Guy Berger

Chambers was the first Miles bio I read and turned me onto some great music as a budding listener (especially Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants). But it has serious shortcomings has a biography: 1) His judgment about Miles's music becomes dicier and dicier once you move past 1963. His cluelessness on the electric music is well-known but he does not really get the 60s quintet either. 2) No primary sources!!!! This is a real shame because a lot more of the principals were still alive when he wrote this book. Later biographers would not be as lucky. 3) Lots of factual errors. I haven't read every Miles bio out there. I thought Carr was, if anything, more problematic. Szwed may be better but I am waiting for it to come out on ebook. But even if there is no acceptable substitute, this would be a very shaky bedrock on which to construct an understanding of the man and his music.

But it does demolish any legal logic used to justify this board policy. The point of the policy, I presume, is to immunize Jim from lawsuits lodged by copyright holders. But if the world's largest online retailer is selling the product, arguing that linking to such products will amount to likely lawsuits for Jim makes no sense. The point of a lawsuit is to obtain relief from harm; if nobody is bothering to sue Amazon, which is causing about 1,000,000x the harm Jim is in such a case...then why does Jim have anything to fear? It's asinine. I agree with Big Wheel here. Applying this rule in a way that forbids amazon links just doesn't make sense. Out of curiosity, can people just type the text "this recording is available via amazon.com" instead of linking it? Seems like this rule can be easily evaded.

I already have everything on F's A list except Absolutely Free (which I should pick up)... I guess I'm done!

Interesting. I have Rykos from the late 90s. Are these the screwed up mixes? (There were actually two CD issues in the first two decades of the CD era, right? Was the other one better?) I never had issues with them, but I'm also not familiar with the originals.

I like Sart better than Afric Pepperbird. Both are worth hearing for sure.

I thought this one was relatively dull (though it has its moments). Definitely not on the level of Out of the Cool or Individualism.

Haven't listened to this in a while, but recall that it's a fun album. I remember it being more like In a Silent Way - it doesn't have Bitches Brews's more aggressive tendencies. Basically for people who like IaSW and don't mind something a little more watered down. (I'd say the same thing about Electric Byrd.)

Blu Blu Blu is great! Highly recommended if you like edgy post-bebop big band writing. Hearinga Suite is almost as good. I haven't heard the others in this box so I'll have to pick it up. Amusingly, I was listening to BBB and our dog Henry was confused by the tuba playing at the beginning of the 2nd track (don't remember the tune's name).

Is Spirits worth getting?

Reading these blindfold tests makes me grateful that Miles's taste in creating in his own music was far, far better than that in judging the music of others.

Sounds fun. Who is Ms. Grimal?

Didn't his Cecil Taylor comments on the 1964 BFT prompt the response "Miles Davis plays pretty well for a millionaire" ?

I don't have a lot to add to what Jim wrote above, except that it would have been extremely tragic to forgo most of Trane's 1966-67 music. (If the Alice-haters are also lumping in the 1965 music in their conspiracy theories, even worse.) I think it is telling that McCoy included Alice on Extensions. Guy

Nobody's mentioned Miroslav Vitous's Infinite Search. Joe appears on only two tracks (including a smokin "Freedom Jazz Dance"), but plays great. I'd say my favorite sideman appearance by him is on Larry Young's Unity. His solo on Zoltan is unbelievable.

This is wonderful! Very excited, especially about the NYC (extra 30 min) and Monterey concerts.

I like my Kindle. I'm on my second one. (Somewhat stupidly, I lost my 1st one at a restaurant, though the new Kindle Touch is a more updated version). They aren't great for illustrations like maps. But otherwise, I love the portability. I do get frustrated when a book I want is only available in print.

It's a Michael Jackson tribute, I believe. Still not curious? Still no takers? Well he's touring it and it's coming out whether you want it or not! At first I thought you were kidding, but now I'm intrigued. I wonder what the look on Manfred Eicher's face was when Rava brought it up.

I think it is good. Solid groove.

Never quite realized that any of the one (or two?) "Chick had to play acoustic" Bitches Brew era gigs had ever been recorded professionally (or semi-professionally, or at least good enough to release legit). Never in a million years did I expect to ever hear the Bitches Brew band play with an acoustic piano, but that's long been a dream of mine -- to hear that kind of material played with acoustic piano. Now, the "Miles Ahead" footnote isn't entirely clear -- on this particular recording (the one about to be released) where there ANY of the Bitches Brew tunes played with acoustic piano?? And if so, which ones?? (Obviously I've never heard the recordings of this gig that circulate.) The Stockholm concert has two sets. Corea's electric piano breaks down during the 1st set of "Bitches Brew", and he plays acoustic for the rest of the tune as well as "Paraphernalia", "Nefertiti", and "Masqualero". By the second set, the electric piano has apparently been fixed (or replaced). There is also a partial recording from New Brunswick NJ (7/27/69) that has Chick playing acoustic piano. The group plays "Masqualero" and "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down". Guy

I thought Fahrenheit 451 was tedious when I read it in jr high (or high school), but loved the Martian Chronicles when I read them in college.

Both sets from Antibes? Sure? That would be just great! Those are great concerts. (Though I think some of the fall concerts are even better!)

I was thinking the same thing! Are the live JATP recordings on the same level?

I recently got this box. Have listened only to the 1st disc so far (the Bird + Benny + Rabbit session) but it's M A G N I F I C E N T . Wow. A must-hear.

I saw this group last night. They were great. I really think this group is a natural extension of early (1971-72) Weather Report, and am surprised that more reviewers don't mention this. They always solo, they never solo. The only tune I recognized was "Plaza Real". Guy

I am extremely excited about the Flying Dutchman news. Hip hip hooray!!!