Amazonia

For four decades Sebastiao Salgado has been documenting the human and natural world, from gold mines in South America to migrants in Africa his images have shown parts of the world rarely seen by most humans. His latest gigantic work is Amazonia, which takes us on a journey through an Amazon basin threatened by climate …

Lady Blackbird

Fans of Nina Simone and torch singers of the Jazz era torch singers will fall in love with Lady Blackbird who revives the tradition with modern stylings. the LA-based singer has developed a following over the last few years and her debut album is sure to increase her number of admirers.

Stories from Another Time

Mario Rui Silva is a largely unknown singer-songwriter from the nineteen-eighties. The album ‘Stories From Another Time’ aims to change that. His music is an unlikely combination of Angolan and Portuguese music with the result something akin to Brazilian tropicalia/ bossa nova. It’s certainly one of the discoveries of the year for me.

Lost Not Found

Elliot Erwitt is 93. That’s a lot of time to take photos. Some of his images are the most iconic of the twentieth century but some never made it into print before the book ‘Found Not Lost.’ It gathers unseen shots from his vast portfolio. Many have all the trademark wit and lightness of touch …

Slouching Towards Heaven

Joan Didion is probably among the very best journalists of the twentieth century. The White Album and Slouching towards Bethlehem explained California in a way that only an insider could. Whether she was hanging out with The Doors or working for Vogue in New York she seemed not only super smart but effortlessly chic. One …

Talk Memory

BadBadNotGood are joined on their latest album by Brazilian legend, Arthur Verocai, renown for his self-titled 1972 album beloved by all Brazilian music enthusiasts. The psychedelic opener is a nine-minute jazz fusion track produced by Floating Points, while other collaborators include drummer Kerriem Riggins. Yet the album is more than oddball virtuosity, there are melodies …

Flor

Gretchen Parlato has one of the most unique voices in music. Her jazz stylings are wonderful live, and sound just as good recorded. Her latest album features a heavy (or perhaps a better word is light) Brazilian influence with Airto Moriera joining her on one track. Elsewhere, Gerald Clayton and drummer Mark Guilliani join the …

Squint

Julian Lage can play jazz guitar. Very well. He’s the heir to the throne occupied by previous guitar gods like Kenny Burrell, Grant Green, and West Montgomery. His new album, Squint’ is currently affording me much pleasure and is the perfect mellow late-night listen

State Funeral

Watching the documentary State Funeral I find myself looking at Stalin’s Russia and being not at all surprised at what I see. Grim concrete buildings? Check. Lots of snow? Check. Mournful music? check. Lots of announcements over loud hailers? Check. Smiling and all colors apart from red appear to have been rationed and everyone is …

Legacy

Anyone interested in photography probably recognizes a Helmet Newton photo. The statuesque, amazonian women, the graphic classic styling, and the biting wit often missing from most fashion images. The book ‘Legacy’ is an attempt to collect some of the best images from a career that spanned decades and prove that style will always triumph over …