David Adler
Vijay Iyer PS
Just wanted to correct the record after my preview in last week’s Time Out New York and note that Vijay Iyer’s drummer last week was Justin Brown, who’s been subbing for Marcus Gilmore on a regular basis and doing a great job. A player as rhythmically advanced as Iyer can’t hire just any drummer and expect it to work. Then
Music Creative
Philadelphia’s Doug Hirlinger has come up with something new and novel: A new online monthly music series featuring a different collective of composers and musicians every month and new compositions written or arranged for the occasion. The compositions will be rehearsed and recorded in a single session and posted on musiccreative.org. I’ll be drawing from a large pool of talented
Fort Hood
David Frum, one of America’s last sane conservatives, links to famous photographs that remind us of the sacrifice of Muslims who died as members of the U.S. military. And yet just yesterday, the very day of the Fort Hood massacre, GOP House members gave their imprimatur to a fanatical far-right rally, at which people held up posters of President Obama
Rage in Peace
Steven Wells of Philadelphia Weekly died not long ago, as I mentioned. Here’s a very fitting — that is, surpassingly weird — video tribute. Steven Wells Tribute Film from Roger Sargent on Vimeo.
On Vijay Iyer
My preview of the Vijay Iyer Trio at Jazz Standard, in this week’s Time Out New York.
Philadelphia haps, cont’d.
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory OrchestraFri., Nov. 6, 8pm. $12. With DJ hi-res. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. 215.739.9684 www.arsnovaworkshop.org The term is archaic, but “territory bands” used to tour circumscribed areas of the U.S., covering popular hits and riling up dance crowds. Trumpeter Steven Bernstein (of Sex Mob fame) nods to that storied past
Surprised, and yet not
James Traficant, nine-term Democratic congressman from Ohio and convicted felon, has kicked off his post-prison career by blaming the Jews for his plight and signing on as a columnist for the neo-fascist American Free Press. Adam Holland has the story, and many other stomach-churning stories as well. Make it a point to read his excellent blog.
On Linda Oh
My feature [pdf] on bassist Linda Oh, in the November 2009 Jazz Times.