#Dennis Lichtman

[burlveneer-music]

Ghost Train Orchestra & Kronos Quartet - Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of Moondog

On "Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of Moondog," Ghost Train Orchestra teams up with the trailblazing Kronos Quartet to celebrate and reimagine the music of Louis Hardin, aka Moondog, the ground-breaking composer and poet who lived on the streets of New York City in the 50s and 60s, and influenced the minimalists Philip Glass, Steve Reich and Terry Riley. A blind composer who moved from Kansas to New York City and built his own instruments and mythology, Moondog's story and music continue to be an inspiration to many. Along with guests Sam Amidon, Jarvis Cocker, Petra Haden, Karen Mantler, Marissa Nadler, Aoife O'Donovan, Rufus Wainwright and Joan Wasser, the two groups explore Moondog's sense of whimsy, wonder and adventure through a cross-section of songs and instrumentals for large ensemble, string ensemble, percussion and voice. The vinyl and CD packages include an essay by biographer Robert Scotto, Moondog's song lyrics, extensive in-studio photographs by Dan Efram, and an interview with Kronos Quartet founder David Harrington and Ghost Train Orchestra founder Brian Carpenter, mediated by music historian Irwin Chusid. Kronos Quartet David Harrington - violin John Sherba - violin Hank Dutt - viola Sunny Yang - cello Ghost Train Orchestra Brian Carpenter, trumpet, harmonica, vocals Andy Laster, alto saxophone, flute Dennis Lichtman, clarinet Matt Bauder, bass clarinet, tenor, baritone saxophones Sara Schoenbeck, bassoon Curtis Hasselbring, trombone, guitar Ron Caswell, tuba Brandon Seabrook, guitar Chris Lightcap, bass Rob Garcia, drums David Cossin, marimba, percussion Maxim Moston, violin Colin Stetson, bass saxophone Guests: Sam Amidon, Jarvis Cocker, Petra Haden, Karen Mantler, Marissa Nadler, Aoife O'Donovan, Rufus Wainwright, and Joan Wasser All new arrangements by Ghost Train Orchestra Dedicated to the memory of Hal Willner

#Ghost Train Orchestra #kronos quartet #moondog #covers #modern classical #outsider music #2023 #jazz #Bandcamp

[jazztidbits]

MY BLUE HEAVEN - Mona's Hot Four

MONA'S HOT FOUR: Dennis Lichtman: clarinet Gordon Webster: piano Nick Russo: guitar/banjo Jared Engel: bass filmed at Mona's Bar in New York City on Tuesday, February 7, 2012

#youtube

[roadwarrioragency]

Jerron Paxton & Dennis Lichtman video anthology from Joe's Pub.

#youtube

[davidisen]

Music Safari NYC, March 2024

If I'm in New York on Sunday night, chance are I'll be at the jam session at The Ear. So it was on Sunday, March 17, also known as St. Paddy's day. You can see how The Ear got its name - the back of the B wore off. It's existed like a couple hundred years, since it was right on the bank of the Hudson.

The Ear-Regular band of the week was Martin Wind (bass), Chris Flory (guitar), Ricky Alexander (reeds) and Scott Robinson (everything else).

Scott had this instrument, an octavin, a 19th century reed instrument. If multi-instrumentalism is viewed as a spectrum, Scott's way out in the barely-visible range.

Mondays are bluegrass nights at Mona's. The band included unknown (help if anybody knows this guy), Chris Luckette (mandolin) and Rick Snell (guitar).

Tuesday, March 19 was especially hot at Mona's.

The house band was Kerry Lewis, Jr. (bass), Brennen Ernst (piano), Dennis Lichtman (clarinet and saxes), Jay Rattman (clarinet and saxes), and Josh Dunn (guitar & banjo). The first tune was particularly energetic. It entered my ears the way water slides down a parched throat. I had a whole body yes-spasm.

Josh Dunn's guitar playing was particularly energetic and creative. But then so were Dennis and Jay on reeds.

Brennen Ernst had an acoustic surprise on almost every solo, and his comping was tasty and understated.

By the middle of the second set, the house band had rotated out (except Brennen), and a whole new cast of musicians kept it rolling. This pic shows Brennen (piano), Unknown (banjo), Jen Hodge (bass), Unknown, but I've seen him before (trumpet) Charlie Roman (vocals, but then, later, guitar), Unknown, but I've seen him before (sax), and Ryan Weisheit (sax). Help me identify the musicians I don't know - email me at [email protected].

The night was particularly splendid, and the melody seemed to say that the music is here to stay, let's marvel while we may.

#hot jazz #traditional jazz #Monas #bluegrass

[xpressbus]

#SummerForTheCity @lincolncenter Queen Esther @thisisqueenesther Cindy Cashdollar - steel guitar @shotofsilvercindycashdollar Dennis Lichtman - violin + vocals @dennislichtman Justin Poindexter - guitar + vocals @poindexter.justin Wallace Stelzer - double bass @the_first_jazzvenger Steve Williams - drums https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzWFGJ (at Lincoln Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfiQ6mGDO7B/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#summerforthecity

[jgthirlwell]

This Sunday February 2nd 2020 at (le) poisson rouge in NYC, Brian Carpenter's Ghost Train Orchestra will perform a concert of interpretations of the works of Moondog with special guest singers JG Thirlwell, Karen Mantler, Joan Wasser, and Theo Bleckmann. For this concert Ghost Train Orchestra will be a 14 piece comprising of Matt Bauder, Andy Laster, Dennis Lichtman, Ron Caswell, Sara Schoenbeck, Curtis Hasselbring, Sara Caswell, Rob Garcia, Dina Maccabee, Maxim Moston, David Cossin, Chris Lightcap and Alex Waterman. Tix here

#Brian Carpenter #Ghost Train Orchestra #JG Thirlwell #Karen Mantler #Joan Wasser #Theo Bleckmann #Matt Bauder #Andy Laster #Dennis Lichtman #Ron Caswell #Sara Schoenbeck #Curtis Hasselbring #Sara Caswell #Rob Garcia #Dina Maccabee #Maxim Moston #David Cossin #Chris Lightcap #Alex Waterman #(le) poisson rouge

[audioessays]

Audio Essays Podcast, Episode 1: Brian Carpenter

(Click on the .mp3 link at the top to stream via DropBox)

Here is the debut of my interview show: the Audio Essays Podcast.

Episode 1 features an interview with Brian Carpenter of the Ghost Train Orchestra.  Brian talks about the creation of the band, the inspiration for the band’s Book of Rhapsodies albums, arranging for the band, and the research that goes into each album.

Thanks to Brian, and continued success to the Ghost Train Orchestra.  Keep an eye out for their next album exploring the music of Moondog.

Thanks for listening.  I’d love to hear feedback.  Feel free to email me at [email protected].

                                              Keep Listening!

                                                     -Matt

                                                        ***

Ghost Train Orchestra Discography

Hothouse Stomp (2011)

Book of Rhapsodies (2013)

Hot Town (2015)

Book of Rhapsodies, Vol. II (2017)

Ghost Train Orchestra Line-Up

Brass

Brian Carpenter (trumpet)

Curtis Hasselbring (trombone)

Ron Caswell (tuba)

Reeds

Dennis Lichtman (clarinet)

Ben Kono (flute, alto saxophone, clarinet)

Petr Cancura (tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet)

Andy Laster (alto saxophone)

Matt Bauder (tenor saxophone)

Matt Samolis (flute)

Strings

Mazz Swift (violin)

Evan Price (violin)

Emily Bookwalter (viola)

Tanya Kalmanovitch (viola)

Jordan Voelker (viola, saw)

Rhythm Section, etc.

Avi Bortnik (guitar)

Brandon Seabrook (banjo)

Michael Bates (bass)

Rob Garcia (drums)

Rob Reich (accordion)

Book of Rhapsodies Choir

Aubrey Johnson (soprano)

Yolanda Scott (soprano)

Katie Seiler (mezzo-soprano)

Mazz Swift (alto)

Tomas Cruz (tenor)

Brian Carpenter (baritone)

Joe Chappel (bass)

#AudioEssaysPodcast #BrianCarpenter #GhostTrainOrchestra #Moondog #AlecWilder #RaymondScott #HalHerzon #ReginaldForesythe #JohnKirby #CharlieShavers #BookOfRhapsodies #jazz #classical #ThirdStream

[thecomedybureau]

Here Are Your 2017 Emmys Comedy Nominees

Today, the nominations for the 2017 Primetime Emmys were announced. For comedy specifically, it’s probably what you expected.

Premium cable and streaming services continue to dominate the Emmys with Netflix and HBO coming out strong. FX also maintains its status as a premium cable network disguised as a basic cable network with its handful of nominations for Atlanta, Better Things, and Baskets. 

Colbert’s Election special and Sam Bee’s Not the WHCD thankfully were bestowed nominations here as well.

One thing that was a delightful surprise is Lauren Lapkus and Ben Schwartz gaining nominations for their performances in The Earliest Show, a web series that followed a morning talk show with one of the hosts going through all the stages of grief.

Take a gander at all the comedy nominees below.

*All comedy nominees are in italics

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES Atlanta, FX Black-ish, ABC Master Of None, Netflix Modern Family, ABC Silicon Valley, HBO Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix Veep, HBO

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Pamela Adlon, Better Things, FX  Jane Fonda, Grace And Frankie, Netflix Allison Janney, Mom, CBS Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep, HBO Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish, ABC Lily Tomlin, Grace And Frankie, Netflix

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Anthony Anderson, Black-ish, ABC Aziz Ansari, Master Of None, Netflix Zach Galifianakis, Baskets, FX Networks Donald Glover, Atlanta, FX Networks William H. Macy, Shameless, Showtime Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent, Amazon

VARIETY TALK SERIES Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, TBS Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, HBO The Late Late Show With James Corden, CBS The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, CBS Real Time With Bill Maher, HBO

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Vanessa Bayer, Saturday Night Live, NBC Anna Chlumsky, Veep, HBO Kathryn Hahn, Transparent, Amazon Leslie Jones, Saturday Night Live, NBC Judith Light, Transparent, Amazon Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live, NBC

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Louie Anderson, Baskets, FX Networks Alec Baldwin, Saturday Night Live, NBC Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix Ty Burrell, Modern Family, ABC Tony Hale, Veep, HBO Matt Walsh, Veep, HBO

VARIETY SKETCH SERIES Billy On The Street, truTV Documentary Now!, IFC Drunk History, Comedy Central Portlandia, IFC Saturday Night Live, NBC Tracey Ullman’s Shows, HBO

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED PROGRAM Archer, FX Bob’s Burgers, Fox Elena And The Secret Of Avalor (Sofia The First), Disney Channel The Simpsons, Fox South Park, Comedy Central

UNSTRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM Born This Way, A&E Deadliest Catch, Discovery Channel Gaycation With Ellen Page, Viceland Intervention, A&E RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, YouTube United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell, CNN

HOST FOR A REALITY/REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM Alec Baldwin, Match Game, ABC W. Kamau Bell, United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell, CNN RuPaul Charles, RuPaul’s Drag Race, VH1 Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway, Lifetime Gordon Ramsay, MasterChef Junior, Fox Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, VH1

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER VOICE-OVER PERFORMANCE American Dad!, Dee Bradley Baker as Klaus, TBS/20th Century Fox Television Bob’s Burgers, Kevin Kline as Mr. Fischoeder, Fox BoJack Horseman, Kristen Schaal as Sarah Lynn, Netflix F Is For Family, Mo Collins as Ginny, Jimmy Fitzsimmons, Lex, Ben, Cutie Pie, Netflix Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane as Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Brian Griffin, Glenn Quagmire, Fox The Simpsons, Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson, Fox

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES Brown Girls, Open TV Fear The Walking Dead: Passage, AMC.com Hack Into Broad City, ComedyCentral.com Los Pollos Hermanos Employee Training Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot, ABC.com

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM VARIETY SERIES Behind The Voice Epic Rap Battles of History Honest Trailers The Daily Show-Between the Scenes The Star Wars Show

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM NONFICTION OR REALITY SERIES Creating Saturday Night Live Feud: Bette and Joan: Inside Look Jay Leno’s Garage National Endowment For The Arts: United States of Arts Viceland at The Women’s March

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A SHORT FORM COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES  Ty Burell, Boondoggle Alan Tudyk, Con Man Kim Estes, Dicks Jason Ritter, Tales of Titans Ben Schwartz, The Earliest Show John Michael Higgins, Tween Fest

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A SHORT FORM COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES  Mindy Sterling, Con Man Jane Lynch, Dropping the Soap Kelsey Scott, Fear The Walking Dead: Passage Mindy Sterling, secs & EXECS Lauren Lapkus, The Earliest Show 

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM ANIMATED PROGRAM Adventure Time, Cartoon Network Disney Mickey Mouse, The Disney Channel Marvel’s Rocket & Groot, Disney XD Steven Universe, Cartoon Network Teen Titans Go!, Cartoon Network

DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES Donald Glover, Atlanta Jamie Babbit, Silicon Valley Morgan Sackett, Veep David Mandel, Veep Dale Stern, Veep

DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SERIES Derek Waters & Jeremy Konner, Drunk History Andy Fisher, Jimmy Kimmel Live Paul Pennolino, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Jim Hoskinson, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live

DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL Paul Pennolino, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not The White House Correspondents’ Dinner Glenn Weiss, The Oscars Jim Hiskinson, Stephen Colbert’s Live Election Night Democracy’s Series Finale: Who’s Going to Clean Up This S—? Jerry Foley, Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best is Yet to Come

WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES Donald Glover, Atlanta Stephen Glover, Atlanta Aziz Ansari & Lena Waithe, Master of None Alec Berg, Silicon Valley Billy Kimball, Veep David Mandel, Veep

WRITING FOR A VARIETY SERIES -Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Jo Miller, Samantha Bee, Ashley Nicole Black, Pat Cassels, Eric Drysdae, Mathan Erhardt, Travon Free, Joe Grossman, Miles Kahn, Melinda Taub & Jason Reich -Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Tim Carvell, Josh Gondelman, Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeff Maurer, John Oliver, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss & Juli Weiner  -Late Night with Seth Meyers, Jermaine Affonso, Alex Baze, Bryan Donaldson, Sal Gentile, Matt Goldich, Dina Gusovky, Jenny Hagel, Allison Hord, Mike Karnell, John Lutz, Seth Meyers, Ian Morgan, Seth Reiss, Amber Ruffin, Mike Scollins, Mike Shoemaker & Ben Warheit  -The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Barry Julien, Jay Katsir, Opus Moreschi, Stephen Colbert, Tom Purcell, Matt Lappin, Michael Brumm, Nate Charny, Aaron Cohen, Cullen Crawford, Paul Dinello, Ariel Dumas, Glenn Eichler, Django Gold, Gabe Gronli, Daniel Kibblesmith, Michael Pielocik, Kate Sidley, Jen Spyra, Brian Stack & John Thibodeaux  -SNL, Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, Kent Sublette, Bryan Tucker, Pete Schultz, James Anderson, Kristen Bartlett, Jeremy Beiler, Zach Bornstein, Joanna Bradley, Megan Callahan, Michael Che, Anna Drezen, Fran Gillespie, Sudi Green, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Nick Kocher, Dave McCary, Brian McElhaney, Dennis McNicholas, Drew Michael, Lorne Michaels, Josh Patten, Katie Rich, Streeter Seidell, Will Stephen & Julio Torres 

WRITING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL -Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Samantha Bee, Jo Miller, Ashley Nicole Black, Patt Cassels, Eric Drysdale, Mathan Erhardt, Travon Free, Joe Grossman, Miles Kahn & Melinda Taub  -Louis C.K. 2017, Louis C.K. -Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust, Sarah Silverman  -Stephen Colbert’s Live Election Night Democracy’s Series Finale: Who’s Going to Clean Up This S—?, Jay Katsir, Opus Moreschi, Stephen Colbert, Michael Brumm, Nate Charny, Aaron Cohen, Cullen Crawford, Paul Dinello, Rob Dubbin, Ariel Dumas, Glenn Eichler, Django Gold, Gabe Gronli, Barry Julien, Daniel Kibblesmith, Matt Lappin, Michael Pielocik, Tom Purcell, Kate Sidley, Jen Spyra, Brian Stack & John Thibodeaux -70th Annual Tony Awards, Dave Boone, Mike Gibbons, Lauren Greenberg, Ian Karmel, Ben Winston & Justin Shanes 

WRITING FOR A NONFICTION PROGRAM Amanda Knox, Brian McGinn  Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, Anthony Bourdain  The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years, Mark Monroe  Bill Nye Saves the World, Prashanth Venkataramanujam, CeCe Pleasants, Sanden Totten, Mike Drucker & Flora Lichtman  13th, Ava DuVernay & Spencer Averick 

OUTSTANDING INTERACTIVE PROGAM Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Saturday Night Live Multiplatform Experience The Late Late Show with James Corden The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Get the full list of all this year’s Primetime Emmys nominees, including all of the Creative Arts Emmys here.

#emmys #2017 #nominees #comedy nominees #primetime emmys #tv academy

[puspetoste324055-blog]

history of audiobooks : The Embattled Vote in America by Allan J. Lichtman | History

Listen to The Embattled Vote in America new releases history of audiobooks on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any BOOKS by Allan J. Lichtman History FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Allan J. Lichtman Narrated By: Dennis Holland Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks Date: September 2018 Duration: 9 hours 51 minutes

#The Embattled Vote in America: From the Founding to the Present #The Embattled Vote in America Audiobook #Audiobook #History #Allan J. Lichtman #Dennis Holland

[jazzworldquest-blog]

USA: Cynthia Sayer's "Hot Jazz Banjo Show" @ Birdland March 15th 6PM

Jazz Banjo MasterCYNTHIA SAYERAppearing @ Birdland Jazz ClubThursday, March 15th

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS & INFO Cynthia Sayer Video

  CYNTHIA SAYER, the internationally celebrated jazz banjoist, will lead her Joyride Quartet in “The Hot Jazz Banjo Show” in a rare New York City concert appearance at the legendary jazz club Birdland on Thursday, March 15 at 6:00 PM. Birdland is located at 315 W. 44th Street in Manhattan. Tickets:  $30. For more information:  T: [phone] or Birdland  or Cynthia Sayer. “Some of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest 2017’s best moments...Cynthia Sayer and her Joyride Quartet was a fresh breeze. Power banjo, very cool.” — OFFBEAT MAGAZINE  The founding member of Woody Allen’s jazz band, who honed her virtuoso chops playing with many renowned artists, is known and beloved for her electrifying, swing-based performances featuring her distinctive style of jazz banjo, the guitar's predecessor in jazz. Sayer's vocals are divine and her banjo a driving force of nature – think Bela Fleck meets Django Reinhardt – as she delights audiences with an unexpected mix of hot jazz, Great American Songbook, vaudeville, tango, classical, and more. Appearing with Sayer for “The Hot Jazz Banjo Show” will be DENNIS LICHTMAN on clarinet and violin, JARED ENGEL on string bass, and LARRY EAGLE on percussion.

"A dazzling evening, a capacity crowd... Nobody wanted it to end." — GUARDIAN NEWS (England) "Cynthia Sayer almost made the applause meter explode ... Her swingy playing catches you from the start, and her sense of showmanship is present at every second." — LA DÉPECHE (France) “Cynthia Sayer has made her mark in the jazz world in an almost unheard of way, on banjo." —INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN MAGAZINE

7 THINGS YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BANJO:               

The banjo evolved from gourd instruments brought over by Africans who were captured for slavery.  

There are huge bass banjos, standing as tall as a string bass, overgrown-looking cello banjos, and even tiny piccolo banjos. 

The banjo was wildly popular in jazz until about 1934, when the guitar came into fashion.   

It was once commonplace for women to play banjo as parlor entertainment for their guests.    

In the late 1800s, there was an effort to “elevate” the lowly image of the banjo by playing classical music on it.

Early banjo strings were often made from catgut – i.e. sheep or goat intestines, not kitties. 

If you played in a banjo orchestra or banjo club in 1890, then you were extremely cool.  

  www.cynthiasayer.com

via Blogger http://ift.tt/2EixWB7

[burlveneer-music]

Alicia Walter - IAmAliciaTV - “the expanded curatorial experience of Alicia Walter's 2021 Debut Album 'I Am Alicia'. Join IAmAliciaTV on a tour to the journey of the center of the self” - getting Will Powers vibes from this, crossed with… show tunes?

Just the songs:

I Am Alicia by Alicia Walter

Alicia Walter: Vocals, Piano, Synthesizers, Keyboards, Drum Programming, Synthesizer Bass, Drums, Celesta, Tack Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Optigan, Marimba, Bells, Percussion Devin Greenwood: Hammond Organ, Electric Bass, Drums, Synthesizers, Keyboards, Electric Guitar, Drum Programming, Percussion Amanda Bailey: Viola on "Standing At Your Doorstep" Nora Barton: Cello on "Standing At Your Doorstep" Tyler Burchfield: Bari Sax, Tenor Sax on "Suit Yourself" Joe Exley: Tuba on "House of Yes" Myra Hinrichs: Violin on "Standing At Your Doorstep" Lucy Hollier: Trombone on "House of Yes" Katie Klocke: Violin on "Standing At Your Doorstep" Chris Krasnow: Drums on "Standing At Your Doorstep" Eva Lawitts: Upright Bass on "Who Am I" Dennis Lichtman: Clarinet on "A Toast" Nicole Glover: Tenor Sax on "Who Am I" Chloe Rowlands: Trumpet on "Who Am I" Kai Sandoval: Trumpet on "House of Yes" Leonardo Sandoval: Tap Dancing on "A Toast" Tobias Schmid: Drums on "Who Am I" Alison Shearer: Alto Sax on "Who Am I" Kristina Teuschler: Clarinet on "Prelude"

#alicia walter #2022 #female vocal #pop #show tunes #experimental #sooper records

[jazztidbits]

Mona's Hot Four w/ Nellie McKay - Sunny Side of the Street

Yet another Sunny Side of the Street. But take my word for it, this is delightful. Nellie McKay stops in for a jam session. Spontaneous jazz at it's best. Be sure to listen through to her scat singing.

MONA'S HOT FOUR: Dennis Lichtman - clarinet Gordon Webster - piano Nick Russo - guitar & tenor banjo Jared Engel - bass

Guest musicians on this video: Nellie McKay - vocals Dan Levinson - clarinet Gordon Au - trumpet Jim Fryer - trombone Chris St. Hilaire - snare drum

[roadwarrioragency]

Jerron Paxton & Dennis Lichtman coming to Hamden CT in September.

#blues #hotjazz #folkmusic #ragtime #hamdenct

[davidisen]

Music Safari NYC, the final week . . .

[This post covers January 8, 9, 10, 11.]

Monday, January 8 . . . The Yes Trio at Dizzy's . . .

Aaron Goldberg at the piano, Omer Avital on bass, and Ali Jackson on percussion.

The playing was extraordinarily interactive and collaborative. There were remarkably few "solos."

Frequently the instruments played in dialog, or trialog. It was obvious that these guys have played together for over 30 years.

Tuesdays in NYC are synonymous with Monas! On Tuesday, January 9, the house band was epic.

This is Evan Christopher, distinguished New Orleans visitor Duke Heitger, Rossano Sportiello and Jon-Erik Kellso. Also in the house band, birthday boy Tal Ronen and band leader pro tempore Josh Dunn.

Rossano and I are good friends.

Bass player Tal turned 43 at that gig. Singing, cake, candles, and the whole works.

The music was extraordinary. Evan Christopher's clarinet was over the top, and with Kellso's trumpet, they rattled the roof. I spent most of the night looking at the back of Josh Dunn's head, but that did not diminish my appreciation for his subtle, well-rounded, imaginatively crafted guitar playing. Rossano's piano playing mostly stayed back, in a support role. He finally leaned into it for the last few songs. Tal's bass was excellent, as always.

Two essential people were missing from the festivities. Aidan Grant was out sick, and Dennis Lichtman was in New Orleans. I missed them.

On Wednesday, January 10, the biggest game was out in the Brooklyn jungle - The Big Lazy with special guest Katie Martucci were playing at LunÁtico.

The Big Lazy. L to R, that's Katie Martucci on vocals, Yuval Lion on percussion, Andrew Hall on bass and band leader Steve Ulrich on guitar.

Imagine the music of Dick Dale and Duane Eddy transposed into the information age. Twang-on-twang. The guitar work of Steve Ulrich was remarkably captivating.

Josh Dunn , the leader of the Mona's jam last Tuesday, showed up at The Big Lazy's gig. I never got a good shot of him that night, but now, here he is!

On Thursday, January 11, at Neal's strong suggestion, we went to Sxip Shirey's Hour of Charm at Joe's Pub.

It was more than a set or a gig. It was a revue. In addition to Sxip (pronounced "skip" I think), included vocalist and composer Priya Darshini, cabaret power couple John Coons and Matta Aument, dancer Coco Karol, vocalist Aimee Curl, vocalist Raquel Klein, guitar innovator Asher Kuntz, John Altieri on tuba, etc., and Attis Clopton on drums.

Aimee Curl has a voice I want to hear again!

There was too much going on for me to digest it all. So I'm going to quote from the Joe's Pub publicity.

Shirey tests the edge of music using his vast imagination to create playful and mischievous songs using familiar objects, mutant instruments, electronics and reconfigured sounds. He is a curious combination of composer/ sound designer/ performer meets storyteller/ curator.

John Coons was channeling something I'm just not hip enough, or gay enough, or young enough, or urban enough to get. Mostly. What I could understand of his shtick/poetry/song/standup performance was, yeah, bang-on. Like, maybe, naughty Freddy Mercury playing a small room.

For the grand finale, Sxip did this piece with a harmonica played through a dozen pedals, a bullhorn that made siren and other cop-car noises, and a tuba. It was a caricature of New York City's sonic landscape that rang true. WOW. Or as Sxip might say, "Holy F**k."

"We're not done yet," said Neal. We hopped over to Foxtail, a quiet, upscale bar in the West Village. The house band was "old home."

That's Bria Skonberg and Mike Davis on trumpets, with Conal Fowkes on piano and Tal Ronen on bass.

The master of understatement, Kevin Dorn on drums, Tal on bass, Conal on keys.

Mike Davis, Tal in background.

Bria, playing for Molly Ryan and Kayla Lewis at the bar.

Kayla Lewis. When she sang, it felt like being in the presence of a Billie or an Ella. What a great singer. Kayla! Lewis! The Foxtail thing was simply, amazingly great. I felt like I'd been to church.

On Friday, January 12, the last day of my musical trek, Neal and I hit Joe's Pub for what was billed as a Bria Skonberg/Anat Cohen gig. It was actually two independent concerts, back to back.

Anat and her band were up first.

There were several choros and what sounded like a Monk tune. Each was merely a platform for Anat's incredible musical ideas. Each time I started to understand where she was going, she went off into a new, equally tantalizing dimension. I wish I had a recording.

That's Tal Mashiach on bass. The band also included Vitor Gonçalves on piano and accordion (see below), and James Shipp on percussion and vibraphone.

Vitor Gonçalves anchors an important corner of the Brazilian music community in NYC. His creative force complemented and spurred Anat's playing.

Up next, Bria Skonberg:

I only knew one other person in Bria's band - the awesome Mathis Picard on piano. I'll get you the other names . . . it was a killa band.

Mathis played one amazing solo.

Now I am going home. It's time. But it has been one helluva ride!

This morning Anat sent me this:

#jazz #nyc #dizzys #jalc #monas #hot jazz #Big Lazy #Sxip Shirey #Joe's Pub #Prohibition Productions #Foxtail

[xpressbus]

#SummerForTheCity @lincolncenter Queen Esther @thisisqueenesther Cindy Cashdollar - steel guitar @shotofsilvercindycashdollar Dennis Lichtman - violin + vocals @dennislichtman Justin Poindexter - guitar + vocals @poindexter.justin Wallace Stelzer - double bass @the_first_jazzvenger Steve Williams - drums https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzWFGJ (at Lincoln Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfiQu11DMtO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#summerforthecity

[everettwilkinson]

NBC/WSJ: Trump at 38 percent approval — POTUS to lunch with Sessions Monday — SPOTTED at Hillary Clinton’s 70th birthday party — JOE LOCKHART and JUSTIN MUZINICH profiles — WEEKEND READS — BDAY: Tony Sayegh

BULLETIN — “NBC NEWS /WSJ POLL: TRUMP’S JOB APPROVAL RATING NOW AT 38 PERCENT, LOWEST OF HIS PRESIDENCY”. http://nbcnews.to/2yUQMyM

— STATE OF PLAY: The stock market is through the roof. Jobless numbers are low. And the president still has a 38-percent approval rating. A charge in the Mueller investigation is likely coming tomorrow. Control of the House is up for grabs. … ANOTHER DATA POINT FROM THE POLL: “48 percent of registered voters in the poll say they prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, while 41 percent want a Republican-controlled Congress.”

Story Continued Below

WHAT’S ON THE PRESIDENT’S MIND — @realDonaldTrump at 9:12 a.m.: “As usual, the ObamaCare premiums will be up (the Dems own it), but we will Repeal & Replace and have great Healthcare soon after Tax Cuts!” … at 9:53 a.m.: “Never seen such Republican ANGER & UNITY as I have concerning the lack of investigation on Clinton made Fake Dossier (now $12,000,000?),….” at 10:02 a.m.: “…the Uranium to Russia deal, the 33,000 plus deleted Emails, the Comey fix and so much more. Instead they look at phony Trump/Russia,….”

… at 10:09 a.m.: “.’collusion,’ which doesn’t exist. The Dems are using this terrible (and bad for our country) Witch Hunt for evil politics, but the R’s…” at 10:17 a.m.: “…are now fighting back like never before. There is so much GUILT by Democrats/Clinton, and now the facts are pouring out. DO SOMETHING!” at 10:48 a.m.: “All of this “Russia” talk right when the Republicans are making their big push for historic Tax Cuts & Reform. Is this coincidental? NOT!”

— TRUMP’S WEEK: MONDAY: TRUMP is meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, lunching with VP Mike Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, then meeting with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. WEDNESDAY: Trump has another cabinet meeting, and lunch with Pence, Tillerson and Mattis.

**SUBSCRIBE to Playbook: http://politi.co/2lQswbh

BUZZFEED: “FBI Probe Of Paul Manafort Focuses On 13 ‘Suspicious’ Wire Transfers,” by Jason Leopold and Anthony Cormier: “The FBI’s investigation of Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, includes a keen focus on a series of suspicious wire transfers in which offshore companies linked to Manafort moved more than $3 million all over the globe between 2012 and 2013. Much of the money came into the United States.

“These transactions — which have not been previously reported — drew the attention of federal law enforcement officials as far back as 2012, when they began to examine wire transfers to determine if Manafort hid money from tax authorities or helped the Ukrainian regime close to Russian President Vladimir Putin launder some of the millions it plundered through corrupt dealings.” http://bzfd.it/2xw8X9O

Happy Sunday. SPOTTED at HILLARY CLINTON’S SURPRISE 70TH BIRTHDAY PARTY yesterday afternoon at Elizabeth Frawley Bagley’s house in D.C. (Hillary was indeed surprised, and champagne, finger food and chocolate cake were served): Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Madeleine Albright, who spoke to the crowd, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), former Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Tom Nides, Ron Klain, Dennis Cheng, Mike Taylor, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Philippe Reines, Brian Fallon and Katie Beirne Fallon …

… Kiki McLean, Adrienne Elrod, Karen Finney, Bob Barnett and Rita Braver, Capricia Marshall, Lona Valmoro, Tony Podesta, John Podesta, Maya Harris and Tony West, Heather Samuelson, David Kendall, David Brock, Sidney Blumenthal, Huma Abedin, Maria Cardona, Guy Cecil, Lauren Peterson, Neera Tanden, Karen Dunn, Judy Lichtman and Allida Black.

NEW – AP at 11:02 a.m.: “SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico governor demands cancellation of $300M Whitefish contract amid scrutiny of Montana company after hurricane.”

GETTING READY FOR THE BIG DAY — “Trump team’s response to Russia news: Focus on Clinton, leaks or anything else: Caught off guard by reports of criminal charges in the Russia probe, Trump advisers sought to keep up their political attacks and divert attention from allegations of Russian collusion,” by Annie Karni: “Two of Trump’s top lawyers were traveling out of town when the first report broke Friday night that a federal grand jury had approved the first indictment in the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. One of Trump’s personal attorneys, Ty Cobb, was relaxing on his deck in South Carolina, while the entire team was still working to confirm the veracity of the CNN report over the weekend. The lack of information, on a case that could have major ramifications for the president, left many current and former Trump advisers livid, focusing their rage on how the information leaked and on a forever target: Hillary Clinton.” http://politi.co/2zWCFXc

— “Trump lawyers scramble to prepare for new stage of Russia probe,” by Darren Samuelsohn: “Several attorneys who said they were in touch with the Manafort and Flynn lawyers said they had not been notified of any matter related to an indictment — which is customary in a white-collar criminal investigation — leading them to believe it wasn’t either of those two former high-ranking Trump aides. … The attorneys close to the case also said they wouldn’t be surprised if the charges were targeting Flynn or Manafort family members, or a longtime accountant or lawyer.” http://politi.co/2gUGN5x

— “Gowdy hits grand jury leaks in Russia probe,” by Victoria Guida: “House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy said on Sunday Special Counsel Robert Mueller should crack down on leaks, pointing to reports over the weekend about grand jury charges having been filed in Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election. ‘It is kind of ironic that the people in charge of investigating the law and executing the law would violate the law,’ Gowdy told host Chris Wallace on ‘Fox News Sunday.’ ‘Make no mistake, disclosing grand jury material is a violation of the law. So, as a former prosecutor, I’m disappointed that you and I are having the conversation because somebody violated their oath of secrecy.” http://politi.co/2icJEDj

ON TAX REFORM …

— “House GOP tosses conservative playbook in bid for tax reform,” by Brian Faler: “House Republicans are so desperate for a win on taxes that they’re agreeing to proposals that would have caused internal party warfare just a year or two ago. They’re considering forgoing a big cut in the top income tax rate on the rich, offering moderate-income Americans so many tax breaks that many would be excused from paying taxes entirely and passing a potentially 1,000-page tax bill few have seen within a matter of weeks.” http://politi.co/2zgBXH1

— THIS IS BIG: “House Tax Writer Gives Ground on a State and Local Tax Break,” by Bloomberg’s Ben Brody: “Bowing to concerns from Republican House members in high-tax states, the chamber’s chief tax writer said he’ll preserve a federal income-tax break for property taxes. ‘At the urging of lawmakers, we are restoring an itemized property tax deduction to help taxpayers with local tax burdens,’ House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady said in a statement Saturday afternoon. …

“But in a sign of the complex balancing act that Brady must perform to produce a tax-overhaul bill this week, the property-tax announcement came on the same day that the National Association of Home Builders pulled its support for the legislation. The group’s chief cited concerns that the bill might undermine existing tax breaks that support the housing market. Likewise, a coalition that includes the National Association of Realtors said in an emailed statement that it ‘will vigorously oppose this plan.’” https://bloom.bg/2ybPkbI

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BIG — “Ryan loses key ally on tax reform after switch on breaks for homeowners,” by Lorraine Woellert: “The National Association of Home Builders on Saturday accused House Speaker Paul Ryan of abruptly reversing course on a mortgage tax credit proposal and announced it would oppose the tax-reform proposal that GOP lawmakers expect to unveil on Wednesday. The about-face by the housing-industry lobbying group strips Republicans of a powerful ally. … ‘All the resources we were going to put into supporting are now going to go into opposing the plan,’ NAHB Chief Executive Officer Jerry Howard told POLITICO.

“Home builders and other groups had been working with Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) on a plan to preserve tax breaks for homeowners. House Republicans have been planning to weaken the deduction that home mortgage borrowers currently get for the interest they pay on their mortgages by raising the standard deduction, leading much of the housing lobby to line up against the plan.” http://politi.co/2zg86P6

— WAYS AND MEANS CHAIRMAN KEVIN BRADY: “At the urging of lawmakers, we are restoring an itemized property tax deduction to help taxpayers with local tax burdens. The homebuilders have been great partners in developing a new home credit that helps more Americans with both their mortgage and property taxes, by expanding this tax relief to homeowners who don’t itemize. I hope members of Congress will examine it closely to determine if they want it included before tax reform heads to the president’s desk.”

— THE HOMEBUILDERS and the REALTORS opposing House Republicans’ tax bill is a major blow. The groups will give cover to other industries to ratchet up pressure on individual lawmakers to vote against the bill. And unlike other industries — every lawmaker has homebuilders and realtors in their district.

YOU’RE INVITED — KEVIN BRADY, the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, will sit down with Jake and Anna FRIDAY (Nov. 3) at noon to discuss the Republicans’ tax plan. The bill will be introduced this week, so we’ll have plenty to talk about. The event will be at THE NEWSEUM (555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW). RSVP http://bit.ly/politicobrady Outside cameras welcome!

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS — “Trump Unlikely to Name Top Two Fed Officials at Same Time, Mnuchin Says,” by NYT’s Alan Rappeport in Abu Dhabi: “‘I think for the moment we’re focused on the Fed chair decision. That’s really the focus at the moment,’ Mr. Mnuchin said. He added that market reaction to the pick was not a ‘primary consideration’ in whom Mr. Trump plans to choose to lead the Fed.” http://nyti.ms/2yUIIhu

THE LATEST ON OBAMACARE — “Confusion clouds open enrollment with Republicans still eager to dismantle Obamacare,” by Paul Demko, Rachana Pradhan, and Adam Cancryn: “Obamacare is about to have its worst open-enrollment season ever — and that’s no accident. President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress still aim to dismantle the 2010 law. Making it look bad helps their cause, even as they’ve failed repeatedly to repeal or replace Obamacare. The new theory for Republicans: If fewer people enroll in Obamacare, there will be less of a constituency to save it.” http://politi.co/2gLNnYl

TRUMP INC. – “Trumps set to launch two real estate projects in India, despite conflict-of-interest concerns,” by WaPo’s Annie Gowen in Kolkata, India: “President Trump’s eldest son, Donald Jr., is expected to launch two residential projects in India for the Trump Organization in the coming weeks, continuing the family’s promotion of the Trump empire despite concerns over the president’s potential conflicts of interest with foreign governments. The Trump Organization vowed early on there would be ‘no new foreign deals’ during Trump’s tenure as president; these two projects in India were inked before his election. But the high-profile launches demonstrate that the pledge comes with an asterisk — agreements made years ago can move forward or be revitalized, such as the Trumps’ 2007 deal to build a luxury beachfront resort in the Dominican Republic that may be revived.” http://wapo.st/2zgCAk2

BOSTON GLOBE’S ANNIE LINSKEY: “The Mercers bring their politics, and millions, to Massachusetts”: “The radio attack spots, played during Red Sox games, attempt to sow some doubt. Does Senator Elizabeth Warren discriminate against women? Does Warren really care about student debt and bankruptcy?

“They attempt to paint Massachusetts’ populist senator as phony and an elitist, a go-to playbook for her political opponents. But this time the attacks are coming from someone new: Robert Mercer, a New York billionaire who is trying to remake American politics and who bankrolled former Trump chief strategist Stephen Bannon’s Republican revolution.” http://bit.ly/2zYbJ9y

FOR YOUR RADAR – REUTERS: “White nationalists stage anti-refugee protests in Tennessee,” by Bryan Woolston in Shelbyville, Tennessee: “About 300 white nationalists and neo-Nazis held back-to-back rallies in two small Tennessee cities on Saturday to protest refugee resettlement in the state, which sued the federal government over the issue earlier this year. The ‘White Lives Matter’ rallies in Shelbyville and Murfreesboro, organized by some of the same groups involved in a Virginia march that turned violent in August, drew an equal number of counter-demonstrators and a heavy police presence. The protesters started in Shelbyville, then traveled about 35 miles north to Murfreesboro for a second rally. Both towns are near Nashville, center of a metropolitan area has become home to refugees from Somalia, Iraq and elsewhere.” http://reut.rs/2z2DwYx

BIG JOE LOCKHART PROFILE — NYT — KEN BELSON: “In interviews with about a dozen league and team executives — all of whom refused to speak on the record — several owners seemed pleased with his approach to addressing the anthem controversy, which was to strive for a way for the N.F.L. to appear patriotic while respectful of its players who were kneeling to raise awareness of racism and police brutality toward African-Americans.

“But there has been friction. Some owners were upset with a comment by Lockhart a few days after President Trump criticized the league and its players for kneeling during the anthem. Lockhart told reporters that players talking about police brutality is ‘what real locker room talk is.’ The statement was viewed as a flagrant jab at the president, who had dismissed as ‘locker room banter’ comments he made about forcing himself on women, heard in a video leaked during the campaign. In a meeting at N.F.L. headquarters the next day, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder confronted Lockhart to tell him his remarks would inflame an already fiery issue.” http://nyti.ms/2iH2ypI

SUNDAY BEST — GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS interviews REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CALIF.) on ABC’S “THIS WEEK”: STEPHANOPOULOS: “I want to begin with this question that Governor Christie raised here, the idea that the president is not under investigation. Is that your conclusion?” SCHIFF: “I can’t comment on that, George, I can’t answer that one way or the other. STEPHANOPOULOS: “One way — you wouldn’t know whether Robert Mueller is investigating the president?” SCHIFF: “I can’t comment on that at all.” …

STEPHANOPOULOS: “How about this question of the president’s pardon power and whether or not it would be appropriate for him to issue preemptive pardons before a trial?” SCHIFF: “Now, I don’t think the president’s power is all that absolute, as people have been suggesting. The president cannot pardon people if it’s an effort to obstruct justice, if it’s an effort to prevent Bob Mueller and others from learning about the president’s own conduct. So, there are limitations. If it were truly unlimited, it would have the effect of nullifying vast portions of the constitution. The president could tell Justice Department officials and other law enforcement to violate the law and that if they did, and it was ever brought up, they were brought up on charges, he would pardon them.”

JAKE TAPPER speaks to GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE on CNN’S “STATE OF THE UNION”: TAPPER: “Some of President Trump’s allies in the media and on Capitol Hill are calling on Bob Mueller to step down as special counsel. I’m not really sure where you stand on this issue. Have you seen any concrete evidence, or concrete reasons why Bob Mueller should step down?” CHRISTIE: “Well, listen, I think that he has to be very, very careful about making sure that the public believes that he has no conflicts and that his integrity is unquestioned. And I think that, you know, Director Mueller has to continue to review that with his own legal staff. And I have not yet seen anything that makes me think that he must step down as an absolutely indisputable conflict. But I think he’s got to be careful and be watching this all the time.”

— CHRIS WALLACE talks with OHIO GOV. JOHN KASICH on “FOX NEWS SUNDAY”: WALLACE: “I do want to pursue this question of the philosophy of the Republican Party because Steve Bannon and his supporters say, well, look, sure, Flake and Corker made tough speeches, but they basically — the bottom line is that they announced that they are quitting, and that there was silence for most other Republicans. So can’t one argue that what you call the inward-looking, the populist, nationalist wing of the Republican Party is taking over?”

KASICH: “No, I don’t think so. I think the bulk of the Republican Party, and I’ve been in the Republican Party since I was a college student, is one that believes in the fact that America has a place in the world. You know, Reagan talked about it, advances in humanity. I agree. I think the bulk of the Republican Party does believe that immigration provides energy to our country. I think that the bulk of the Republican Party believes that America is special and has a place in the world at which to advance freedom and free enterprise and all those things.

“I think that this move towards nationalism or looking inward, a lot of loud voices, but I don’t happen to think it’s — it’s the bulk. And we — we will have to see over time. But for those — that debate, that debate, to some degree, is going to be settled by the demographics in the near future. Maybe not today, not tomorrow, but soon it’s going to be decided by that new wave of new thinking by these young people who can bring a lot of energy to the Republican Party and the conservative movement.”

— CHUCK TODD spoke with SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D-MO.) on NBC’S MEET THE PRESS”: CHUCK TODD: “You recently bragged about not supported Harry Reid when he was the Senate Democratic leader. And you did that in 2014 because you thought maybe there was a leadership problem in the Democratic Party. I’m curious, do you still think the Democratic Party has a leadership issue?” MCCASKILL: “Well, I think it’s hard when we are the minority party, that we have lots of folks that are leaders and want to be leaders. We have so many people that are trying to position themselves to run for president I think it’s hard to say who is the leader. And there’s a lot of angst about that. I, frankly, don’t worry about any of that.”

SPORTS BLINK — “Dodgers pull even in World Series by defeating Astros 6-2 in Game 4,” by L.A. Times’ Andy McCullough: http://lat.ms/2zgBB3s

PHOTO DU JOUR: The South Portico of the White House is covered in decorations for Halloween on Oct. 28. | Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images

WORTH THE CLICK – “Inside Pyongyang, the Loneliest City in the World” – Politico Magazine: “Eddo Hartmann spent four years photographing North Korea. Now, as tensions rise with the United States, he finds a city on edge.” 11 pix http://politi.co/2gLwtZM

THE BIG QUESTION FOR DEMOCRATS — “Nancy Pelosi isn’t going anywhere. Will it help or hurt Democrats in 2018?,” by WaPo’s Michael Scherer: “After three decades in Congress, Pelosi, 77, makes an unlikely general to lead the troops into another change election. Her party, deemed elite and out of touch in 2016, is struggling to win back Midwestern working-class voters, and anger at Washington’s entrenched leaders is pretty much the only thing that unites the country. But rather than shrink from the spotlight, Pelosi is once again in control — her party’s top fundraiser, senior midterm election strategist and top legislative negotiator, in partnership with Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.). …

“‘I am a master legislator. I just love it,’ she said of her inherited appetites. ‘I consider myself a weaver, like I have a loom. And I bring all these different threads together.’” http://wapo.st/2yZYVBw

TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION — “HUD Explores Temporarily Housing Puerto Ricans on U.S. Mainland,” by Bloomberg’s Joe Light: “The Trump administration is exploring ways to relocate tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans to the U.S. mainland for an extended period as parts of the territory remain devastated more than a month after Hurricane Maria. Officials at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development late last week started to develop a plan to provide housing to some of Puerto Rico’s displaced population … And given the shortage of available options on the island, the possibility of evacuating large numbers to the mainland has emerged as an option. … [U]sing large commercial cruise liners had been suggested to move residents en masse.” https://bloom.bg/2zOK75X

— “AP sources: DeVos may only partly forgive some student loans,” by Maria Danilova: “The Education Department is considering only partially forgiving federal loans for students defrauded by for-profit colleges, according to department officials, abandoning the Obama administration’s policy of erasing that debt. Under President Barack Obama, tens of thousands of students deceived by now-defunct for-profit schools had over $550 million in such loans canceled. But President Donald Trump’s education secretary, Betsy DeVos, is working on a plan that could grant such students just partial relief.” http://bit.ly/2lqR36Q

JUSTIN MUZINICH PROFILE — “The Little-Known Pragmatist Who Is Shaping the Trump Tax Cuts,” by NYT’s Alan Rappeport: “Justin Muzinich, a top aide to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, was deep into writing the administration’s tax plan this fall when he got an email from his high school math teacher imploring him to remember his old lessons and not deliver a giveaway for the rich. ‘He quickly wrote back and immediately said, ‘It’s great to hear from you,’’ recalled Hoyt Taylor, a retired teacher and squash coach at the elite Groton School in Massachusetts. ‘He didn’t respond on the taxes.’

“With President Trump’s revamping of the tax code taking center stage in Washington, key figures within the administration who for months have been toiling in obscurity are increasingly in the spotlight and under pressure. Scrambling to get a tax bill passed by the end of the year, they are juggling the competing forces of a fractious Congress, frenzied corporate lobbyists and even voices from the past.

“Mr. Muzinich, a 39-year-old newcomer to Washington, has emerged as a central player in the Trump administration’s tax overhaul effort. The former investment banker and hedge fund manager is the Treasury point man on taxes, accompanying Mr. Mnuchin into ‘Big Six’ meetings with top Republican lawmakers drafting the tax plan and laying out the administration’s positions on which taxes and deductions to cut or preserve. His task is about to get even tougher as the House, which plans to release its bill this coming week, and the Senate begin the difficult process of hashing out the details and negotiating with the administration over the final legislation.” http://nyti.ms/2iJJsQ1

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MORE HARASSMENT FALLOUT — “When men with power go too far: After years of whispers, women speak out about harassment in California’s Capitol,” by LA Times’ Chris Megerian, Melanie Mason and Jack Dolan: “It started with a dinner invitation from a former assemblyman more than twice her age. He had offered his services as a mentor, but his hand reaching for her knee under the table revealed other intentions. Then came the late-night phone calls and unexpected appearances at events she had to attend for her job in the Capitol. Fresh out of college, Amy Brown did what she thought women were supposed to do in these situations — she reported him.

“The former assemblyman accused her of slander, an experience that left her so humiliated that she left Sacramento for a new job in San Jose. … The stories are flooding into public view after an open letter raising the alarm about sexism and harassment around the Capitol. Emboldened by the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, the famed Hollywood producer toppled by allegations of sexual assault and harassment, more than 300 women have signed the letter, double the original tally.” http://lat.ms/2ibJTP9

BONUS GREAT WEEKEND READS, curated by Daniel Lippman:

— “Orbiting Jupiter: my week with Emmanuel Macron,” by Emmanuel Carrère in The Guardian: “Is France’s new president a political miracle, or a mirage that is already fading away?” http://bit.ly/2ya3vht

— “The Jared bubble,” by Kyle Pope in the Columbia Journalism Review: “What my 18 months as Jared Kushner’s first editor [at the N.Y. Observer] taught me about the Trump family and the press.” http://bit.ly/2ze26Gs

–“Twenty years ago, in Moscow, Matt Taibbi was a misogynist a***ole—and possibly worse,” by Aimee Levitt in the Chicago Reader: In “The Exile: Sex, Drugs, and Libel in the New Russia,” Mark “Ames and Taibbi additionally write about how they also mercilessly sexual harassed and occasionally assaulted the women they encountered, both their colleagues in the Exile office and Russian women—some as young as 15—they met socially.” http://bit.ly/2ycK3R5

— “Pushing the Limit,” by Alexandra Starr in Harper’s: “What the U.S. Olympic Committee can — and can’t — do about sexual abuse.” http://bit.ly/2ybgqPZ (h/t Longreads.com)

— “A hesitant radical in the age of Trump: David Brooks and the search for moderation,” by Jason Cowley in the New Statesman: “‘Public conversation is over-politicised and under-moralised. We analyse every movement in the polls, but the big subjects — relationships, and mercy, and how to be a friend – these are the big subjects of life and we don’t talk about them enough. Or we have our moral arguments through political means, which is a nasty way to do it because then you make politics into a culture war.’” http://bit.ly/2i9ehcJ (h/t TheBrowser.com)

— “Four Quitters Walk Into a Bar…,” by HuffPost’s Lydia Polgreen: “To swap war stories from an administration they couldn’t serve for one more minute.” http://bit.ly/2iCiklH

— “Serving as targets,” by Margaret Carlson in the N.Y. Daily News: “Think women get harassed and assaulted a lot in Hollywood and New York media circles? The military is worse.” http://nydn.us/2z1FwzV

— “The Body Trade: Cashing in on the donated dead: In the U.S. market for human bodies, almost anyone can dissect and sell the dead,” by Reuters’ Brian Grow and John Shiffman: “When Americans leave their bodies to science, they are also donating to commerce: Cadavers and body parts, especially those of the poor, are sold in a thriving and largely unregulated market. Grisly abuses abound.” http://reut.rs/2zbmrfz

— “Wackadoodles, Establishment Hacks, And The Big, Ugly, Local Battle For The Heart Of The GOP,” by BuzzFeed’s Anne Helen Petersen: “The ‘whiteopia’ of North Idaho has become one of the most desirable places in the West for conservatives to relocate. So why is the local Republican party tearing itself apart — and who’s responsible?” http://bzfd.it/2yZggKZ

— “The Ironic History of Mar-a-Lago,” by Michael Luongo in Smithsonian’s Nov. issue: “A deep dive into an obscure archive reveals that the Palm Beach property had once been envisioned as a ‘Winter White House.’” http://bit.ly/2xuJVrA

— “How the Horrific 1918 Flu Spread Across America,” by John M. Barry in Smithsonian’s Nov. issue: “The toll of history’s worst epidemic surpasses all the military deaths in World War I and World War II combined. And it may have begun in the United States.” http://bit.ly/2ll82ay

— “Inside the Mind of Thru-Hiking’s Most Devious Con Man,” by Brendan Borrell in Outside magazine: “For more than two decades, Jeff Caldwell has lured in hikers, couchsurfers, and other women (and they’re almost always women), enthralling them with his tales of adventure. Then he manufactures personal crises and exploits their sympathy to rip them off. Our writer corresponded with Caldwell while he was still on the run, and came away with an intimate look at the life of a serial scammer who’s found his easy marks in the outdoor community.” http://bit.ly/2yamzw0 (h/t Longform.org)

— “How the Liberty Bell Won the Great War,” by Stephen Fried in April’s Smithsonian: “As it entered World War I, the United States was politically torn and financially challenged. An American icon came to the rescue.” http://bit.ly/2hi5UMB

— “The Army of Silicon Valley Activists Trying to Elect Dems,” by Lauren Smiley in Wired: “In the wake of Trump’s election, signs of a grassroots activism in the tech industry have been everywhere: management-endorsed Googleplex protests; tech workers participating in their first political marches; executives from Tesla, Intel, and IBM leaving the president’s advisory councils.” http://bit.ly/2iEPtgS

— “Can Alphabet’s Jigsaw Solve Google’s Most Vexing Problems?” by Austin Carr in Fast Company: “Jared Cohen, CEO of Google offshoot Jigsaw, is taking on ISIS, fake news, and toxic trolls.” http://bit.ly/2yS3Q5p

— “The Yahoo With The Microphone,” by Martin Amis in Esquire: “Ranting in the rust belt with Donald Trump’s perpetual-validation machine.” http://bit.ly/2zb8HS4

— “The Primal Scream of Identity Politics,” by Mary Eberstadt on the cover of the Weekly Standard: “Conservatives have missed something major about identity politics: its authenticity. But liberals have missed something bigger: that it is a legacy of the sexual revolution.” http://tws.io/2ze2TXW

SPOTTED: President Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Barron dining at Trump Hotel last night — the President and First Lady also stopped by the “Trump Townhouse” suite in the hotel for a small surprise birthday dinner for Ivanka. She and Jared also celebrated their eighth anniversary on Wednesday — Instapic http://bit.ly/2z0oanf … Bob Costa in the balcony at last night’s Gavin DeGraw concert at the historic Sixth and I Synagogue …

… Alan Greenspan and Andrea Mitchell having dinner at the Inn at Little Washington last night — Instapic http://bit.ly/2zPDccO … Jose Andres speaking last night at Buck’s at a dinner for Alice Walters’ new book “Coming to My Senses: The Making of a Counterculture Cook” — cavatelli pasta, steak and bone marrow was served.

SPOTTED: Rinat Akhmetshin, a Russian-American lobbyist who met with Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort and Natalia Veselnitskaya last summer at Trump Tower (NYT profile http://nyti.ms/2wgcKuL), last night getting a drink with a friend visiting from Europe at the back room at Capo Deli on Florida Ave. near 8th Street.

WEEKEND WEDDINGS — Tyler Daniel, political director for House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, married Lila Nelson, a speech-language pathologist at Carriage Hill in Bethesda, on Saturday in Shreveport at St. Mark’s Cathedral with a reception at the Petroleum Club of Shreveport. The couple met at Ole Miss while Tyler was getting his MBA and Lila was an undergrad. Pics http://bit.ly/2iIHfUE … The couple with Scalise http://bit.ly/2yWJOt0

SPOTTED: Scalise and his wife Jennifer Scalise, Brett Horton and Maggie FitzGerald, Jenny and David Drucker, Bart Reising, Brenda Becker, Chris Hodgson and Liz Cumberpatch, Megan Becker, Ben Napier, TJ Tatum, Stephanie Belk, Colton Malkerson, Chris Marroletti, Grafton Pritchartt, Sean Houser, and Watson Horner.

— Sacha Haworth, communications director for Arizona Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema’s campaign for Senate, on Saturday married Will Mitchell, legislative director for Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.). The ceremony and celebration were held at Woodend Audubon Mansion and Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD. Pic http://bit.ly/2ycYdSn

SPOTTED: Christie Stephenson, Meredith Kelly, Jason Bresler, Tyler Law, Tyrone Gayle, Jeb Fain, Sophie Shipman, Reid Hohlman, Sasha Baker, Sam Baker, Dan Schory, Jake Stokes, Ethan McClellan, Bryan Lesswing.

— Jessica McCreight, a VP at SKD Knickerbocker and Obama WH alum, married Scott Brown, CEO and co-founder of the customer relations management firm xRM Studio. “The two exchanged vows on Saturday surrounded by friends, family and fall foliage at a mountain retreat just a stone’s throw from Lexington, Va. McCreight and Brown met in 2014 after matching on no fewer than three dating apps.” Pics http://bit.ly/2xxUj1M … http://bit.ly/2yViyZs

REMEMBERING WILLIAM COLEMAN – Pool report from the National Cathedral: “Saturday morning VIPs from the political, legal, civil rights communities came to honor the life of former Secretary of Transportation, Medal of Honor recipient, personal friend to Justice Thurgood Marshall, African American Republican lawyer, William T. Coleman, Jr. He graduated first in his class at Harvard Law and was the first African American to clerk at the Supreme Court and served as a lawyer on the Warren Commission before being on the team that won Brown V. Board of Education. Service participants included: Justice Stephen Breyer, Vernon Jordan, General Colin Powell, and Opera singer Denyce Graves.”

AMONG THE ATTENDEES: Vice President Dick Cheney, former VA Secretary Togo West, former Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, former HHS Secretary Louis Sullivan, Justices Clarence Thomas and Elena Kagan, former Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick, Marian Wright Edelman, Sherrilyn Ifill, Andrea Mitchell, Paris Dennard, Ken Chenault, Cecilia Marshall, former Sen. Chuck Robb (D-Va.) and Lynda Johnson Robb.

BIRTHDAYS: Tony Sayegh (hat tip: Molly Meiners) … Jim Messina is 48 (h/t Ty Matsdorf) … David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, is 59 … Bob Stevenson … N.Y. Daily News’ Robert George … Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is 79 … Connie Mack III is 77 … Jamie McIntyre, senior writer on defense and national security at the Washington Examiner … Nelson Cunningham, president and co-founder of McLarty Associates … Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio) is 65 (h/t Ajashu Thomas) … Geoff Turley … Kerry Hannon (h/ts Jon Haber) … Andy Weitz, Aon’s chief marketing officer … Dirk Kempthorne, former Secretary of the Interior, now president and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers, is 66 … WaPo’s Dave Clarke … WSJ editorial writer Kate Bachelder Odell … Isabelle James, political director at Americans for Responsible Solutions … Mike Saccone, comms director at the Keystone Policy Center … EPA’s Daisy Letendre (h/t Amy Graham) …

… Kate Bedingfield, VP of comms at Monumental Sports & Entertainment … Politico’s Steve Heuser, Diana D’Abruzzo, Nick Yaeger, and Safi Majid … Max Yoeli, law clerk to SDNY Judge Jesse Furman (brother of Jason), is 27 (h/t Alex Halpern Levy) … Leigh Helfenbein (hubby tip: David Helfenbein) … Sonia Colin-Reed … Peter Albrecht, senior associate at Bully Pulpit Interactive … Gary Gould … Nick Powell … Michael Slaby … Turkey turns 94 on its Republic Day (h/t BCIU) … Noah Dion, manager for Debra Rodman’s Delegate campaign in Virginia (h/t Morgan Finkelstein) … Jeff Hillery … Yangyang Cheng … Bill Jaffee … Aaron Jacobs, comms. director for Sen. Hassan … WSJ’s Samantha Zeldin … Lily Caroline Dorton … Kerry Hannon … Thompson Warren … Mark Olingy … Laura Jarrett … Rachel Barinbaum … Ruth Vilmain … Steve Lynch … Sophie Bauer (h/ts Teresa Vilmain)

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