about Et Cetera on any given day. But it's quite different mood-wise than most of those other albums or the two Davis recordings I mention. The third thing is that Sam was Wayne's immediate predecessor in Miles's band. Each has a very distinct sound and identity, but in listening to this album I'm struck by their similarities as well. That very thoughtful, dry sound. On a few of the tracks they have a very hypnotic synergy -- like those haunting trills that open up "From Before". I have a flight to catch tomorrow morning but I'll write more thoughts on the individual tracks later in the week. Guy

Jim, you rock Guy

I just saw it. It wasn't bad. I'm sure I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I was 11. Two things worth mentioning: as good as Depp is, I think Mike Myers would have been PERFECT for the role of Willy Wonka. Second, the movie included one of the funniest nods to Kubrick that I've ever seen.

I have Return of the Candyman, which I remember is pretty good but haven't heard in at least a few years. I'll get back to this thread if I listen to it again. Guy

5 drummers who I really like: Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Elvin Jones, Paul Motian, Ed Blackwell