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On J.D. Allen
My preview of J.D. Allen’s trio at the Village Vanguard (Aug. 11-16), in the current Time Out New York.
On Eric Revis
This review appears in the August 2009 issue of All About Jazz-New York. — Eric RevisLaughter’s Necklace of Tears (11:11) David R. Adler Best known for his decade-plus with the Branford Marsalis Quartet, bassist Eric Revis has also thrived in trio settings with Avram Fefer, Peter Brötzmann and most recently Kurt Rosenwinkel, playing everything from pure straightahead to absolutely free.
Six Picks: August 2009
My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in All About Jazz-New York, August 2009: Fred Anderson, Staying in the Game (Engine) Ralph Bowen, Dedicated (Posi-Tone) James Falzone’s Klang, Tea Music (Allos Documents) Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Strings, Renegades (Delmark) Edward Simon Trio, Poesía (Cam Jazz) Jack Wilkins, Until It’s Time (MaxJazz)
Profiles in integrity
A friend just sent me this authoritative denunciation of Farrakhanism and black antisemitism from 1992. It’s by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. You may have heard of him.
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