I've been too long away from my own page, and for that I repent. Maybe it's fatherhood: Being the dad of three-month-old Samuel Julian is everything they said it would be, exalted among life's occupations, but also limiting in terms of time to, say, blog. Speaking of life-affirming things, Wayne Shorter turned 75 in August and decided to celebrate with a Carnegie Hall concert … [Read more...] about longer shorter (toward eternity)
obama-be, obama-bop
Morning in America it may not be, nor am I in some shining city on a hill. It's just another day at the crest of the hill that is Park Slope, Brooklyn. But buried in my coffeeshop's calm are remnants of a joy-filled night that has bled into early moments of hopeful anticipation, which is remarkably different from instinctive anxiety. Last night, Charlie Haden's Liberation Music … [Read more...] about obama-be, obama-bop
horns for guns
I'm back down in New Orleans now till Friday. (Notes and images of last Saturday's Black Men of Labor parade to come...) But I'll be gone before the huge, citywide contemporary art biennial begins on Saturday. That same day, a number of innovative nonprofits join forces for a "Horns for Guns" event at two sites: Tremé Community Center, 1600 St. Philip Street and the Progressive … [Read more...] about horns for guns
wish i were in barcelona…
and here's why: Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés, who turned 90 on October 9th, is performing a series of duets with his son, Chucho, also a pianist, who turned 67 that same day. Since the two live half a world apart, it's a rare and special event. It's part of a wonderful, sprawling 40th-edition of the Voll-Damm Barcelona Jazz Festival, which runs through November 29th (the type of … [Read more...] about wish i were in barcelona…
swing voter, part 2
Oops. Realized I'd never posted the final piece I did for the Village Voice on the Jazz for Obama concert. Still thinking about that election...Now, I continue to regret the fact that even when Hurricane Gustav was barreling toward New Orleans, even when the city evacuated, even as both parties convened separately for their conventions, not a serious word was uttered about … [Read more...] about swing voter, part 2