dev
Lerner on Obama
Josh Marshall and Marc Cooper make good sense on the Massachusetts aftermath, and although I remain a staunch Obama supporter, I can agree with this from Cooper: Obama conceded way too much power to a feckless and literally corrupt Congress. He pandered to such dolts as Baucus and Lieberman instead of going to the Hill early on and sternly warning
Haiti reflections
About 15 years ago, when the Clinton administration sent troops to Haiti to restore the democratically elected left-populist Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power, I joined a small group of hard-left demonstrators in a number of pitiful marches against the intervention. For the life of me, today I cannot tell you why. George Packer, writing in Dissent, supported the intervention, and soon
On Inzinzac
My feature on Philly-based trio Inzinzac (guitarist Alban Bailly, saxophonist Dan Scofield, drummer Eli Litwin), in the new Philadelphia Weekly.
The Inbetweens
In the new Philadelphia Weekly: The InbetweensThu., Jan. 21, 8pm. Free. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. 215.573.3234 www.arsnovaworkshop.org The Inbetweens — guitarist Mike Gamble, bassist Noah Jarrett and drummer Conor Elmes — are a ragged, rocking jazz trio that could be Brooklyn’s answer to the Nels Cline Singers. The band packs a lot into 41 minutes on their new Quantum
Of big bands, critics’ priorities, etc.
Three strong big band recordings have crossed my desk in the last few days. Abdullah Ibrahim’s Bombella, arranged by the late Steve Gray for the WDR Big Band Cologne, sheds new light on the pianist’s compositions and answers Ibrahim’s marvelous solo-piano disc Senzo from last year. Omar Sosa’s Ceremony, arranged by Jacques Morelenbaum for the NDR Bigband, offers a similar
New York @ Night: January 2010
In the current issue of All About Jazz-New York: — Michaël Attias is known for his work on alto and baritone saxophones, but on the new Clean Feed disc Renku In Coimbra he plays only alto. This was his game plan too at Barbès (Dec. 3), where he gathered together his Renku trio with bassist John Hebert and drummer Satoshi
Haiti benefit
Via my friend Matt Applebaum on Facebook, I’m obliged to cite some negative press about Wyclef Jean’s Yele charity — as well as positive press about Partners In Health. [Update: More bad on Yele here.] [Update: Wyclef responds forcefully here – h/t ?uestlove.] Click on the image for details on this Tuesday’s Haiti benefit concert.
The week on disc (62)
In case you missed the last one… Matt Slocum, Portraits (Chandra) Stéphane Spira & Giovanni Mirabassi, Spirabassi (BEE Jazz) Myra Melford’s Be Bread, The Whole Tree Gone (Firehouse 12) Mostly Other People Do the Killing, Forty Fort (Hot Cup!) Sam Sadigursky, Miniatures: Words Project III (New Amsterdam) Rodrigo Amado/Miguel Mira/Gabriel Ferrandini, Motion Trio (European Echoes)