search

Reason to Buy a Turntable

As I promised myself, I stopped by Record Mart yesterday evening. With a prime location near the 42nd Street Shuttle and the stairs to the uptown 1/2/3 line, the place was jumping. There's no way to miss it. Music and light pour from its little corner of the underground. Busking musicians stationed just beyond Record Mart's entrance couldn't compete with the music blaring from inside the store. And people came with smiles and wide eyes.

"Vinyl!" one woman shouted as she stepped inside.

"Yup," I said. "Isn't it great?"

"Yes. I didn't even know people…

One more list!

It occurs to me that, in my list-o-mania feature, I forgot one that I’d promised—Best Living Jazz Musician of Various Categories. So here they are: the best and the runner-up. These picks will no doubt raise hackles, catcalls, and fisticuffs. So raise them! Send in your choices!

Pianist: Jason Moran; Keith Jarrett.
Bassist: Charlie Haden; Greg Cohen.
Alto saxophonist: Ornette Coleman; Lee Konitz.
Tenor saxophonist: Sonny Rollins; David Murray.
Trumpeter: Dave Douglas; (too hard to name a runner-up).
Clarinet: Don Byron; Anat Cohen.
Violin: Mark Feldman; Jenny…

Nerdcore, part deux

Confused about widescreen aspect ratios? I certainly am.Widescreen Museum sets us straight.

Thanks to Grow A Brain for pointing me at this one.

Good Honest Fat

That'll cure what ails ya! Angela Hartnett says real comfort food is the way to recharge that candle you've been burning at both ends.

Even Anglophiles like me might get put off by the instructions for Christmas Pudding Ice Cream: "Put the crumbled pud and brandy in the chilled bowl, and stir." Say what?

Just Saying Is All

If you're tired of talking to your relatives during this festive season, may I suggest you watch Stardust together? It came out on DVD last week and The Wire doesn't resume broadcast until January 6. Best of all—almost nobody in your family has seen it—unless I've hectored them into seeing it.

Who am I kidding? I couldn't even convince my wife to watch it last night. You, on the other hand, may be more persuasive.

A Fairytale of New York

The Beeb censored Shane MacGowan's "Fairytale of New York" for its use of a slur. Sam Leith argues that Auntie mistook a slur for a swear-word—an unforgivable sin in the maidenly world of journalism.

Hat tip to George Weber, who continues to fight the good fight with the Veterans For Peace.

Tal Wilkenfeld

John Atkinson and I spent some time today admiring Tal Wilkenfeld's bass playing. Sheesh. The girl is only 21 years old. Beyond her sheer skill, which is stunning, Wilkenfeld seems to just know how to play. I first caught her on PBS one night while flipping through channels. It was Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival, and she was performing with Jeff Beck. I was surprised to see such a young musician on stage with one of rock's living legends, but I soon discovered that Wilkenfeld was right where she belonged. Seems she always knew. Story goes that Wilkenfeld dropped out of her…