Anthology

An Interview with Robert Glasper

By Casey Pukl

Last time Glasper came through Anthology with his famed Experiment, Black Radio, had just been released, and critics and fans were screaming about the ground-breaking record at a fever pitch. Fortunately, not much has changed since then.

The Robert Glasper Experiment has been touring the world throughout 2012 to sold out audiences and a whole swarm of brand new fans. San Diego has been no exception. With each performance at Anthology in 2012 sold out, Glasper has quickly become a house favorite. I had the chance to catch up with him about life on the road, his latest remix EP, and more importantly, what’s next for this important driving force in modern jazz. Read on to get the scoop!

CP: Let’s just jump right in! Last time you were here, Black Radio had just been released, and now you’re already releasing a remix! Tell me a little bit about the latest project.

RG: The remix EP just took five songs from the album and I got different producers to do some remixes on those songs. Questlove and The Roots, Pete Rock, Phonte, so many people. We used some of the songs like, “Afro Blue” with Erykah Badu, the Mos Def song, “Black Radio”, and we also remixed a song called, “Twice” by Little Dragon. We actually did that as a bonus track on the Japan release, so if you bought the album in Japan, you got that song. So there’s a remix of that as well.

CP: Is there anyone in this industry that you haven’t worked with or covered in the last few years? [Laughs] Read the rest of this entry »

An Asian Inspired Salad

 By Jackie Barrios & Casey Pukl

Right next to tomatoes, cucumbers are one of the most widely cultivated fruits in the world.  They are grown to be eaten fresh, and can be savored alone or accompanied by other fruits. The regular intake of cucumbers is very helpful  internally as well as externally; they provide wonderful combinations of nutrients as well as natural hydration. Grown year round, this treat is easily enjoyed! This week,  Chef Kristen Burman found a refreshing way to combine cucumbers with traditional Asian flavors like ginger and sesame, creating a delightful and quick salad. Director of Restaurant Operations, Marc Canzoneri found a delious cocktail to complete this remarkable  farm fresh pick!

Sesame Cucumber Salad
Basil, cilantro, crispy pickled ginger

To start this colorful salad, Chef  Burman  begins by  peeling the skin off of a few cucumbers, then continues  using the peeler to create thin ribbons.  Stop peeling right before getting to the seeds, as this will not allow you to peel neat ribbons.  Next, toss the cucumbers with a sliced red pepper, sesame oil, sesame seeds, basil, cilantro, scallions, granted ginger, and fresh lime juice.  Top the whole dish with red cabbage and pickled ginger. If you have something fancy to serve it in, even better, as this salad can have a pretty stunning presentation. This simple salad is super easy to make, and even easier to enjoy.

When thinking of a pairing for this dish, we all returned to an Anthology staple, Marc’s Voodoo Child. Read the rest of this entry »

 “It’ll Be Like We’re Hanging Out in My Living Room, Just Having a Conversation…”

By Casey Pukl

It’s always exciting when you call an artist to do an interview, and they immediately announce that they have huge news to share. It’s a nerve wracking disaster when they start telling you this great news before your audio recorder is rolling and you worry about missing their exact words. The beginning of my interview with Kenny Lattimore started with me yelling at him, “Wait! Wait! I’m getting my recorder rolling and I don’t want to miss what you have to say!” as he laughed and said, “But I want to tell you!”

And so he shared, and we geeked out, and the result is this lovely raw interview with the man himself about his latest success, writing for his adoring fans, and just why his Anthology performance is so special.

CP: So tell me your exciting news!

KL: I just found out that my single, “Find A Way” moved from #24 to #16 on the R&B charts! It was really emotional for me as an artist, since this was… well, it wasn’t a comeback because I haven’t really gone anywhere, but a return to delivering original music. We’ve got some other albums that are critically acclaimed, but I really wanted to say that I was still relevant in terms of turning out brand new music.

CP: Wow! Well congratulations. I know on top of that, you just started your own label. How did that factor in to this release? Read the rest of this entry »

An Entree You’ll Never Forget

By Jackie Barrios & Casey Pukl

Not only are beets one of the most beautifully colored veggies that I know of, but they’re also versatile and delicious. Beets are a great source of iron, energy, and an immune system boost. These pocket sized vegetables have zero trans fat and are also conveniently low in calories. Executive Chef Kristen Burman found both a visually arresting and taste tantalizing way to enhance beets in this week’s Farm Fresh Pick, while Director of Restaurant Operations, Marc Canzoneri, found the perfect wine pairing!

Filet, Goat Cheese Ravioli, Beets Three Ways 
Roasted beets, Beet Chips, Beet Butter Read the rest of this entry »

An Interview with Reid Anderson of The Bad Plus

By Casey Pukl

Musical relationships like the one Reid Anderson, Dave King, and Ethan Iverson of The Bad Plus have happen once in a lifetime— if that. Spend one minute watching these guys play together, and it’s abundantly clear that not only are they incredible musicians, but great friends. They have a level of trust with their musical babies that most people don’t see inside their own marriages. Their shows are truly an experience, and I couldn’t be more excited to share today’s glimpse into that experience with you all.

I was first introduced to the trio in college, and since then, I’ve traveled over 2,000 miles to see them in various cities over the years. You can imagine my excitement when I learned that instead of driving 8 hours to go to a show, they’d be coming to the very venue I find myself working at each day. I jumped at the opportunity to chat with bassist Reid Anderson about their latest adventure record, Made Possible, out next Tuesday, September 25th. The rumor mill had been churning for a little while about the possibility of some electronic sounds making it onto the record, and sure enough, we’ve got the scoop on that first hand here! Read on to find out what Reid had to say about recording the latest record, where the amazing song titles come from, and how the band tackles new pieces from top to bottom. Read the rest of this entry »