antoniodeste

...... And I believe that if Nico Di Palo read these last two posts, he would probably chuckle as well, maybe.....

...sorry for the possible "outburst," but as a guitarist with about thirty years of decent experience, I suppose it doesn't take much to "bury" Santana. Without taking anything away from Di Palo's undeniable skill. Did I really say something outrageous? I know a guy who lives behind my house who can outplay Santana anytime he wants. His name is Gianluca. But I think even Cesareo from the Elii would do it if pushed. That's my take.

@Omahaceleb: it rains on the wet ground..... I'm VERY glad that you are a Methenyan of attentive observance (I don't use the term "fan"....), because I have been one for many years (specifically from '77 to '90, more or less) as well, and I believe I know what kind of emotions and sensations (and joy and happiness and melancholy and...and...and....) Metheny can evoke in a careful music lover willing to follow him. I noticed that elsewhere you mentioned "September 15th." Well, that piece didn't mean much only to you. And to be honest, neither did "It's for you," for me (given the title......). I've seen Metheny live, I believe, eight times across half of Italy since '83, and almost always, I returned home drunk with joy and happiness, aware that I had witnessed something memorable. Even today, I keep special memories of Mestre '83 (the first time - 3 hours of show!!) Rimini '85, Peschiera '87, Udine '89. I had the chance to talk with him several times and also with Steve Rodby. About a decade ago, I also had the opportunity to meet Mark Egan, who I remember as a wonderful person (who loves Eberhard Weber just like I do) and some time ago I exchanged a few words with Dan Gottlieb, whom I consider a great drummer. I've come back to reconsider the figure of the guitarist from Lee Summit after some lackluster and unconvincing trials when "Speaking of Now" came to light, which I consider a work perhaps predictable but in which Metheny mended a tear and a nebulous situation that had, in my opinion, been ongoing for years. The subsequent "The Way Up," in my view, touches on a masterpiece. If you like, I wrote a review of this work right here, on debaser, which can be easily found. @acqualife: even though you are from Rome and I am a "nordista" (and you know that northerners find Romans a bit bothersome......, but this doesn't apply to me because I'm a contrarian nordista.....), I believe, deep down, that you are a good guy (look at this...) and beyond your "spelling/grammar problems", I believe that a nice, throbbing, and highly positive heart beats in your chest. It's a pity you don't have a nice pair of breasts on that chest.......... . Ahò, a acqua, I'm just kidding!! Got it?! Throughout my life, I have met really a lot of musicians, and we often stopped to exchange a few words (and sometimes I even had some unpleasant little tiffs). I must say that it was MUCH easier with jazz musicians or those derived from jazz than with rock musicians. Some names? Scofield, Joe Pass, Michael Brecker, Manhattan Transfer, Peter Erskine, John McLaughlin, Bill Frisell, Mike Stern, Gary Burton, Makoto Ozone, Bruce Cockburn, Mike Mainieri, Jay Beckenstein from Spyro Gyra, Kenwood Dennard (the drummer of Pastorius), Trilok Gurtu, Jeff Berlin, Al DiMeola, Jan Garbarek, Ralph Towner, Charlie Mariano, Christy Doran (with whom I have been friends for 5 or 6 years)... and another half dozen of others I don't even remember at the moment. This, let it be clear, doesn't mean I've "known" them (except for Doran), but that I had direct dealings with them by talking a little together. That's it. Satisfied, Acqualife? @Omahaceleb: I know you are even further south than acqualife, and know that should you have ever had doubts about my possible poor "tolerance" for people living from Rome downwards.... well, it simply doesn't exist. I don't distinguish people based on their places of origin, but for what they are worth. Make yourselves heard!! A warm greeting.

Personally, "Frances the Mute" left me stunned, "Amputechture" less so, the Live is too chaotic and it makes no sense, but "Goliath" is just a blast. I believe that even after twenty listens, there would still be plenty of stuff to discover in there. A beautiful melting pot of trends and anthropomorphic contaminations. These are badass people. I hope they continue like this. Amen.

Even for Brecker, the discourse would be a bit lengthy. I generally agree with Omahaceleb regarding the appreciation for this other (who, in my opinion, is a great) saxophonist who passed away recently. I suppose I "considered" him for the first time, in an attentive way, in '80 when Joni Mitchell released "Shadows & Light" with that stellar lineup (Pastorius, Metheny, Mays, Alias, and Brecker, of course). That same year, Brecker appeared in a work considered minor (but not to be underestimated) which was Pat Metheny's "80/81" alongside another badass tenorist like Dewey Redman (father of Joshua). I then saw him live in Umbria in '84 with the legendary Steps Ahead (Mainieri, Erskine, Victor Bailey, Chuck Loeb, and him) in an unforgettable show (in which Brecker played the bizarre Steinerphone - EWI for the first time) and at least two more times in the '90s with Abercrombie and Marc Johnson. A brilliant career, often well-rounded, with few moments of dullness and great lyricism and mastery of the instrument. Just a little repetitive, at times, in his phrasing, but that's a minor issue. Towards the end of the '90s, he tried to restart the Brecker Brothers project with his brother Randy, doing some fairly honest fusion stuff, even if not thrilling. Perhaps the Brecker Brothers of the second half of the '70s were more spontaneous with their nervous and lively funk... A solo career with a series of often interesting albums ("Don't Try This at Home" - "The Nearness of You" but also several others) and an impressive amount of collaborations at various levels (even with Frank Sinatra!) that made him a prominent figure in jazz and its derivatives for over twenty years. That’s why Brecker was great. A curiosity that I direct to Omahaceleb: are you a Metheny fan? I suppose your nickname is derived from a beautiful piece ("Omaha Celebration") that appeared either on "Bright Size Life" or on "Watercolors" by the wonderful Metheny, a musician I have followed with great affection for a long, long time (and whom I have had the fortune to meet several times). Is that so?

Thank you for the info. If you come across anything TRULY worth mentioning regarding this, please, let me know.

@Double: Sorry for the late reply, but I've just returned to daily life after the holidays. So: the two DVDs I found through the usual traditional channels. I mean, I got them from my trusted little "store." I don't recommend websites for DVDs, as I typically avoid doing so due to problematic formats like Pal/Ntsc, etc.; but you shouldn't have any issues either on some specialized site or by ordering it in a local store. If there's really no way, I'll try to give you the address of a couple of shops in the area. The titles are "Gentle Giant on the Box" - duration 80 min., filmed in Germany in 1974 and in the USA in '75. Additionally, there are television excerpts from '74, a Photo Gallery, and interviews. Definitely a nice piece. Just a notch below is the second one titled "GG at the GG" - Gentle Giant Sight & Sound in Concert & other antiquities. It was published in 2006 and also contains a CD with the tracks from the DVD. It lasts roughly an hour and a half. Here, the Gentle Giant are captured in London in January '78, and there are videos (specifically related to "Interview," by the way) from '76 and '78. There are also some poor-quality footage of the band in Germany in April '74 and other amusing little things. Is that enough? Happy Searching!

I believe I can say after over twenty years of listening to the band that my absolute favorite tracks are "Aja," "Reeling In The Years," and "Gaucho." For what it's worth......

I have seen Berg live on more than one occasion and he was a torrential, impetuous, and endless tenor player. I never considered him a "great," but I always recognized his strong feeling and notable technical knowledge. I saw him at his best with Davis at Umbriajazz '84; at his worst in a rather unconvincing lineup with Dave Kikoski, Dennis Chambers, and James Genus, I believe in '89. So-so in the quartet with Jeff Andrews, Chambers, and Mike Stern (who has really worn out his welcome with his always-similar solos). The last time I saw him, before the tragic accident, was in a decent group with Eliane Elias, Mike Mainieri, Marc Johnson, and Peter Erskine under the questionable name of Steps Ahead. Questionable because it was far from the genuine (great) Steps (before) and Steps Ahead (after) of the early '80s. He was somewhat of a lone wolf, as I remember him, with a direct and edgy manner, but indeed, this record has some worth. "Kalimba," with a delightful duet with Sanborn, is my favorite. But it’s been many years since I listened to this work, which is nonetheless useful for understanding the character. A decent review.

@To the reviewer: Thank you so much for the warm welcome. The problem now is whether I can find myself again... But, Psychopompe, I really enjoyed reading your words. I would say that despite one album being a bit too little to express an overall judgment, the group is undoubtedly present. And I also felt a great guitar player (Damn! What a tragedy to pass away at 48...). I would love to create a sort of trilogy with their debut album and with "The Family that plays Together," which I've read and been told is one of their peaks. "Sardonicus" is nonetheless a record that is a pleasure to listen to and makes one feel good. To talk, as someone did, about jazz influences (perhaps due to Cassidy's background in that area) seems a bit risky to me (maybe the only "jazz-rock" track is "Space Child," I believe), but without a doubt, the roots that converge in this sound are multiple and all genuinely convincing. I repeat, I was, mea culpa, unaware of this band's work, but guys, forgive me, I can't or just don't manage to buy everything I would like! One last thing: I've read positive comments about Randy Wolfe's first album California "Kapt. Kopter and the fabulous Twirly Birds"; is there any news on this? Has somebody listened to it? Is it available? Regards!!