David Adler
New York @ Night: March 2009
This month in All About Jazz-New York, reviews of the Helen Sung/Ron Carter duo and Steve Coleman and Five Elements.
On Marilyn Crispell
This review appears in the March 2009 issue of All About Jazz-New York. — Louis Moholo-Moholo, Sibanye (We Are One): Duets with Marilyn Crispell (Intakt)Barry Guy/Marilyn Crispell/Paul Lytton, Phases of the Night (Intakt)John Geggie, Geggie Project (Actuelle) David R. Adler Put a pin anywhere in the lengthy discography of pianist Marilyn Crispell and you’ll stumble on a new facet, an
Dissent and the right
A right-wing commenter objects to my remark (here) on Melanie Phillips’s piece describing President Obama as a “fifth columnist.” I’ll make this quick. Gee, I thought dissent was patriotic? I guess that doesn’t extend to commentators you disagree with. Melanie Phillips has an absolute and unlimited right to print whatever she wants in her columns. I and others have an
SFJazz Collective
My preview of the SFJazz Collective (Allen Room, March 6 & 7), in the current Time Out New York.
Psychotic Quartet
My preview of the Psychotic Quartet (Dan Blacksberg/Katt Hernandez/Evan Lipson/Michael Evans) at Gojjo this Sunday, March 8, in the current Philadelphia Weekly. PW has spruced up its website — have a look around. Katt is taking part in John Hollenbeck’s Painted Bride residency, “Big Ears” — I’ll be in Philly this Friday for the wrap-up concert, working on a story
Authoritarian menaces, far/near
No, America did not devolve into a fascist state, but with the release of yet more Bush administration memos we get a glimpse of what might have been. John Yoo: “First Amendment speech and press rights may also be subordinated to the overriding need to wage war successfully.” A theory that is analogous, by the way, with a UN resolution (via) opposing
Six Picks: March 2009
My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in All About Jazz-New York, March 2009: Nels Cline, Coward (Cryptogramophone) Charles Evans, The King of All Instruments (Hot Cup) Tom Harrell, Prana Dance (HighNote) Jeremy Manasia, After Dark (Posi-Tone) Jason Rigby, The Sage (Fresh Sound New Talent) David S. Ware, Shakti (Aum Fidelity)
Obama and hip-hop
Jonah Weiner has an interesting assessment. One apparent outcome: the complete and well-deserved marginalization of dead prez. I’ve had occasion to comment before on this Castro- and Chavez-loving rap duo, a propaganda outlet for the African Peoples Socialist Party and its cult-leader chairman, Omali Yeshitela. At last, it isn’t taken for granted that the president needs to live up to