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28
Mar

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

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27
Mar

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

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26
Mar

Churchill parody update

Shalom Lappin’s Five British Children: A Play for Britain.

26
Mar

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

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25
Mar

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,

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25
Mar

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”

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25
Mar

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).

25
Mar

PW Spring Guide

In Philadelphia Weekly‘s 2009 Spring Guide: my (very short) previews of Béla Fleck, Alarm Will Sound, Peter Brötzmann/Nasheet Waits duo and Matana Roberts solo.