The Village Voice has released their first annual jazz poll. This is exceptional considering the Voice publishes an annual poll already, the entertaining Pazz and Jop Poll. It’s one of the only year-end (actually it goes to print in February) I know of that doesn’t discriminate between music genres. I prefer to think this is an enlightened editorial decision, but can’t help but be suspicious that, under new ownership, moving jazz out of the mix is a pre-emptive ghettoization. That would be a shame for a paper with such an influential history of jazz coverage.
As for the poll: Ornette deservedly comes out on top.
village voice > music > by
2006
Marty Ehrlich
2006
Here’s a track from Marty Ehrlich’s second release on Palmetto, News on the Rail.
I saw Marty perform with Andrew Hill at the SFJAZZ Festival this past Fall and was agog at his versatility. This composition features sinewy lines, a deep groove by drummer Allison Miller,and improvisation on the fringes of “out” while maintaining its soulful virtuosity.
Book Week at Salon
2006
Expanding on their annual list of top books, Salon begins their inaugural week of books today with sundry well-known authors picking their top books of ‘06.
Salon Book Awards | Salon Books
The week continues with the Editors’ list of top debut books (fiction and nonfiction) on Tuesday, top 5Â fiction on Wednesday, top 5 nonfiction on Thursday, and Readers Choice on Friday. Votes are due by Wednesday, so get to it!
Slate Magazine’s Best Books
2006
I appreciate how Slate doesn’t hide behind it’s editorial imprimatur, asking their writers to pick their favorite books of the year. It’s a good list.
Slate picks the best books of 2006. – - Slate Magazine
I also like a modicum of literary dish, which Slate was also kind enough to provide in Meghan O’Rourke’s article about Marisha Pessl’s Specialty Topics in Calamity Physics.
Searchers find missing dad’s body
2006
I’m saddened this post comes so soon after my last, and saddened even more that it’s here at all.
Searchers find missing dad’s body
The Search for James Kim
2006
A little off-topic, but this story has occupied my mind the past week. A local man and family, returning from Thanksgiving, took a detour to the Oregon coast, only to be snowed in on a historically dangerous mountain pass.
Fresh teams press search for Kim (Oregonian, brief demographic info required)
The reportage from the local paper, in this case The Oregonian, is much more thorough than found in James Kim’s hometown San Francisco Chronicle (who, kind of disgustingly, link to Kim’s podcast review of the Microsoft Zune player…huh?) I wonder if this is due to sensitivities, or just more resourceful and better connected local reporters.
What’s tragic is that Kim’s intention (as reported) was to step out for just a few hours in the hopes of tracking down some help. Obviously, he got lost, and his tracks and items of clothing left behind indicate he’s headed into even more dangerous terrain—and may be suffering from hypothermia, a detail the Chronicle fails to mention.
I hope it’s not the case. I hope he’s huddled safely in a snow cave and finds the care packages dropped by searches before they find him.
Rules for Writers
2006
Thanks to Maud Newton for uncovering this enlightening list of rules for writers at The Mumpsimus.