Guy Berger

I would love to see a reunion. I remember seeing them in '94 and that was cool, but with Rog... and especially if they played stuff like "Fat Old Sun". That tune just keeps getting better every time I hear it. Guy

You know, I listened to this CD for the first time in a while this summer and I was impressed quite a bit by the other tracks. There's the first one ("Fun") where Cannonball shows off the Trane influence. And then there's an absolute classic on the second side ("Sticks", I believe). I think it might be a bit overrated in the Cannonball canon but worth having nonetheless. Guy

Some personal favorites that haven't been mentioned yet: Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants (THIS IS THE BEST MILES DAVIS I HAVE HEARD ON PRESTIGE -- BETTER THAN THE QUINTET TITLES WITH TRANE!!!) Miles Davis All Stars, Walkin' Miles Davis, Bags' Groove Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness (w/John Coltrane on the title track) Thelonious Monk Trio Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane Sonny Simmons & Prince Lasha, Firebirds The Jaki Byard Experience Gene Ammons, the Happy Blues McCoy Tyner, Sahara & Enlightenment

Well, first thing is that It's About That Time is much much much better than the other guys simply due to Wayne's presence. That said, I prefer Black Beauty over At Fillmore because it's untouched by Teo's scissors; the editing on Fillmore breaks an already tenuous coherence. I'm also not really into the duelling keyboards. Guy

There are at least a couple. Off the top of my head, "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" has them (the section with the fast guitar trills). Guy

With all due respect to the "original", who I enjoy, I'm also glad about the "2nd choice". Guy

I've been listening to the Scriabin set a lot over the past week and a half. The late sonatas are definitely very cool pieces, especially #9 and #10. (I still don't hear #7 as being especially upbeat/ecstatic -- it's not as sinister as the "Black Mass", but still pretty dark.) Tonight I saw Ruth Laredo perform Sonata #10. (Along with some Schumann, Chopin, Ravel, Beethoven, and Rachmaninov.) She actually gave a little spiel right before the Scriabin piece because she felt he was underappreciated, and to prepare the crowd for what was easily the most difficult piece of the evening. Guy

I thought it was an amazing movie. The Salon piece really helped to clarify much of my confusion. Guy

Sounds interesting. Where can I find out more about Neilsen? Here. NPR also had a program or series on his 6 symphonies a while back. I am not sure whether it is archived online. Guy

I think it never hurts to explore the basics: J. S. Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Stravinsky, etc. Go to classical.net and explore the basic repertoire. Here's another thread which discusses classical recommendations. I only have a small collection at this point but some stuff I really love: Bach (Brandenburg Concertos, Mass in B Minor, Art of the Fugue, Musical Offering) Haydn, String Quartets Op. 76 "Erdody" Beethoven String Quartets, Symphony #7 Sibelius, Symphonies 4-7 Debussy, late chamber music (Syrinx & 3 sonatas) Janacek and Bartok, string quartets Bartok, Miraculous Mandarin Bartok, Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (piano) Stravinsky, the Rite of Spring Messiaen, Quartet for the End of Time Guy

Shrdlu, I totally agree -- Cedar was also more versatile and less prone to cliches than Bobby (though I enjoy many of Bobby's contributions to the '58-'61 group). I also like his contributions as a composer better. That said, on "Mode for Joe" I think Herbie Hancock or McCoy Tyner would have been an upgrade over Cedar. Guy

Back in college I did this a few times... it's cool but I don't think the coordination lasts beyond the first spin of the CD. A much cooler synchronization is between the Floyd song "Echoes" and the last section of 2001 ("Jupiter and Beyond"). I'm sure everyone who has tried this will agree that it's a major mindfuck. Here is a link describing the procedure. Be sure to use the original "Echoes" from Meddle, not the one on the recent Floyd compilation.

Any thoughts on this group? I was giving Unorthodox Behavior a spin today -- it's a nice little album. Phil Collins is absolutely outstanding on drums and there's some nice fretless e-bass by Percy Jones. One of the things I like about this album is that it manages to have a light, loose feel (unlike a lot of other guitar-based fusion) without sounding "lite". Also, it doesn't have the cartoonish themes that occasionally pop up in fusion albums from this period. (Hello, Chick Corea!!!!) Third, this album doesn't fall into the trap of instrumental wankery that people associate with the style. And finally, "Born Ugly" is kinda funky. Guy

And also, Cedar Walton was a major upgrade over Bobby Timmons. Guy

Perhaps the non-Americans can chime in here, but a lot of stuff I've read suggests that pornography outside the US is often even more extreme. Guy

In my opinion, Wynton has the knack of creating expectations in his audience. I don't think it's a conscious thing, rather I think it's a character trait. This goes way back to his days as a "Young Lion" - i.e as a promising young player - someone of whom great things were expected. Simon, It looks like most of the hope is being generated by Dewey Redman and Ornette's name. Most people here seem indifferent (at best) to Wynton's presence. Guy

But who really cares if the music is good? (Admittedly, that is a big if.) Guy I meant to say: "If the music is good, who cares?"

But who really cares if the music is good? (Admittedly, that is a big if.) Guy

"Rated X" is from around the same time as On the Corner (1972). Guy

I guess it's crazy to make any major judgments based on one game, but I don't think the Lakers are going to lose any games this year. And you are totally right about the Mavs -- barring any major trades, this team is going to be a major disappointment after the last three years. Guy

Maybe they will finally kill Kim Bauer this year. Keep your fingers crossed. Guy

This is probably my favorite jazz ensemble (except maybe the '69 quintet) and so it's hard to pick anything specific. But I'd have to say Filles de Kilimanjaro because it's so unique and opened a bunch of interesting doors that very few musicians have entered since. Guy

It's an awesome movie. Guy

1) Yeah, I think enough time has passed. It started in the 80s but I think the fact that we are seeing some of today's young lions trying to come to terms with this music is pretty remarkable. 2) I'd guess either "Circle in the Round" (which was his first 60s recording to feature electric guitar) or "Water in the Pond" (which was the first to feature electric keyboards). Both were recorded in late '67. Some people point to "Eighty One" (from ESP), but it's more boogaloo than rock. 3) His hip problems, I think. Guy

By the way, it's interesting that despite his heavy bias against the electric music (he also has a bias against the 2nd Quintet music), Chambers is capable of giving credit to it. He has good stuff to say about Filles, In a Silent Way, and Bitches Brew. He becomes stingier with the later stuff, but realizes how visionary "Rated X" was. Guy