In the liner notes for his new album, Don’t Cry for No Hipster (Nardis), Ben Sidran ruminates on the hipster, “a semi-mythical figure in American pop culture.” Once upon a beatnik time, there were “young cats in small hats” digging jazz and poetry. But the “black threads and berets” were merely superficial aspects of hip culture — like the uniform of a ball player. Anyway, the Madison, Wisc.-based music man’s new CD offers a dozen original tunes, along with Merle Travis’ “Sixteen Tons” and an instrumental rendition of Thelonious Monk’s “Reflections.” A supporting cast of ace musicians contributes to the mellow grooves. — M.S.
(American Jewish World, 4.12.13)
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