Are You Panting for a Good Book?

The Barking Goose Bookstore, Bar & Cafe is selling signed copies of my new novel, “Louey Levy’s Perfect Pitch.” The Barking Goose is the place to go to enjoy good friends, good books and good beers. It’s on North Plank Road in the little “mall” that’s DIRECTLY across from the I-84 East exit ramp, in the Town of Newburgh. (If you’re on that exit ramp, stay in the left lane.) http://bit.ly/2SK6LXW

Of course, “Louey Levy’s Perfect Pitch” is also for sale at Amazon.com and BN.com, but it’s sooo much better to buy local — and The Barking Goose has signed copies!

In this sequel to “Louey Levy’s Greatest Catch” (which is also for sale at the Barking Goose), Louey is in college during the late 1960s. The battle for abortion rights is on; the Vietnam War is on; the Sexual Revolution is on; and somehow, despite everything, the hilarity is off the charts. Get your copy today, and let me know how you like it!

The Vintage Advantage

My new novel, “Louey Levy’s Perfect Pitch,” is now for sale at The Newburgh Vintage Emporium, that cool place on Rt. 9W just before (or after, if you’re headed south) the ramp to Rt. 84 East. The shop has lots of great Newburgh-related stuff, and it’s a fun place to wander around after picking up a copy of “Louey Levy’s Greatest Catch” or the brand-new sequel, “Perfect Pitch.”

While you’re there, say hello to my friend Anthony.

Let me know how you enjoy “Perfect Pitch!”

The “secret passage” into and out of the Newburgh Vintage Emporium is off of North Plank Road, next to the V&V Steakhouse. (This tip is provided for anyone who can’t figure out how to get into the Emporium parking lot without ending up in Connec…

The “secret passage” into and out of the Newburgh Vintage Emporium is off of North Plank Road, next to the V&V Steakhouse. (This tip is provided for anyone who can’t figure out how to get into the Emporium parking lot without ending up in Connecticut.) Stop by to get your copy of “Louey Levy’s Perfect Pitch!”

The Thing They Tell You, and the Other Thing They Tell You

First they tell you one thing, then they tell you another thing. Have you, too, heard these contradictory “things”?

THE THING THEY TELL YOU: Park as far away from the Mall entrance as possible, so that you get some exercise walking to and from your car when you do your shopping.

THE OTHER THING THEY TELL YOU: Park as close to the Mall entrance as possible, even if you have to drive around for 20 minutes to get a good spot, to minimize your chances of getting mugged in the lot.

THE THING THEY TELL YOU: Always put your emergency brake on when you park, so your car doesn’t roll away.

THE OTHER THING THEY TELL YOU: Never put your emergency brake on unless you’re on a steep hill, to avoid wearing out your emergency brake.

THE THING THEY TELL YOU: Keep written records of all your financial information, especially your taxes, so that when you need to turn them over to your family (or a lawyer) some day, they’ll be easily accessible.

THE OTHER THING THEY TELL YOU: Keep all your records electronically, so you don’t waste paper.

THE THING THEY TELL YOU: Toss out all expired medicines; if you use expired ones, they can make you sick, or at least be ineffective. The dates are on the bottles for your protection.

THE OTHER THING THEY TELL YOU: You can use medicines, including over-the-counter ones, almost indefinitely. The dates are on the bottles so the manufacturers can get you to buy more.

THE THING THEY TELL YOU: Sign the back of your credit cards as soon as you receive them, so you can prove they’re yours.

THE OTHER THING THEY TELL YOU: Never sign the back of a credit card; if it gets stolen, now the thief has not only your credit card, but also your signature.

THE THING THEY TELL YOU: Let water run from your faucet for 5 minutes before drinking it, to make sure the lead and other toxins are flushed from your pipes.

THE OTHER THING THEY TELL YOU: Hold your glass under your faucet immediately upon turning it on, so as not to waste water.

What contradictory bits of advice have you heard? I have a feeling this is just “Part 1” of a series of blogs on this theme.

Friday's Hike Down (and Back Up) the Palisades

You’ve seen the Palisades a thousand times from the train on the east side of the Hudson, just before you reach New York City. Don’t you ever wish you could hug those rocks, spidering all the way to the bottom? Tim and i started at the top, hiked past an oddly friendly deer and a castle, and then down to the shore. Steep as it was, that was the fun part. Getting back up was a bit much. Here are some photos.

The New Jersey Federation of Women’s Clubs built this “castle”, halfway down the Palisades, for … some reason that must have made sense at the time. You can climb to the top for great views across the Hudson, though.

The New Jersey Federation of Women’s Clubs built this “castle”, halfway down the Palisades, for … some reason that must have made sense at the time. You can climb to the top for great views across the Hudson, though.

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Palisades, on the New York-New Jersey border. They are steep and they are very far above the river. Don’t fall down!

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Palisades, on the New York-New Jersey border. They are steep and they are very far above the river. Don’t fall down!

“We can see Jon’s apartment from here!” Our son Jon lives in the Grystone building, in Yonkers.

“We can see Jon’s apartment from here!” Our son Jon lives in the Grystone building, in Yonkers.

It is a loooong way down to the river. Don’t jump!

It is a loooong way down to the river. Don’t jump!

But then finally you reach the bottom, and walking the shoreline trail feels like the most glorious thing anyone could do.

But then finally you reach the bottom, and walking the shoreline trail feels like the most glorious thing anyone could do.

Enjoy the sun on some yellow poplar leaves as you start the long trek back up to the top. What a great hike!

Enjoy the sun on some yellow poplar leaves as you start the long trek back up to the top. What a great hike!

The Era of Jane Crow is Upon Us

One hundred years ago, our nation was still in the throes of the era of Jim Crow. Yes, the 13th Amendment had abolished slavery in 1865 and yes, the 14th Amendment, in 1868, had granted former slaves citizenship, and yes, the 15th Amendment, in 1870, had even given male former slaves the right to vote (50 years before any women in the U.S. won that right).

But 11 Southern states had formed their own country rather than give up slavery, and those states began concocting other means of keeping black folks from enjoying the benefits of the law of the land.

As soon as the last federal troops withdrew from Southern soil and Reconstruction ended, in 1877, the former Confederate states fought on the local and state levels to thwart all federal laws recognizing black people as citizens, much less as equals to whites. They pointed to “states’ rights” as their rationalization for instituting poll taxes as a voting requirement and for mandating the segregation of blacks and whites in education, employment, housing, transportation, restaurants, pools, parks, hotels, theaters and more. This is not even to mention the discriminatory Southern justice system, or the constant terrorism aimed at blacks in the form of lynchings, home burnings, and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan. All of these lasted well into the 20th century.

Since 1973, we have had a new law in this land – the Roe v. Wade decision, enshrining the right of women to choose whether and when to bear children. But today we are seeing the rise of Jane Crow: harmful laws enacted by fearful men in various state legislatures that are making a federally legal medical procedure, arrived at by a woman and her doctor, nearly impossible to obtain.

Reactionary state legislators saw President Trump’s appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court as an invitation to pass anti-abortion legislation. They’re actually hoping these laws will be challenged and end up before the now conservative court, which would overturn the right to have an abortion.

Most states abide by the Roe decision, which legalizes abortion until the fetus reaches viability, usually at 24 to 28 weeks. But Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Ohio have prohibited abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. In reality this is a complete ban, since most women do not even learn they are pregnant until they are more than six weeks along. Alabama recently passed a ban on all abortions, even in cases of rape.

And now that we have entered the era of Jane Crow, who knows what will happen next?

The assault on women’s reproductive rights is in full swing. Ninety percent of the counties in the U.S. have no abortion clinic at all; in Texas, it’s 96%. We now have to travel many miles for this crucial service. Who can take off from work to do that? Who can afford childcare during that time? Unsurprisingly, Jane Crow laws harm minority women more drastically than white women.

The Jim Crow era really dragged on until the 1960s, with the advent of that decade’s Civil Rights laws. Let’s keep the Jane Crow era from lasting a similar hundred years or more. If politicians don’t trust women to make good decisions about our health and our families’ wellbeing, we shouldn’t trust them to lead our states or our nation.

Vote them out: End Jane Crow now.

Newburgh: Tree City, USA!

Newburgh has once again been designated a “Tree City, USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation. This means we plant trees to shade, clean, and protect our city’s natural environment for the benefit of our own and our kids’ future. Yesterday we planted a beautiful Kwanzan Cherry Tree on Liberty Street in front of the Flour Shop, to match the other gorgeous cherry trees on that street. Come and check them out!

Newburgh’s Acting City Manager Joe Donat joined DPW workers, City Council and Conservation Advisory Council members, business owners and city activists like Dr. Hannah Brooks and her little friend Hudson in planting a cherry tree yesterday on Libert…

Newburgh’s Acting City Manager Joe Donat joined DPW workers, City Council and Conservation Advisory Council members, business owners and city activists like Dr. Hannah Brooks and her little friend Hudson in planting a cherry tree yesterday on Liberty Street. Thanks to everyone who participated!

You Know You're Old When ...

The TH-Record did a feature on me today (“The Addled and Anile,” i think, is the title of their new section) and you might enjoy not only reading the “story” on Page A-7 but also knowing that the ads on the bottom of the page were for two elder-law firms and the paper itself. I guess that’s where they’re going now, playing to their drooling and dribbling remaining readership.

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Jazz at Atlas Kicks Off New Season on March 30; Tickets Available Now!

Jazz at Atlas (J@A) will kick off its 2019 season with a concert by the acclaimed and innovative trio Thumbscrew. The group will perform on Saturday, March 30 at 8 PM at 11 Spring St., just off Liberty Street in downtown Newburgh. There is ample onsite parking. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door — tickets are available now at https://thumbscrew.brownpapertickets.com.

Thumbscrew features three gifted musicians and composers — guitarist Mary Halvorson, bassist Michael Formanek and drummer/percussionist Tomas Fujiwara — performing their own compositions and selected standards with an exacting prowess wedded to a liberated swing. 

Guitarist and composer Mary Halvorson has been described as "NYC's least-predictable improviser" (Howard Mandel, City Arts), "one of the most exciting and original guitarists in jazz—or otherwise" (Steve Dollar, Wall Street Journal), and "one of today’s most formidable bandleaders" (Francis Davis, Village Voice). In recent Downbeat Critics Polls she has been celebrated as guitarist, rising star jazz artist, and rising star composer of the year. One of New York City's most in-demand guitarists, Halvorson is also part of several collaborative projects, most notably Thumbscrew.

One mark of bassist Michael Formanek's versatility is the wide range of distinguished musicians he's worked with. While still a teenager in the 1970s, he toured with drummer Tony Williams and saxophonist Joe Henderson; starting in the '80s he played long stints with Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Fred Hersch and Freddie Hubbard. Formanek is also a composer and leader of various bands. His occasional groups include the 18-piece all-star Ensemble Kolossus, which recorded their first CD of all-Formanek originals for the prestigious ECM label. The CD, The Distance, was released in 2016 and in addition to numerous other accolades, earned a five-star review in Downbeat. Formanek also teaches bass, composition, and improvisation in a wide range of locations in the US as well as internationally.

Tomas Fujiwara has been described as "an artist whose urbane writing is equal to his impressively nuanced drumming" (Troy Collins, Point of Departure). He’s an active player in some of today’s most exciting music. In The New York Times, Nate Chinen says Fujiwara “works with rhythm as a pliable substance, solid but ever shifting. He has a way of spreading out the center of a pulse while setting up a rigorous scaffolding of restraint ... A conception of the drum set as a full-canvas instrument, almost orchestral in its scope." Fujiwara also has many experiences outside the jazz realm, including a five-year run with the Off-Broadway show Stomp and performances with the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Fela!, featuring Patti Labelle.

Jazz at Atlas is a cooperative project of musician, writer and multimedia artist James Keepnews, and music researcher, radio host and Triple Point Records owner/producer Ben Young. Along with presenting performances by world-renowned creative musicians, J@A also offers listening sessions, dialogues with artists and classes covering the entire spectrum of creative music.

Upcoming concerts in J@A's 2019 season include:
4/20: Sun of Goldfinger —
 Returning to the Hudson Valley after their memorable closing set for the 2015 Beacon Jazz Festival, alto saxophonist Tim Berne, electric guitarist David Torn and drummer Ches Smith will be touring in support of their debut recording for ECM Records.

6/22: Ticonderoga — Four phenomenal musicians — Joe McPhee, Jamie Saft, Joe Morris and Charles Downs — invoke the spirit of the late John Coltrane and their own unique musical paths to forge a stirring, passionate fire sermon of a quartet.

7/27: Darius Jones' Shades of Black — Called "the most visceral and distinctive alto saxophonist of this era" by The New York Times, composer/altoist Jones convenes a quartet of outstanding talents featuring Sam Newsome on soprano saxophone, Cooper-Moore on organ and Michael Wimberly on drums.

10/5: Karen Borca Quartet — Borca, an innovative, under-recognized bassoonist, with decades of experience in the ensembles of such major artists as Cecil Taylor, Jimmy Lyons, William Parker and others, leads this thrilling quartet of veteran creative musicians including Warren Smith on vibes, Hilliard Greene on bass and Jackson Krall on drums.

Thumbscrew, one of the most innovative and talented jazz trios in the nation, will be playing at Newburgh’s Jazz at Atlas on March 30.

Thumbscrew, one of the most innovative and talented jazz trios in the nation, will be playing at Newburgh’s Jazz at Atlas on March 30.

Meals on Wheels Needs Volunteers!

Here’s one plate we can all step up to: Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh is looking for volunteers. Adults of any age can help by driving or delivering the hot, nutritious meals that are cooked fresh each morning Monday through Friday at MOW headquarters at 35 Cerone Place. Volunteers arrive at 10:45 am to gather up the meals, and usually finish making their “rounds” by noon.

“You can volunteer to help out for just that hour or so on any particular weekday you want, or on any combination of days – or on all five weekdays, if you prefer!” said Executive Director Robin Bello. Volunteers usually go out in pairs – one drives, and the other knocks on doors of our clients, who can’t cook for themselves, to hand-deliver these much-appreciated fresh meals.

“Some recipients request, and receive, frozen meals to see them through the weekend, as well. We make special meals for those with diabetes, and we deliver special ‘treats’ on holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Our volunteers often say it’s the most rewarding work they’ve ever done. And the camaraderie that develops among our volunteer teams is another factor that really makes this work so special,” added President Carole McDermott.

MOW of Greater Newburgh, a 501 (c)(3) charity founded in 1972, serves the homebound in the City of Newburgh and the Towns of Newburgh and New Windsor.

To volunteer or for more information, call Ms. Bello at 845-562-3490 between 9 am and 1 pm any weekday, or visit www.MealsonWheelsNewburgh.org and follow the prompts.

Call 845-562-3490 TODAY to volunteer just an hour a week for Meals on Wheels. I love doing it, and so will you!

Call 845-562-3490 TODAY to volunteer just an hour a week for Meals on Wheels. I love doing it, and so will you!

"First, They Came for the Reporters ... "

“ … we don’t know what happened after that.”

That’s the wording of a two-panel cartoon quoted in a recent column by the great Texan, Jim Hightower. (If you don’t read his newsletter, The Hightower Lowdown, you should start today.)

It sort of says it all.

That column was censored by the Creators Syndicate, which distributes his column to newspapers nationwide. The story behind that chillng decision is detailed in the Texas Observer, and you can read it here: http://bit.ly/2PSuDp0.

Basically, the column calls out the thieving newspaper chains that are destroying real journalism. These “hedge-fund scavengers know nothing about journalism and care less.”

High on his list of such villains is GateHouse Media, owner of, among dozens of other papers, the Middletown Times Herald-Record, which has been shedding reporters and copy editors at an alarming rate. They’re down to just eight beleaguered reporters now.

G-d help us all.

Jim Hightower, Poet, Philosopher, Cowboy and Hero.

Jim Hightower, Poet, Philosopher, Cowboy and Hero.

Happy Birthday, Frederica!

Happy Birthday to Newburgh’s own Frederica Warner, who turns 101 today! (Yup, 101. She was born before women could vote in the U.S.!) She has too many achievements to list here, but probably her greatest was founding Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh. Our Meals on Wheels delivers fresh, hot, nutritious meals to the homebound and needy. Volunteer or donate in Frederica’s honor by calling 845-562-3490 or by going to mealsonwheelsnewburgh.org, anytime. Here are two great stories about Frederica:

http://bit.ly/2QyjVck

http://bit.ly/2Em6h56

Happy 101st Birthday, Frederica! And many more!

Happy 101st Birthday, Frederica! And many more!

Let's Play Newburgh Water-Main Break Bingo!

After watching Newburgh’s Water and Public Works Departments work this afternoon on our FOURTH WATER-MAIN BREAK IN 24 HOURS, I have invented a game that will surely be the hit of the winter season: “Newburgh Water-Main Break Bingo.”

 FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Start playing today.

To begin: Make a grid five boxes wide by five boxes long. Write the word “Broadway” in the center box.

To play: Fill in the rest of the boxes with the names of any 24 streets in the City. Whenever there’s a water-main break on any of the streets you’ve named, put an “X” over that street’s name. When five in a row of your streets, either across, vertically, or diagonally, experience a break, YOU WIN!*

*Multiple winners are allowed; indeed, they are expected. What do you win, you ask? Well, for one thing (in fact, the only thing): PROMINENT MENTION on Nextdoor Newburgh; on this very website (www.TheNewburghNews.com); and on my Twitter account, which has TENS of followers!

MUST BE A NEWBURGH RESIDENT. ONLY ONE WINNER PER FAMILY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

 

 

Newburgh’s DPW and Water Department workers, supervised by Water Chief Wayne Vradenburgh, work on their FOURTH (4TH) water-main break today. This one was on Ann Street between Mill and William streets.

Newburgh’s DPW and Water Department workers, supervised by Water Chief Wayne Vradenburgh, work on their FOURTH (4TH) water-main break today. This one was on Ann Street between Mill and William streets.

Newburgh's Jazz at Atlas Presents the Wayne Horvitz Trio Saturday Night



For the final concert of its 2018 season, Jazz at Atlas is presenting the acclaimed pianist, composer and bandleader Wayne Horvitz, leading a trio featuring Geoff Harper on bass and Eric Eagle on drums, in advance of their new recording on Songlines Records, The Snowghost Sessions. The Wayne Horvitz Trio will perform at Atlas Studios on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 8 PM. Atlas Studios is at 11 Spring St., Newburgh. Ample onsite parking is available. Tickets are $20 the night of the concert and $15 in advance. Advance tickets are available at https://waynehorvitz.brownpapertickets.com.

A noted figure in NYC's Downtown music scene of the 1980's and 90's — and, alongside John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Fred Frith and Joey Baron, a founding member of the barrier-breaking band Naked City — Wayne Horvitz is a composer, pianist and electronic musician who has performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Along with, he h Naked City, he has performed and collaborated with such noted artists as Butch Morris, George Lewis, Robin Holcomb, William Parker, Julian Priester, Michael Shrieve and Carla Bley, among others. He has also produced records for Fontella Bass, World Saxophone Quartet, Human Feel, Marty Ehrlich, The Living Daylights, Bill Frisell and Eddie Palmieri. He has received commissions from the NEA, Meet the Composer, Kronos String Quartet, Seattle Chamber Players, BAM, and Earshot Jazz. Past collaborators also include Paul Taylor, Liz Lerman, Bill Irwin and Gus Van Sant. He has been the recipient of numerous awards including two MAP grants and the NEA American Masterpiece award. He is the music programmer for The Royal Room, a performance venue in Seattle, Washington, and a professor of composition at the Cornish College of the Arts. 

Jazz at Atlas is a cooperative project of musician, writer and multimedia artist James Keepnews; and music researcher, radio host and producer Ben Young. Along with presenting performances by world-renowned creative musicians, JAA will also be offering listening sessions, dialogues with artists, and classes covering the entire spectrum of creative music in all its varied manifestations around the world and throughout its history.

Horvitz is a damn fine musician with an ear for a groove." — Alternative Press

"On piano, Horvitz is economical yet lyrical, never venturing far from the strong melodic hooks which characterize his compositions, but constantly working small surprises. An irresistible antidote to gray days." — The Wire UK

 

Wayne Horvitz brings his trio to Newburgh’s coolest venue, Jazz at Atlas, this Saturday!

Wayne Horvitz brings his trio to Newburgh’s coolest venue, Jazz at Atlas, this Saturday!

Big-Band Jazz Coming to Newburgh's Jazz at Atlas This Saturday!

“Matt Lavelle is one of the bright lights in today's avant-garde jazz scene, his trumpet and clarinet exploding with passionate spirit and unwavering intent."
  — Florence Wetzel, All About Jazz
 

Jazz at Atlas is proud to present the first big band as part of its live music series, the fiery artistry and lionhearted bravado of 

Matt Lavelle and The 12 Houses Orchestra


Matt Lavelle and The 12 Houses Orchestra will perform at Atlas Studios, 11 Spring St., Newburgh, N.Y. on Saturday, September 29 at 8 PM. Tickets will be $30 at the door and $25 in advance. Get your advance tickets now at https://12houses.brownpapertickets.com.
This daring ensemble features many leading lights of the most forward-thinking wing of NYC jazz, while also boasting some of the most eclectic instrumentation of any big band playing today. This performance will mark the first appearance in the Orchestra by the acclaimed violinist and long-time member of the legendary Cecil Taylor Unit, Ramsey Ameen. For their Jazz at Atlas concert, the 12 Houses Orchestra lineup will include:

Matt Lavelle: compositions, conduction, trumpet, alto clarinet
Ramsey Ameen: violin
Sweet Lee Odom: alto and soprano saxophones, clarinet
Charles Waters: alto saxophone, clarinet
Ras Moshe: tenor and soprano saxophones, percussion 
Linda Sikhakhane: tenor saxophone
Art Baron: trombone 
Mary Cherney: flute 
Jack DeSalvo: guitar
Chris Forbes piano 
Anais Maviel: vocals
Ar'Braf-Brafmatic: rapping
Mark Hagen: bass
Jeremy Carlstedt: drums 

Matt Lavelle is a trumpet, flugelhorn, bass and alto clarinet player, composer, writer and educator based in New York City. He began his music career with Hildred Humphries, a swing-era veteran who played with Count Basie and Billie Holiday. He has played in ensembles led by Sabir Mateen since 2002. In 2005, Lavelle began studies with Ornette Coleman. Lavelle was a member of the Bern Nix Quartet from 2010-2017. Lavelle recorded with Giuseppi Logan in 2010. In 2011, Lavelle created the 12 Houses Orchestra. Lavelle records for Unseen Rain and has just released a record on the legendary ESP-Disk record label, a duo with drummer Reggie Sylvester titled Retrograde.

Lavelle has played and collaborated with Ornette Coleman, William Parker, Warren Smith, Henry Grimes, Bern Nix, Eric Mingus, Sabir Mateen, Roy Campbell, Daniel Carter, Jemeel Moondoc, Mat Maneri, Ras Moshe, Hilliard Greene, Steve Swell, Matana Roberts, Jack DeSalvo, Charles Downs, Tom Cabrera, Francois Grilliot, Giuseppi Logan, William Hooker and many others.

Lavelle published his first book, New York City Subway Drama and Beyond, in 2011. In 2013 he published a second book titled The Jazz Musician’s Tarot Deck. Lavelle is also the author of the blog No Sound Left Behind: http://www.nosoundleftbehind.com. He teaches Jazz History for the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University.

Don’t miss Matt Lavelle and the 12 Houses Orchestra, Sept. 29 at 8 pm at Jazz at Atlas, 11 Spring Street in Newburgh. See you there!

Don’t miss Matt Lavelle and the 12 Houses Orchestra, Sept. 29 at 8 pm at Jazz at Atlas, 11 Spring Street in Newburgh. See you there!

Mollie Tibbetts's Murder Proves We Should "Build That Wall"

Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts was brutally murdered by a Christian recently. That should be the last straw.

When Timothy McVeigh, a Christian, killed dozens of innocent Americans in Oklahoma, our country did nothing about it. When two Christian kids in Columbine High School killed a dozen other students and a teacher, that didn’t spark any action, either. Christians have also murdered Alston Sterling, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile, Jordan Edwards and too many others to name.

Speaking of “too many others,” how about the thousands of Americans whom Christians have lynched? (“Lynching,” to be clear, means, with no trial, hung from a tree, often after torture, and left to dangle in public to terrify black people.) 

The solution is obvious. We need security, people! We must build a wall to keep Christians out of our country. Or if we don’t have the guts to do that, at least deny entry to people from majority-Christian countries.

Who’s with me?

Ted Daniel at Atlas July 21 to Celebrate Music of Jazz Legend "King" Oliver

Jazz at Atlas will present lifelong Hudson Valley resident and celebrated trumpeter, cornetist and composer Ted Daniel and his ensemble, the International Brass & Membrane Corps (IBMC), at Atlas Studios, 11 Spring St. in Newburgh, NY, on Saturday, July 21 at 8 PM. General admission is $20 at the door. No advance tickets will be available.

The IBMC brings a contemporary reading to the early New Orleans jazz of Joseph “King” Oliver and features leader Daniel on cornet, Marvin Sewell on guitar, Joseph Daley on tuba and Newman Taylor Baker on drums. This group was conceived as a flexible and expandable creative music performance group, which utilizes instruments from the brass and membrane instrument families.

The evening will be not only a concert, but also a party: IBMC is celebrating the release of their new CD, Zulu’s Ball -- Ted Daniel Plays the Music of King Oliver, on Altura Records. 

Daniel has lived most of his life in Ossining. A leading figure in the NYC loft jazz scene in the 1970s, Daniel has recorded and performed with such other major artists as Sam Rivers, Archie Shepp, Dewey Redman, Andrew Cyrille, Billy Bang, Henry Threadgill, and Defunkt while also leading groups of his own. His IBMC is a powerful quartet of equals with equally long histories in the music and demonstrates how even the oldest forms of jazz can be approached with both respect and contemporary freshness.

Jazz at Atlas is a cooperative effort of musician, writer and multimedia artist James Keepnews and music researcher, radio host and producer Ben Young. Along with presenting performances by world-renowned creative musicians, JAA also offers listening sessions, dialogues with artists and classes covering the entire spectrum of creative music.

Daniel studied trumpet in elementary school, and began his professional career playing local gigs with his childhood friend, the legendary guitarist Sonny Sharrock. Daniel briefly attended Berklee School of Music and Southern Illinois University, before a tour of duty with U.S. Army Bands. After his discharge from the Army, Daniel attended Central State College, Ohio, on a full music scholarship, where he met and studied with Dr. Makanda Ken McIntyre. He earned a bachelor of music degree in theory and composition from the City College of New York.

He recorded Sonny Sharrock's first album, Black Woman. His second recording was with a band he co-led (Brute Force) with his brother, Richard Daniel, produced by Herbie Mann. Since then, Daniel has participated in more than 30 published recordings.

Daniel has held workshops at Amherst College, Bennington College, Williams College and the University of Hosei in Tokyo, Japan. He has also conducted a seminar in Madrid, Spain, and led summer music workshops for high-school and college-age students. Daniel has produced three albums under his own name: The Ted Daniel Sextet on Ujamaa Records, Tapestry on Sun Records, and In The Beginning on Altura.

Daniel has been the recipient of an NEA compositional grant and also won a "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" Award from Downbeat Magazine.

In 2008, Porter Records reissued Daniel’s Tapestry album, with a bonus track from the original performance of 1974 recorded at Ornette Coleman's Artist House. Daniel has also formed a duo called Duology with Michael Marcus on B-flat clarinet and Daniel on trumpet and assorted brass. Their first release, the self-titled Duology, on Boxholder Records, won excellent reviews. Duology's second CD on Soul Note Records, entitled Golden Atoms, was released in June 2008. In May 2009, Ujamaa Records released the Ted Daniel Trio CD The Loft Years, Volume One.

 

Cornetist Ted Daniel and his band, the International Brass & Membrane Corps, will play at Newburgh's Jazz at Atlas July 21. It will be a celebration of the release of their new CD. Don't miss it!

Cornetist Ted Daniel and his band, the International Brass & Membrane Corps, will play at Newburgh's Jazz at Atlas July 21. It will be a celebration of the release of their new CD. Don't miss it!

Great Jazz Concert this Saturday in Newburgh!

Put this on your "Don't Miss" list: The jazz group Broken Shadows will be playing in Newburgh at 8 pm on Saturday, May 19 at Jazz at Atlas, 11 Spring Street. The cats are: Tim Berne on alto sax; Dave King on drums; Chris Speed on tenor sax and clarinet; and Reid Anderson on bass. Admission is $20 at the door. (The tricky part is FINDING the door! It's on the "big" part of the parking lot, not the smaller part that you see when you first drive through the gate. When the loading dock is straight ahead of you, you're there!)

Jazz at Atlas is in the heart of downtown, just a half-block off Liberty Street. Calabash (Caribbean Island cuisine) and Seoul Kitchen (Korean delights) are on the corner, and Liberty Street Bistro, Ms. Fairfax and Caffe Macchiato are just steps away. Come and enjoy great live music, and a great evening out!

Broken Shadows will be playing some great sounds for us on Saturday. Just $20 at the door!

Broken Shadows will be playing some great sounds for us on Saturday. Just $20 at the door!