Guy Berger

I agree what happened to the Lakers was pitiful. I was glad to see them lose. But what you're saying (Pistons>Lakers & Lakers>Spurs => Pistons>Spurs) doesn't make sense. Just because the Pistons had a much easier time with the Lakers than they did with New Jersey and Indiana doesn't mean that New Jersey and Indiana were better teams than the Lakers (and ergo, the Spurs). It just means that luck often plays a role in these series. Sometimes the worse team (Detroit in the championship, Lakers in the conference finals) wins. Sometimes the better team can't get their act together and doesn't really try. And this isn't intended to diss the Pistons' achievement -- they outplayed the Lakers in that series, by a mile. I think they're about as good as their record. I agree that they're a contender in that their chances of winning aren't 0. Assuming that they make it past Miami (unlikely), they have a very small chance of beating the Spurs or Suns. They're not an overwhelming underdog against the Mavs.

I saw these guys performing with the Hungarian folk music ensemble Muzsikas last year. It was interesting but I wish the quartet would have played on their own.

I think the Pistons are a little overrated. They're about as good as their record suggests. Some of this is a decline from last year, but I think f the Spurs had made it to the finals, we'd have a different champion this year. Though I agree they will probably push the Heat to seven games. I think I'm going to get Che'd if I keep going on this thread. Jim, have mercy! Guy

I think they'd beat the Pistons easy. Heat, a little harder. Spurs very tough. Guy

I think the Suns can win it all, but they seem like one of those teams that can't withstand the postseason. The Mavs-Suns 2nd round series could be entertaining. Guy

How did those "chumpions" do against the Lakers last year? So much hate for Detroit. They completel dismantle a team with 4 hall of famers, and now they are about to get their 4th straight 50 win season. But they are still chumps? I guarantee not a single team wants to play the pistons in the playoffs. And you will see them beat miami in the ECF. Hey dude, it's cool... SS1 always calls them the "chumpions". Guy

Stated very eloquently, Chuck! Guy

Tom, I went back and listened to this today and I think you're right -- Sam holds back just the right amount or close to it. He's more aggressive than I remembered. It's a shame BN didn't have a more "progressive" guitarist on their roster at the time so they could follow upthis album with a feister Sam-Larry-Elvin/Tony-guitarist album. Guy

Couldn't agree more. I have mixed feelings on this. Who decides what is racist or discriminating? (Well, obviously Jim and Use, but you know what I mean.) I understand the feelings, but I also fear the results... While I understand and respect people's sensitivity about this kind of stuff, I think the board benefits from people bringing aboard stupid views and getting castigated by the other members. Deleting the more controversial Che threads would be unfortunate because any rational person reading them would see intelligence triumphing over stupid bigotry. Guy

A snoozefest. Any clue how long Rashard Lewis will be out of commission for with his "deep bone bruise"? The Sonics look pretty tattered coming into the playoffs and either Sac or Houston could pull off an upset. Another one of those cases you'd prefer a #6 over a #5. Guy

I'm resurrecting this thread because I've been listening to the alternate takes on Keith Jarrett's Shades in-depth for the first time. There's a really great alternate of "Shades of Jazz" (a great tune, IMHO!) with both Dewey and Keith offering great solos. I think they canned it because Dewey comes in late for his solo. Guy

Yes, che was on the active users list just before I posted this, and what shall I make of the fact that the newest registered member (no posts yet) calls himself Fidel .....

Sam's a really nice guy. I saw him with Jason Moran 2 or 3 years ago and went up to have autograph one of the Mosaic CDs. He seemed pretty psyched when I told him I really liked the music. Guy

I think the only (EC) team the Bulls don't have a chance of beating in the playoffs is the Heat. Anybody else and they could pull an upset. Guy

The crazy thing about the east is that the 6 seed is much, much better to have than the 4 or 5 seed. You get to face a mediocre Atlantic division team in round 1 and then get the Pistons instead of the Heat in round 2. The Bulls-Wizards series should be one of the only viewable Eastern Conference series of the 1st round. So many crappy teams. I think the Bulls have about a 15-1 shot of passing the Pistons to capture the Central Division title. (Chicago is currently leading the season series 2-1.)

I really like this session, though I prefer Unity and think Sam holds back a little too much. (Understandable, given the audience Alfred Lion was aiming for.) Guy

I think the Japanese internment during WW2 has become increasingly relevant in the past three years, but that's a discussion that's more appropriate for the Politics forum. Guy

I just got the box this week. Wicked version of "Autumn Leaves", though I like the one on Up for It better. Guy

Che, I recommend that you watch it with them. You might enjoy it even more than they will! I really liked the Incredibles too. Pretty sophisticated for a kids' movie, or for that matter what passes for "grown-up" comedies. Though I guess there's a place for Harold and Kumar too. Guy

The Keith Jarrett trio's version (on Whisper Not) is my favorite. Guy

Anybody else familiar with this place? They have 2 dollar cover for the Tuesday night jazz performances and there's a lot of variety in styles from week to week. Guy

Someone else suggested this a while back... I don't see what the point would be, since the thread effectively ghettoizes whatever the heck is in there already. Guy

Arrgh! Still can't decide. Wayne's my favorite saxophonist but I think Sam outplays him on Spring, and I think Sam plays even better on the 1st album. Plus I think the compositions are better on the 1st album. So I guess I'm voting for Life Time. But it was difficult to choose! It's a shame that they didn't do a repeat of this album in '69 or '70! Guy

By the way, after a meteoric rise to the top of the Shitlantic division, Boston is losing again. Just because a team shows a pulse for 10 games doesn't mean they're actually any good. Which they aren't. I'd say 2-1 they get booted in the 1st round. Guy

Two great albums. It's so hard to choose, I'll think about it overnight. Two thoughts: 1) This is some of the best Sam Rivers on BN that I've heard. 2) Considering how loud Tony is on the Miles albums from this period, it's interesting how low-key his playing is, at least on Spring. Anyway, if you haven't heard these albums, they're absolutely essential if you like the more adventurous end of Blue Note in the 60s. Where else are you going to hear Shorter and Rivers playing together? Guy