Also this issue:

Length Matters
Long hair on men isn't back -- it never went away. And we aren’t all in metal bands.
-Frank Lewis

Cabaret at Avenue B and The Prime Rib
-A.D. Amorosi

June 27-July 3, 2002

music

icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

Am I the only one bugged that more people voted for coltish auditionees of American Idol than for most national elections? Wanna help talented people? Go and find some. Like Stef Renee, who ends Black Music Month with “Blow,” a benefit for local blowers and tooters. On June 30, she’ll raise cash for Grover Washington Jr.’s Protect the Dream Foundation, which, in dedication to the legacy of the late local sax legend, provides continued funding for young musicians’ music education and equipment. Local saxist Rick Tate Jr. (who plays with Musiq), flutist Damon Bennett (Larry Gold sessioneer on gigs like Christina Aguilera), Hidden Beach trombonist Jeff Bradshaw and trumpeter Jafar Barron perform. ’Cross town at Tritone, fusion-funk legendary local Jamaaladeen Tacuma’s DNA Galleria tears into the compositions of John Coltrane for “Configurations,” starring Odean Pope, DJ June Lopez, etc., June 29.… Bill Ricchini, just back from an all-over U.S. tour, re-re-releases his Ordinary Time via Megaforce/Rykodisc this fall. Ryko’s CoolHunter division will also hook up local soulsters Jazzyfatnastees for their The Tortoise and the Hare.… Let’s play fun games with nasty rumor: What renowned local ad agency whose name rhymes with a famous ’80s TV mom’s real name not only very publicly fired one of their tippy-toppiest senior VPs but is suing same ex-VP for embezzlement?.… Atlantic City’s Club Tru lights up from 10 p.m., July 3 till 10 a.m. the next day, under the auspices of DJs Tronco and Adrock. See www.maneo.com.… Ruff Studio’s heating up for summer. Not only are Ian Cross and Walt Bass producing tunes for Town Hall’s next CD on spec for RuffWorld Entertainment, so too is electronic act Aboyandagirl recording their single “Thinking About It, Baby” for Ruff Life Records. G. Love, who recently recorded at RuffNation, is happily label shopping now that his contract with Epic is ovah. Also happy: Bobby Avila, the L.A. Ruff signee who follows Ruff boss Chris Schwartz to Sony with his fabulous debut disc. Avila wrapped writing/producing tunes for Macy Gray that sound like “I Tried.”… So who made the list of America’s chicest women in this month’s Vogue? Philly PR lady Kelly Boyd.… Whowaswhere? Basketball great Dr. J stopped by Alma de Cuba for Brendan Olkus’ every-Sunday soul-samba. “To see Dr. J let loose and do the hustle was kinda cool,” said Olkus. When Coltrane-drum-alum Sunny Murray paradiddled at Tritone with Sonic Liberation Front, not only did Coltrane’s song-namesake Cousin Mary stop by, she hugged Dan Buskirk (vice chairman, “savingtheboyd@hotmail.com”) for spinning Alice Coltrane. Sonic Lib hook up with another Coltrane alum, Philly bassist Jymie Merritt (plus Sun Ra Arkestrers Tyrone Hill and Noel Scott), at NXNW, June 28. While Eighth Floor’s “Elevated” hosted Fred “Rerun” Berry last week, look for Philly hip-hop queen Eve to privately party real soon at L’Hexagone for her upcoming Liacoras Center fashion show appearance.… Now that J Records rawkers Silvertide have finished up their debut EP with David Ivory at his Dylanava Studios, they can gig out (TLA, June 27), then start work on their full length in September.… After working with Marah/Steve Earle producer Paul Smith on some due-August tunes, Philly’s rootsy Rigbees hit Pontiac June 27 with Cordalene and Stereofield, both of whom just finished recording their debuts, too (Stereofield with Mike “Slo Mo” Brenner; Cordalene’s EP is all over www.mp3.com).… Remember when Argo and Jugo’s Mudpeople got tossed from Proto due to new owners? It’ll be at Media Bureau, 725 N. Fourth, June 28.… Happy first b-day to Moda in Old City (things’ve quieted since last fall’s neighborhood bloodfest); happy fifth to Brasserie Perrier (Georges is getting ready for Le Bec-Fin’s makeover in August); and more b-day wishes to Tritone’s Rick D; to Glenn “the Shark” Manko; to Old City Tattoo guy Don Juan; and a special shout/congrats to Hidden Beach babies Aja Graydon and Fatin Dantzler for having their own baby daughter, Diya Kalynn Dantzler (almost 8 pounds), last week.