It’s hard to think of music that is more foolishly impractical than jazz, even with its pursuit of lofty ideals.
Commentary
Book Review: Jess Walter — The Best Short Story Writer in 21st Century America?
Jess Walter is a writer capable of inspecting humanity’s foolishness and foul play, but he is rarely unkind to his dimmest characters. Even sociopaths get to explain what is going on in their minds.
Book Review: Writer Thomas Mann — Still August After All These Years?
How does Thomas Mann’s grandiosity hold up today? A new selection of his short stories, freshly translated by veteran translator and fiction writer Damion Searls suggests an answer, though only partially.
Arts Commentary/Interview: Some Thoughts on The Climate Crisis and Theater
How can we create theater that practices critique and empathy in relation to climate change that simultaneously challenges and lifts us, provokes and provides a muscular hope?
Book Review: One More Round with Norman Mailer
In his centennial year, it’s difficult not to see that Norman Mailer’s literary standing is at an inflection point.
Film Commentary: The Books That Shaped My Film Aesthetic
Here’s a personal list of the 25 most important, influential books about American cinema. Only one book per author.
Rock Remembrance: David Lindley, A Splendidly Cavalier Spirit
Electric guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, saz, oud, Hawaiian guitar, lap steel, fiddle, cittern; if it could be plucked, strummed or bowed, odds are Mr. Dave played it and played it well.
Jazz Remembrance: Tribute to Wayne Shorter
One of the true masters of jazz, Wayne Shorter, passed away during the early hours of March 2. Our writers quickly gathered to express their appreciations of Shorter’s innovations and his long life of constant creativity.
Book Review: “What’s Prison For?” — A Case for Building Trust and Mutual Respect
In this valuable and necessary book Bill Keller argues that American prisons need to accept that men and women don’t stop being human beings because they’re in the custody of the state.
Music Interview: YouTube Algorithm Causes Major Disruption to Jazz Video Guy, Bret Primack
Bret Primack explains how YouTube has basically nuked the Jazz Video Guy channel. And the same thing is happening to other content creators.