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Six Picks: March 2009
My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in All About Jazz-New York, March 2009: Nels Cline, Coward (Cryptogramophone) Charles Evans, The King of All Instruments (Hot Cup) Tom Harrell, Prana Dance (HighNote) Jeremy Manasia, After Dark (Posi-Tone) Jason Rigby, The Sage (Fresh Sound New Talent) David S. Ware, Shakti (Aum Fidelity)
Obama and hip-hop
Jonah Weiner has an interesting assessment. One apparent outcome: the complete and well-deserved marginalization of dead prez. I’ve had occasion to comment before on this Castro- and Chavez-loving rap duo, a propaganda outlet for the African Peoples Socialist Party and its cult-leader chairman, Omali Yeshitela. At last, it isn’t taken for granted that the president needs to live up to
On Gaida
My preview of Syrian vocalist Gaida (tonight, Barbès), in the current Time Out New York.
On John Hollenbeck/Glenn Kotche
My previews of the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble and Bang on a Can/Glenn Kotche, in the current Philadelphia Weekly.
Rabid right watch
I would argue that this, aside from being pure drivel from beginning to end, comes close to advocating violence against the President of the United States.
Winslet’s statue
I remember being floored by Kate Winslet’s cameo on “Extras,” one of the greatest comedy series ever. Check this out (via Sullivan): …but I didn’t expect the joke to come true, down to every particular, with Winslet’s Oscar win for “The Reader” last night. Ron Rosenbaum saw “The Reader” so that I don’t have to: True, she’s unrepentant for the
28 New York moments
My friend Andee tells the tales.
He’s back
Mark Turner is in excellent form, and blessedly soon after his gruesome accident. Tonight (last night) he played Cachaca with monster guitarist Gilad Hekselman (Joe Martin on bass, Marcus Gilmore drums). If anything Mark sounds hungrier and more technically together than I recall. Gilad’s tunes were resonant, beautiful; “Autumn in New York” had a brilliant tenor cadenza to end it;