David Adler
On Joseph C. Phillips, Jr.
This review appears in the May 2009 issue of All About Jazz-New York. — Numinous: The Music of Joseph C. Phillips, Jr.Vipassana (Innova) David R. Adler Composer-conductor Joseph C. Phillips, Jr. has a way of making his ensemble, Numinous, sound even larger than its 25 pieces. Of the three wind players, Ed Xiques has it the easiest, playing five different
The “ticking bomb” fraud
Charles Krauthammer has penned the ultimate insidious apologia for torture. Dan Froomkin has penned the ultimate demolition of Krauthammer’s logic. Andrew Sullivan lands the final blow. This is the stuff Jon Stewart needed to say to Cliff May.
Kindergarten crisis
Bassist Ben Allison and his daughter Ruby are prominently mentioned in this NY Times article about the lack of available space in public school kindergartens this fall — a situation brought on by increased construction of high-rises in Manhattan, a consequent rise in population, and apparently no plan on the part of the city to expand school capacity accordingly. Just
Six Picks: May 2009
My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in All About Jazz-New York, May 2009: Diego Barber, Calima (Sunnyside) Nathan Eklund, Trip to the Casbah (Jazz Excursion) Julian Lage, Sounding Point (Decca/Emarcy) Joe Lovano’s US Five, Folk Art (Blue Note) Akiko Pavolka & House of Illusion, Trust Aqua (Tone of a Pitch) Corey Wilkes & Abstrakt Pulse, Cries from Tha
Burma whitewash
There is a strange article on Burma in today’s New York Times, bylined “The New York Times,” which purports to show the beginnings of a political opening in that country, mainly in the form of increased government cooperation with foreign aid and relief organizations. If the junta has loosened its grip somewhat in that regard, good. But there’s a whiff
On Branford Marsalis
My review of Metamorphosen by the Branford Marsalis Quartet, in the current Time Out New York. Branford is at Jazz Standard May 5-10.
On Reptet/Kevin Valentine
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: ReptetMon., May 4, 8pm. $10. Chris’s Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. 215.568.3131 www.chrisjazzcafe.com The six-piece troupe from Seattle posts plenty of video at reptet.com — a good move for a band this much into masks, funny hats and so on. It’s a jokey, visual experience but the music has a core seriousness. Drummer John Ewing,
Learn a song, own a song
A commenter asks if I’m serious about one of my favorite song picks at Normblog. One hundred percent serious. Video below. Check the Wurlitzer comping at the start of the B section. The way the backing vocals outline the ravishing modulations. The guy rocking the tambourine. But let’s also admit the clarinet is sharp on the intro and the bass