From The Inkwell: An Animated Christmas

Bryan Collier’s Trombone Shorty Moment

TROMBONE SHORTY is releasing a picture book autobiography next month, with superb illustrations by BRYAN COLLIER. JULES has the lowdown, and some pics.

by David McGee

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NASA’s Chandra Observatory Finds Cosmic Showers Halt Galaxy Growth

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has uncovered surprising news about a process that is stifling star formation in a distant galaxy cluster. It's been going on for 7 billion years.

by David McGee

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If the Magnificent Landscapes of Wales Sang…

JOSEPH NEWSOME of VOIX DES ARTS takes stock of a fine new setting of composer ALAN HODDINOTT's SONG CYCLES AND FOLK SONGS featuring NICKY SPENCE and CLAIRE BOOTH, among others.

by David McGee

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To Fresh Buds

Navona Records has issued a complete disc of composer GREGORY W. BROWN's music on MOONSTRUNG AIR, performed by NEW YORK POLYPHONY and THE CROSSING.

by David McGee

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Music a Remedy

In his monumental ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY, published in 1621, ROBERT BURTON argued for, among other things, music as a remedy for melancholy. It might work.

by David McGee

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‘It’s Almost Like We’re Standing Against an Evil Giant’

NAVAJO WOMEN are rising up against unfettered oil and gas development on Native lands; a statue of CHIEF JOSEPH of the Nez Perce is going into Statuary Hall.

by David McGee

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‘Grass Is the Forgiveness of Nature—Her Constant Benediction’

In 1872 Kansas Sen. JOHN JAMES INGALLS, one of the U.S. Senate's most eloquent voices, praised the vitality of the tallgrass prairie in IN PRAISE OF BLUEGRASS--and he wasn't talking music.

by David McGee

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