David Adler
Political odds, ends
I didn’t vote for him on November 3, but Mike Bloomberg has done the country a service and I wanted to acknowledge it. In stark contrast to his predecessor, the insufferable demagogue Rudy Giuliani, Bloomberg has voiced support for Eric Holder’s decision to try KSM and other 9/11 defendants in a civilian court here in New York. One now sees
Obama hails Yoani
Via NYT’s The Lede, President Obama has directly addressed questions posed by courageous Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez, who was recently harassed and roughed up by Cuban security officials for the great crime of blogging. The NYT post also remarks on a new Human Rights Watch report titled “New Castro, Same Cuba,” the thrust of which I don’t need to spell
On Hamiet Bluiett & Kahil El’Zabar
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Hamiet Bluiett & Kahil El’ZabarFri., Nov. 20, 8pm. $12. Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St. 215.545.4302 www.arsnovaworkshop.org When he gets going, baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett could probably take down a house with his gutsy, barrel-chested sound. A cofounder of the World Saxophone Quartet and the St. Louis-based Black Artists Guild, he’s played a major
Seriously?
Wow, talk about coasting. In his NYT online column, Stanley Fish has tackled weighty topics like censorship and Islam (and often gotten it miserably wrong). Now he’s cranking out stuff that’d be perfect for an Andy Rooney segment. Or a few extra verses of Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic.”
Philadelphia haps, cont’d.
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Jim SnideroFri., Nov. 13, 8 & 10pm. $15. Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. 215.568.3131 www.chrisjazzcafe.com Alto saxophonist Jim Snidero is part of an elite straightahead jazz contingent in New York — stone beboppers and consummate pros who have never bowed to prevailing fashion and never will. A lithe and forceful soloist and a prized
Quote of the day
From Jeffrey Goldberg: “If only Nidal Hasan, the alleged Ft. Hood killer, had been gay, the Army would have spent quite a bit of time hunting him down.”
The week on disc (57)
In case you missed the last one… Keyon Harrold, Introducing Keyon Harrold (Criss Cross) Dan Tepfer, Twelve Free Improvisations in Twelve Keys (ind.) Chad Taylor, Circle Down (482 Music) Fra Fra Sound, Dya So (Pramisi Records) Davy Mooney, Astoriano (LateSet) Sharel Cassity, Relentless (Jazz Legacy)
The decade (shudder)
At this point people are thinking not only about their jazz picks of the year, but their picks of the decade, 2000-2009. That’s running through my mind as I listen to Mika Pohjola’s gorgeous new solo piano recording Great Tunes By My Friends, which highlights the music of Guillermo Klein, Ben Monder, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Chris Cheek, Fernando Huergo, Reid Anderson