504 hours, that is, until the end of the Imperial Presidency. Thanks to vacation and attendant illnesses (flu. cold, coral reef infection), we're a little behind the news curve here, so allow us to unload our burdens:
PILFERING THE WEEKLY VIA THE NEW YORKER VIA PITCHFORK VIA ROLLING STONE
Kudos to the LA Weekly for its terrific regional-centric pieces over the last month or so:
Liz's Ohanesian's piece on electronic composer Mark Lane (pictured above); Casey Dolan's article on The Resurrection of Frank Zappa's Soul. Their blog had some pretty sweet Year End Lists (although we try to avoid the swarm of those) with plenty of local talent like No Age, Delicious Vinyl, Abe Vigoda (which Pitchfork media just profiled), Flying Lotus (celebrated by The New Yorker's Sasha Frere-Jones) and the Knux. Rolling Stone has also highlighted some local scenes and friends: Jenny Eliscu's overview of the resurgent Laurel Canyon scene that is drawing the likes of The Jayhawks' Gary Louris and Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis; the ever-interesting David Fricke "picked" extended Crypto gal-pal Jenny Scheinman for a little love. The musical kind that is...
ZORN/KING/GAUTHIER
On Friday, Feb. 6, Our fearless leader Jeff Gauthier will join New Yawk composers John Zorn and John King in being honored ('bout time!) for having their music interpreted by The Eclipse Quartet (Sara Parkins, Sarah Thornblade, Anna Fernandez, Maggie Parkins, pictured above) at a special concert at MONA's First Fridays series. The EQ will devote the first half of the program to Zorn and King, which doesn't excuse all you latecomers who are there for the second half, which will be an improvisational collaboration as the quartet plugs in to play music by Mr. Jeff, and to improvise with him on electric violin and David Witham on electronics and keyboards. Together these musicians will create spontaneously composed music inspired by the amazing neon art on display at MONA.
This will be Mr. Witham's second memorable night at MONA, the first being his Jan. 9 concert reunion with Adwin David Brown (W. and he collabroated in Bluezeum) on a bill that also included The Black Plums. The first awesome show of the year, in our book. These nights at MONA started off a bit shaky and underattended, but are really gathering momentum with increasingly adventurous programs -- all to the eerie pulse of L.A.'s neon ghosts. Mr. Witham just completed his role as assistant conductor for Wicked, which closed a couple of weeks ago. He can be heard on Ernie Watt's new CD To The Point: Live at the Jazz Bakery.
SENDING FREDDIE ON HIS WAY
Freddie Hubbard's funeral was last week, and there's pics and reportage on this important -- if bittersweet -- event from L.A. Watts Times, Sulekha, PicTopia and the San Francisco Chronicle among others. Of the many many tributes given to Hubbard and his music over the last few weeks, we enjoy The Jazz Cat's remembrances with Hubert Laws, David Weiss and Mr. Bennie Maupin and our blog buddy Dave Douglas' lovely "Listening To Freddie Hubbard."
MUSIC WHERE IT DOES/DOESN'T BELONG
Two favorite pieces of wackiness: the Mystery Piano in the Massachussetts woods and Joshua Bell's rush-hour concerts in Washington DC.
CATCH IF YOU CAN
Independent Lens' documentary on the making of John Adams' Doctor Atomic...KCRW's retrospective of 50 years of McCabe's Guitar Shop...PBS' Chicano Rock!, about the golden age of East L.A. music (in time for the publication of Anthony Macias' Mexican American Mojo: Popular Music, Dance, and Urban Culture in Los Angeles, 1935-1968)...NPR profiles of Mike Reed and Martial Solal (pictured above).
CRYPTO'S FRIENDS
Guitarist and Crypto friend Jim McAuley's 2-CD The Ultimate Frog has been getting a lot of good press as of late. McAuley was in the California Guitar Trio with Nels Cline and the late Rod Poole, and his characteristic low profile is offset on the record by appearances by The Clines, Leroy Jenkins and Ken Filiano. You can check it our (or BUY IT) here.
For those of you who can't wait for Alex Cline's upcoming Continuation CD, one of its stellar players, cellist Peggy Lee, has released New Code, which has been getting rave reviews. Both CDs are on Drip Audio.
COW TIPPING
Accompanying numerous profiles on Mr. Fred Frith comes a much-needed and long-awaited box set retrospective of Frith's landmark ensemble Henry Cow. Titled, strangely enough, The 40th Anniversary Henry Cow Box Set, you can read AAJ's review here.
And, finally...
REST IN TEMPO
Ron Asheton
Delaney Bramlett
Betty Freeman
Glenn Goldman
Lars Hollmer
Eartha Kitt
Charlie Ottaviano
Rosetta Reitz
Gene Parrish
"Pleccy"
Tony Reedus
Elmer Valentine
