JazzWax

Jimmy, Margo and Sergio

In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia, for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Jimmy talked about the World Book encyclopedia set his mother bought from a door-to-door salesman when he was little, why his biggest goal in life as a teen was being able to get up and do what seemed most interesting, and how he made that possible as an adult by creating Wikipedia, which, in my opinion, after Google and YouTube, is the web's most significant free resource. [Photo above of Jimmy Wales courtesy of CoinGeek]

The Washington Post, along with several other online publications, reviewed my new book, Rock Concert, last week. To read the Post's review, go here.

Just four three signed copies of Rock Concert left at BookHampton! You can order one or more of them online for yourself, friends or family by going here. But hurry! [Photo above by Durell Godfrey]

Or why not make it a triple. Order all three of my books—Rock Concert, Anatomy of a Song and Why Jazz Happened—at Amazon by going here, here and here. Wonderful gifts for music lovers.

SiriusXM. Catch me with Nik and Lori next week on SiriusXM's Feedback (Ch. 106) when I talk about my interview with Mickey Guyton for my recent "Anatomy of a Song" column in the WSJ on the writing and recording of her song, Indigo. Lori reminded me last time that we're celebrating our fifth year together. Wow!

Margo Guryan. Last week, after my post on singer-songwriter Margo Guryan, I received the following from pianist Roger Kellaway...

Hi Marc. Very sorry to hear about Margo‘s passing. We had known each other for many many years but mostly through her marriage to David Rosner. I really enjoyed your essay on her. It gave me so much information important to my understanding how much musical knowledge she had.
I would say a major adventure in her life would have been her marriage to valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer. I remember my wife, Jorjana, and I had dinner once with Margo and David out here in Los Angeles. On this occasion, she told us a story from her relationship with Brookmeyer. Apparently, she was in the bathroom longer than he thought she should be and he slipped a note under the door that said, “FIRE!” Also, at one point, she was looking for a piano. I turned her on to Bluthner. She bought a six-foot grand. Thanks and stay well.

More Margo. Mark Cathcart sent along a link to his post on Margo at his Creed Taylor tribute site (go here).

And finally, here's Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 performing Pretty World...

Anatomy of Pop: The Music Explosion

Just over a week ago, Anatomy of Pop: The Music Explosion was uploaded to YouTube. The rare 1966 documentary was directed by Jonathan Donald and Stephen Fleischman, and written by Fleischman, and aired on ABC TV. There are appearances by Tony Bennett, the Carter Family, Skeeter Davis, Duke Ellington, the Temptations, Bill Monroe, Cousin Brucie, Berry Gordy, the Supremes, Peter Paul & Mary, Tex Ritter, Billy Taylor and more. The footage is extraordinary, though the language is archaic in places. By the way, the conductor at the Tony Bennett session featured in several places? That's Johnny Mandel, and the Columbia album they were recording was The Movie Song Album. Tony appears at the beginning and the end recording The Trolley Song and at 41:35 recording The Days of Wine and Roses. Incredible access throughout!

Here's Anatomy of Pop...

Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021)

I tried. I really did. Eager to interview Stephen Sondheim for my "House Call" column in The Wall Street Journal, I sent along an email to him in 2013. [Photo above of Stephen Sondheim by Jerry Jackson/Courtesy of HBO]

Here's what Stephen sent back:

Thanks for the invitation, Mr. Myers and for the compliments, but I've sworn off all extracurricular activities until I finish the show I'm writing. Please forgive me.

Stephen Sondheim

Of course, one thing led to another, as is the case in in my business, and I moved on to other well-known actors, musicians and artists. Now, given Sondheim's passing on November 26, I wish I had been a little more of a pest or circled back. But you can't get 'em all. While we're on the subject, everyone should know more about Sondheim and what made him special. He was exceptional and passionate in every way, with an impeccable wit and daring lyrical judgment.

Today, I figured I'd show you why Stephen Sondheim is considered the father of the modern American musical:

Here's a 60 Minutes segment from 1988...

Here's an HBO documentary, Six By Sondheim, from 2013...

Here are the Kennedy Center Honors and tribute in 1993...

Here's the Carnegie Hall tribute in 1992...

And here's the Prologue and Into the Woods from the 1987 Broadway production of Into the Woods, one of my favorites. Words and music by Sondheim...