This is a new feature of my site. In this section, I will post—regularly, I hope—short takes on things happening, shows seen or heard, other items I hope you find interesting. I am still working out the kinks, so please bear with me.
Follow up on Solitary. Albert Woodfox’s Solitary (written with Leslie George), a devastating account of decades spent in solitary at Angola Prison in Louisiana, which I mentioned in an earlier post (see Some Great Non-Fiction Reads below), was named a National Book Award Finalist. A well-deserved honor for this powerful work.
Recent jazz shows. As mentioned in an earlier post (see The Late Show below), I love the late show. Last week, I ventured out alone to the 10:30 show at the Village Vanguard to see Jason Moran and the Bandwagon, his trio with bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits. The musicianship was absolutely first rate, as expected. Waits is a dynamic drummer with an elegant touch. Mateen played bass guitar, which provided a great bottom for the band but without the nuance of string bass. They have been playing as a trio for over ten years, and moved in lockstep, each anticipating where the music was going. Jason Moran is also an educator and scholar of jazz, and he used his time between pieces to acknowledge the many who came before, most on the very same stage. He mentioned Thelonius Monk as a formative influence, and also paid tribute to the late Geri Allen. A memorable evening of music. A few other great shows over the past few months included the pianist Renee Rosnes with a larger group at Smoke and two of my favorite players, drummer Duduka da Fonseca and pianist Helio Alves at Smalls, both sessions with Peter Washington on bass. Worth catching them in any lineup you can.
The Last Knight at the Met. A fascinating new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum built around the life of Maxmilian (1459 – 1519), who ultimately became Holy Roman Emperor, and using his armor and armor he gave or received to other nobles and princes, to tell a much broader historical and political story. Described by the Met as “the most ambitious loan exhibition of European armor in decades”, the armor is extraordinary—intricate, innovative, and technically superb craftsmanship. And the story of a very different array of European states in the shifting landscape of European power and alliances is fascinating.
Dia Beacon. Driving back from visiting friends in Rhinebeck for Thanksgiving, we stopped at the Dia in Beacon. It sits on a site looking over the Hudson River, which even on a cold and somewhat gray day is a magnificent sight. The galleries are gorgeous—high-ceiling, industrial, massive—home to significant pieces by Richard Serra—a large sculpture fully occupying a room, a large windowed room of John Chamberlain’s auto sculptures, Dan Flavin’s light sculptures, and an unusual abstract Warhol called Shadows, lining the walls of one large room. And many other works in various mediums. In nicer weather, more art moves outdoors.
LitHub. I am very happy to share the link to an article I wrote for Literary Hub, Cookbooks Are So Much More Than Recipes and Photographs, published on November 1. I hope you enjoy it. https://lithub.com/cookbooks-are-so-much-more-than-just-albums-of-food/
