Music Reviews
From PopMatters, Dr. John's "Insides Out" concert series at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
From PopMatters, my review of veteran jazz trumpeter Rava's "Tribe"
"Golden Afrique Volumes 2 and 3" collect great African recordings, from the 1930s to the 1980s.
From PopMatters, a review of the 2012 edition of New York's GlobalFEST
From soundtrack composer, singer and percussionist Antonio Castrignanó
Remembering the Incredible String Band
The Band's drummer makes an Americana classic
Review essay of two African music compilations from the Hugh Tracey archives
Book Reviews
Review of Suzanna Danuta Walters' study of the increased gay presence in American politics and culture (The Nation)
Review of the final book by Tobias Schneebaum, author of "Keep the River on Your Right" (The Nation)
Review of Timothy White's Bob Marley biography, "Catch a Fire" (The Nation)
Tom Santopietro considers "The Godfather Effect"
The Inspector Montalbano detective stories are best-sellers in Italy and have a devoted international following.
Daniel Okrent's "Last Call" is a rich and gripping social history of Prohibition
Angelo Quattrocchi's delivers a scathing and often hilarious critique of papal homophobia
Keith Richard's memoir "Life"
Music Features
Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino brings the pizzica tarantata to North America
Howlin' Wolf's "Rocking Chair" album, track by track, from PopMatters
An Interview with jazz master Joe Lovano
Roy Paci and Aretuska bring their global sound to America
Cultural Criticism
I presented this paper at the conference, "The Three 'Fs' in Italian Culture: Food, Film and Fashion," April 29-30, 2011, New York City
Film Criticism
This new collection of critical essays from University of Toronto covers the mafia/organized crime film genre like no previous book.
Nonfiction
"Finally, a book that helps to explain America’s enduring fascination with the mythology of the Mafia."
--JOHN TURTURRO
Labor journalist Sam Pizzigati on American inequality, corporate malfeasance, and Obama's economics
History
Veteran New York left-wing politico Frank Barbaro recalls his radical life
