Guy Berger

Conrad, sorry about your loss. Guy

I'd have to pay more attention, but I've heard him quote quite a few times.

This is a nice album, but I think The Spoiler, with a similar though not identical lineup, is much better.

While I've read plenty of nonsense from Keith, this seemed fairly innocuous to me - I'm surprised at the strong reactions.

1. For All We Know 2. Where Can I Go Without You 3. No Moon At All 4. One Day I'll Fly Away 5. Intro - I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life 6. Body And Soul 7. Goodbye 8. Don't Ever Leave Me Jarrett's comments (published on amazon)

I'm not a big Al DiMeola fan -- I think that RtF really started going downhill when he joined -- but I don't mind listening to the one album I have by him (Elegant Gypsy). Nothing too substantial, but fun to hear once in a while. Especially "Racing the Devil on a Spanish Highway" or whatever it is called. I listened to Elegant Gypsy for the first time in I don't know how many years - very enjoyable. But I've also been digging 90125 recently so what do I know. Guy

Yes, there's a fairly long (almost 2 hr) concert from Berlin, September of 1971. Highly recommended, especially for the multi-horn arrangement on "Dr. Honoris Causa".

You get a hint, but listening to the flow of a full concert makes a big difference.

Some recs: Alpha Centauri, Atem, Phaedra and Rubycon. I thought Stratosfear was too cheesy.

The band on this album - and the one right after, that recorded Heavy Weather - had a live explosiveness that is usually not apparent on the albums. (I'm not talking about the plastic 8:30.) People who assume this was a "tame" band are mistaken.

For what it's worth, I spoke to Motian briefly while he was autographing the CD and he said he really liked it. He seemed somewhat taken aback by my suggestion that they release a second one.

I'll disagree with David on Etudes - it's a great set with Haden, Geri Allen and Paul Motian. There's a superb version of "Lonely Woman" on it.

I saw this trio last night at the Vanguard, with Greg Osby subbing for Potter. I felt that Osby was somewhat superfluous except as a colorist, though Moran and Motian were terrific and really locked in. They played "Mode VI", "Lost in a Dream", "Ten", and "Drum Music" from the recent album as well as "Round Midnight", "The Sunflower", "Once Around the Park" and a few other tunes I didn't recognize. Much more uptempo than the album.

Obviously this is personal taste, but I still think the very top tier of Andrew Hill albums is Point of Departure and Black Fire (also Dialogue if you count it as an Andrew album), followed very closely by Judgment, Andrew!!! and Passing Ships.

Guy,When you say the most recent Motian/Frisell/Lovano, do you mean "Time and Again"? I wasn't crazy about it at first, but it has really grown on me, seriously. Yes. It grew on me too but this disc with Potter and Moran is better.

Judging by other Motian gigs I've attended, I'm guessing ECM was intentionally selective in favor of the slower material at the beginning of the disc. "Drum Music" and "Ten" are fairly intense free jazz performances. Guy

Sal, yes, all of them. That's somewhat of an exaggeration - there are some fast tempos near the end, though about 2/3 is slow or slow-moderate tempo. It's a great album regardless. Guy

Studio... maybe if this is a hit they can talk Paul Motian to join them for a sequel!

Apparently Keith and Charlie recently reunited to record an album of duets - it will be released in May according to Steve Lake at jazzcorner.

Only listened to this once - but it's good. Definitely better than the most recent Motian/Frisell/Lovano disc.

Blues & Roots - I enjoy this one the most. The combination of intense earthiness with sophisticated arrangements kills me every time. Plus, I like Mingus's medium-sized groups more than his small ensembles. Plus I love the lineup here. Mingus Dynasty - The widest breadth of compositions, even wider than Ah Um. Again, medium-sized ensemble. Black Saint & the Sinner Lady- Love the Ellingtonian feel. Larger group.

I saw a gig (or two?) with David's group about 5 or 6 years ago and they were great. The albums I've heard I like. (Flight of I, Cryptology and especially Dao.) However, at times the music tends to be too relentless for my tastes. Guy

I finally gave this a first listen (disc 1). Great music. Definitely lived up to my hopes - I enjoy Scofield's playing here a lot. Guy

As others have said, the music has been circulated widely. I think the Rome concert is particularly well-recorded (though is this the complete recording? it wouldn't fit on just one CD). I believe the Rome concert has the last recording Miles ever made of "Round Midnight".

Hard to believe, but I've read reviews by "serious" Ornette fans that badmouth the Contemporary albums. A serious mistake in my opinion.