Commentary

Theater Commentary: George Takei’s “Allegiance” — Taking Yanks to Task

January 16, 2023
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George Takei’s musical, Allegiance, projects American democracy as it might have become.

The 17th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Poll — My Poll Without Me

January 6, 2023
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This most recent poll also proves the worth of the poll itself — that it doesn’t so much confirm consensus as create it.

Looking Back at the Francis Davis Jazz Poll: Winners 2006-2022 and Memoirs of a Pollwatcher

January 6, 2023
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There exists a worldwide community of journalists and critics who depend on each other to keep tabs on the ever-expanding universe of jazz and it’s more-or-less-affiliated fringes and fusions, and this poll is one of our most effective — and most anticipated — resources.

Film Commentary: The Gratuitous Comic Cruelty of “The Banshees of Inishiren”

January 6, 2023
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The island scenery is stunning and the acting is fine, but at is core Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inishiren is bitter and mean-spirited

Jazz Commentary: Billy Cobham, Then and Now — An Awesome Jazz Drummer

January 4, 2023
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Billy Cobham plays right on top of the beat, and his grooves are impeccable. Maybe he’s not the first drummer you’d call for a loose New Orleans shuffle, but if you could hire the Terminator to be your percussionist, Cobham is your man.

Book Review: A Beautiful Brick in the Wall — Asian Americans and Whites in Pursuit of the American Dream in Suburban Schools

January 2, 2023
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This is an indispensable study for anyone — including scholars, policy makers, and educators — who yearns to better understand how race and culture play out in a rarefied suburban milieu.

Music Feature: 20 Moments That Made Us Glad Live Music Returned in 2022

December 30, 2022
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Still, for all the gloom and doom, there’s no question that a bountiful amount of live music was finally on offer throughout the year as musicians and presenters continued to defy the odds.

Arts Feature: Recommended Books, 2022

December 27, 2022
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An eclectic round-up of the favorite books of the year from our critics.

Visual Arts Commentary: Mid-Century Modern Furniture — Elegant Simplicity and Timeless Aesthetic Style

December 26, 2022
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The allure of clean lines, gentle curves, and organic shapes.

Arts Commentary: The Enduring Dream of a White Christmas

December 23, 2022
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The holiday is celebrated in every part of the world, but only a small portion of those places actually have snow then. So why this enduring notion of a white Christmas?

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