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Jazz and Protest: A Reappraisal
My essay on jazz and protest is now online at Z Word.
Michael Scheuer, hatemonger
Jeffrey Goldberg cites a string of extraordinary comments by ex-CIA analyst Michael Scheuer. I’d seen this over a week ago and didn’t have time to remark on it. Pro-Israel Americans, Scheuer argues, are a “fifth column,” “disloyal citizens,” “enemies of America’s republican experiment and will have to be destroyed” and so on. People turn to Scheuer as an expert commentator on
Coates on Uhuru
Lerterland readers will be familiar with my disdain for the Uhuru Movement, a revolutionary cult that enjoys the vocal support of the underground rap duo dead prez. I’m glad to see Ta-Nehisi Coates registering his disdain as well, now that Uhuru’s adherents are marching in support — in support — of Lovelle Mixon, the Oakland parolee shot dead by police
Churchill parody update
Shalom Lappin’s Five British Children: A Play for Britain.
On Erik Friedlander
The new Philadelphia Weekly website is buggy, and for some reason the music previews didn’t make it online this week. So I’m posting mine here. Broken Arm TrioThu., Mar. 26, 8pm. $12. Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St. 215.545.4302 www.arsnovaworkshop.com Erik Friedlander’s 2007 solo disc Block Ice & Propane — and ravishing unaccompanied set at International House last year
JFREJ on Churchill, Part 2
[Cross-posted at Z Word.] An anonymous reader has suggested parodic verses along the lines of Caryl Churchill’s short play Seven Jewish Children: don’t tell them we sent a salami to our boy in the army no – don’t tell them that don’t tell them we gave their trust fund to bernie – no; don’t tell them that I love it,
Live standouts
Having just published a feature on the Bad Plus, I wanted to add a word about pianist Ethan Iverson’s wonderful trio gig at Smalls, with Ben Street on bass and the great Albert “Tootie” Heath on drums (Philly in the house). It was great to hear Ethan play straight bebop — “Hot House,” “Now’s the Time,” “A Night In Tunisia”
On The Bad Plus
The Bad Plus plays two nights in Philly this weekend; my feature is in the current Philadelphia Weekly (I didn’t write the subhead).