Cultural Criticism
Review of the photography exhibition, "Diaries," at the Leslie Lohman Museum in Manhattan.
I presented this paper at the conference, "The Three 'Fs' in Italian Culture: Food, Film and Fashion," April 29-30, 2011, New York City
Music Reviews
From Rootsworld, my reviews of two albums by the brilliant Italian singer-singwriter Vinicio Capossela: Marinai, Profeti e Balene (Sailors, Prophets and Whales) and Rebetiko Gymnastas
From PopMatters, Dr. John's "Insides Out" Spring 2012 concert series at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
From PopMatters, a review of the 2012 edition of New York's GlobalFEST
From PopMatters, my review of veteran jazz trumpeter Rava's "Tribe"
Review essay of two African music compilations from the Hugh Tracey archives
"Golden Afrique Volumes 2 and 3" collect great African recordings, from the 1930s to the 1980s.
Remembering the Incredible String Band
Book Reviews
From The Italian American Review (Summer 2012)
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)
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"
History
Veteran New York left-wing politico Frank Barbaro recalls his radical life
Nonfiction
"Finally, a book that helps to explain America’s enduring fascination with the mythology of the Mafia."
--JOHN TURTURRO
My report for I-Italy of "Gomorrah" author Roberto Saviano's 2011 lecture at New York University
Labor journalist Sam Pizzigati on American inequality, corporate malfeasance, and Obama's economics
"A Finook in the Crew: Vito Spatafore, The Sopranos, and the Queering of the Mafia Genre"
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
Film Criticism
This new collection of critical essays from University of Toronto covers the mafia/organized crime film genre like no previous book.
