Home Entertainment diose ABBA instrumentals, and pop gourmands Marshall Crenshaw and Skip Heller have both included stripped-down and haunting renditions of ABBA's "Knowing You, Knowing Me" in their live sets. With ABBA-esque, the wonderfully campy Erasure rips four songs from the ABBA canon and renders them as Hi-NRG disco anthems. Unfortunately, no matter how straight-faced Erasure approaches these tunes, it's hard to get past the barrage of fractured bleeps, blurps, wheezes and whines generated by Vince Clark's synthesizers. The entire project sounds as if it's been processed through a video game. Nevertheless, singer Andy Bell traipses through "S.O.S" and "Take a Chance on Me" as if he's the belle of the ball, having the time of his life.
with a blithe arrangement by Dennis Mackrel that is filled with delicate horn parts buttressing Tyner's laser improvisations. Tyner also does "Fly With the Wind," which seems to create larger and larger waves of emotion and sound each time the melody comes around. Trombonist Steve Turre is an ebullient presence on his pseudoBrazilian number "Let It Go." Tyner dispenses with the band for one number, "In a Sentimental Mood," which he laces with rip pling artistry. On that piece, he wrestles the keyboard and makes it say uncle. New Recordings Ofra Haza returns, Zawinul sets forth Pop Best new pop albums As rated by Inquirer critics Reviewed by Sam Wood MORRISSEY Your Arsenal JOE HENRY Short Man's Room VARIOUS ARTISTS Red Hot Dance VARIOUS ARTISTS Soundtrack: "Mo' Money" FREEDY JOHNSTON Can You Fly JIMMY SCOTT All The Way JULIANA HATFIELD Hey Babe HELMET Meantime OFRA HAZA SONNY LANDRETH Kirya Outward Bound (Shanachie YOUSSOU N'DOUR This is the record that will pull Eyes Open Ofra Haza's career out of its tailspin.
After two misguided attempts to crack the American pop market, slowed down his approach in reHaza has returned to her roots. cent years, and that's to his credit. Good move, for Kirya finds the He gives the sense that he's taking Israeli songbird picking up where breaths even while playing an she left off with the 1987 world- electronic keyboard. (Zawinul music classic Fifty Gates of Wis- plays all the "sax" solos on a Korg dom, an album that glowed with keyboard.) the traditions of the Arabian pen- Philadelphia's Gerald Veasley insula. plays bass on most of the recordThe mystery has returned to her ing, and unrolls a scorching solo For gorgeous, golden-hued voice.
on his funky, flamenco-tinged "San Though there are a few lyrics in Sebastian." The Brazilian sounding English here, she's back to singing "Rua Paula Freitas" comes the closin primarily Hebrew and Aramaic. est to the Weather Report sound Gone is the glossy disco sound that that Zawinul and Wayne Shorter marred her previous two outings. made famous. One problem is that Producer Don Was has melded an- some of Zawinul's elaborate backcient instruments with supple, sin- ings sound diffuse and unfocused uous grooves that undulate more silence seems to make him ner- than they percolate. vous.
But those moments are more SHABBA RANKS than overshadowed by several Rough and Ready Vol. 1 tunes that build in heat and densi(Epic ty and Zawinul's reach crushing climaxes. At Lacking a singer to parry with, best, the exquisite, polyreggae-rapper Shabba Ranks is a rhythms of his tunes washed lone prizefighter preening to a with waves of light. crowd. All talk, no action.
But when Ranks lures another voice into the ring, sparks begin to fly. Unfortunately, Rough and Ready Vol. 1 boasts only two twin billings. Grammy-winner Ranks' monotonous sing-song boasting i is matched with Chevelle Franklin's cool soul stylings for the simmeringly erotic "Mr. Loverman." On "Pirates Anthem" deep groove that celebrates renegade radio disc jockeys Ranks spars with rising stars Coca Tea and Home Tin turn.
On the remaining eight tracks, McCOY TYNER BIG BAND Ranks blusters and rants in his The Turning Point gravelly patois over tiresome one- (Verve chord dancehall reggae tracks. In terms of expression and force, ERASURE pianist McCoy Tyner has long been ABBA- esque something of a jazz titan. Pitting him against a big band is roughly a Don't be too quick to dismiss this contest among equals, with peras an exercise in bad taste. Instead, haps Tyner holding the edge. Here, look at it as further evidence that he gets the kind of grand backdrop an ABBA boxed-set is long over- he usually provides all by himself.
due. The 14-member band punctuates ABBA may have been dismissed Tyner's pianistic peregrinations, as pablum during its prime, but and gives him a vigorous counterrecently we've seen some mighty weight to play off of. The results unlikely folks pay homage to the can be loud and strident, but late-'70s Swedish pop giants. they're filled with vitality and During the last year, the Munich rounded by some talented arrangPhilharmonic Orchestra released ing. Tyner recycles his classic an entire album of gloriously gran- 1960s composition "Passion Dance" Reviewed by Karl Stark THE ZAWINUL SYNDICATE Lost Tribes (Columbia Having mastered jazz, the Viennese-born keyboardist Joe Zawinul sets out to conquer world music.
In Lost Tribes, he covers more cultures than the Michelin Guide, and much of it is hardly authentic. Still, the results speak for themselves. Zawinul, who has a flair for dance music, comes up with groove after groove that could turn a board meeting into a beach party. There's the rollicking township lilt of "South Africa" and the easygoing funk of "In a While, in a While." Zawinul seems to have THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Obituary John Cage; composed avant-garde music By Verena Dobnik ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK Composer John Cage, 79, who was at the forefront of America's musical avant-garde for decades, died yesterday of a stroke at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan.
Mr. Cage wrote 12-tone music in 1934, organized a percussion orchestra in 1938, composed for prepared piano where objects are inserted between some of the piano's strings in 1940 and used electrically produced sounds in 1942. By the 1950s, Mr. Cage already had advanced the idea that music doesn't even have to consist of sounds, but can be anything that takes place during a fixed duration in time. In 1951, a Cage included 12 radios.
His first piece on magnetic tape came in 1952. At the end of the decade, he began writing scores leaving choices of sounds to the performers. In 1962, he performed "0'0," in which he sliced vegetables, put them in a blender and drank the juice. The Los Angeles born 1 music man liked to make each composition different. "My father was an inventor.
If I South Jersey Deaths JOYCE BOOKER, 47, of Williamstown, died Friday at Cooper' Hospital-University Medical Center, Camden. Mrs. Booker was a member of Open Bible Baptist Church in Williamstown and a Shepherd's Ministry leader. Survivors: her husband, Samuel; four sons, Samuel, Patrick, Trevor and Jeffrey, all of Williamstown; two daughters, Joylyn and Marnell, both of Williamstown; five grandchildren, and a brother, George, and sister, Joan, both of Philadelphia. Services: visitation, 9 a.m.
today, Open Bible Baptist Church, New Brooklyn Road, Williamstown; funeral, 11 a.m. today at the church; burial, Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hurffville. Waples Funeral Home, Camden. RAYMOND BREWER, 88, of Deptford, formerly of Greenfield, died Monday at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, Cape May Court House. Mr.
Brewer was the widower of E. Beatrice Powell Brewer. Survivors: a son, Donald R. of Deptford; two daughters, Gwen Kline of Washington Township and Marilyn Fox of Wildwood Crest; 10 grandchildren, and 15 greatgrandchildren. Services: viewing, 9 a.m.
today, McGuinness-Washington Township Funeral Home, 573 Egg Harbor Washington Township; Masonic services, 10 a.m. today at the funeral home; funeral, 10:30 a.m. today at the funeral home; burial, Eglington Cemetery, Clarksboro. IRENE THERESA CURRY, 84, of Hainesport, died Monday at Memorial Hospital of Burlington County, Mount Holly, Mrs. Curry, a homemaker, was the widow of Paul Curry.
Survivors: three sons, Paul of Mount Laurel, Thomas of Mount Holly and George of Hainesport; four daughters, Joan Pate and Mary Banach, both of Hainesport, Irene Wood of Freidans, and Milligan of Medina, Ohio; 19. grandchildren; 12 greatgrandchildren, and three sisters, Catherine Nolan and Caroline Potts, both of Philadelphia, and Anna Coyle of Alexandria, Va. Services: visitation, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. today, Perinchief Chapels, 438 High Mount Holly; Mass of Christian Burial, 11 a.m. today, Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Marne Highway, Hainesport; burial, St.
Mary's Cemetery, Hainesport. JOSEPH M. DONATO, 67, of Glendora, died Tuesday at Methodist Hospital, Philadelphia. Survivors: a brother, Frank, and two nieces, Anna Carey and Marie Rosa. Services: viewing, 7 p.m.
today and 8:30 a.m. tomorrow, Gardner Funeral Home, 126 S. Black Horse Pike, Runnemede; Mass of Christian Burial, 10 a.m. tomorrow, St. Teresa's Roman Catholic Church, Runnemede; burial, St.
Joseph's Cemetery, Chews Landing. HOMER EVANS, 90, of Tuckahoe, formerly of Cherry Hill, died Monday at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, Cape May Court House. Survivors: two sons, Robert L. of Riverside and Paul M. of Marlton.
Services: visitation, 10 a.m. today, Edward P. Leonard Jr. Funeral Home, 35th and River Road, Camden; funeral, 11 a.m. today at the funeral home; burial; Bethel Memorial Park, Pennsauken.
CHARLES T. FITHIAN, 71, of Gloucester City, died Tuesday at home. Survivors: companion, Florence McKenney; four daughters, Joan Gonzales, Sandy McColligan, Jessie Hagan and Brenda Geiger; 19 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a sister, Dorothy M. Kessel. Services: visitation, 10 to 11 a.m.
tomorrow, Etherington Funeral Home, 700 Powell Gloucester City; funeral, 11 a.m. tomorrow at the funeral home; burial, private. JOSEPHINE GARRUTI FRANK, 85, of Fairview, died Sunday at St. Mary's Catholic Home, Cherry Hill. She was the widow of Frederik.
Survivors: two sons, Justin of Collingswood and Alfred of Westmont; three daughters, Madeline Lord of Bellmawr, Marie Dare of Delran and JoAnn of Glassboro; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren, and a brother, Robert Garruti of Westmont. Services: visitation, 9 a.m. today, St. Joan of Arc Church, Alabama Road, Fairview; entombment, Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill. Myrtetus Funeral Home, Fairview.
ROBERT G. GREENE, 59, of Tampa, formerly of Camden, died Monday at Tampa General Hospital. Mr. Greene was retired from S.W. Kooperman a steel manufacturing company in Philadelphia.
He was a member or the Steel Painters' Union, Chester, Pa. Survivors: six daughters, Linda Brooks of Gloucester Township, Audrey Laverty of Winslow, Debra Watson of Stratford, Vicki of Collingswood, Robin of Clementon and Patricia A. of Tampa, 12 grandchildren; a brother, Frank of a Monroe Township, and three sisters, Audrey and Darlene Maye, both of Tampa. and Alice Downey of Monroe Township. Services: visitation, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
today, Bradley Funeral Home, Route 73 and Evesham Road, Marlton; funeral, 8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home; burial, private. CHARLES DONALD HAMOR, 83, of Pennsauken, died Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden. Hamor was a retired accident investigator for Brown, Connery, Kulp Willie of Camden. He was World War Il Navy veteran and the widower of Lillian Rogers Hamor.
Survivors: a daugnter, Nancy H. Evans of Rutland, three grandchildren, and a sister, Phoebe Burk of Northumberland, Pa. Thursday, August 13, 1992 Decree on graft backfires in Brazil can, with each piece I make something like a discovery," he said. He also wrote poetry and essays, gave lectures, painted and etched, and was a mycologist, an expert on mushrooms. His most popular work was "Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano" (1946-48).
He had screws, bolts and other objects inserted between many of the instrument's strings to make it, in his words, "a percussion ensemble under the control of a single player." "Construction in Metal," a percussion composition from 1937, toys with a regular pulse and uses an assortment of Western, non-Western and found objects. Like the later works of Steve Reich and Philip Glass, it was composed, according to Mr. Cage's notes, "with the single objective of making the rhythmic structure clear." His 1939 "The Imaginary Landscape No. 1" is considered by some to be the first electronic composition. The sounds were provided by test recordings of constant frequencies, the kind used by radio stations and in acoustical research.
Two performers varied the frequencies by ma- Services: burial, private. Foster's Funeral Home, Collingswood. CHRISTIANNA D. HEYER, 86, of Mount Holly, died Sunday at Memorial Hospital of Burlington County, Mount Holly. Mrs.
Heyer was a volunteer for the American Red Cross and was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Mount Holly. Survivors: her husband, Carl; a son, Fred of Sandwich, and two grandsons. Services: viewing, 12:30 to 1 p.m. today, Perinchief Chapels, 438 High Mount Holly; funeral, 1 p.m.
today at the funeral home; burial, private. ROBERT H. JAMES, 70, of Camden, died Sunday at Cooper River Nursing Home, Pennsauken. Mr. James was a retired landscaper.
Survivors: two sons, Elvin and Robert a daughter, Dolores Hutchins; seven grandchildren; a brother, Earl, and four sisters, Redell Wise, Sally Piggott, Lena Rex and Virginia Rogers. Services: viewing, 6 p.m. today, Holy Trinity Baptist Church, Mechanic and Locust Streets, Camden; funeral, 8 p.m. today at the church; burial, Evergreen Cemetery, Carl Miller Funeral Home, Camden. GLADYS W.
GUNDERMANN KOKAT, 79, of Southampton, formerly of Philadelphia, died Monday at Memorial Hospital of Burlington County, Mount Holly. Mrs. Kokat was a homemaker. Survivors: her husband, Al, and a son, Richard, both of Southampton. Services: memorial, 11 a.m.
tomorrow, Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Southampton and Worthington Roads, Philadelphia. JAY P. McCORMICK, 20, of Vineland, died Monday at Newcomb Medical Center, Vineland. Mr. McCormick, an active member of Faith Bible Church in Vineland, attended the Philadelphia College of Bible, Jersey Campus.
He was a lifelong Vineland resident. He attended Vineland schools and graduated from Vineland High School in 1990. He was the quiz team coach for the Faith Bible Church youth group. An avid bow hunter, Mr. McCormick loved outdoor activities.
He was a member of his college and career group. He was the grandson of the late Harold C. Perkins. Survivors: his mother and stepfather, Carol and Bog Muessig Vineland; his father, Patrick McCormick of Vineland; two brothers, Chad and Kevin Muessig, both of Vineland; maternal grandmother, Betty Perkins of Buena, and paternal grandparents, John and Josephine McCormick of Landisville. Services: visitation, 10 to 11 a.m.
today, Pancoast Funeral Home, 676 S. Main Vineland; funeral, 11 a.m. today at the funeral home; burial, Friendship Cemetery, Landisville. DANIEL McGILL, 69, of Monroe, formerly of Gibbstown, died Monday at St. Francis Hospital, Monroe.
Mr. McGill was a retired Air Force staff sergeant. He served in World War I1, Korea Vietnam, receiving the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with five clusters. He was a member of the Anthony T. Calista VFW Post 5579 of Gibbstown and the Air Force Sergeants Association of Washington, D.C.
He was also a member of the Amvets of Monroe, and was an exempt member of the Gibbstown Volunteer Fire Company. Survivors: three brothers, Robert and Bill, both of Gibbstown, and Phillip W. Jr. of Paulsboro; and a companion, Nell Richards of Monroe, with whom he lived. Services: viewing, 9 to 10 a.m.
tomorrow, Landolfi Funeral Home, 300 W. Broad Paulsboro; funeral, 10 a.m. tomorrow at the funeral home; burial, Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly. ANNA E. O'NEILL PAPPAS, 73, of Pennsville, died Monday at Christiana Hospital, Stanton, Del.
Mrs. Pappas was a charter member and past president of the Pennsville Sunshine Seniors and also belonged to Queen of the Apostles Church in Pennsville. Survivors: a son, Andy S. Jr. of Pennsville; a daughter, Mary Ann Springer of Pennsville; three grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; one great great-grandson, and two brothers, John O'Neill of Sewell and Joseph O'Neill of Thorofare.
Services: visitation, 7 9 p.m. today, Laughrey Funeral Home, 1 N. Broadway, Pennsville; Mass of Christian Burial, 10 a.m. tomorrow, Queen of the Apostles Church, South Broadway, Pennsville; burial, Riverview Cemetery, Penns Grove. MAE HORN PARKER, 71, of Sewell, died ivionday at home.
For 25 years, Mrs. Parker taught ceramics at Pottery Treasures, a shop she owned and operated from her home until she retired in 1985. Mrs. Parker, an Atlantic City native, previously lived in Pitman. McMahon.
Survivors: her companion, Hugh Services: visitation, 7 to 9 p.m. today, Harold E. Haines Funeral Home, 30 W. Holly Pitman; funeral, 10 a.m. tomorrow at the funeral home; burial, Laurel Memorial Park, Pomona.
SAMUEL PETERS 21, of Trenton, formerly of Camden, died Friday at St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton. Mr. Peters was an employee of the Chesapeake Bay Restaurant at Oxford Valley Mall, Langhorne, Pa. Survivors: his mother, Nancy A.
Lukowicz Peters of Trenton; two brothers, William A. Palmer and Spencer J. Palmer, both of Trenton; sisters, Narda E. Palmer of Ohio, Terry Garaino of Fort Myers, Chickie Palmer of Trenton and Samantha J. of Trenton; two half brothers, The president's edict on record-keeping helped detail corruption.
The resulting allegations threaten his power. John Cage nipulating variable speed turntables. "Concert Orchestra" (1957-1958) employed as many unusual sounds and sound effects as he could draw from the instruments of a conventional orchestra. He sometimes composed by procedures: the tossing of I Ching coins, star charts and computer programs. A student at a lecture he once gave complained that he was having trouble concentrating.
Mr. Cage replied: "My life has been about paying attention to things. Most people don't know how few things they pay attention to." Ricky of Gloucester City and Greg of Tennessee, and two half sisters, Lee Ann Collins of Maple Shade and Patty of Camden. Services: funeral, 8 p.m. today, Chiacchio Funeral Home, 990 S.
Broad Trenton; Mass of Christian Burial, 9 a.m. today, Holy Cross Church, Adeline Street, Trenton; burial, Ewing Church Cemetery, Ewing Township. MILDRED E. KRIEDLER ROWE, 94, of Gloucester City, died Monday at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden. Mrs.
Rowe was the widow of John. ington Funeral Home, on 700 Powell Services: visitation, a.m. today, EtherGloucester; Mass of Christian Burial, 10 a.m. today, St. Mary's Church, Monmouth Gloucester City: entombment, New St.
Mary's Mausoleum, Bellmawr. FRANK L. SAUERS, 82, of Collings Lakes, died Sunday at Greenbriar Nursing Center, Hammonton. Mr. Sauers was retired from Disston Saw Co.
in Tacony, Pa. He was the widower of Sarah Whartenby Sauers. Survivors: a son, Richard of Newark, two daughters, Catherine Knittwels of Collings Lakes and Joan Murtha of Philadelphia; 10 grandchildren, and a greatgrandchild. Services: viewing, 10:30 a.m. today, Marinella Funeral Home, 0102 N.
Third Hammonton; funeral, 11 a.m. today at the funeral home; burial, Manahath Cemetery, Glassboro. ARMIN H. SCHLETER 75, of Mariton, died Tuesday at West Jersey HospitalMarlton. A Merchant Marine during World War 11, Mr.
Schleter worked as an assistant supervisor for the state Department of Transportation for 44 years, retiring in 1979. He was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, the Marlton Recreation Council, the Winslow Senior Citizens, the Holly Coin in Mount Holly, Cherry Hill Coin Club and Post 458 of the American Legion, Trenton. Survivors: his wife, Stephanie J. Kwiatkowski Schleter, and a daughter, Joan A. Richards of Maple Shade.
Services: visitation, 10 a.m. Saturday, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Route 70 and Cooper Avenue, Marlton; funeral, 11 a.m. Saturday at the church; burial, private. Bradley Funeral Home, Marlton. GERALDINE C.
MOORE SEMPLE, 61, of Pennsauken, died Monday at home. Mrs. Semple was a member of St. Roman Catholic Church in Merchantville. Survivors: her husband, Joseph; five Edward of Newark, David of Pennsauken, Thomas of Moorestown, Jeffrey of West Berlin and Lawrence Cherry Hill; a daughter, Lorraine Dolan of Maple Shade; six grandchildren, two sisters, Helen Malizio of Alabama and Rita Evert of Riverton.
Services: visitation, 7 to 9 p.m. today, Inglesby Sons Funeral Home, Cove and Wyndam Roads, Pennsauken; funeral, 9 a.m. tomorrow at the funeral home; Mass of Christian Burial, 10 tomorrow at the funeral home; burial, private. STEPHEN ALAN TANKLE, 47, of Philadelphia, died Monday at Methodist Hospital, Philadelphia. Mr.
Tankle was the son of the late David and the brother of the late Richard. Survivors: his wife, Judith Pugliese Tankle; a daughter, Stacey of Haddonfield; his mother, Hilda Nitzky Tankle of Stratford, and a sister, Karen Lobascio of 1 Marlton. Services: visitation, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. today, Platt Memorial Chapels, 2001 Berlin Cherry Hill; funeral, 10:30 a.m. today at the funeral home; burial, Har Zion Cemetery, Collingdale, Pa.
ARTHUR G. WARNER 64, of Fieldsboro, died at home. Mr. Mondays an Army veteran of World War II and was retired from the state Department of Corrections. He also worked for Norwood Distributors of Lakewood, Bordentown Florists and Bordentown Bouquets.
He was a member of Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in Bordentown. Survivors: three sons, Arthur 3d of San Jose, James Snell of Burlington City and Malcolm Snell of Illinois; three daughters, Debraof Fieldsboro, Lia of Lakewood and Dionne Snell of Levittown, 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his stepmother, Gertrude of Kansas City, and two brothers, William of Philadelphia, and the Rev. Edward of College Park, Ga. Services: visitation, 7 to 9 p.m.
tomorrow, Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, 36 E. Burlington Bordentown City; funeral, 10 a.m. Saturday al church, burial, ivionday, Brig. Gen.
William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown. Huber Funeral Home, Bordentown City. JOSEPH WILLIAMS, 63, of Willingboro, died Sunday at Red Oak Manor Nursing Home, Blackwood. Mr.
Williams served with the Army in World War 11, Korea and Vietnam. He retired in 1967 as a master sergeant, then served Army Corps of Engineers for 21 years. Upon retiring, he worked for CFR Car Leasing Pennsauken, and Conwed Co. of Delanco. He was a member of VFW Post 4914 in Willingboro and the Masonic Order.
Survivors: his wife, Rose M. Diehm Williams; two sons, Jeffrey of Colton, and Gregory of Sicklerville, and four grandsons. Services: visitation, 10:30 a a.m. today, Goes Funeral Home, 212 Levitt Willingboro; funeral, 11:30 a.m. today at the funeral home; burial, Brig.
Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown. By Sam Dillon KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWS SERVICE RIO DE JANEIRO An obscure 1990 decree by President Fernando Collor de Mello requiring more stringent financial record is allowing probers to piece together the most thorough picture ever assembled of Brazil's corrupt underbelly. Now Brazilians, who have cynically shrugged off scandals involving earlier presidents, are taking allegations of high-level wrongdoing so seriously that Collor's presidency is threatened.
"This time, we know where the money came from and to whom it went, all the intestines of corruption," said political scientist Bolivar Lamounier. "Never has this society seen with such clarity the amounts, the mechanisms." Some analysts say Collor has distinguished himself by allowing voracious advisers to extort more money, more quickly, from more government coffers than any previous leader. But others disagree, arguing that Collor simply lacks the political clout that enabled predecessors to sweep scandals under the rug. Still other analysts say Brazil has changed, not its leaders. Reporters have become more aggressive, Congress more assertive and citizens more willing to denounce abuses.
Furthermore, they say, the country's financial and business practices are rapidly undergoing modernization, making corruption easier to trace. A cultural factor? Juca de Oliveira, a Sao Paulo author who claims to have uncovered the first written reference to corruption here in a 16th-century letter to the king of Portugal just a few years after Brazil's discovery in 1500 argues in a forthcoming book that corruption is deeply rooted in the country's culture. "Is it possible that we were conceived in corruption, that Brazil's ethnic formation is genetically linked to corruption?" de Oliveira asked a reporter in a recent published interview. Over the centuries, money, influence and authority have been almost certain guarantees against punishment for wrongdoing, and heads of state have rarely been called to account for illicit enrichment. Toward the end of a 21-year military dictatorship, the press became increasingly assertive in exposing malfeasance, but many unresolved scandals were forgotten when democracy returned in 1985.
David Fleischer, a political scientist at the University of Brasilia, said Collor's fate has been different because he appears to have allowed his former campaign treasurer to form an entire organization dedicated to corruption. "Collor simply tried to get away with too Fleischer said. "There have always been kickbacks on public contracts, but in the past they were on the order of 15 percent. Collor's people jacked the price up to 40 percent." Influence of hypocrisy Hypocrisy appears to have been JESSE DAVIS AS WE SPEAK JESSE DAVIS As We Speak (Concord Alto saxophonist Jesse Davis doesn't honk and he doesn't bray. He just plays clear and upright bebop in a stylish and increasingly powerful way.
Davis merges a blue-collar work ethic with highbrow gentility. He makes his nassion audible with no sense of strain as he recalls the virtuosity of Cannonball Adderley. The horns here include Peter Bernstein on guitar and Robert Trowers on trombone an unusual combination that proves memorable through a selection of standards and Davis originals. A bonus for local fans is the presence of Dwayne Burno on bass. The young Philadelphian played with singer Betty Carter and acquits himself well with a rich tone and percolating feel.
He and Davis seem headed in the same upward spiral. RATINGS: Good Fair Poor another destabilizing factor. Collor, who ran as a "Christian reformer" promising a war on corruption during the 1989 campaign, confiscated $100 billion in private savings in the name of an anti-inflation program once in office while hiding his own resources in secret accounts. As Brazilians groaned from the pain of austerity, Collor's aides were diverting money from public contracts to fix up the presidential swimming pool. After Collor's brother accused him of financial wrongdoing in several published interviews in May, Congress convened a parliamentary inquiry and gave investigators the power to subpoena witnesses.
Jazz Damaging documents But more damaging to Collor than witness testimony have been the thousands of documents subpoenaed by the committee, which have altailed record of payments busilowed lawmakers to develop, a denessmen and others to the president's accounts. This wasn't possible in Brazil until recently. Ironically, soon after his 1990 inauguration, Collor himself provided ft nancial investigators the beefed-up capabilities they have turned on him, when he "nominalized" Brazil's check checks in Brazil system, henceforth requiring be written to a named beneficiary. Until then, businessmen wishing to hide transactions from auditing would commonly write checks "ao portador," to the bearer. The congressional committee has subpoenaed 40,000 checks from the Central Bank and other institutions, using them to reconstruct a money trail that has repeatedly led back to the president and his advisers.
"Every Brazilian is today getting a doctor's degree in corruption," de Oliveira said. "The congressional investigation is showing us all the ways that frauds are done.".