When I survey the past two years, when I think of the ridiculous “we’ll get it right once we’ve killed enough people” war in Afghanistan, when I think of the long-distance murders via “killer drones,” of the continuing practice of denying the most basic human rights to our political prisoners lest they do anything that…
Author: Alan Vanneman
Monk in Japan, 1963—“Evidence”
With Charlie Rouse, sax, Butch Warren, bass, and Frank Dunlap, drums.
John Fedchock New York Big Band plays “Ruby, My Dear”
John Fedchock New York Big Band at the New Trier Jazz Festival, New Trier High School – Winnetka, Illinois, February 2, 2002 John Fedchock, leader saxes: Mark Vinci, Charles Pillow, Rich Perry, Rick Margitza, Scott Robinson trumpets: Jon Owens, Frank Greene, Scott Wendholt, Barry Ries trombones: John Fedchock, Keith O’Quinn, Clark Gayton, George Flynn piano:…
Red Mitchell & Bill Mays play “Klactoveesedstene”
This seems to be the only YouTube recording of Charlie Parker’s classic bop tune, and Red and Bill do a damn good job with it.
Dave Weigel, perchance too hip for the room, but still should not set himself on fire
Dave Weigel, recently bounced from the Wash Post for talking trash about conservatives, more recently covered a Richmond, Va. Tea Party convention and described one of the attendees, long-shot congressional candidate Floyd Bayne, thusly: Bayne is bald, goateed, and built like the bouncer at a club with a $10 cover. I give up, Dave. What…
Greg Mankiw is a big fat idiot
OK, Greg is, as I understand it, fairly svelte, and a distinguished Harvard professor to boot, but when you write a blog you go for the jugular. My sometime sparring partner/punching bag Brad DeLong, who really could stand to lose a few pounds, here knocks the stuffing out of Greg’s continuing whine that if those…
PT Gazell, workin’ the changes on “In Walked Bud”
Some serious solo harmonica at the 2008 Asian Pacific Harmonica Festival in Hangzhou China. Too bad you weren’t there. Go here for the CD.
Meh! Meh! Whatever happened to Feh!
It’s been displaced, pretty much, 18.5 million Google hits for Meh versus 3.5 for Feh. According to the Urban Dictionary, “Feh is a word used in many contexts. It is much like meh, but more agressive [sic]. It is used sometimes in place of meh, although this is largely inacccurate.” I don’t know why a…
You call that hicky? Get a mirror, girlfriend. A big one.
The much-reviled Mike Allen at Politico explains how Jamestown Associates, a Republican consulting firm, achieved that elusive “West Virginia” look for a GOP ad. Among other things, plaid is the new black. via John Chait at the New Republic.
Hear, Hear!
Over at the New Republic, David A. Bell takes an eminently justified poke at Tom Friedman and other be-moustached dudes who enjoy bemoaning the decline of America’s greatness: “Middle-Aged Columnists Think America Is In Decline. Big Surprise.” Dave’s piece gives us a guided tour of moans and groans over the past half-century, from such certified…