JazzWax

Katherine, Kristen and Kelly

Last week in The Wall Street Journal, I interviewed Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Katherine's new stand-up special, Missus, is airing on Veeps, a new streaming platform. [Photo above of Katherine Ryan courtesy of Katherine Ryan via Instagram]

Here are my opening column paragraphs, in Katherine's voice...

My parents took me to my first day in kindergarten when I was 4 but dropped me at a French-speaking school. I don’t have many memories of that age, but I recall thinking it was a prank.

Listening to the teachers and other students converse, I assumed everyone in the world spoke French except for my family and the people we knew.

The school was strict, and teachers insisted we address them only in French. Otherwise, they wouldn’t answer us. The first time I asked to use the bathroom in English, they just let me wet myself. I learned French fast.

Here's Katherine in action...

Hurry up, buy your paperback copies of Anatomy of 55 More Songs, which is really Anatomy of 58 More Songs because I added three to last year's hardback just for you. You can buy the paperback for yourself or for someone else and click send as a gift. An easy way to give a holiday present. Who doesn't love the dramatic stories behind iconic hit songs? To buy, visit the site of your favorite bookseller or go here.

What I'm watching now. Here what I streamed last week and really enjoyed (I spare you the junk). Past recommendations appear in the list below the new entries:

Veronica Mars (2004 to 2019)—I'll watch anything with Kristen Bell. This series, which ran from 2004 to 2019, focuses on Veronica, the daughter of an amicable private investigator. Veronica is in high school and quite the sleuth herself. Nonstop fun, and Bell's acting gift is a joy to watch. (Hulu) [Photo above of Kristen Bell in Veronica Mars courtesy of UPN]

The Comeback (2005 and 2014)—If you want to see how great an actress Lisa Kudrow (Friends) is, watch this. The mockumentary series is about a B-list actress who agrees to be the subject of a a reality show as she tries to land a part in a sitcom. Kudrow aces this. You'll find yourself feeling deliciously uncomfortable and simultaneously sorry for her character and appalled by what she has to go through, which is the point. At the same time, you get enormous insight into how TV shows are made and what actors have to deal with in terms of readings, egos, self-doubt, ageism and rejection. Kudrow is so good here that you forget she's playing a part. (Max)

Past recommendations...

TV series

• The Crown, Season 6—(2023; the final season's first four episodes are up now; the final six will go up December 14. (Netflix)
• Reacher—(2016-present/Netflix)
• Band of Brothers—(2001/Netflix) 
• 1923—(2022-present/Paramount+)
• 1883—(2021-2022/Prime)
• Yellowstone—(2018-present/Paramount Network)
• Dark Winds—(2022/AMC)
• Fisk—(2021/Netflix)
• Justified—(2010-2015/Hulu)
• The Diplomat—(2023/Netflix)
• Outlander—(2014-present/Netflix)
• Poldark—(2015-2019/Prime)
• Turn: Washington's Spies—(2014-2017/Prime)
• The Americans—(2013-2018)/Prime)
• Goliath—(2016-2021/Prime)
• Lincoln Lawyer—(2022-present/Netflix)
• Downton Abbey—(2020-2015/Prime)
• Pieces of Her—(2022/Netflix)
• Unbelievable—(2019/Netflix)

Films

• The Night Agent (2023/Netflix)
• Last Seen Alive(2020/Netflix)
• The Ballad of Lefty Brown—(2017Netflix)
• Queenpins—(2021/Pluto TV)
• Wonder Wheel—(2017/Prime)
• The Mule—(2018/Netflix)
• The Stranger—(2022/Netflix)
• Somewhere in Queens—(2022/Hulu)
• Spy(les)—(2009/Prime)
• God's Country—(2022/Hulu)
• MI-5—(2015/Max)
• Guy Ritchie's The Covenant—(2023/Prime)
• Kill Chain—(2019/Max)
• Reptile—(2023/Netflix)
• Man on Fire—(2004/Max)
• Nobody—(2021/Prime)
• Eiffel—(2021/Prime)
• The Equalizer 1, 2 and 3—(2014-2018/Prime)
• Armageddon Time—(2022/Prime)
• Enola Holmes 1 and 2—(2022/Netflix)
• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs—(2018/Netflix)
• The Spy—(2019/Netflix)
• The Accountant—(2016/Hulu)
• The Queen's Gambit—(2020/Netflix)
• Last Night in Soho—(2021/Prime)
• Purple Hearts—(2022/Netflix)

Documentaries

• Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake—(2022/Netflix)
• The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari—(2022/Netflix)
• Five Came Back—(2017/Netflix)

The Legend of Bop City is a documentary written and directed by Carol P. Chamberland and released in 1998. Bop City, also known as Jimbo’s Bop City, was a vital San Francisco jazz club that operated from 1949 to 1965. The club was in the back room of a Victorian house at 1690 Post Street and was known for its late-night jam sessions. The Legend of Bop City is scarce, and few have seen all of it. Last night, Bill Kirchner sent along a clip from the film that he found on YouTube. [Photo above of Jimbo's Bop City by Phil Palmer]

Go here or watch below by clicking on "Watch on YouTube"...

The Greatness of Joe Mooney. Two of my very favorite albums are The Greatness of Joe Mooney (1964) and The Happiness of Joe Mooney (1965). Both were arranged by Mundell Lowe and both were issued by Columbia. Mooney was a blind lounge organist and accordionist and singer who began performing in the 1940s. Here's the first track on The Greatness of Joe Mooney. Ignore the cover on the YouTube clip. The person who put this up mixed up Mooney's two Columbia albums...

Oscar Peterson. Kelly Peterson, Oscar Peterson's widow, is president and general manager of Regal Recordings and the producer of Two Lions Records and the Oscar Peterson International Jazz Festival. How did Oscar and Kelly meet? Ernestine Scalfani, author of Balls: How to Keep Your Relationship Alive When You Live With a Sports-Obsessed Guy (here), shared a touching piece via the following link here. [Photo above of Kelly and Oscar Peterson, courtesy of Kelly Peterson]

Deadline music. This past week I was cranking out WSJ columns and essays in advance of the holidays. To create a calm zone, here's what I had on in the background. It actually popped on by accident and I let it play for an hour or so. Thought you'd want it, too, even though you'll eventually realize it's just varying renditions of Jingle Bells. The holiday version of "white noise." [Sleigh Ride painting above by Linda Mears]

Jerome Sabbagh—Vintage (Sunnyside). Born in Paris in 1973, Jerome Sabbagh is a saxophonist who now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. His new album, Vintage, is a collection of originals and jazz standards. Jerome's tone on tenor and soprano saxophones is assertive and tender, drawing you in. Piano legend Kenny Barron must have heard the same qualities and more, since he's on the keyboard, with bassist Joe Martin and drummer Jonathan Blake. Best of all, Jerome gave Barron plenty of solo space, making this album particularly special. The tracks are Jerome's Vintage, Tadd Dameron's On a Misty Night, Billy Strayhorn's A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing, Jerome's Elson's Energy and Slay the Giant, and Thelonious Monk's We See and Ask Me Now. Jerome brings sensitivity and intelligence to his playing and composing, and with Barron, Vintage has enormous maturity and grace. Spring for the vinyl if you can. Jerome is an audiophile, and meticulously oversaw the mastering and production. For more on Jerome, go here. You'll find Vintage (Sunnyside) on CD and download here and vinyl here.

Here's the title track...

Jazz Nativity. This year, Kindred Spirits & Aunahil is producing Bending Towards the Light—A Jazz Nativity in New York on December 18 at 8 p.m. The performance stars Chris Brubeck, Maurice Chestnut and Bobby Sanabria as the Three Kings. You can view the performance two different ways:

• Live at St. Paul and St. Andrew – United Methodist Church, at 263 W 86th St in Manhattan. 
• Live-streaming from home.

Original music was written by Anne Phillips and is combined with well-known carols. The performance is directed by Beth Ann Kennedy. For tickets and information, go here.

Bill Crow. Legendary bassist Bill Crow (above) writes for Allegro, the e-newsletter published by the American Federation of Musicians Local 802. His columns are a must-read. You'll find this month's column and plenty more in the archives here.

Donald Byrd radio. WKCR-FM in New York will feature a 24-hour tribute to trumpeter Donald Byrd on December 9 (ET). Listen from anywhere in the world by going here.

Jean Knight (1943-2023). In tribute to the late R&B singer, here's Mr. Big Stuff, her biggest hit in 1971...

Backgrounder: Jimmy Forrest's 'Forrest Fire'

In the years leading up to World War II, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest got his start in bands led by Jay McShann and Andy Kirk. After the war, he was with Duke Ellington and then was on his own. His big claim to fame was co-writing and first recording Night Train, a song adapted from Duke Ellington's Happy Go Lucky Local. Night Train became a jazz and R&B standard. He also toured with Count Basie. Among my favorite albums by Forrest are those on the New Jazz and Prestige record labels. He always had a big bossy, blues sound with a smooth bite and serious groove.

Recorded for Prestige's New Jazz label in August 1960, Forrest Fire featured Forrest (ts), Larry Young (org), Thornell Schwartz (g), Jimmie Smith (d) and an unknown percussionist who sounds a lot like Ray Barretto. The tracks were Remember, Dexter's Deck, Forrest's Jim's Jam, Bags' Groove, When Your Lover Has Gone and Doug Watkins' Help!

Of particular note is organist Larry Young, playing on his second studio date here, squeezed between two leadership sessions for New Jazz with his working trio—Testifying and Young Blues.

Here's the complete Forrest Fire without ad interruptions...

Other ad-free Backgrounders in my series:

• Zoot Sims Plays Bossa Nova, go here.
• Lee Morgan: Lee-Way, go here.
• Bossa Nova for Swinging Lovers, go here.
• Leon Spencer: Louisiana Slim, go here.
• Bossa Nova Modern Quartet: Bossa Nova Jazz Samba, go here.
• Bill Evans & Luiz Eça: Piano Four Hands, go here.
• Ray Brown Trio: Don't Get Sassy, go here.
• Os Tatuis: Os Tatuis, go here.
• Waltel Branco: Mancini Tambem É Samba, go here.
• Jack Wilson Plays Brazilian Mancini, go here.
• Conjunto Copacabana Bossa: Bossa, go here.
• Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Swings Lightly, go here.
• Charles Earland: Charles Earland, go here.
• Kenny Burrell: Crash! w/ Jack McDuff, go here.
• Jack McDuff: The Heatin' System, go here.
• Horace Silver: Horace-Scope, go here.
• Antonio Carlos Jobim: Wave, go here.
• Sonny Stitt: Sonny Stitt Plays, go here.
• Sonny Stitt with Bennie Green: My Main Man, go here.
• Johnny Hodges and Earl Hines: Stride Right, go here.
• Lionel Hampton: Bossa Nova Jazz, go here.
• Johnny Hodges & Ben Webster: Cellar Session, go here.
• Bill Evans: Solo Sessions Vol. 1, go here.
• Frank Wess: Trombones & Flute, go here.
• Presenting the Buddy DeFranco & Tommy Gumina Quartet, go here.
• Ernest Ranglin: Wranglin', go here.
• Dave Pell Octet: Plays Rodgers & Hart, go here.
• Milt Buckner: Block Chords Parade, go here.
• Roberto Menescal: A Nova Bossa, go here.
• Count Basie: Have a Nice Day, go here.
• Freddie Green: Mr. Rhythm, go here.
• Leny Andrade: Leny Andrade, go here.
• Johnny Alf: Ele é Johnny Alf, go here.
• Dodo Marmarosa: Dodo's Back, go here.
• Freddie Redd: The Music From the Connection, go here.
• Nicola Stilo & Toninho Horta: Duets, go here.
• Urbie Green: Persuasive Trombone, go here.
• Johnny Richards: Something Else, go here.
• Wayne Shorter: JuJu, go here.
• Hampton Hawes: All Night Session!, go here.
• Shorty Rogers Plays Richard Rodgers, go here.
• Chet Baker: Pretty/Groovy, go here.
• Sonny Stitt: The Sensual Sound of Sonny Stitt, go here.
• Gil Mellé: New Faces, New Sounds, go here.
• Herbie Mann and Charlie Rouse: Just Wailin', go here.
• Bobby Hackett: Memorable & Mellow, go here.
• Tina Brooks: Back to the Tracks, go here.
• Sonny Rollins Plays for Bird, go here.
• Red Garland: A Garland of Red, go here.
• Grant Green: Gooden's Corner, go here.
• Eumir Deodato Plays Marcos Valle, go here.
• Horace Parlan; Movin' & Groovin', go here.
• Russ Garcia: Four Horns and a Lush Life, go here.
• Vic Lewis: Plays Bossa Nova at Home and Away, go here.
• Buddy Collette's Swinging Shepherds, go here.
• Dizzy Gillespie: Gillespiana, go here.
• Nelson Riddle: Communication, go here.
• Nelson Riddle: Changing Colors, go here.
• Elmo Hope: Complete Trios, 1953-1966, go here.
• Buddy Collette: Man of Many Parts, go here.
• The Herbie Mann-Sam Most Quintet, go here.
• Shorty Rogers: Cool and Crazy, go here.
• The Return of Art Pepper, go here.
• Benny Golson and the Philadelphians, go here.
• Moacir Santos: Coisas, go here.
• Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis: Lock, the Fox, go here.
• Tony Bennett: The Movie Song Album, go here.
• Thad Jones/Mel Lewis: Consummation, go here.
• James Moody: Return From Overbrook, go here.
• Barry Galbraith: Guitar and the Wind, go here.
• Count Basie: With Quincy Jones and Neal Hefti, go here.
• Johnny Richards: Walk Softly, Run Wild!, go here.
• Dave Pike: Bossa Nova Carnival, go here.
• Clare Fischer: Só Danço Samba, go here.
• Reggie Johnson: First Edition, go here.
• John Graas: French Horn Jazz, go here.
• Eddie Lockjaw Davis & Johnny Griffin: Tough Tenor Favorites, go here.
• Bill Perkins: Bossa Nova With Strings Attached, go here.
• Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery, go here.
• Pepper Adams Quintet, go here.
• Sonny Rollins Plus 4, go here.
• Coleman Hawkins: Desafinado, go here.
• Sammy Davis Jr. Sings and Laurindo Almeida Plays, go here.
• Paul Quinichette: Moods, go here.

Oscar Peterson: 'Con Alma, Live In Lugano, 1964'

In February 1964, the Oscar Peterson Trio recorded The Oscar Peterson Trio Plays for Verve in a New York studio. Then Peterson (p), Ray Brown (b) and Ed Thigpen (d) hit the road. In 1964, the road meant Europe, where Peterson spent a good deal of time performing concerts. In April of 1964, the trio was in Paris and in early May they were in Germany. On May 26, the trio played a concert in Lugano, Switzerland, at the Teatro Apollo. [Photo above, from left, of Ed Thigpen, Ray Brown and Oscar Peterson in 1964, courtesy of Two Lions/Mack Avenue]

Now, Two Lions and Mack Avenue have released Con Alma, Live in Lugano, 1964, featuring the Oscar Peterson Trio performing previously unissued renditions of My One and Only Love, Blues for My Landlady, Con Alma, I Could Write a Book and It Ain't Necessarily So. The recording's sound is splendid, capturing the trio at its peak.

Peterson's piano at this point in his career was fleet and fluid, and the notes seemed to pour out of his sleeves and fingers with eyebrow-raising speed. His ideas during improvisation on the new album are cogent and miraculous. Brown is rock solid and in sync with Peterson's moves, and Thigpen's drums are tastefully on time. He deftly fills space, especially on the hi-hat, and his brief solos are crisp and taut. [Photo above of the Oscar Peterson Trio in what looks like a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, courtesy of the Oscar Peterson Facebook page]

My most recent posts on Peterson were in September, on the Oscar Peterson Duo recordings (here), and a year go on a live recording in Zurich in 1971 (here). I'm of the belief you can't have too many Peterson recordings. It's particularly gratifying to have this one from 1964, when the trio had a measured, elegant sound and before Peterson's playing widened and became more flamboyant and rococo—not bad, just more explosive and ornamental. [Photo above of the Oscar Peterson Trio, courtesy of Two Lions Records]

Oscar Peterson died in 2007.

JazzWax tracks: You'll find Oscar Peterson: Con Alma, Live in Lugano, 1964 (Two Lions/Mack Avenue) on streaming platforms and here.

JazzWax clips: Here's Waltz for Debby...

And here's I Could a Write Book...