Guy Berger

Just don't accidentally put on Bill Bruford and Tony Levin's Upper Extremities for the Botti effect... David Torn's guitar skronk might not go over so well. (Botti plays pretty well and un-smooth on this, by the way.) Guy

I've been slowly working through the Seinfeld DVDs (renting them via Netflix). I only caught onto the show during its last season (though I've watched a lot of episodes in syndication) and it's a lot of fun to watch in sequence. The first episodes are kind of erratic* but by the second season they're really hitting their stride. The Chinese Restaurant, the Heart Attack, the Deal, and the Revenge... It's reminding me how much I love this show. Guy *Though that sequence in "The Stakeout" where Jerry and George discuss George's career in architecture is brilliant. "What do you design?" "Railroads." "I thought engineers do that?" "They can."

I don't expect Detroit to have any more difficulties with the 76ers, but I'm surprised they lost. I wonder what will happen once they start playing good teams. Guy

sorry to break the news to someone born twenty years after the fact, but zeppelin is considered one the original heavy metal bands. Tying it all back together, the heavy metal band Dream Theater had Beckenstein or what's-his-name contribute a soprano solo to one of their albums. Guy

Keith Jarrett, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian I would accept Joe Lovano as a substitute for Dewey if absolutely necessary.

He might have been hamming it up a bit for the interview as well. Guy

RIP Percy. A very underrated bassist. I'll have to put on Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants or Know What I Mean. Guy

Go Mavs! Guy

I'll be digging out this set for the next few days -- I've listened to it a few times since I got it last fall but not given it the attention it deserves. I'd be glad to hear any interesting thoughts by other board members. Guy

Really? I wasn't that impressed by their D -- Gasol blasted them inside last night. Yao and Duncan (assuming those are their two opponents over the next two rounds) will do the same, and each of those guys has a better supporting cast than Memphis. That said, if they keep the fast break going throughout the playoffs then teams will have a hard tme keeping up. Wonder what the Mavs will come up with tonight. I hope they win! Guy

I think of them as solid role-players on a sports team. Individually they wouldn't be able to carry the team. But they do what they need to do well, they don't hog the ball, they mesh successfully with other teammates, and the team is better for it. (Good coaching matters!) And if they're really good at what they do, then they're not easily replaceable. Guy

I totally agree with what Barkley said at half time though -- the Nuggets really fucked up last night. Gave Duncan the chance to rest and gave the Spurs momentum going into game 3. They're going to have to win both 3 & 4. Guy

I totally agree -- it was really an argument over which unlikely event is more likely to happen. I don't see him coaching Cleveland either unless they seriously retool over the postseason. But what about Detroit? I agree -- the Nuggets game was brutal. I left during their little run in the 3rd quarter and when I came back it was hopeless again. Guy

We had a brief discussion about this set a few months ago. Summary: it's worth it if you like the other live Trane from this period. Guy

And yet musicians like Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano and many others have gone out of their way to play with him. Evidently they disagree with you about the proper "way to play jazz". Your assumption throughout this thread has been that there's a proper way to play jazz drums and hence Paul Motian fails as a jazz drummer. I'd say instead that your assumption has failed and that it's time to re-examine it. For what it's worth, the whole "change for the sake of change" argument is a red herring -- Motian's innovations are for the sake of the music, and it's goooooood. Guy

Like Mike I'm puzzled by JPF's complaints, which are identical to those levelled at, say, Dizzy Gillespie or Charlie Parker in the 40s. Who determines what an instrument should or shouldn't sound like? As long as Motian does what he likes and what the people around him like, what's the problem? As a bonus the music sounds great! Guy

WRONG!! Phil Jackson's playing career went through New York and they won championships in the duration. He has strong ties to the Knicks. (to answer your question, I don't know who started it) Well, if Jackson really does decide to go coach a team saddled with terrible contracts, mediocre players and the worst GM in the league (even worse than the previous Knicks GM!!), then he's much stupider than we all thought. I don't expect him to coach the Lakers either but that's much, much more likely than the Knicks. Guy

Kind of unrelated, but who is coming up with this "Phil Jackson might coach the Knicks next year" crap? How much did Isiah Thomas pay Jackson for that meeting? Jackson has a higher likelihood of coaching an NHL team than coaching the Knicks. Guy

Very good movie, not great. If you like political thrillers you will like this. Sean Penn is very good as expected. And Nicole... Guy

Yeah I can't believe it. Looks like it's going to be Houston vs. Phoenix in the 2nd round, and Houston's played very well against the Suns. Got to give T-Mac his due, he's been terrific. Guy

Wow... I've never used iTunes, but I might be tempted to buy a few. That way I don't get stuck with "Silas Stingy". If you had to recommend just 4 or 5 tracks, which ones? I figure "I Can See for Miles" and "Tattoo" are essential. What else? Guy

Wow... I just listened to some clips from this on amazon. The Who Sell Out is one of my favorite albums by that band and it sounds like she does a really good/interesting job on the tunes. Seems like a bit of a novelty, though, not sure I want to blow 15 bucks on it. Guy

Wow... Monk & Trane live in '57. And unlike the Five Spot CD Blue Note released a while back, this looks like the real thing! Guy

I doubt it. Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio are going to beat any eastern team because they are better. Houston is a bit of a sleeper but Dallas played exceptionally poorly in that 1st game and I really don't expect that continue. Guy

I still have a tough time seeing the Spurs blowing this series, but it's gonna be a good one. Go Nuggets. Guy