Daily News, March 21

This Friday, a pick for Chris' second annual Big Band Festival, this time focusing on the region's university-based large ensembles.

Citypaper, March 20

In this week's CP: a review of Gus Van Sant's study of skater neurosis, Paranoid Park, and a short review of Ira Sachs' belated expose of '50s hypocrisy, Married Life; for the Book Quarterly, a brief review (scroll down) of Matt Taibbi's The Great Derangement; a pick for Russian dada-rock group Auktyon, and Soundadvice mentions for the Fonda/Stevens Group, James Fei Alto Quartet, and Brother Ali.

Daily News, March 14

Just a pick in this Friday's DN, for Our Father Who Art Blakey, the tribute group consisting of the mid-70s Jazz Messengers frontline of Dave Schnitter, Valery Ponomarev, and Bobby Watson. Sadly, the Blakey alums scheduled for the rhythm section couldn't be there - pianist Ronnie Matthews is suffering some health issues, and bassist Dennis Irwin passed away just a few days prior to the show.

Metro, March 10-14

Just two Metro pieces this week: an interview with Lisa O'Hare, playing Eliza in the Academy of Music's presentation of My Fair Lady; and a piece on First Person Arts' new series of Salons at the Gershman Y.

Citypaper, March 13

In this week's CP: a feature on Philly violinist Katt Hernandez, a pick for Dutch trombonist Wolter Wierbos, and Soundadvice mentions for the Pat Metheny Trio and The Bad Plus; a review of the blind Everest-climbing doc Blindsight; and Arts Picks for Chere Krakovsky, transplanting her kitchen to I-House, and Phillip Hamilton's Voices at the Painted Bride.

Metro, March 3-7

This week: an interview with Lester Friedman, author of "Citizen Spielberg", in town to lecture as part of the Free Library's One Film program; a preview of Pink Martini at the Kimmel Center; and a piece on Koresh Dance Co., with a U.S. and two World Premieres at their new home, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.

Citypaper, March 6

Big week, as it's time for another Music Issue. As this one is themed "Philly Classics", I ended up profiling local lifer Bootsie Barnes. I also have the lead piece in the regular music section, on Ars Nova's presentation of Ikue Mori/Zeena Parkins duo Phantom Orchard at Bartram's Garden, with a light installation by LURE. Also, an interview with My Name Is Albert Ayler director Kasper Collin, a short piece on Joseph A. Gervasi's screening of Czech New Wave oddity The Cremator as part of the TLA/Philebrity screening series at National Mechanics and a review of the truth-is-duller-than-fiction heist film The Bank Job.

Barack Obama, babykiller

Now that Rick Santorum has been exiled from the corridors of power, it's much easier to appreciate his ravings for the adorable ugliness that they truly are. I couldn't pass up posting Rick's insane rant from last week's Inky, wherein our belovedly reviled ex-Senator lays out the case for Barack Obama being a staunch supporter of infanticide. I'm looking forward to upcoming exposes where he reveals Obama's secret passion for kicking puppies or hunting grannies for sport.

Daily News, February 29

A feature this weekend on Chris' First Annual Guitar festival, featuring my email interview with Philly native Kurt Rosenwinkel, and a pick for the John Zorn-centered Radical Jewish Music Festival.

Metro, February 25-29

Neither seem to be online at the moment, but this week I wrote a piece on the Israeli Film Festival and one on pianist Christopher O'Riley's classical takes on Radiohead, Nick Drake and Elliott Smith.

Citypaper, February 28

A light week; just Soundadvice mentions for Israeli-born singer/songwriter Keren Ann at Johnny Brenda's and Relache's performance of new Bobby Zankel compositions at I-house, and a review of the awful Scarlett Johannson/Natalie Portman Marvel team-up The Other Boleyn Girl.

50%

I failed to follow up my Oscar predictions here, but that's how I did - straight down the middle, all my so-called expertise amounting to no more than chance. I could've blind-guessed and did as well. Ah, well, it's all irrelevant in any case, especially for such a lackluster show (all due to the last-minute end of the Writers' Strike, so forgivable, and Jon Stewart did the best with what he had. Nice moment for Glen Hansard and especially Marketa Irglova, both of whom I interviewed (along with Once's director) for Metro at the Four Seasons last year.