Category: AJBlogs

Other Matters: Journalism, Jefferson And Rivera
Charges about biased reporting are as old as journalism itself. … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2016-12-01

Should We Bother?
My post reflecting on the presidential election, Blindsided, drew a thoughtful comment that seems to me to be worthy of a fuller response than a simple “Reply.” … read more
AJBlog: Engaging Matters Published 2016-11-29

Nine Ways the Arts Can Heal Our Hurting Civilization; or Lessons I Learned from Reading Comics to my Daughter
“This is the time when artists go to work. We speak, we write, we do language. This is how civilizations heal.” This is a quote from Toni Morrison. It has stuck with me. This is our power, and it is immense. But what will we do with it? … read more
AJBlog: New Beans Published 2016-11-29

The Cost of the Met Breuer (and other nuggets from Metropolitan Museum’s FY16 financials)
Back in April, the Metropolitan Museum’s president, Daniel Weiss, declined to disclose to me the cost of renovating the Whitney Museum’s Breuer building, now repurposed (at least temporarily) as the Met Breuer. Thanks to the Met’s annual report … read more
AJBlog: CultureGrrl Published 2016-11-29

Portland Jazz Bulwark To Close
There is news from Portland, Oregon, that Jimmy Mak’s jazz club will permanently close at the end of 2016. A leading west coast club for 20 years, Mak’s has been a primary outlet for the talents … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2016-11-30

The common problem
I have a theory that you don’t become a full-fledged adult until you’ve weathered the death of someone with whom you are intimate, not in distant memory but at the actual moment of that person’s demise. … read more
AJBlog: About Last Night Published 2016-11-28

Monday Recommendation: George Cables
George Cables, The George Cables Songbook (High Note) … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2016-11-28

Snowball’s Chance in Helsinki: Guggenheim Again Seeks Council Approval (plus Abu Dhabi update)
Will the Guggenheim Helsinki, proposed in 2011 and stalled ever since, finally get off the drawing board? On Monday, the Helsinki City Board voted 8-7 to revive this persistent project, which will once again be … read more
AJBlog: CultureGrrl Published 2016-11-22

Monday Recommendation: Bill Frisell’s Music From Movies & TV
Bill Frisell, When You Wish Upon A Star (Okeh) … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2016-11-21

The Rise and Fall (?) of a Superhero (or Not)
Faye Driscoll presents Thank You for Coming; Play at BAM Fisher. … read more
AJBlog: Dancebeat Published 2016-11-21

Hod O’Brien, 1936-2016
Friends of Hod O’Brien report that the pianist died yesterday at 80 following a long battle against cancer. He continued an active playing life even as he underwent treatment for the disease. Born in Chicago, … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2016-11-21

Why I’m Waiting for Asher’s Algren
Having said in The Revenge of the Mediocre that both Bettina Drew and Mary Wisniewski fail to capture Nelson Algren’s personality in their biographies of him, I realize I didn’t mention something equally … read more
AJBlog: Straight|Up Published 2016-11-21

Breaking away
Can you remember the movie Breaking Away? From 1979, and set at that time, in my current home town of Bloomington, Indiana. Four lads just out of high school, all lacking a sense of purpose. … read more
AJBlog: For What it’s WorthPublished 2016-11-20

Recent Listening: Phil Norman Tentet
Phil Norman Tentet, Then & Now (MAMA Records) This album’s tune list could create an expectation that we’re in for just another trip down the memory lane of modern jazz classics. No, Norman’s ensemble combines … read more
AJBlog: RiffTidesPublished 2016-11-19

Journey for Two
David Vaughan and Pepper Fajans in Co. Venture at Baryshnikov Arts Center. Pepper Fajans (L) and David Vaughan do a little routine in Co. Venture, created and choreographed by Fajans and directed by Chris Green. … read more
AJBlog: DancebeatPublished 2016-11-19

Going Cold Turkey (in Cyberspace)
Click to enlarge.The computer screen has become a substitute for reality, dominating us not just by way of social media but — old news — by making artifacts like books on paper seem obsolete. I … read more
AJBlog: Straight|UpPublished 2016-11-18

Kenneth Clark’s Response to Crisis
During World War II, in London’s bleak days, Kenneth Clark acted, as the review of his biography by James Stourton in today’s New York Times reminds us. … read more
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts Published 2016-11-16

Creativity and joy — “I could create the career I wanted”
Sarah Robinson, co-chair of the L.A. branch of Classical Revolution, remembers seeing her first CR event: “It was like I had spent 10 years banging my head against a door that would never open [honing her flute technique, auditioning for orchestra jobs], only to look around and realize that there were no walls. I could just walk outside and create the career that I wanted.”  … read more
AJBlog: Sandow Published 2016-11-16

Faddis and Beiderbecke
Thanks to Seattle bassist Bren Plummer for calling our attention to a short video of trumpeter Jon Faddis getting acquainted with Bix Beiderbecke’s horn. … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2016-11-16

Kenneth Clark’s Response to Crisis
During World War II, in London’s bleak days, Kenneth Clark acted, as the review of his biography by James Stourton in today’s New York Times reminds us. … read more
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts Published 2016-11-16

Creativity and joy — “I could create the career I wanted”
Sarah Robinson, co-chair of the L.A. branch of Classical Revolution, remembers seeing her first CR event: “It was like I had spent 10 years banging my head against a door that would never open [honing her flute technique, auditioning for orchestra jobs], only to look around and realize that there were no walls. I could just walk outside and create the career that I wanted.”  … read more
AJBlog: Sandow Published 2016-11-16

Faddis and Beiderbecke
Thanks to Seattle bassist Bren Plummer for calling our attention to a short video of trumpeter Jon Faddis getting acquainted with Bix Beiderbecke’s horn. … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2016-11-16