Philly
Aerial Photograph
My favorite writing project of the year was the Philadelphia Weekly cover story on guitarist Matt Davis and his 11-piece ensemble Aerial Photograph. His unique monthly recording and gigging series, “Philadelphia 2008,” draws to a close at Tritone at 10pm on December 18. Matt just sent out a promo email, the text of which is worth circulating more widely. So here’s
The state of our union
While canvassing for Obama Saturday in Northeast Philadelphia — the 55th Ward I believe — my partner and I stopped for a bathroom break at a tavern on Verree Road near Griffith Street. The place was choked with cigarette fumes, despite Philadelphia’s smoking ban. Middle-aged white men in ball caps were drinking and puffing away at 11:30 am. You knew
Philadelphia Phillies: World Champions
It’s not just baseball — here’s to the great city of Philadelphia. And to the great state of Pennsylvania. And a Tuesday victory in PA for our next president, Barack Obama. Yes we can.
“We meet at a moment of great uncertainty”
[Click to enlarge photo.] Barack Obama happened to be in Philadelphia for a series of rallies on the very day I was scheduled to canvass. So I spent my Saturday morning as part of a big, enthralled crowd and heard him speak in the flesh. (I caught the entire thing on video but the file’s too long for YouTube, so
Philly bound
I’m heading back to Philly in a few hours, to catch Anthony Braxton’s two shows and to canvass for Obama in the white working-class area of Tacony, right near my cruddy storage space. A strange part of town. The owner of the storage warehouse has McCain stickers plastered all over his office. So this should be interesting. At least the
On Anthony Braxton
My pre-concert profile of Anthony Braxton is online at Philadelphia Weekly.
Two pieces
I’m fiddling around with this new scanner and finally able to get these two things online: first a festival brochure piece [pdf] on Guillermo Klein and Los Guachos; and second, a travel column [also pdf] for Jazziz magazine on Philadelphia jazz.