Double episode tomorrow! I promise!
Author: Alan Vanneman
MJQ—“Bag’s Groove”
A late gathering, and I’m not even sure if it’s Percy Heath on bass and Connie Kay on drums, but it certainly ought to be. Definitely John Lewis on piano and composer Milt Jackson on vibes. The MJQ could sound a little cutsy and contrived at times, but not here, not at all.
Pish-Posh at the Knish-Nosh, and Other New York Horrors
You know that little pond in Central Park next to the Alice in Wonderland statue, the pond that Big and Carrie fell into when Big tried to kiss Carrie and she didn’t want him to (because Amanda told her not to let him)? Well, it’s drained right now, which takes away a little from the…
Anne Applebaum totally double-crosses me. Again!
This is getting ridiculous. I just finished nailing the last nail in Annie “Europe Sucks” Applebaum’s coffin, so I thought, when she uncorks a thoughtful, seriously pro-Europe review—a totally way pro-Europe review, actually—of Christopher Caldwell’s recent double-dome tome on Europe and the Muslim hordes, Reflections on the Revolution in Europe: Immigration, Islam, and the West….
New at Bright Lights: Looking at Charlie
My review of Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times is now up at Bright Lights Film Journal here. Full issue, not entirely safe for work, here.* In an excellent piece, Karin Luisa Badt explains why Roman Polanski is a total shit here. *I suppose the Updike triptych isn’t entirely safe for work either. Sorry! At least there…
Suitably Smoky—“Well, You Needn’t,” Parts IX and X
Featuring Hannibel Peterson on trumpet; Don Weller, tenor saxophone; Martin Blackwell, piano; Dave Green, bass; and Brian Spring, drums. Somewhere, and some time, in England.
Middle Stan, Early Bud—“Tempus Fugit”
Visually challenged, but musically impeccable. Stan, workin’ on a rainbow thing, somewhere in the ‘70’s, I would guess. With Jim McNealy on piano, Mark Johnson, bass, and Victor Lewis, drums. With two brief but annoying voice overs.
Well, You Needn’t, Part VIII
The Samir Fejzic band, as if you hadn’t already quessed: Yeah, it’s Ines Kazic handling the vocal, as only she can, with “ Dino” Kovacevic on the drums, Almir Nezic bass, and Samir on piano. Recorded live at ‘Bihacko ljeto 2008’.
George to Obama—“Back off, base pretender!”
George Will* has a scathing column about President Obama’s recent pitch to the Olympic Committee re his beloved Chicago, sneeringly accusing the President of being a narcissist. Since Obama is relatively new to DC, he may not be too familiar with Willspeak, so allow me to deconstruct. See, Mr. President, you may be the President…
“Well, You Needn’t,” Parts V & VI
Local TV at its finest! Hacienda Heights Big Dog Richard Duran and Foxy Tina Jimenez host the Lonnie Jordan WARtet, featuring Lonnie Jordan, piano, Sal Rodriguez, drums, Francisco “Pancho” Tomaselli, bass, and David Urquidi, sax. This is followed by a blast from the past, “Autour de Sophie,” featuring Sophie Kummer, vocal, Alex Alflatt, bass, Raoul…