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The week on disc (54)
In case you missed the last one… Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge, The Comet’s Tail: Performing the Compositions of Michael Brecker (MAMA Records) Joris Teepe Big Band, We Take No Prisoners (Challenge) Digital Primitives, Hum Crackle & Pop (Hopscotch) Steve Davis, Eloquence (Jazz Legacy) Dafnis Prieto, Si O Si Quartet: Live at Jazz Standard NYC (Dafnison) Keith Jarrett, Testament
Pakistan WFP bombing PS
I like The Rachel Maddow Show, and I especially admire Maddow’s tenacious reporting on right-wing astroturf efforts to stymie health care reform. She’s getting through to a mass audience with a hugely important point: that in politics, all is not as it seems. Always look behind the curtain. For that very reason, Maddow’s comment last night on Afghanistan-Pakistan was frustrating.
Philadelphia haps, cont’d.
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: EllipsisWed., Oct. 7, 9pm. $5. With Oud Blues. Tritone, 1508 South St. 215.545.0475 www.tritonebar.com Drummer Justin Leigh and pianist John Stenger head up Ellipsis, and their continuing residency at Tritone has entailed full-album renditions of Björk, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Jeff Buckley and others (first Wednesday every month, free downloadable sets at ellipsismakesmusic.com). But Ellipsis
Slaughtering humanitarian workers
A word of sympathy for the employees of the UN World Food Program who were viciously killed today in a suicide bombing in Islamabad. People on the antiwar left who voice outrage at U.S. drone attacks might want to say something in condemnation of this completely senseless, unprovoked and premeditated atrocity. Just a thought. The WFP, needless to say, is
Jazz vs. JALC?
This is old news by blogosphere standards, but my friend Larry Blumenfeld took heat recently for doing what advocates of progressive jazz aren’t supposed to do: write a positive piece about Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Patrick J. commented briefly on some of the ensuing flap, and I just gotta say: It’s hilarious to see Chris Rich rip
New new media
I haven’t had to time to sit down and absorb the proceedings from today’s National Summit on Arts Journalism, but thought I’d highlight their five featured new media projects: Departures, Glasstire, FLYPMedia, San Francisco Classical Voice and Flavorpill. I’m glad to be surfing the last wave of old media at the Inquirer (will have a Christian McBride feature there soon).
Six Picks: October 2009
My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in All About Jazz-New York, October 2009: Brad Dutz Quartet, Whimsical Excursion Boats (ind.) Gordon Grdina’s East Van Strings, The Breathing of Statues (Songlines) John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, Eternal Interlude (Sunnyside) Joe Martin, Not By Chance (Anzic) Linda Oh Trio, Entry (ind.) Tyshawn Sorey, Koan (482 Music)
Philadelphia haps, cont’d.
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Dave Liebman GroupFri., Oct. 2, 8-11:30pm. $15. Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. 215.568.3131 www.chrisjazzcafe.com Dave Liebman grew up hearing John Coltrane in the flesh. Now in his 60s, the Poconos-based Brooklynite is a saxophone guru himself, having earned his stripes in the early ’70s with Elvin Jones and Miles Davis, appearing on Miles’ twisted