Daily News, Sept.-Oct.

Two features recently: one, a piece on Brat Productions' theatrical spectacle-cum-haunted house show Haunted Poe; the other, a rundown on the Kimmel's Jazz Up Close series honoring Billie Holiday.

Space (and ICA) is the Place

On June 30, the Daily News ran my feature preview of the ICA's exhibit "Pathways to Unknown Worlds: Sun Ra, El Saturn & Chicago's Afro-Futurist Underground, 1954-1968," focusing on Sun Ra and the Arkestra's early days in Chicago and NYC, before their permanent move to Philly. It also included this sidebar on performances and screenings associated with the exhibit.

Hidden City

Wrote a Daily News feature this month on Hidden City, the ambitious, fascinating festival currently ongoing around Philly, where art installations and performances interpret forgotten and abandoned historic buildings that contain an alternate history of the city. In this sidebar, artist Steve Roden talks about his piece at Girard College's Founder's Hall (right).

Heath Brothers

The end of May saw a return to features at the Daily News with this piece on Philly's Heath Brothers, including interviews with both Jimmy and Tootie.

Abe Lincoln in Philadelphia

Returned to the feature fold in the Daily News last month, with a piece on two of the many projects celebrating Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday: the Rosenbach's "21st-Century Abe" website and the Walnut's Whitman-meets-Lincoln one man show O Captain, My Captain.

October 27-31

In the Daily News: A feature on the Kimmel's season-long series celebrating the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue, including interviews with Jimmy Cobb, Bobby Watson, and Randy Brecker.

In the Metro: A look at the Art Museum's retrospective on outsider artist James Castle, and for Halloween, a piece on Secret Cinema's Bela Lugosi Halloween Grab Bag.

In the Citypaper: A piece on Exhumed Films' second annual 24-Hour Horrorthon - with an extra hour thanks to Daylight Savings; a feature on UArts' symposium on the life and music of Wilmington native Clifford Brown; a pick on the West Philadelphia Orchestra's CD release show; and Soundadvice blurbs on the Oscuro Quintet, Dynamite Club, and Joe McPhee's Trio X.

Daily News Catch-Up

Ok, I've been particularly neglectful of this blog for the past... three months now. A combination of a busy patch of work, running off to get engaged, and starting production on a documentary about pianist Jimmy Amadie pushed this site well into the background. So rather than noting every word I've written over that time, here's some highlights of each paper.

Daily News has slown down lately, but I've written features on Return To Forever's reunion tour, with a sidebar on Philly's own Stanley Clarke, and this year's Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe.

Daily News, July 11

This week's pick is for the husband-and-wife team of pianist Hod O'Brien and singer Stephanie Nakasian, debuting at Chris' Jazz Cafe with a couple of decades of trench work under their musical belts.

Daily News, June 27

This Friday's pick is for singer Kate McGarry, due to drop a new CD in August featuring a surprisingly gorgeous cover of The Cars' "Just What I Needed." She unfortunately drops the verse repeat with the wonderfully inexplicable "time, time" lyric, though.

Daily News, June 16-20

This week, my yearly feature on the West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival, now in its fifth year. And on Friday, a pick for same - what can I say? The Daily News is a major sponsor.

Daily News, June 13

This Friday, just a pick for this year's impressive Cliffore Brown Jazz Festival line-up down in Wilmington.

Daily News, June 6

This week, just a pick for World Cafe's "Giants of Gypsy Jazz II", in which I got to slip in a reference to Woody Allen's last good film, Sweet and Lowdown.

Daily News, May 26-30

This week: an interview with ex-Philadelphian Benjamin Wallace, author of the wine and Jefferson-related (and therefore, specifically targeted to me) new book The Billionaire's Vinegar; and a pick for local vocalist Joanna Pascale.

Daily News, May 19-23

This week, a story on The Rotunda's recent mural project, Collective Imprints, with a sidebar history of the venue; and a pick for the Oliver Lake/Andrew Cyrille/Reggie Workman supergroup Trio 3, at the Art Museum.

Daily News, May 16

This week, simply a pick for local vocalist Pearl Williams, enjoying a tribute show at LaRose.

Daily News April Wrap-Up

The usual weekly picks, this month on Dave Brubeck, Karrin Allyson, and Brad Mehldau; and a feature on Terence Blanchard's evening of Spike Lee movie music at the Kimmel, featuring interviews with both and a sidebar with some career highlights.

Daily News, April 4

This Friday, just a pick for Philly trumpeter John Swana, celebrating First Friday in Mt. Airy with his quartet.

Daily News, March 28

In this Friday's Yo section, my interview with sax legend Wayne Shorter, plus a pick for the smooth-jazz-happy 18th annual Berks Jazz Fest.

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.

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.