Guy Berger

This is a cop out and nothing more.

Let's keep a sense of proportion here.

Almost all rain here in Charlotte. Guy

I've only heard the unedited version. I like it plenty.

It's a really nice album.

I don't think it's nonsense. You can become a good jazz drummer without a proficient technical understanding of melody and harmony, but that's not true of most other instruments. I think it's interesting that the "drummer composer" only really emerged in the post-bebop era. Edward Vesala also deserves mention here.

The questions are good ones to ask, but I agree that Jackson's conclusions are a reach.

I have nowhere near a complete collection; these are my favorites todate. Far East Suite Ellington Uptown Such Sweet Thunder

Interesting. My memory is rusty but I recall reading Red Garland citing a similar conversation between him and Trane. Would be interested in more discussion. More than anything it gives a sign of Trane's self-critical, introspective nature.

Ron Carter is one of my LEAST favorites.

Gave #1 and #2 their first spin today... very nice. Not sure how I'll feel about it after multiple lessons, but evokes the best I've heard from Oregon.

Some of these have been in print recently, others have not. I do not know which will be available in the US. 2009/10 ECM catalogue John Abercrombie Trio, Speak of the Devil Arild Andersen Quartet, If You Look Far Enough Arild Andersen & Masqualero, Re-Enter Arild Andersen Quartet, Lifelines Paul Bley Quartet, Ballads [1967 recording with Altschul & Peacock] Gary Burton & Steve Swallow, Hotel Hello Gary Burton Quartet, The New Quartet Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, Album Album Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, Inflation Blues Egberto Gismonti, Solo Mick Goodrick Quartet, In Pas(s)ing Dave Holland Quintet, Seeds of Time Dave Holland Quartet, Conference of the Birds Stephen Micus, Darkness and Light Paul Motian Trio, It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago Old and New Dreams, self-titled Old and New Dreams, Playing Julian Priester Ensemble, Love Love Terje Rypdal and the Chasers, Blue Terje Rypdal Quartet, Waves Louis Sclavis Quintet, Rouge John Surman, Upon Reflection Ralph Towner & John Abercrombie, Five Years Later Ralph Towner, Solo Concert Ralph Towner with Glen Moore [and the rest of Oregon], Trios/Solos Mal Waldron, Free at Last Eberhard Weber, The Colours of Chloe Kenny Wheeler Quintet, The Widow in the Window Box Sets: Arild Andersen 3 CD - includes Clouds in My Head, Shimri, Green Shading into Blue Chick Corea 3 CD solo piano - includes Piano Improvisations vols. 1 & 2, Children's Songs Jan Garbarek 3 CD - includes Sart, Witchi Tai To, Dansere Terje Rypdal 4 CD - includes Whenever I Seem to Be Far Away, Odyssey, After the Rain Eberhard Weber, 3 CD - includes Yellow Fields, Silent Feet, Little Movements

Some of these have been in print recently, others have not. I do not know which will be available in the US. 2009/10 ECM catalogue John Abercrombie Trio, Speak of the Devil Arild Andersen Quartet, If You Look Far Enough Arild Andersen & Masqualero, Re-Enter Arild Andersen Quartet, Lifelines Paul Bley Quartet, Ballads [1967 recording with Altschul & Peacock] Gary Burton & Steve Swallow, Hotel Hello Gary Burton Quartet, The New Quartet Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, Album Album Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, Inflation Blues Egberto Gismonti, Solo Mick Goodrick Quartet, In Pas(s)ing Dave Holland Quintet, Seeds of Time Dave Holland Quartet, Conference of the Birds Stephen Micus, Darkness and Light Paul Motian Trio, It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago Old and New Dreams, self-titled Old and New Dreams, Playing Julian Priester Ensemble, Love Love Terje Rypdal and the Chasers, Blue Terje Rypdal Quartet, Waves Louis Sclavis Quintet, Rouge John Surman, Upon Reflection Ralph Towner & John Abercrombie, Five Years Later Ralph Towner, Solo Concert Ralph Towner with Glen Moore [and the rest of Oregon], Trios/Solos Mal Waldron, Free at Last Eberhard Weber, The Colours of Chloe Kenny Wheeler Quintet, The Widow in the Window Box Sets: Arild Andersen 3 CD - includes Clouds in My Head, Shimri, Green Shading into Blue Chick Corea 3 CD solo piano - includes Piano Improvisations vols. 1 & 2, Children's Songs Jan Garbarek 3 CD - includes Sart, Witchi Tai To, Dansere Terje Rypdal 4 CD - includes Whenever I Seem to Be Far Away, Odyssey, After the Rain Eberhard Weber, 3 CD - includes Yellow Fields, Silent Feet, Little Movements

Maybe I need to re-evaluate - my assessment was that he was a solid, competent, versatile guy you'd use in the studio if you didn't have access to a 1st-tier pianist - wouldn't knock your socks off, wouldn't mess things up. Guy

I have a crazy question - is the Gayle Palmore who contributes vocals, piano and percussion to this recording the same as Gayle Moran who married Chick Corea and played on some 70s fusion recordings?

The more I think about it, the more I conclude that (aside from supporting indie labels), it's much more ethical to spend $100 on music and download another $100-worth for free than to spent $10 and not download anything at all.

Finally got around to watching this. As far as the performance, it is great, without a doubt. This is not my favorite Miles electric ensemble - I prefer the ones with ONLY Keith or ONLY Chick - but it's MUCH better than the June Fillmore sets, at least partially because Gary Bartz replaces Steve Grossman. Miles's performance is excellent, he was in peak form during this period. As far as the interviews, I generally enjoyed them. I really detest Carlos Santana's vapid musings and wish they'd gotten a more thoughtful naysayer than Stanley Crouch (though on the opposite tack, this was about these peoples' experiences of Miles and how they came to terms with his electric music, so maybe it is appropriate). But the comments by the musicians that played with Miles are generally very insightful - particularly Dave Liebman and Keith Jarrett. I enjoyed Liebman's comments because they come from a guy who has great appreciation for the music, but for whom it didn't come easy. Guy

Amen, I hope he recovers... plenty of other great music to play. Guy

When I first got this it disappointed me - as is typical for ECM these days, tempos tend to be divided between slow and very slow, with one or two token up-tempo tunes. But it's grown on me a lot after about a week. Very nice playing by Rava, Mark Turner, Stefano Bollani, and Larry Grenadier. Paul Motian is a little too restrained but that's typical for ECM recordings. I'm not sure I'd endorse all the 60s Miles comparisons but... the comparison is not way off. If you like that group's ballad work you'll like this too. Guy Guy

word!

Yeah - just to clarify, Mingus's music is not WAY OUT THERE (except in terms of genius), but at times some of his work (esp with Eric Dolphy) crosses into areas that someone who dislikes a-g jazz might dislike. Guy

I'd say that Blues & Roots is a must, and you'd probably really enjoy Tijuana Moods (RCA), Jazz Portrait (reissued on Blue Note but discontinued recently) and Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Impulse). I would normally recommend The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (Impulse) as one of the top tier but I seem to recall you don't like avant-garde jazz. Guy