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Baby chronicles
It should be clear from this photo that I have entered a kind of parallel universe; I have begun the process of falling madly in love with my daughter, Tess. After just nine days, the child already looks subtly different. Development is underway. Tess has business to attend to, and she’s laying the groundwork, taking the necessary steps. Even though
Remembering Robert
I am devastated to learn of the sudden death of my fellow music journalist Robert Hilferty. I met Robert last year during my stay in Fes, Morocco. (Photo gallery here.) Together with our colleague Derek Beres, we spent a good deal of time traipsing around the medina in the burning heat. The beautiful orange-leather wallet I brought home from that
A Kurdish opening
Gorran, a new political coalition in Iraqi Kurdistan, has done better than expected against the PUK and KDP in regional elections. Discontent with the two ruling parties has been brewing for years, as I found during my trip to the area in March 2006. Pre-election reporting in this round told of the two parties resorting to slimeball tactics (freezing salaries
Spawn of Lerterland
On July 21 at 3:07 p.m., my superhero wife and I became parents. And today I’m looking out on a very different world. Tess Mary Adler is happy and healthy, though incredibly small (discharge weight 5 pounds, 13 ounces). And already figuring out how to clutch at my shirt. The Lerterland music and politics shop will slow down for a
On Jazz Rehab
In the current Philadelphia Weekly: Jazz RehabSun., July 26, 8:30pm. $5. Gojjo, 4540 Baltimore Ave. 215.238.1236 www.scifiphilly.com Making their way south from Burlington, Vermont, Jazz Rehab offers detox and therapy in the form of sharp-witted electro-acoustic jazz. These young lads — saxophonist Andy Allen, guitarist Matt Jalbert, keyboardist Peter Krag, bassist Ian Kovac, drummer Peter Negroponte — have a way
Trios & Solos
~ Wanted to remark on two exciting new trio records featuring John Patitucci on bass and Brian Blade on drums — both of which, oddly enough, include versions of (or homages to) Coltrane’s “Giant Steps.” The first is Poesía by pianist Edward Simon (Cam Jazz); the second is Patitucci’s own Remembrance (Concord, out on Aug. 4), featuring Joe Lovano on
The week on disc (47)
In case you missed the last one… Chris Potter Underground, Ultrahang (ArtistShare) Miroslav Vitous Group with Michel Portal, Remembering Weather Report (ECM) John Hebert, Byzantine Monkey (Firehouse 12) Sebastiaan Cornelissen, U-Turn (Abstract Logix) Jacám Manricks, Labryinth (Manricks Music) Matt Wilson Quartet, That’s Gonna Leave a Mark (Palmetto)
“Begging the question”
Oliver Kamm on the rampant misuse of an important term: “To ‘beg the question’ does not mean to raise or prompt the question. It means to assume in your premises the truth of your conclusion.”