2007, Year in Review

As the calendar quickly runs out of days, time again to look back over the year just passed. As for the sheer numbers, I caught nearly 400 films this year, listened to somewhere around 550 new CDs, saw around 200 shows. And now for the bests of the batch:

Top 10 Jazz CDs
My list for the Citypaper with small write-ups for each is here, but the quick list run-down is:
1. Maria Schneider Orchestra - Sky Blue (artistShare)
2. Chris Potter Underground - Follow the Red Line: Live at the Village Vanguard (Sunnyside)
3. Human Feel - Galore (Skirl)
4. Theo Bleckmann/Ben Monder - At Night (Songlines)
5. Nels Cline Singers - Draw Breath (CryptoGramphone)
6. David Torn - Prezens (ECM)
7. Amir ElSaffar - Two Rivers (Pi Recordings)
8. Exploding Star Orchestra - We’re All From Somewhere Else (Thrill Jockey)
9. Michael Brecker - Pilgrimage (Heads Up)
10. David Murray Black Saint Quartet - Sacred Ground (Justin Time)

Top 10 Non-Jazz CDs
This is my list for Citypaper's BOTY rock/pop list, and is pretty unsatisfactory, but it turns out I missed hearing quite a bit outside the jazz world this year. Anyway, here's the list, one of which I'll be writing a little blurb for in next week's CP Top 21 list:

1. Battles - Mirrored (Warp)
2. Tin Hat - The Sad Machinery of Spring (Hannibal)
3. EL-P - I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (Def Jux)
4. Big Business - Here Come the Waterworks (Hydra Head)
5. Dirty Projectors - Rise Above (Dead Oceans)
6. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - In Glorious Times (The End)
7. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha (Fat Possum)
8. Dalek - Abandoned Language (Ipecac)
9. Pelican - City of Echoes (Hydra Head)
10. Illuminea - Out of Our Mouths (High Two)

Top 10 Films
This is exclusive to the blog, as is the following list of shows. For films, I'm sticking to things that opened in Philly in 2007 for qualifications; hence the Tsai Ming-Liang, which I didn't get to see until this year's Philly Film Fest. And I've seen There Will Be Blood, which would be on the list except it doesn't open here until January, so check back in a year:

1. I Don't Want to Sleep Alone (Tsai Ming-Liang)
2. The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford (Andrew Dominik)
3. I'm Not There (Todd Haynes)
4. No Country For Old Men (Joel & Ethan Coen)
5. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Julian Schnabel)
6. Eastern Promises (David Cronenberg)
7. Zodiac (David Fincher)
8. Paprika (Satoshi Kon)
9. The Host (Bong Joon-Ho)
10. Superbad (Greg Mottola)

Performances of the Year
Screw the 10s. These were all great. In chronological order:
2/9: Chris Potter Underground @ Chris' Jazz Cafe
2/10: Rova::Orkestrova @ Intl House
3/4: Borbetomagus @ Intl House
3/26: ICP Orchestra @ Houston Hall
4/1: PIMA Group: What a Quaint Scene We Were That Night @ CEC
4/24: Buffalo Collision @ Rose Recital Hall
5/5: Gene Coleman & Jack Wright @ The Rotunda
6/10: Big Four @ Rose Recital Hall
6/29: Fred Lonberg Holm's Valentine Trio/Louis Moholo & Marshall Allen @ Intl House
7/21: The Melvins (performing Lysol) @ Slim's, San Francisco
9/13: Ellery Eskelin/Vincent Courtois/Sylvie Courvoisier @ Rose Recital Hall
9/20: Joelle Leandre/Globe Unity Orchestra @ Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial Ctr
9/20: David Murray & Kidd Jordan's All-Stars @ Creole, NYC
10/11: Claudia Quintet @ Philadelphia Art Alliance
11/17: Tiger Okoshi @ Kimmel Center
12/17: Angelica Sanchez Quartet w/ Marc Ducret @ Intl House

With honorable and, yes, very nostalgic mention going to Van Halen, 10/3 at the Wachovia Center. Might as well jump.

Happy new year, I'll try and keep the rest of the month updated but if not, see you in '08.
Shaun

Citypaper, December 20

In this week's CP: my top ten list of the year's best jazz CDs (more best lists to follow shortly in a subsequent post); a feature review of Tamara Jenkins' long-awaited sophomore feature, The Savages, and a short review of Tim Burton's adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd; and a pick for the sax/bass duo of Ivo Perelman and Dominic Duval.

Daily News, December 14

For the weekend's Yo! section, an interview with Philly native and Trane disciple Sonny Fortune; and a pick for bassist Hubert Dupont's Dupont T trio plus altoist Rudresh Mahanthappa, at the Art Museum.

Metro, December 10-17

This week, an interview with John Zak, half the cast of the Walnut Independence Studio on 3's production of "Greater Tuna"; a piece on the Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul, at the Annenberg Center (issue not online); and, just because it's the last piece before the holiday so why bother giving it its own post, a piece on Relache's annual Rittenhouse Square performance of Phil Kline's "Unsilent Night" (credited to Brendan Huffman, but I swear I wrote it).

Citypaper, December 13

In this week's CP, a review of the better-than-expected Jason Reitman dramedy Juno, and another for the not-quite-as-bad-as-expected-but-still-sure-as-hell-not-good (despite-Mike-Patton-voicing-the-monsters) I Am Legend; my interview with pianist/Wurlitzer player Angelica Sanchez, who just played a pretty phenomenal show with Tony Malaby, Drew Gress, Tom Rainey and Marc Ducret; and a pick for the Norwegian double-bill of Huntsville and Frode Gjerstad, a somewhat underwhelming show in the end.

Daily News, Nov. 30-Dec. 7

The first week of December saw my interview with Toronto saxophonist Jane Bunnett, brining her Cuban-influenced band to the Kimmel; a pick for singer Andy Bey and another for Uri Caine, bringing his Mozart project to the Gershman Y.

Metro, December 3-7

In this week's Metro, an interview with actor/singer/lecturer/raconteur/folk music preservationist/what else ya got?/all-around artist Theodore Bikel; a story on Dave Isay and his StoryCorps oral history project; and a piece on Philly-based "Jewish Sun Ra" band Klingon Klez.

Citypaper, December 6

This week's issue had a review of Ridley Scott's new "This is the last time, I really, really mean it" Blade Runner: The Final Cut; a feature on the Brit morbid-cabaret act The Tiger Lilllies about their "Suicide for Christmas" tour; a pick for Chicago improv supergroup The Engines; a Soundadvice mention for the Dirty Projectors; and an Arts pick for David Kessler's Bambi Gallery installation, "Shadow World", featuring his interviews with under-the-El dwellers in North Philly.

Daily News, November

The end of October had a piece with interview of Chinese-American pipa player Min Xiao-Fen and Japanese-American trumpeter Tiger Okoshi, both of whom hit town in November with projects that fused jazz and traditional Asian music; an interview with pianist Fred Hersch, playing the Painted Bride with his Trio +2; Lisa Thorson's JazzArtSigns, a performance with live painting, sign language, and audio description for full accessibility, as part of the Independence Starts Here fest; and an interview with South Philly guitar legend Pat Martino, playing at Chris' with saxist Eric Alexander.

Metro, November

Not nearly as busy as last month, November's Metros had: interviews with two horror-metal bands to wrap up October - Finnish monster-rockers Lordi and Brit death-metal ghouls Cradle of Filth; a piece on the Amaryllis Theatre Company's production of "Molly Sweeney"; an interview with German cabaret revivalist Max Raabe (which doesn't appear to be online); a piece on the opera-performing puppets of the Salzburg Marionettes; a story about the Martha Graham Dance Company's career-retrospective show coming to Philly; a piece on the feminist-gorillas Guerrilla Girls, which I can't seem to find and may or may not have run; a piece on I-House's Shohei Imamura retrospective; one on the Philly-based Courtyard Dancers, which isn't online; an interview with Senagalese superstar Youssou N'Dour; and a story on the Rosenbach Museum and Library's new Maurice Sendak gallery, kicking off with an exhibition devoted to "Really Rosie", Sendak's musical-TV collaboration with Carole King.

Citypaper, November

Another month - ok, month and a half - another postless stretch. So I'll do another batch of month-long roundups for each paper and we'll see what happens with December. New Year's Resolution to post more often, maybe?

Nov.1: A review of Sidney Lumet's latest, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, and another for the doc My Kid Could Paint That; an Arts pick for "Got the Picture?", a First Person Fest event screening David Kessler's doc If You Break the Skin, You Must Come In, about Philly photog Zoe Strauss, in conjunction with a local youth program. And five CP Choice Awards, for Joseph Gervasi, Dustin Hurt, WRTI's Friday night DJs, Mascher Space Co-op, and Bobby Zankel.

Nov. 8: A film review for the tepid biopic Music Within, and an Arts pick for First Person's screening of Strange Culture, a doc on PATRIOT Act casualty Steven Kurtz.

Nov. 15: A review of John Turturro's train-wreck of a blue-collar musical, Romance and Cigarettes, and another for Justin Lin's Bruce Lee mockumentary Finishing the Game. Plus a Q&A with West Philadelphia Orchestra honcho Gregg Mervine.

Nov. 22: Two film reviews for Thanksgiving weekend: one for Noah Baumbach's latest gathering of miserable intellectuals, Margot at the Wedding; and another for the media-spin doc War Made Easy.

Nov. 29: A review for Rape of Europa, a fascinating doc on the Nazi's hordes of stolen art; and a sidebar review of Daydream Nation, a collection of Swedish animated shorts and music videos; an interview with Steven Bernstein prior to his visit with Sex Mob; and an Arts pick for photographer Michael Grecco, in town to promote his book Naked Ambition, full of up-close-and-personal portraits of porn personalities.

Daily News, October

In this month's DN, I had picks for four pianists: Anat Fort, Ezra Weiss, Burton Greene, and Cyrus Chestnut; a feature on Philly-born Benny Golson, being honored at the Kennedy Center with a living legend award, with a sidebar of Benny telling the stories behind a couple of his famous tunes; my interview with New Orleans saxophonist Kidd Jordan (my friend David Adler reviewed the show here); a preview of Exhumed Films' 24-hour horror film 10th anniversary show, with a sidebar of the guys' Halloween viewing picks; and my email interview with saxophonist Charles Lloyd, playing this weekend in MontCo.

Metro, October

Ok, deep breath; this'll be a big'un. Over the course of the tenth month, I had an interview with Robert Benton which ran on 10/1 (issue not online); an interview with King Buzzo of The Melvins that got cut (I'd post it here, but it wasn't that good to begin with; somebody bug me if you'd actually care to read it); a piece on Slought Foundation's exhibition of video work from the collection of the Kunstmuseum Bonn; pieces on This Ambitious Orchestra's cabaret-inspired show and prog-poppers Pinback; a preview of the Philly Zine Fest; a piece on the Art Museum's Renoir Landscapes show; my interview with Sandra Bernhard, prior to her conversation at Penn with Camille Paglia; pieces on Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, appearing at the Kimmel, and George Manney's doc on Philly jazz bagpiper Rufus Harley; a preview of Philadanco's annual experimental show, Danco on Danco; an interview with Mostly Other People Do the Killing's Moppa Elliott; a piece on Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, appearing at the Zellerbach; pieces on James Scruggs' one-man multi-media show "Disposable Men" and the American Composers Orchestra's "Hybridity" show, featuring pieces by Susie Ibarra and Steve Coleman, in the 10/19-21 issue, not online; an interview with James McNew of Yo La Tengo about their Freewheeling tour; a preview of the Beijing LDTX dance company at the Annenberg; and (finally) an interview with Scott Kettner of the maracatu-meets-American-folk band Nation Beat. Whew.

Citypaper, October

Oct. 4: An Artspick on outsider music champion Irwin Chusid, visiting Kelly Writer's House; a feature on a graffiti discussion between photographer Jon Naar and Darryl "Cornbread" McCray, the disputable pioneer of the form; a pick for Marilyn Crispell's trio with Mark Helias and Andrew Cyrille; a feature review of The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford and a short on Michael Clayton.

Oct. 11: A feature on Evan Lipson and Alex Nagle, members of both Normal Love and Satanized, who have new CDs out; a pick for The Claudia Quintet at the Art Alliance; Soundadvice mentions for Project/Object with Napoleon Murphy Brock and the Edge City Collective; and a feature review of Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited.

Oct. 18: My grudging (on his part) interview with Werner Herzog, in town for a four-day Penn Cinema Studies symposium; a much friendlier (and in-person) interview with the Darjeeling Limited writing team of Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, and Roman Coppola; and an extended version of my Film Fest review of Kurt Cobain About a Son.

Oct. 25: An Artspick for Grover Silcox's fun, annual one-man Poe show at Hatboro's Old Mill Inn; a Soundadvice mention for guitarist Rob Price at the CEC; a review for the treacly, 'Hey, why abort when you can heal my hit-and-run past?' film Bella, and another for the Nicky Barnes doc Mr. Untouchable.
and ano

Daily News, September 28

Just a pick for a Wynton Marsalis benefit concert, aiding North Philly's Young Scholars Charter School.

Metro, September 24-28

This week: an interview with Don Preston, prior to an appearance by the ex-Mother's Akashic Ensemble; a piece on I-House's "Group Sounds" night, with a screening of the 1968 film Go Forward and an appearance by modern GS purveyors The Captains; a story on the Bryn Mawr/Ambler/County Theaters' 8-film Janus Films retrospective; an interview with the Dirty Projectors' Dave Longstreth; and a short piece on the first annual Mid-Atlantic Blues and Music Festival.

Citypaper, September 27

Man, I'm a full month behind. So I'll sweep up September with a couple more weekly posts, and then full-month October posts for all three papers.

So, in this week's CP, I had an Artspick for Hans Rickheit's Chrome Fetus Comics, which he was projecting images from in a Puppet Uprising show; an essay on Van Halen's reunion tour, and why I had to attend*; Soundadvice mentions for German trumpeter Birgit Ulher's show under Gene Coleman's Soundfield umbrella and a solo set from violist Jessica Pavone; a sidebar on the inaugural Wildwood By the Sea Film Festival, focusing on George Manney's Rufus Harley doc Pipes of Peace; and three reviews, a feature on Peter Berg's The Kingdom, a short on Robert Benton's Feast of Love (also see my Metro interview with the director) and another for the Traffic knock-off Trade.


*I must say that while I more or less dismissed Michael Anthony's absence in the piece, his presence was sorely missed during the show, which was otherwise a blast, a solid two hours of good songs with barely a breather being taken. Wolfie held his own, but looked nervous and uncomfortable (as any 16-year-old forced onto the world's largest stages would be). Anthony's personality was the loveable Sancho Panza to the battle between Diamond Dave's smarmy, spotlight-hugging asshole and Eddie VH's back-of-the-room whiz kid, and without him, the balance was subtly thrown off.

Daily News, September 21

Just a pick this week, for Bobby Zankel's new John Coltrane tribute piece at the Church of the Advocate in North Philly.

Metro, September 17-21

A preview of I-House's film series DocumentaChile; one for Gene Coleman's Ensemble N_JP, playing experimental-meets-traditional-Japanese compositions; and a piece on Exhumed Films' Teenage Rebellion show, featuring Rock 'n' Roll High School, Joysticks, and Satan's Cheerleaders.

Citypaper, September 20

This week: a Fall Guide feature on the ten years-plus existence of the monthly hip-hop event The Gathering; the annual Fall Jazz Calendar; Soundadvice mentions for the From Between Trio and Lafayette Gilchrist; a pick for former Prime Time guitarists Bern Nix and Charles Ellerbee; and reviews for The Hunting Party, December Boys, In the Shadow of the Moon, and Dedication.

Metro, September 10-14

This week: a preview of steel guitar ace and Neko Case sideman Jon Rauhouse's show at World Cafe; a piece on the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, also at WCL; and one on Jay Schwartz's Secret Cinema, celebrating its tenth anniversary at the Moore College of Art & Design.

Citypaper, September 13

This week: a pick for Alban Bailly's Balkan-jazz quintet Inzinzac; a Soundadvice mention for the trio of Ellery Eskelin, Sylvie Courvoisier, and Vincent Courtois; a review of David Cronenberg's pretty brilliant Eastern Promises; and a story on Village of Arts and Humanities' North Philly-honoring bottle tree exhibit.

Daily News, September 1-14

These two weeks were consumed by coverage of the Live Arts/Philly Fringe. I wrote daily picks throught the fest, which I can't seem to locate online, and two features for Friday's issues: one on World/Inferno Friendship Society's ultimately disappointing "Addicted To Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre's Twentieth Century", which was ultimately little more than a rock show, albeit an energetic one; and one on Congolese choreographer Faustin Linyekula's fascinating "Festival of Lies." Also, the 9/14 issue had a pick for pianist Kenny Werner's show at Chris'.

Metro, September 3-7

Just two, dropped to one, this week: a preview for Rutgers' exhibit of art by Vietnamese women, "Changing Identity"; and a piece that ended up cut about the Jenkintown Jazz & Brew Fest.

Citypaper, September 6

This week: a pick for Rob Mazurek, appearing at I-House with the stripped-down version of his Exploding Star Orchestra (a quintet, rather than the septet mentioned in the piece, due to the absence of Nicole Mitchell), another for Matthew Shipp's trio and one more for Mocean Worker; and a feature review of James Mangold's 3:10 To Yuma remake.

Citypaper, August 30

This week, a review of the tense French thriller Them and a pick for Daniel Kahn's Painted Bird, punk klezmer cabaret coming to Tritone this Wednesday.

Daily News, August 24-31

On the 24th, a feature on guitarist Skip Heller, now back in his hometown of Philly (after cutting a record at Memphis' Sun Studio) with a new organ trio; and a pick for Tito Puente, Jr. in Camden (hey, it was a slow week). On the 27th, a feature on two upcoming Coltrane-related events: the Labor Day weekend 2nd annual Tranestop Festival, headlined on Sunday by Odean Pope, and Bobby Zankel's premiere of a new 4-part suite on Trane's birthday (Sept. 23) at North Philly's Church of the Advocate. On the 31st, a big cover piece (with sidebar - that I can't seem to find right now - and highlights) on the Live Arts Festival/ Philly Fringe, which I'll be covering in-depth over the next two weeks. Also, a pick for Philly-by-way-of-Venezuela percussionist Marlon Simon.

Metro, August 24

A couple more, just in time for the weekend: a piece on the Wingdom Festival, featuring a slew of bands, honors paid to Mandrill, and a wedding; and Northern State, the white female Long Island rap trio whose third CD just dropped on Mike Patton's Ipecac label.

Massive Post-Vacation Daily News Update

Ok, this one's not so massive, since I didn't feel like seeking out all the picks, but hey, I had a theme going.

Besides the usual weekly jazz picks, I did feature stories on violinist Jenny Scheinman and The Stoogeum, the hidden treasure of the Philly area, an appointment-only Three Stooges museum.

Massive Post-Vacation Metro Update

Ok, let's run these down real quick: over the last month for Metro, I've written profiles on the Burndown All Stars' reality show; the BlogPhiladelphia conference; the Decemberists; former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell; Joseph Gervasi's Legends of Philly Hardcore show; Patti Smith; Baltimore experimentalist Melissa Moore; Stan Ridgway; Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals about Hippiefest; The Intruders; Pittsburgh funk band Boogie Hustlers; Girls Rock Philly camp; Melody Gardot; and artist Tasja Keetman. Also, a few others that I can't find or got cut, but you get the gist.

Massive Post-Vacation Citypaper Update

Ok, so we were on vacation for most of the latter part of July, and then got back and I was really hectic with work, and am still kinda really hectic with work, and I'm naturally lazy about this blog, but if I don't update now it's never getting updated. So, here goes, Citypapers from July 19 through today:

July 19: Arts lead on a joint appearance by authors Louis Bayard and Matthew Pearl, both of whom wrote recent mysteries involving EA Poe; a review of Cashback; and 4 reviews from week two of the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival: Kenneth Anger doc Anger Me, Doris Wishman's posthumously-release Each Time I Kill; Duncan Roy's AIDS-era retread of The Picture of Dorian Gray; and the Philly-made 2 Minutes Later, a rerun from the Philly Film Fest.

July 26: Just a feature review, expanded from one I wrote for the Film Fest, of Lars Von Trier's Boss of It All.

August 2: A music feature on Negativland, in town with their It's All In Your Head FM live radio show; a pick for the circus/Balkan/rock/jazz double-shot of Ara Anderson's Iron & teh Albatross and Brian Carpenter's Beat Circus; a Soundadvice mention for the inaugural Man vs. Machine show featuring This Ambitious Orchestra; a review for the Andy Samberg snoozer Hot Rod and another for the slightly funnier State-related The Ten.

August 9: An Arts pick for the Secret Cinema-presented film/book event Riot On Sunset Strip, screening the film which inspired the book of the same name by Dominic Priore, who was on hand to discuss; a music pick for Deviled Leggs, the Bowerbird experimental dance party; a combo review for the fantasies Stardust and Labyrinth; and a sidebar for the Tower Gallery's Art of the Short program.

August 16: An Arts feature on Brian Coleman's book release for Check the Technique, his book of liner notes for 36 hip-hop albums; a One Track Mind for Finnish monster-rockers Lordi's "Bringing Back the Balls To Rock"; and a review of the retooled, patchwork Nicole Kidman remake The Invasion.

August 23: An arts feature on so-called political prisoner Tom Manning and a show of his work at The Rotunda; a music feature on Marc Zajack's experimental (and - mostly - cassette-only) Deep Fried Tapes label; a review of Mr. Bean's Holiday (ugh), and another for Illegal Tender (ugh, except for Wanda De Jesus blowin' guys away).

Wino-Tourism

Off for vacation, as of tonight - ten days in San Francisco and wine country. We're blogging the trip if you'd like to follow along.

Back on the 23rd. See you all then.

Shaun

Citypaper, July 12

Due to a few last-minute changes in release schedules, I downright own the film section this week: a feature review of Werner Herzog's new film Rescue Dawn, the dramatization of his own doc Little Dieter Needs To Fly, accompanied by an interview with co-star Steve Zahn; a short review of Zoe Cassavetes' debut feature, Broken English, along with an interview with the director; and for the Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, which opens today, reviews of a doc about black South African gay men called Black Beulahs (not quite sure how that recommended check got in there; I don't actually recommend it), another doc, The Godfather of Disco, about West End Records honcho Mel Cheren and the relationship between labels and DJs during the height of the disco era, Henry Jaglom's latest, Hollywood Dreams, and the Charles Nelson Reilly one-man show (!) Life of Reilly.

And in music, a feature about the Drive-By Truckers' new show The Dirt Underneath, an acoustic set featuring long-time Neil Young keyboardist Spooner Oldham in the line-up; and finally, a pick for NY-based improvising bassist Reuben Radding.

Daily News, July 6

A story on Brooklyn trombonist Rick Parker, who brings his quintet to Chris' on Thursday; and a pick for Cab Calloway's grandson C. Calloway Brooks, bringing grand-dad's music to my own Chestnut Hill this Wednesday.

Metro, July 2-6

July 5: A piece on the Brotherly Shove Fest, a nearly week-long series of themed shows for independent bands. (No page number - Metro finally has a somewhat more navigable website, so I can link directly to the page.)

July 6: Freshout Media's Canvas Clash, a live art show on the roof of Whole Foods on South Street, promoting the idea of green rooftops.

Citypaper, July 5

A slow week for movies, obviously, when my review for Transformers gets the lead spot.

Daily News, June 29

Just a pick, for drummer Winard Harper's show at the Art Museum, which seems to have fallen into that philly.com black hole. Link will be up if and when I can find it.

Metro, June 25-29

June 28: A piece on the Art Museum's new William Ranney show, turn-of-the-century idealized portraits of the American West by a Hoboken painter (pg. 14).

June 29: Punk-jazz trio Dynamite Club (guitarist/screecher Kentaro Saito, drummer Mike Pride, and Philly bassist Evan Lipson) at the Khyber (pg. 16).

Citypaper, June 28

A review for Live Free or Die Hard, the overblown fourth installment that really doesn't require any further comment; a pick for the Benito Cereno CD release show, the quintet of Bowerbird regulars Dustin Hurt, Ian M Fraser, Jesse Kudler, Tim Albro, and Chandan Narayan; and another for South African drummer Louis Moholo and his then-mystery guest, who turned out to be Arkestra leader Marshall Allen. A phenomenal show, which featured a thirty-minute group improv by the duo and Fred Lonberg-Holm's Valentine Trio, who shared the bill.

Daily News, June 22

This week, a big spread (ok, I can only take credit for the actual story) on the weekend-long West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival, and a pick for Jaco Pastorius' twin sons and their quartet Way of the Groove.

Metro, June 18-22

June 19: Philly hip-hop dance pioneer Rennie Harris, retrospecting (is that a word?) his work at the Kimmel (pg. 11).

June 21: Louder-than-you rawk duo Big Business, playing a show at the North Star that I sadly had to miss thanks to a flooded basement storage area (pg. 19).

June 22: Prog nirvana at NEARfest, this year blissing out with Hawkwind AND Magma (pg. 19).

Citypaper, June 21

This week: a review for Luc Besson's Wonderful Life-plus-statuesque blonde Parisian fairy tale Angel-A, and another for John Dahl's not-bad Ben Kingsley-starring hitman comedy You Kill Me. Music-wise, there's a feature on local saxophonist Daniel Peterson's new multimedia song cycle, to premiere Sunday at the Ethical Society, and a pick for the Bowerbird-presented CD release show for Technicolor Hell, a CD/zine compiling the leading lights of the Philly harsh electronic scene.

Daily News, June 11-15

This week, a feature piece on the "Congo Square" collaboration between Wynton Marsalis and Ghanaian drummer Yacub Addy, and a story on the Berks County and Clifford Brown Jazz Fests, featuring interviews with the Mahavishnu Project's Gregg Bendian and the Yellowjackets' Jimmy Haslip. Plus, a pick for the Chick Corea/Bela Fleck duo show at the Keswick.

Metro, June 11-15

June 12: My interview with Def Jux label founder El-P about his long-awaited second CD (which is great, btw) and his show at the FUC (pg. 17).

June 15: A predictably filthy Q&A with pioneering rapper/potty-mouther Blowfly (pg. 16).

Citypaper, June 14

This week: a review of Satoshi Kon's deliriously beautiful anime mindufck Paprika; a pick for '60s free jazz altoist Noah Howard, in a pair of what turned out to be rather brief and bizarre duo sets with Dave Burrell and Muhammad Ali; another for the final edition (after 21 years) of Jazz Vespers at Old Pine; and Soundadvice mentions for the Tuvan throat singers-meet-Arkestra and Elliot Levin show Alash Ensemble/Extra Special Terrestrial Guests and Philly soulquarian Bilal.

Daily News, June 1-8

Last Friday, a story on Philly trumpeter Rodney Mack, presenting the music of little-known 19th-century Philly composer Francis Johnson, with cousin Branford Marsalis guesting; and a pick for Rudresh Mahanthappa's quartet, presenting music from Codebook (Pi) at I-House.

And this week, just a pick for Kate McGarry at the Art Museum (link to come as soon as it reappears on the DN's site; it's in that day-after-publication limbo that seems to happen at Philly.com).

Metro, June 4-8

June 4: My interview with director John Carney and stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of Irish indie-musical Once (pg. 16).

June 6: The sixth installment of the Rotunda's black rock series "Afropick", with Imani Uzuri, Purple Rhinestone Eagle and McRad (pg. 17).

June 8: What I could salvage from my somewhat incomprehensible interview (The Upsetter's typical ramblings compounded by the fact that his thick Jamaican accent was coming via cell phone from Switzerland, both of us being outside competing with traffic noise and such) with Lee "Scratch" Perry, hitting the World Cafe on Sunday (pg. 16) and a piece on the University City-showcasing 40th Street Summer Series (pg. 18).

Citypaper, June 7

A feature this week on intrepid Philly saxophonist Jack Wright and his importing of French improvisers from a heretofore largely unknown scene, at the Physick House on Wednesday; a review of Day Watch, the second in a trilogy of style-over-substance Russian sci-fi thrillers (I reviewed the first one in 2005); and another for Hostel Part II, a sequel that undercuts whatever arguments the first film's defenders (I couldn't really be numbered among them, though my review made allowances for some wit and style) offered in it's defense - this one is wholly ugly and unnecessary.

Daily News, May

I've already covered May 4, but the rest of the month had:

May 18: a story on David Torn's Prezens band playing at the Clef Club.

May 23: Had five summer jazz picks.

...and...

May 31: A feature on the WIlma's annual DanceBOOM! festival, with a sidebar on their "Men Dancing" program.

Plus the usual picks and listings, too trivial to be listed here.

Metro, May

This month in Metro pieces:

May 8: PTC's play about Orson Welles' ill-fated attempt to direct Ionesco's "Rhinoceros", "Orson's Shadow" (pg. 26).

May 10: A piece on PhilaDanco's 36th season (pg. 16) and my metalicious interview with Black Sabbath, er, Heaven and Hell's Geezer Butler (pg. 17).

May 16: Cross-generational Swiss electronic musicians the Signal Quintet, playing two Bowerbird shows with their American counterparts and dancers (pg. 20).

May 18: Dancer/choreographer Jaamil Olawale Kosoko's Prince-inspired show "Wet. Purple. Love. Affair." at CEC (pg. 20) and Chamber Music Now!'s multi-media show "Four Ways to View a City" (pg. 22).

May 30: Walnut Street Theatre's two current productions, Carousel and Side By Side By Sondheim (pg. 14).

May 31: rainpan 43's revamping of their 2002 Fringe Fest hit machines, machines, machines, machines, machines, machines machines (pg. 17).

Citypaper, May

So I've been more neglectful tha ever this month, so I'm just going to catch up with a month-long update for each publication. In addition to these, I have a review of the Rova Orkestrova "Electric Ascension" show at I-House in this month's Downbeat. They don't post it online, so I can't link. But trust me. It's there.

Now, as for CP in the month of May...

The May 10 issue merely had an Art Agenda pick for Dina Matos McGreevey's book signing. I was asked to do it - wouldn't have chosen this one myself - and couldn't force myself to do much more than skim the book. Just can't see why anyone should care.

May 17 was devoid of me altogether, but May 24 had a sidebar on I-House's Alexandro Jodorowsky double feature, a review of the third Pirates of the Caribbean, a Pick for Justin Berger's F! and another for Z'EV at I-House.

And finally, the May 31 issue had Soundadvice mentions for Sleepytime Gorilla Museum at North Star, Uncle Woody Sullender and Kevin Davis' banjo/cello duo at the Pageant: Soloveev gallery, and the Billy Bang, Barry Altschul, Joe Fonda FAB Trio at I-House, which Bang no-showed, leading to one-off performance with solos, a duo, and a trio with Rudresh Mahanthappa, whose quartet shared the bill; a Pick for Dutch lute player Jozef van Wissem; and a short feature on the Electro-Music Festival at the Cheltenham Art Center.

Daily News, April 27

Almost forgot this one - just a pick for Chicago vocalist Sachal Vasandani this week.

Daily News, May 4

For this weekend's Equality Forum, a story on the Kimmel's triple-shot of GLBT choral groups, celebrating the 25th anniversary of GALA Choruses, and a sidebar about the Prince's premiere of a documentary on the group, "Why We Sing!"

On the regular jazz beat, a story on Longwood Gardens' Wine and Jazz Fest (which is more exciting for the wine than the jazz, to be honest) and a pick for trumpeter Valery Ponomarev, playing with Bootsie Barnes' organ trio at Chris'.

Metro, April 30-May 4

May 3: My interview from last November with Mr. Lif, for a show at First Unitarian Church that got cancelled after his tour bus flipped and burst into flames; he's back this weekend to play Johnny Brenda's (pg. 14).

May 4: Four pieces this weekend: one on the annual Betzwood Silent Film Festival, another on Exhumed Films' kung-fu triple feature (both pg. 17), one more on albino Minnesota rapper Brother Ali (pg. 18), and one mo' 'nother on Miro Dance Theatre's "Pitch Black," a collaboration with the PRISM Saxophone Quartet on music by JacobTV (pg. 20).

Citypaper, May 3

A feature on Bowerbird's 8-day smorgasbord of experimental music, the Something Else More Festival (where I'll be participating in a panel discussion on Saturday), and a review of Curtis Hanson's long-shelved Eric Bana/Drew Barrymore/Robert Duvall poker flick Lucky You.

Metro, April 23-27

Apr. 25: I-House's incredible retrospective of Russian Fantastik Cinema, "From the Tsars to the Stars" (pg. 17).

Apr. 27: Michael Penn, supporting his new compilation CD at World Cafe Live (pg. 14) and Bitter, Bitter Weeks, prepping for their third at Johnny Brenda's (pg. 20).

Citypaper, April 26

Just a single Soundadvice this week, for Kurt Rosenwinkel at Chris'.

Daily News, April 20

A feature on Crossroad's double bill featuring the Tuvan throat singers Alash Ensemble and Philly's Arkestra offshoot Deep Space Posse, paying tribute to recently passed member Tyrone Hill; plus, a pick for the Tim Berne-meets-Bad Plus Buffalo Collision at Rose Recital Hall.

Plus, I got sourced in Dan Gross' column on the closing of Zanzibar Blue. About the only time I wasn't the alst to know what was going on around here.

Metro, April 16-20

Apr. 16: Sample-heavy pop-electronica duo The Books, previewing a show at Johnny Brenda's with Todd Reynolds in tow.

Apr. 17: Philly-based label Ropeadope's launch of their new all-digital format at World Cafe Live (issue currently not online).

Apr. 18: LA Theatre Works' play "The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial," using transcripts of the original Scopes monkey trial and starring Ed Asner, at Penn (pg. 17).

Apr. 20: Philadelphia Folklore Project's "African Song/New Contexts" show at World Cafe Live (pg. 20).

Citypaper, April 19

A review of Edgar Wright's Hot Fuzz, another for the Luke Wilson/Kate Beckinsale snuff motel (that would have been such a better title) thriller Vacancy, and one last one for Mike White's vegans-are-creepy "comedy" Year of the Dog.

Daily News, April 9-13

A few things this week:

April 9: Bios for Stanley Clarke, Eric Lewis and G. Love, all being honored as alumni of Settlement Music School.

April 11: DJ Spooky's audiovisual remix of D.W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation.

and...

April 13: Pick for Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau's quartet show at the Keswick.

Metro, April 9-13

April 10: The Popped! Festival, a conglomeration of local underground pop bands into one weeklong smorgasbord (pg. 21).

April 12: British blues-rock legend John Mayall, bringing his latest batch of Bluesbreakers to the Keswick (pg. 16).

Citypaper, April 12

Eight more Film Fest reviews, plus one more, for the unsurprisingly dreadful Halle Berry "thriller" Perfect Stranger; and Soundadvice mentions for Mats Gustaffsson's The Thing and Keith Rowe's Voltage Spooks.

Daily News, April 6

A story on "Bridge @ 10", WRTI DJ J. Michael Harrison's celebration of ten years on the air with "The Bridge", at the Painted Bride; and a Pick for Danilo Perez' show at the Kimmel.

Metro, April 2-6

April 5: The Black Maria Film Festival, a day late for its County show, but just in time for Ambler (pg. 16).

April 6: The great DEVO frontman Mark Mothersbaugh, one of the most enjoyable intervies I've ever undertaken, before his "Postcard Diaries" show hits Fishtown's Bambi Gallery.

Citypaper, April 5

And the Film Fest arrives. This week: ten reviews (A-L; M-Z) for week one; and a review of Lasse Hallstrom's Cliffor Irving biopic The Hoax.

Daily News, March 30

A Pick for Jamie Baum's Septet show at the Painted Bride, which seems to have fallen into that online black hole that happens with Daily News pieces sometimes. So no link for now.

Metro, March 26-30

So once again, I haven't been keeping this up to date, this time thanks to the black hole of time which is the Philadelphia Film Festival. So the following few posts will be a marathon to catch up the past three weeks or so. Expect no superfluous niceties.

Anyway... this week in the Metro:

March 29: Peregrine Arts' multi-media adaptation of Gavin Bryars' "Sinking of the Titanic" (pg. 17).

March 30: "Cursed: The Head Trauma Music Project" at I-House, a live interactive expansion of Lance Weiler's head-trip horror flick (pg. 13).

Citypaper, March 29

An Artspick for PIMA Group's "What a Quaint Scene We Were That Night", a story on trumpeter Ted Daniel, in town for the first time in 20 years for the second Cross-Pollination show, and a Pick for avant guitarist Joe Morris.

Daily News, March 23

Just a pick for Wallace Roney at Zanzibar Blue, and the usual listings.

Metro, March 19-23

March 21: Ah. Here's the "Hitchhiker's Guide" piece I mentioned last week (pg. 19).

March 23: I OWN the Metro this weekend. Five pieces: blues singer Frank Bey (pg. 15), the American Composers Orchestra (pg. 17), I-House's Syrian Cinema series (pg. 20), Exhumed Films' screening of Street Trash with writer/producer Roy Frumkes in attendance (pg. 21), and my interview with Pride star Terrence Howard (pg. 23).

http://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifCitypaper, March 22

A review of the set-but-not-shot-in-Philly Pride and another for Marky Mark as BOB LEE SWAGGER in Shooter; a story on the brilliant Instant Composers Pool Orchestra, featuring an interview with the mighty Han Bennink; and a Pick for Brooklyn noise trio Peeesseye.

Daily News, March 16

A feature story (and sidebar) on the Berks Jazz Fest, a pick for Vernon Reid's show at Tritone, and listings for damn, a whole lot of stuff I don't feel like listing here. Busy week, though.

Metro, March 12-16

March 12: Bowerbird's "Versus" show at the ICA (pg. 15).

March 14: Coltrane cousin-in-law Carl Grubbs' "Coltrane Dialogues" show at the Rotunda (pg. 19).

March 16: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, for a North Star show that ended up being cancelled (pg. 17); South African transplant Mogauwane Mahloele, and Chinese-American saxophonist Fred Ho's show about the Black Panthers (both pg. 21).

I also did a piece on the second installment of Curio Theatre's staged readings of Douglas Adams' "Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy" radio plays, which apparently never ran - I can't find it, anyway.

Citypaper, March 15

All right, let's make this quick: I'm three weeks behind and too busy to care. So, CP round 1, from the 15th: a review of Premonition and another for Starter for 10; a Pick for the Rotunda's Gate series show of 8-bit electronic musicians; and a Soundadvice mention for Jim Ridl's Antfarm Quartet.

Daily News, March 9

This week, a features cover story, sidebar, and podcast interview on Chris' first annual Big Band Fest; a story on Matana Roberts' Coin Coin at the Rotunda; a Pick for Wycliffe Gordon's Crescent City Gospel show at the Kimmel; and listings for Amy Banks, Mike Moreno, Zach Brock, Steve Cole, and Carl Grubbs.

Metro, March 5-9

Mar. 8: Just one piece this week: a Q&A with Citypaper film critic Sam Adams, discussing Robert Altman at the OCunty and Ambler theaters (pg. 16).

Citypaper, March 8

For this week's Music Issue, a feature on Normal Love to accompany Mike Regan's PB&Prog photo. Plus, a review of the digi-peplum 300 and an online-only Pick for Bowerbird's first anniversary celebration at the Powel House.

Daily News, March 2

Just a Pick this week, for Dreambox Media's 20th-anniversary and 100th-release show, with Tyrone Brown's Bird-covering Birdhouse Project; plus, listings for Eddie Palmieri and Poncho Sanchez at the Kimmel, Stanton Moore at the North Star, John Ellis and John Abercrombie at Chris', Borbetomagus at I-House, the Diaspora Series and New Ghost at the Rotunda.

Metro, Feb. 26-March 2

Mar. 1: I-House's feminist film retrospective, "A Liberated Cinema" (pg. 15), and indie hip-hoppers Dalek (pg. 17).

Mar. 2: Local carny artist Michelle Melcher (pg. 18), Imani Uzuri's "Her Holy Water: A Black Girl's Rock Opera" (pg. 15), and Badmaster Records' 2-year Showcase (pg. 17).

Citypaper, March 1

All music this week: a feature on "snuff jazz" trio Borbetomagus, a One-Track Mind for Uri Caine's new Mozart project, and Soundadvices for Danish etheralists Under Byen and lush metal-epic instrumentalists Red Sparowes.

Metro, Feb. 19-23

Feb. 20: French-Canadian indie-rockers Malajube (pg. 25).

Feb. 22: The Mutter's "Cartoon Medicine Show", featuring vintage medical training and public health animation (pg. 15).

Feb. 23: The month-long Israeli Film Festival (pg. 21); Peregrine Arts' "The Order of Things" at the little-known Wagner Free Institute of Science (pg. 24); and the South African Soweto Gospel Choir, coming to the Kimmel (pg. 25).

Citypaper, Feb. 22

An arts story on I-House's exhibit of the work of bug-centric Philly artist and filmmaker Ted Knighton; a follow-up on Gene Coleman's finally-happening Tabadol Project; a review of yet another unfunny comedy, Reno 911!: Miami; and a Cold Open for Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls.

Daily News, Feb. 19-23

On Monday, an interview with WRTI DJ Bob Perkins (BP with the GM), being honored for his radio career, for the DN's DRUM Black History Month section.

On Tuesday, the Opera Company, Art Sanctuary, and Freedom Theatre tean to present "Hip H'Opera", setting poems by kids in AS' afterschool program to music.

On Friday, a story on Indian-American multi-genre singer Asha Puthli, a Pick for guitarist Stanley Jordan, and listings for Gene Coleman's Tabadol Project, Harrison Ridley's jazz workshop on Harry Belafonte, Lamont "Napalm" Dixon, Robert Glasper, Fortune Vinson Cruse, and Charlie Rice.

Metro, Feb. 12-16

Feb. 13: "Enemies, A Love Story," the Wilma's adaptation of Isaac Bashevis Singer's novel (pg. 24).

Feb. 15: Secret Cinema's "Nuggets" show, with Lenny Kaye and Stewkey in attendance (pg. 19).

Feb. 16: Perpetual Mvmt<>Snd's new-works show "Current" (pg. 17); and new-music chamber ensemble eighth blackbird (pg. 18).

Daily News, Feb. 16

A Pick for singer Tierney Sutton's show at Zanzibar Blue, and listings for Donny McCaslin at the Art Museum, Mulgrew Miller at the Gershman Y, LaRose Jazz Club's Valentine Music Fest, eric Alexander and Grant Stewart at Chris', Jazz Barrons at the Ogontz Grill, and Ed Dennis at Old Pine's Jazz Vespers.

Citypaper, Feb. 15

Mainly film reviews this week, three of 'em: one for the Warhol-butchery of George Hickenlooper's Edie Sedgwick biopic Factory Girl; another for the unintentionally hilarious ("You ate my sister!!") Lecter prequel Hannibal Rising; and the third for the best-of-the-batch (with slim competition) kids' film Bridge To Terabithia. In music, just a Soundadvice for the two-night house show Aquarius Fest at Danger Danger.

Metro, Feb. 5-9

Feb. 7: An interview with heart-throbby violin virtuoso Joshua Bell (pg. 17).

Feb. 8: Pieces on Bahia folk dance/music ensemble Ologunde (pg. 18), BCKSEET Productions' benefit show Valentine's Day Sucks 3 (pg. 16), and Jessica Pavone's Stax cover band The Pavones (pg. 20).

Feb. 9: The Hellcat Girls' burlesque tribute to Russ Meyer (pg. 15), Yuri Lane's one-man beatbox show about the Middle East (pg. 16), and the Walnut Street Theatre's McCarthy era-play Bookends (pg. 18).

Daily News, Feb. 9

This week in jazz: a story on Chris Potter, who played a stand-out quartet show at Chris'; a Pick on Brian Blade's fellowship band, doing jazz spirituals at the Kimmel; and listings for Ben Allison at the Art Museum, Marc Cary at Zanzibar Blue, the Original Superstars of Jazz Fusion show in Collingswood, and Charlie Hunter's month-long residency at World Cafe Live.

Citypaper, Feb. 8

This week, a feature on the Rova Sax Quartet's large ensemble (as Rova: Orkestrova) electric arrangement of Coltrane's Ascension, an intense show at I-House which I'll also be reviewing for Downbeat; a review of the fat-is-funny Eddie Murphy travesty Norbit; and a Cold Open review of Shining/Birds/Amityville steal-fest The Messengers.

Daily News, Feb. 2

A Pick for Scandinavian free-jazz supergroup Atomic; a story on Don Byron, bringing his Junior Walker tribute to the Painted Bride; and listings for Khan Jamal, Dianne Reeves, Gloria Allende, Richie Cole/Larry McKenna, Bob Perkins, Dave Burrell, Nate Chinen/Gary Giddins, and Rova Saxophone Quartet.

Metro, Jan. 29-Feb. 2

Jan. 31: I-House's annual selections from the Human rights Watch Film Festival (pg. 23).

Feb. 2: Dianne Reeves, appearing at the Kimmel (pg. 18) and Slought's Fred forest retrospective (pg. 19).

Citypaper, Feb. 1

A review of the irritating Diane Keaton/Mandy moore "comedy" for red-hats, Because I Said So, and another for the new reissue of Becket; and Soundadvice mentions for Bowerbird's One and One, pairing solo instrumentalists and dancers, and Soudfield's presentation of electro-music pioneer Alvin Curran with Gene Coleman's Ensemble Noamnesia.

Daily News, Jan. 30

A feature on the Please Touch Museum's month-long Junior Jazz Festival.

Metro, Jan. 22-26

Jan. 24: Darwin biographer Dr. Janet Browne of Harvard visits the Academy of Natural Sciences for a lecture titled "Angel or Ape: Darwin's Impact" (pg. 16).

Jan. 26: Pieces on the Keswick's annual (and belated) Elvis Birthday Bash, featuring two Elvi (I interviewed the young Elvis - pg. 15); the Kimmel's live broadcast of garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion", for which I interviewed longtime cast member Sue Scott (pg. 13); and a piece on PTC's new Jobs/Gates musical satire, "Nerds" (pg. 12).

Citypaper, Jan. 25

This week: a Screen Pick for the Gershman's weekend of Swedish films as part of its ongoing Jewish Film Festival; a review of the execrable Jennifer Garner romcom Catch and Release; a feature on trumpeter Dave Douglas; a One-Track Mind where I get to tout the greatness of Iron Maiden's latest; and an Artspick for a marathon reading of "On the Road" for the novel's 50th.

Daily News, Jan. 23

A feature story on Penn's presentation of the revelatory South African theater piece "Amajuba: Like Doves We Rise."

Daily News, Jan. 19

Besides the usual jazz listings, this Friday's issue contained a feature on InterAct's premiere of Thomas Gibbons' new play about the Liberty Bell pavilion controversy, "A House With No Walls"; plus a Pick for Greg Osby's pick-up quartet show at Zanzibar Blue, a story on Frank DiBussolo and Bucky Pizzarelli's trans-generational guitar-picking at chris'; and listings for Organissimo and Grimace Federation.

Metro, Jan. 15-19

This week:

Jan. 16: MMW's Chris Wood and his southern folksy bro Oliver, playing World Cafe as the Wood Brothers (pg. 23).

Jan. 17: I-House's retrospective of Jacques Rivette's early films (pg. 18) and Finnish folk-rockers Varttina (pg. 19).

Jan. 18: British choreographer Richard Alston, bringing his company to Penn (pg. 16).

Jan. 19: Mentally-disturbed, Eminem-feuding indie-rapper Cage (pg. 13).

Citypaper, Jan. 18

The Spring Arts Preview issue featured a season jazz calendar; a review of Peter O'Toole's new film, Venus; and a Pick for Ravish Momin's Asian-inflected Trio Tarana.

Metro, Jan. 8-12

With the holidays over, looks like Metro's back on track with posting issues again. For last week:

Jan. 8: A piece on Zappa tribute band Project/Object, hitting World Cafe with ex-FZ vocalist (and Thing Fish) Ike Willis in tow (pg. 19).

Jan. 10: A preview of I-House's retrospective of Swinging '60s documentarist Peter Whitehead, featuring his revelatory 1968 time capsule collage The Fall (pg. 16).

Jan. 12: Philly guitarist Matt Davis' chamber-jazz ensemble Aerial Photograph hosts like-mided Canadian saxophonist Quinsin Nachoff (pg. 18).

Daily News, Jan. 12

Two features this week: the first for Ars Nova's world premiere of the David S. Ware Unit, featuring Mat Maneri, Keith Whitty, and Whit Dickey; and the second for Patti Austin's Ella Fitzgerald tribute show opening for Ramsey Lewis at the Kimmel. Also, a Pick for trumpeter George Rabbai and guitarist Brian betz at Chris', and listings for Odean Pope's trio at the Art Museum, Matt Davis' Aerial Photograph w/ Canadian saxophonist Quinsin Nachoff at the Broad Street Ministry, vibist Tony Miceli at Chris', organist Joey DeFrancesco at MontCo, and Indian-American percussionist Ravish Momin's Trio Tarana at the Rotunda.

Citypaper, Jan. 11

This week: a feature on Philly electronics experimentalist Dave Smolen; a Pick for jazz/folk crossover MaMaVig; and a Soundadvice piece on Joey DeFrancesco's gig with fellow Miles alum saxophonist George Coleman.

On the movie side, two reviews: one for the gangsta dance-off Stomp the Yard and the other for Nick Cassavetes' fun-when-not-preachy Alpha Dog.

Daily News, Jan. 5

No feature story this week, just a Pick for Marc Ribot's show this Sunday at Tritone with the Swiss Lucien Dubiuis Trio; and listings for the Steve Myerson Quartet Friday at Chris', Dave Burrell and John Szwed's discussion of Jelly-Roll Morton's influence on the jazz avant-garde Thursday at Kelly Writer's House, and the LA-based large ensemble Industrial Jazz Group Wednesday at Chris'.

Metro, Jan. 5

For the weekend: a big cover story on the Bowerbird @ Landmarks program, which brings experimental music to Philly-area historic homes; it landed Toshi Makihara on the cover and packed the Physick House. Metro is still slacking about posting issues, but here's a scan from Bowerbird's site.

Also, a piece on the Montana-based experimental theater company Missoula Oblongata's Puppet Uprising-hosted play, Wonders of the World: Recite; and one that got cut on Slavic Soul Party, a Balkan folk-funk party band comprised of moonlighting members of the Brooklyn new-jazz scene, which I'll include here:

A Brooklyn-based brass band playing funk party tunes inspired by Balkan folk music isn’t too hard to accept. Names with suspiciously non-eastern European inflections like Toriyama or Noriega is a little stranger. But when the group’s leader turned out to be Matt Moran, usually known as vibraphonist for new-jazz ensembles like John Hollenbeck’s Claudia Quintet and the Mat Maneri Quintet, the whole concept seemed particularly intriguing.

“I sort of have a split personality musically,” Moran admits, “where I’m playing new music on vibes and playing drums in brass bands. This is where I synthesize my Balkan interests and my love of American music too.”

Moran first discovered Balkan music when the Bulgarian Women’s Choir (aka La Mystere des Voix Bulgares) came to prominence in the States in the late 1980s. “I really loved it,” Moran said, “so I just started chasing it down and eventually met other Americans who were into it through the international folk dance movement of the sixties. Then through them I found immigrant musicians playing the music here in New York and it just kept snowballing.”

On top of studying the music and learning its conventions, Moran says, “the main thing an American has to absorb, it seems to me, is attitude. Not to shy away from the clear and simple. And you’ve just got to really connect with intensity and passion. If you don’t feel a red-hot livewire running through yourself around this music then you shouldn’t be trying to play it or write it.”

But despite his appropriation of Balkan music, says that“the very concept of world music is anathema to me. We’re playing neighborhood music, and these are the influences and the things that bubble in our neighborhood. I walk out my door and you hear Albanian cats blasting Albanian pop, you hear Mexican banda, you hear hip-hop, you hear Bangladeshi music. All this stuff is here, and this is just us living and working in our neighborhood.”

Citypaper, Jan. 4, 2007

The first CP of the new year finds my now-traditional (this is the third annual) 'Buried Stories' piece for Naked City. A little different this year (mainly because the busy nature of '06 precluded my amassing much in the way of actual buried stories), as I simply took five of the least newsworthy big stories of the year (the Mel-down, Britney's upskirt) and took a look at what else was news the same day, that may have been hushed because of the hoopla. Hopefully you'll get a laugh or two.

Also, a review of the latest 'white girl pulls the gangstas from out the hood' flick, Freedom Writers; and a Soundadvice mention of Black Dice closing out the Vox Populi gallery, which ended up being cancelled anyway.