Monthly Archives: October 2010

WWI in Oberlin, OH

By Christina Milbourne

The year was 1918, exactly one month before the end of what would become known as World War I.  Instead of usual Oberlin College life, students and faculty alike worked hard together to help in whatever ways they could to aid the war effort.

Charles Adams II '21, who fought in the Air Force from 1917-1919. From dcollections.oberlin.edu.

Students in the former Oberlin College Women’s League volunteered to entertain the Student Army Training Corps (SATC).  The League’s goal was to literally include every member of Oberlin’s student body.  Thanks to their efforts, the soldiers enjoyed Sunday dinner in college dining halls and holiday parties.  Holiday greeting cards as well as issues of The Review were also sent to soldiers overseas.

Aside from helping Oberlin student soldiers, a committee was also organized to aid French soldiers by writing weekly letters in French and sending Christmas packages.  In 1917, the Women’s League also aided a small group of French orphans in the hopes that with goodwill and education, the newer generation will someday be able to rebuild France after the war.

The head of Oberlin’s Slavic Department (now defunct), Louis Miskovsky, was granted leave from the college during the tail end of the war to help direct the policy of the former Czecho-Slovakia in the United States, working closely alongside their president-to-be, Tomas G. Masaryk.

The lesson to be learned from these Obies of the past is this:  while Oberlin may pride itself on being a community of progressive, politically conscious students, our knowledge, passion, and compassion are useless if we continue to use it on ourselves and our school.  To really make a difference we must reach out and see what the world needs us to do for it.  Branch out from Oberlin, OH and help the rest of the country, help the rest of the world.

The Top 5 Reasons to Give Head in the Shower

By S.

While generally think of my self as more on the Fearless side of Fearless and Loathing, shower sex terrifies me. I’m great with heights and spiders, am generally begging to be tied up in chains (see my earlier articles) and love a good midnight drive through East Cleveland, but irrational as it may be, I always have a lurking fear that mid shower sex I am going to slip, fall and crack my head open on the hard tile floor.

This isn’t the sort of “Oh, maybe your roommate will catch us on her bed” fear that makes sex hot.  This is the irrational paranoia of “oh, maybe the EMTs will find pieces of my brain stuck in that thing meant to catch hair over the drain” kind of turnoff. Sadly though, having christened my boy’s bedroom floor, kitchen table and sink, couch, desk, stairs, doorway and coat closet, I am running out of excuses to avoid the obvious double-headed steamy splendors of the shower.

So, I ask you, dearest readers, to please comment with stories and suggestions of hope and encouragement on how to make shower sex work. Please give me tips, positions, and advice, and I will try them and let you know how it goes.

In exchange, I will give you what I know in regards to the warm and wet: The Top 5 Reasons you should give head in the shower.

1.     So fresh and so clean-clean!

No matter what we would like to believe, nobody smells like spring flowers and fresh linens down there 24/7. At Oberlin especially, you may sometimes be looking for the perfect excuse to give your lover a quick rinse before demonstrating how you can deep throat to the point of touching your nose to his balls (and children, this can be done at home). So grab some soap and sensually make sure that every last curve is nice and clean before getting dirty.

2.     Keeps the rest of you from getting chilly

In case you haven’t noticed yet, Northern Ohio can be a fucking tundra (literally).  While this isn’t so much of a problem when you’re full force body-on-body under the covers, sometimes the top half can get a little chilly if someone’s solely servicing the bottoms. Some hot steamy shower head is the obvious answer.  The combination of hot water running down your back and a warm tongue on your privates beats fantasizing about flannel sleepwear any day.

3.     Positions and angles for all

We have all heard that a handheld showerhead can be a lady’s best friend. Why not use your steamy surroundings to the best of everyone’s advantage?  Press something sensitive up against the spigot and allow water pressure to work with you. Plus, the curves and edges of the bathtub may inspire some of your best positions yet.

4.     Don’t fear the anal action

Not only can you both rest assured that things are squeaky clean, the warm water and steam of a shower can really help relax all of your muscles, and relaxation is key to anal fun. This makes the shower an ideal place for some finger and rim-job fun to be thrown into your classic oral routine.

5.     Easy clean up

Rubbing your bodies against each other while covered in soapsuds is somehow just as slippery and way less messy as pouring a whole bottle KY across your girl’s breasts and then awkwardly trying to do the human slip-n-slide. Now, I’m not telling you to end up swallowing a bottle’s worth of conditioner in the name of a convenient blowjob, but involving some suds in the pre-game rubdown never did hurt. Plus, with all that soap, fun additions like chocolate sauce just wash right away.

Stay Clean,

xox

Security Report: Oct. 14th through 20th

Thursday, October 14th

12:36 a.m. An officer on patrol in Hales Gym observed a lock and all hardware removed from a door that leads to the old pool area.  A check of the building was made and all other doors were found secure.

5:10 p.m. Staff requested an office at a Village House residence to pick up a hookah located in plain view during a Life Safety Inspection.  The hookah was removed by an unknown person prior to the officers’ arrival.

5:23 p.m. An officer was requested to assist an ill student in Price Hall.  The student was transported by ambulance to Mercy Allen Hospital for treatment.

4:24 p.m. A female student reported that while in the gender neutral bathroom on the second floor of Wilder Hall, she observed a mirror pointed up at her from the next stall.  A male subject fled the area upon being confronted.  A search of the area was made by officers with negative results locating the subject.

10:27 p.m. Staff reported an odor of burnt marijuana outside a first floor window at Barrows Hall.  Three students and a non-student were located and denied smoking marijuana.  A small multi-colored glass pipe, containing a small amount of a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana, was located in the bushes and one student claimed ownership of the pipe.  The pipe was confiscated and turned over to the Oberlin Police Department.  The non-student was placed on trespass notice.

11:59 p.m. An officer on patrol located a bb gun in an art studio on the north side of the Allen Art 37 edition.  The bb gun was transported to the Security Office and placed in property.

Friday, October 15th

1:39 a.m.  An officer was requested to assist with an intoxicated student at Harkness.  The student, who became ill from the alcohol consumption, was transported to Mercy Allen Hospital for treatment.

2:13 a.m. Officers responded to Saunders after receiving an alarm indicating a smoke detector head missing in a room on the second floor.  It appeared the detector was removed because the occupant was using a curling iron.

10:24 a.m. An officer met with trades personnel who report the theft of keys from his work truck while parked in Wilder Lot.  The keys were left unattended in the ignition for approximately 10 minutes.

2:10 p.m. An officer found a cloth money belt, containing cash, on the seat of a security vehicle.  The owner of the money belt was located and the item returned.

Saturday, October 16th

12:10 a.m. Staff at Wilder Hall reported a student had fallen in the Disco and hit her head.  Upon officer’s arrival at Wilder, they were advised the student left with a friend.  The student was located on the west side of the Science Center.  The student, who appeared intoxicated, refused medical treatment and advised she just wanted to go back to her room.  A transport was provided.

Sunday, October 17th

3:38 p.m. An officer on routine patrol found the glass in the southwest wing entrance door to South Hall broken.  A work order was filed for repair.

4:53 p.m. A resident of Johnson House reported a suspicious male outside of Johnson House asking about people who lived in the building.  The individual gave several names, none of whom lived in Johnson House.  As a result, the male individual was taken into custody by Oberlin Police Department and charged with Criminal Trespass.

4:54 p.m. A resident of Keep reported the theft of her laptop computer and purse from the lounge area in Keep.  The laptop is a MacBook Pro, silver in color with red case, valued at approximately $1000.00.  The purse is a small round leather purse, black in color and contained an iPod Touch, homework and wallet.  A report was also filed with the Oberlin Police.

7:45 p.m. A student reported the theft of his bicycle from the east side of the Allen Art Department.  The bicycle is a men’s Fuji, 12 speed, black and tan in color, rear rack and 700c wheels.  The bicycle was locked to itself at the time of theft.

Monday, October 18th

9:39 a.m. Officers were requested at the Conservatory to assist with a student having difficulty breathing.  The student was transported to Mercy Allen Medical Center for treatment.

10:13 a.m. Staff reported vandalism at the bandstand in Tappan Square.  A post was broken from the railing.  A work order was filed for repair.

2:25 p.m. Staff reported a minor motor vehicle accident in the east lot of the Service Building.  A vehicle backing from a parking space struck a truck parked in the fire lane.  No injuries; minor damage.  Oberlin Police Department also responded for a report.

Tuesday, October 19th

9:59 a.m. Staff reported vandalism in the faculty lounge at Rice Hall.  Items were emptied from the first aid kit and found on a counter, the accordion partition was pushed off track and a section of leaves were pulled from an artificial plant and placed on the head of a statue.

9:21 a.m. An officer was advised by custodial staff of vandalism/graffiti in Prall wing of South Hall.  Ceiling tiles were removed and/or destroyed, and “signatures” were written in wide black permanent marker on walls and on a bathroom mirror.  Work orders were filed for clean up/repairs.

Wednesday, October 20th

5:52 a.m. Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at Stevenson Hall.  The cause of the alarm was steam from hot water running in the custodial closet.  Doors were propped open to dissipate the steam.  Alarm was reset.

Sharp Wit and Silliness—The OSTA Showcase at the Cat

By Alice Beecher

The key to enjoying the Oberlin Student Theater Association showcase is to dig for humor in the details—an incredulous hand gesture, a witty turn of phrase, or a pretentious writer talking to birds and tearing up poetry in the woods of Massachusetts.  Taking routine comedy situations and twisting them with just enough original material to enliven the performances, the OSTA Showcase kept the audience buzzing and represented an impressive variety of talent among Oberlin thespians.

The first act of the showcase, “The Dickening,” began with two incompetent soldiers bickering over how they should deal with an ambiguous bomb-like object. After playing out the awkward, odd-couple routine, the first soldier (played with excellent physicality and perfect timing by Ali Bianchi ‘14) suggested the two “take off their shirts and kiss” to disassemble the bomb. The hugely funny sexual comedy managed to parody male relationships, the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy and Microsoft MP3 players with wit and flair, despite a somewhat shaky script and lighting difficulties.

The second show, “Analog,” centered on similar themes of sexual tension but was less successful, more because of the clichés of the script than the talent of the actors. A first date for an awkward couple grows contentious when the woman learns her man can’t read an analog clock. Furious, she uses his incompetence to critique his tech-dependent personality/sex obsession. Despite a somewhat formulaic setup, first-year Maya Sharma’s snappy delivery and a few clever lines brought a chorus of laughter from the audience.

“What Don’t You Know,” the third show on the bill, presented another situational comedy focused around a mysterious object—this time, a dead animal that was either a stray raccoon or a “man cat.” Clever dialogue made this one of the most successful performances of the night, with lines like, “For all we know, Buttons was out here dealing drugs!” when the argument over the creature got feisty.

The next show, “Everything Seems So Plausible at 1 A.M.,” took the showcase for an absurdist turn, presenting the frustrations of a defense lawyer that receives calls from neurotic/sadistic clients at all hours of the night. Although the set up was a bit confusing and the show overly long, courageous physical comedy and a hilariously dry cameo by Brian Gale ’14 kept the show entertainingly surreal.

“Play Without Words,” the only serious drama of the night, introduced an abrupt shift in tone that felt out of place within the context of the showcase. The conversations of frustrated lovers, inhibited by their inability to communicate their emotions, seemed to be the theme of the show. Although a well-constructed tragedy might have been a nice contrast to the irreverent one acts, sentimental dialogue and unclear relationships between characters prevented the play from gaining momentum or conveying a clear idea to the audience.

“Productivity Is A Social Construct,” a play about the surreal time-bending absurdity of late night studying, got the most laughs of the entire evening, probably because it was the most relatable of all the comedic pieces. In a parody of academic crunch time, three humanities majors and a cantankerous econ major (who listens to Lord of the Rings music while doing his problem sets) get trapped in a ‘time freeze vortex’ where it is eternally three o’clock in the morning. This leads to some ‘Thriller’-style dancing to weird techno by the free-spirited humanities majors while the econ major despairs the possibility of getting stuck with such abstracted fools for all eternity. A germane critique of the academic self congratulation and procrastination habits of overburdened liberal arts students, the play struck a chord with anyone who has ever pondered the existence of time after too many hours of late night literary analysis.

The last piece, “A Parcel of Vain Strivings,” revolved around three philosophers on a spiritual quest in a ‘transcendentalist writing retreat.’ Ridiculing the pomposity of anyone who thinks they are the next Thoreau/Hunter S. Thompson, the play parodied bad poetry and new age pretension with originality and wit. In particular, first-year Austin Retzlaff’s performance as an insane druggie mystic who gets in trouble for ‘selling drugs to the students’ garnered well-deserved laughter from the audience.

All together, the plays provided an enjoyable evening and showcased some promising talent for future performances, where better-developed scripts might do justice to the comedic capabilities of Oberlin students.

A Charming Radical—Norman Finkelstein Lecture, “This Time We Went Too Far”

By Alice Beecher

Norman Finkelstein does not pretend to be unbiased. Nor should he try to be, according to some enthusiastic attendees of Wednesday night’s lecture “This Time We Went Too Far” (sponsored by Students for a Free Palestine, OPAL, the Politics Department, the Prison Justice Institute and Third World House). Centered on the human rights violations committed by Israel during the Gaza War and other middle-eastern conflicts, Finkelstein’s talk presented a convincing argument against the innocence of Israel and cast light on the suffering of Palestinians.

www.indypendant.com

Beginning his presentation with a variably cute and horrifying video montage of images of Palestinians/Israelis on the West Bank, Finkelstein presented himself as more of a charming old professor than a radical activist. But his even monotone and humorous analogies belied the intensity of his central message, which was to call Israel to task for what he viewed as a tyrannical defiance of international law. After analyzing Hezbollah’s defeat of Israel in May 2000, Finkelstein presented his central thesis that the basis of Israel’s international policy is to restore “fear of Israel” in the Arab world.

Israel’s economic and weapons blockade on Gaza after the election of Hamas incited little international response besides ignored UN warnings, even after the brutal “22 days of death” Israelites term the “war” against Gaza. Finkelstein condemns the use of the word ‘war’ for these this conflict, claiming the attacks were more of a bloodbath, with 400 Palestinians dying for every one Israeli. Using the testimony of Israeli soldiers to back up his argument, Finkelstein pointed out that the Israeli army met almost no resistance from Palestinians in Gaza and that Gaza had no anti-aircraft missiles to combat them. Explaining the humanitarian flotilla crisis, Finkelstein argued that Israel’s use of force was illegal because of international statutes restricting Israel’s use of weapons. “You can’t derive a right from a wrong,” he declared, decrying the war crimes committed by the Jewish nation-state.

Later, Finkelstein argued that Israel was planning to attack Lebanon in a similar, bloodthirsty fashion, in a war that Hezbollah believes will “change the face of the region.” Speculating that Iran would not accept an attack on Hezbollah, Finkelstein predicted that the US might interfere on behalf of Israel if such a conflict were to occur.

Presenting these horrific facts in a gentle, measured tone, Finkelstein invited Oberlin students to question him and research his facts, but claimed we would only find accounts that supported his argument. “Referring to the Gaza massacre as a war makes us agents of Israeli occupation,” said Finkelstein, implicitly attacking all those who later critiqued his ideology in the question and answer session. Though many of the violations Finkelstein reported were indisputably deplorable, such as the deaths of innocent children in Gaza, his assumption that most of the audience would be sympathetic to the Palestinians was ill founded.

Although all political analysts must manipulate information slightly in order to prove their point–and Finkelstein clearly has evidence to support the cause he’s arguing for–at certain points in the lecture, he went too far in dismissing the other side. Explaining the dysfunctional peace process in Israel, Finkelstein proclaimed that anyone who disagreed with his analysis of the West Bank settlements was “irrational” and that the facts he presented “weren’t partisan.” While most would agree that the settlements are illegal under international law and that Israel should not demand to be recognized as a Jewish state before engaging in negotiations with Palestine, it is not fair to disregard the emotional and religious claim the Jewish people have to the land of Israel.

This emotional claim became a point of contention in the question and answer session, when an ex-Israeli soldier called Finkelstein an anti-Semite for disregarding the death of his Israeli relative in the Gaza war. In response, Finkelstein smartly pointed out that you can’t use an individual’s story to argue for the Israelites without considering the thousands of individual Palestinians with similarly wrenching tales. Poorly researched or incendiary questions inspired passionate responses from Finkelstein that contrasted with his somewhat dry speech, such as when a student misquoted one of his books or an audience member accused him of promoting violence.

In the end, Finkelstein made his purpose and bias obvious and had no trouble defending his somewhat radical viewpoints. He summed up his argument with three critical principles: that Palestinians shouldn’t have to give up their rights, that giving up rights shouldn’t be a precondition for conflict and that the Palestinians should be allowed to inhabit homes in settlement territory.  He urged the audience to turn public opinion of Palestine into a political force, combating US aid to Israeli violence. Whether Oberlin students were galvanized to fight for the Palestinian cause or offended by his anti-Zionist rhetoric remains uncertain. But his courageous stance inspired a debate that is sure to permeate the campus in the coming weeks.

Oberlin Participates in a Worldwide Campaign for Environmental Sustainability

By Julie Garber

Photos by David Roswell

On October 10, 2010, Oberlin college students and the surrounding community collaborated in a way never quite done before.  Similar to the traditional Day of Service event for freshmen, students came together in a joint volunteering effort. However, unlike the Day of Service, the “10/10/10” sites were all geared toward environmental sustainability.

The purpose of this event, which occurred worldwide, was to reduce carbon emissions in an innovative and more efficient manner.  Instead of having rallies or protests demanding emission cuts, this event aimed to involve people in their communities in a “Global Work Party”.   As explained by www.350.org, the brainchild of the event, such community involvement was meant to send the political message: “If we can get to work, so can you!”

Corey Harkins took the initiative to organize Oberlin’s 10/10/10 event. When asked what inspired him to bring this event to Oberlin, he enthusiastically explained, “I think service is so important in gauging our humanity.  Service is what makes us human.”

The Bonner Center and the Resource Conservation Team, both of which provided equipment, advice, tools, and money necessary for the event, cosponsored 10/10/10.  These service organizations show the countless ways that we can get involved in our community.  The Resource Conservation Team, for example, gets students to volunteer in protecting the environment while taking their interests into consideration.

The event began at 1:00 p.m.  About forty volunteers signed up through a pre-registration form, but many people just showed up to desk in Wilder Bowl and were sent to various sites.  Although some site leaders came a little late, by 2:00 p.m., every site had people working.

Sites included Full Circle Fuels, George Jones Farm, and the Johnson House garden.  Several students removed invasive species behind Kahn, while others audited energy at various locations throughout campus.   One group, in particular, changed light bulbs in Wilder.  Corey explained that changing 25 light bulbs would save about $4,000, even taking the price of the light bulbs into consideration.

A total of 7,347 people in 188 different countries participated in 10/10/10, making a huge splash and hopefully encouraging political leaders to work on environmental legislation.

Gateway to Knowledge

By Nick Perry



Photo by Nick Perry.

I went on this thing the other day. It slipped into my mind that I passed the gateway to knowledge when I learned to tie my shoes, so there wasn’t a whole lot of interest except a totally rad ‘60s excerpt of the first Spiderman issue. If you like to be uncomfortably cold and annoyed that an 18-wheeler would sit idly blasting its AC for nine and a half straight hours, then you might have gotten a kick out of it, though.

Student Senate Responds to Protest Policy Enforcement

10 October 2010

To Whom It May Concern:

In light of the response of the administration of Oberlin College to student protests at Karl Rove’s speech on 28 September 2010, the Student Senate, on behalf of students who protested at the event, thought it necessary to affirm our position on this policy and its enforcement on Oberlin’s campus. Continue reading →

Security Report: Oct. 7th through 13th

Thursday, October 7

1:43 a.m.  Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm on the second floor of Keep.  The entire second floor was checked, but the activated detector reset before it could be located.

7:49 a.m. Custodial staff reported vandalism in several areas throughout Price Hall.  Pictures were removed from the walls.  Glass in the pictures was broken and some were found on the floor.  Incident is under investigation.

9:43 a.m. An officer on routine rounds at Saunders observed two pictures on the floor in the south stairwell, with the glass on one cracked.  Also a mirror was missing from the sink in the lobby of Lord.  Incident is under investigation.

6:38 p.m. Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm on the seventh floor of Firelands.  Occupant removed the smoke detector head while cooking and activated the alarm.  Occupant was advised against his actions.  The alarm was reset.

7:00 p.m. A student reported the theft of his bicycle, locked to a tree, at a residence on Woodland Street.  The bicycle is a KHS Flight 100, dark gray, single speed, valued at $400.00.

8:11 p.m. Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at South Hall.  The cause of the alarm was smoke from cooking.  The area was cleared and the alarm reset.

Friday, October 8th

5:48 p.m. An officer responding to a lockout call at Firelands observed a bicycle on fire on the east side several feet from the main entrance.  Oberlin Fire Department responded.  The bicycle was moved away from the entrance by the officer and the fire extinguished.  It is unknown at this time who is responsible for the damage.

3:30 p.m. Officers responded to Burton Hall regarding a marijuana odor.  The strongest odor was located at a room on the third floor.  Occupant of the room admitted smoking marijuana.  No additional contraband was observed in the room.

Saturday, October 9th

4:23 a.m. Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at Langston Hall, second floor.  A check of the entire area was made and an activated pull station was found near the southeast stairwell.  It appeared the pull station was activated intentionally and for no reason.  The activation is under investigation.

5:05 a.m. Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at Barrows Hall, first floor.  An activated pull station was located by the north entrance.  The area was checked and found to be ok.  Activation is under investigation.

6:31 p.m. A student reported stepping on a metal stake sticking out of the ground on the east side of Harkness tree lawn.  The student received a laceration, but refused medical treatment at this time.  A barricade was placed over the stake and a work order was filed.

7:02 p.m. Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at Firelands, second floor.  The cause of the alarm was smoke from hot oil.  The alarm was silenced and reset.

11:38 p.m. Officers responded to a reported unauthorized party at Goldsmith apartments.  There were students lined up outside and approximately 200 students inside the apartment.  The party was shut down and attendees dispersed from the area.  A second party was observed at another Goldsmith apartment, which was also closed down.

Sunday, October 10th

1:55 a.m. Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at East Hall.  There was no fire.  It is unknown at this time who activated the pull station.

12:44 a.m. Officers responded to an unauthorized party in a room in Kahn Hall.  Occupants advised they were just dancing and drinking.  Several bottles off alcohol were confiscated and disposed of at the Safety and Security Office.

4:04 a.m. Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to an activated pull station alarm at Barnard.  The area was checked and the pull station was activated intentionally.  The system was reset and the activation is under investigation.

8:30 a.m. An officer on patrol in Kahn Hall observed a broken coffee table in the first floor common area.  It is unknown when the vandalism occurred or who is responsible.

12:16 p.m. Staff at Philips Gym requested an ambulance for an injured Ultimate Frisbee player.  The participant went to grab the Frisbee and fell to the ground injuring her neck.  The female was transported to Mercy Allen Medical Center for treatment.

11:49 a.m. Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at Dascomb dining hall.  There was no fire.  Smoke from the Panini sandwich maker activated the alarm.  The alarm was silenced and reset.

Monday, October 11th

11:30 a.m. A student reported his iPod Touch missing, possibly from a second floor restroom in Price Hall.  The iPod is a 32gig, silver front with gray back, valued at $300.00.

5:15 p.m. A student reported the theft of her cell phone from Stevenson dining hall on Sunday, October 10th.  The Blackberry Curve was taken from her bag, which was left unattended on the coat rack at the dining hall.  The cell phone is black in color with a clear screen and valued at $100.00.

11:45 p.m. Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at South Hall, third floor.  There was no fire at this time.  It appeared the pull station was activated for no apparent reason.

Tuesday, October 12th

12:18 a.m. An officer en route to the Environmental Studies building observed two males individuals breaking wine bottles under the carport area.  When the officer was observed, the males fled the area between houses.  A work order was filed for clean up of the glass.

2:44 p.m. A staff member reported vandalism at Zechiel House, first floor.  Several emergency spotlights were pulled from the ceiling and hanging by wires.  An electrician, already on site, was making repairs.

Wednesday, October 13th


12:09 a.m. An officer on patrol of Harkness observed a fire extinguisher that was partially discharged in the lower level of the north stairs.  A work order was filed for clean up and replacement of the extinguisher.

Corea Solid and McBride Outstanding at Finney

By Shane Hisner

Check your ticket stub and it’ll tell you that the Chick Corea Trio played this past Thursday at Finney Chapel, but if you went to the show you might have guessed you were watching the Christian McBride Trio.

Corea was brilliant, as one would expect. Center stage on the upright bass, though, was McBride.  He seemed to be the crowd favorite, drawing generous applause one funky solo after another.

new.oberlin.edu

All three members of the trio–Corea on the keys, McBride on the upright, and Brian Blade on the drums–exercised quite a bit of artistic freedom throughout the show. Solos were generally long, free form and high energy.

Blade’s high point certainly came in the middle of the show during Corea’s 1968 classic “Now He Sings, Now He Sobs.”  Much to the audience’s approval, the drummer broke from the periphery and made some serious noise in a solo that navigated something like Magellan’s trip around the world. The dude was feeling it.

The trio played just one song penned by Blade, the closer “Alpha and Omego,” but it was one of the highlights of the night. They left the stage with a bang.

On the Finney Steinway, Corea never missed a step. Early on, he soloed to open “Homage,” putting his skills on full display. All night, he was smooth. It was a clean run, a thing of beauty. Piano aficionados have really been spoiled here at Oberlin lately–in addition to Corea, 1990 Oberlin graduate and piano virtuoso Jeremy Denk played with the Oberlin College Orchestra this past Saturday.

But the night was owned by McBride. The bassist, who has played with everyone from Herbie Hancock to Sting to The Roots, showed why he’s considered one of the most influential jazz musicians of our time.  He worked the scales to their edges, and then took them places you wouldn’t have expected them to go.  Every moment you thought he was heading down the wrong road on a solo he’d convince you otherwise within seconds.

It wasn’t one of those synesthesia-inducing jazz gigs, the kind that lead your mind to somewhere in the asteroid belt; what was on display in Finney Thursday was an ocean of straight-up talent. It was a little clunky at times, as far as this jazz philistine could tell, but impressive and worth the ticket for sure.