Guy Berger

I'm in NYC for the weekend for my jazz fix - decided to hop over to the Jazz Gallery for two sets of this combo, led by bassist Eric Revis who I believe plays with Branford. I wouldn't have expected Jason Moran and Ken Vandermark to be on the same stage but the combination was enough to tempt me. First, the Jazz Gallery needs better climate control. They turn off the A/C during the sets (I assume because it's disruptive to the musicians) which turns the performance space into a muggy swamp. Second, the concert was good. The first set was a little shaky - Vandermark in particular didn't mesh with the ensemble though the rhythm trio was locked in pretty early. The music was a combination of energy music, freebop tight stuff, and also a little bit of more traditional and funky stuff. The second set was much better, highlighted by an intense duet between Vandermark and Moran. Wow, that was definitely the best moment of the evening. Definitely worth checking out. Every time I hear Jason Moran I'm inclined to throw out superlatives. I'm a bit more skeptical about Vandermark - I like the guy's playing but he sounds like a somewhat limited player to me.

Started reading this... wow. I can tell that I'll need to re-read these stories many times to even remotely understand them. - Tlon-Guy

After seeing the crown in Penguin for "Lumi", I was eyeing this album for a long time. Finally I picked up a copy from amazon marketplace and finally listened to it today. Fascinating music! Not sure if I like it or love it after 3 listens, but it's definitely not boring. Reminds me a little of Muhal Richard Abrams (later stuff), less in terms of style but more in terms of the iconoclastic, post-free approach to a large ensemble. I think the only other album I have with him is Garbarek's "Tryptikon". Anybody a fan? Guy

Awesome!!!!

We can only be as lucky when we pass away as he was, leaving a wonderful legacy which includes INTERSTELLAR SPACE. Thanks Rashied and RIP. Guy

I'll call BS on this.

A classic

I'll throw it out there - this was Miles's best working group, and the best playing of Wayne Shorter's career. Guy

Hey all, I want to pick up the Music Matador/Conversations sessions that Dolphy recorded. Unfortunately there seem to be a bunch of versions floating around - anybody have one they particularly recommend? I'd rather not pay more than $20 per CD. Guy

Thanks folks - this looks to be one of the best birthdays I've had in a long time - but my gf says I am starting to show some grey hair. Guy

EMI was having trouble before the recession started, the recession made things worse.

I haven't seen it yet, but I'll admit I'm surprised that it might be decent. That already puts it above most other films in the series... Guy

I'll defer to you there - I don't think I ever heard Asia or UK. UK was a super group without a hit. Asia was a pop group providing employment for former progrockers without a band. I've heard the first UK album - quite mediocre in my opinion. I've always been surprised to hear some people describe it as a classic. Guy

Not sure what argument spurred this thread, but no, I don't like the occasionally intense personal tone that a small fraction of the bickering on this board takes on. One of the reasons I quit the politics forum. Guy

I finally got a road bike. My first tri of the season is next week. I'm gunning to do an Olympic-length in the fall. We'll see whether I'm sufficiently motivated by then.

I have one of DiMeola's solo albums (Eleganct Gypsy) and it is not bad. (Not great either.) Not much of the over-the-top corniness of Romantic Warrior. Guy

I'm in the process of filling in holes in my Monk collection and this is the only omission (at least as far as official recordings) in the pre-1957 era. I assume I should pick it up ASAP? How does it compare to Thelonious Himself or Alone in San Francisco? Why did Monk lean toward slow tempos when playing solo? Guy

I was listening to Paul Bley's Open to Love recently and it struck me that in some ways the classic performance of "Ida Lupino" was the perfect foil to Keith Jarrett's "Lalene" (Facing You), which I believe had been recorded several months earlier. I think both are great; the differences between the two pianists' styles are obvious, but that hides the fact that they had a lot of things in common. Heck, Jarrett himself admitted Bley as a key influence on his playing. One final comment - I know Bley is known as a deeply unbluesy player, but when he wants to his playing definitely has that feeling and it doesn't sound affected to me. Guy

What do people think of this tune/performance? I read one or two reviews of this tune that were pretty dismissive - I guess the melody/harmony are pretty basic and the rhythm is funky. But as far as son-of-Sidewinder tunes, I think it's damn good. Anybody else agree with me? Guy

SEK passed away a few years ago - I miss his contributions. Guy

Just an assumption on my part....but you aren't a farmer are you. Nope. There are two entirely separate issues here. One is that farmers in California need some sort of mechanism to smooth water supplies due to seasonality. That has nothing to do with the fact that I brought up - California farmers pay a tiny fraction of what city dwellers do per gallon of water. This leads to waste of not only taxpayer money but also water supplies. If California really is "#1", then there is no reason for farmers to freeload off society - let them grow what they want while paying the same price for water that everyone else does. If they can't - well, some other place, either somewhere else in the country or abroad, will grow the produce instead. If Alaskan farmers were intent on growing pineapples and mangos in greenhouses that required power supplied at a tiny fraction of what regular Alaskans paid, we'd say that they were nuts. But the moment anybody suggests something similar about the "#1 grower of produce in this Nation"... (For what it's worth, I love California. It's where I grew up. I just don't understand why we need welfare for farmers.) Guy

Are you saying farmers shouldn't pay a pittance??? My Uncle, like many in and around the L.A. area, pay hundreds of dollars a month for water. Still doesn't seem to slow folks down much. But, just saying no outdoor watering(unless it is something like a garden) would probably make a huge difference. Yes. Farmers should pay what everyone else pays. I bet they would use water much more efficiently than they do now if they weren't freeloading off society. Guy

I am guessing that Californian farmers use far more water than urban residents. Do they still pay a pittance per gallon? Guy

OK, you guys sold me on it. Will check it out.