JazzWax

Glenn, Johnny and Antonio

In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed actress Glenn Close for my House Call column in the Mansion section (go here). Glenn is an Emmy- and Tony-winning actress best known for her roles in the films “Fatal Attraction,” “Dangerous Liaisons” and “The Wife.” She talked about her early years, after her parents joined a cult in the 1950s. She explained why they felt the need, the impact it had on her and her sister, and how she finally broke from the group in her early 20s. She also talked about the impact that Dick Cavett's interview with actress Katharine Hepburn had on her. Currently, she co-stars in the Netflix film Back in Action, out now. [Photo above of Glenn Close in Back in Action, courtesy of Netflix]

Here's the Back in Action trailer. If you liked Knight and Day, you're gonna love this one...

And here's Dick Cavett's captivating interview with Katharine Hepburn:

Here's Part I. What I find most interesting about Hepburn, beyond her spirit and stories, is how she was conditioned by the movies to come in with her line on top of the other person's last words. She did that all through her career, most often with Spencer Tracy. Her actress instincts told her exactly when to overlap Dick's last words...

Here's Part 2...

Here's Part 3 (outtakes)...

And here's Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in a wonderful scene from Woman of the Year (1942). Perhaps the best "OK" in Hollywood history...

Chuck, Frank and me. Next weekend—on Sunday, January 26, at 2 p.m. (PT)/5 p.m. (ET)—I'll be on Chuck Granata's Sinatra Standard Time for two hours on KSDS-FM in San Diego (streaming live at Jazz88.org). We'll be chatting about a pair of epic Frank Sinatra LPs for Capitol—Songs for Swingin' Lovers and A Swingin' Affair! Both albums will be played in full. Listen next week live by going here.

Here's Chuck's promo...

"Sinatra Standard Time" Promo

My favorite streaming series, ranked...

1. Babylon Berlin
2. My Brilliant Friend
3. Killing Eve
4. The Crown
5. The Americans
6. Younger
7. Band of Brothers
8. Landman
9. Friday Night Lights
10. The Old Man
11. Feud: Bette and Joan
12. Downton Abbey
13. The Blacklist
14. Goliath
15. The Gentlemen
16. Turn: Washington's Spies
17. Unbelievable
18. Justified
19. Voiceless (Bella da morire (2020/MHz)
20. Black Doves
21. Web Therapy

Just viewed and highly recommend...

On Call (2025)—Produced by Dick Wolf (Law & Order) and co-created by his son Elliot Wolf and Tim Walsh, this fictionalized police procedural drama series is riveting. Each episode runs a half hour and stars Troian Bellisario and Brandon Larracuente. The series follows veteran Long Beach, Ca., police training officer Traci Harmon and her rookie partner Alex Diaz as they respond to emergency calls while the department tries to solve the murder of an officer. (Prime Video)

Here's the trailer...

Younger (2015-2018)—I missed this series when it first came out and now can't stop watching it. Pure addiction. Created and produced by Darren Star (Sex and the City, Emily in Paris), Younger's premise is genius. Set in New York City, the comedy focuses on the personal and professional life of Liza Miller (Sutton Foster), a 40-year-old divorcee and mom who has trouble getting back into the workforce—until she says she's 26. The series follows her struggles to hide her real age from her boss, co-worker and to adapt to the lingo and mores of a new and confusing generation. (Netflix)

Here's the trailer...

Stuff I liked that starts soon...

• American Primeval S1 (now/Netflix)
• Back in Action (now/Netflix)
• Zero Day (Feb. 20/Netflix)
• Long Bright River (March/Peacock)

Recommended series, films and documentaries...

TV series

• The Affair—(2014-2019/Hulu)
• Alaska Daily—(2022/Prime)
• The Americans—(2013-2018)/Prime)
• Anatomy of a Scandal—(2022/Netflix)
• Apples Never Fall—2024/Peacock)
• Babylon Berlin (2017-2024/MHz via Prime Video)
• Band of Brothers—(2001/Netflix) 
• The Bay (2019-current/BritBox)
• Black Doves (2024/Netflix)
• The Blacklist (2013-2023/Netflix)
• Belgravia—(2020/Prime Video)
• Blue Lights—(2023/BritBox)
• Bosch—(2014-2021/Prime)
• Bosch: Legacy—(2022-current/Prime)
• The Crown—(2016-2023/Netflix)
• Cherif—(2013-2019/Prime)
• Dark Winds—(2022/AMC)
• The Diplomat—(2023/Netflix)
• Downton Abbey—(2020-2015/Prime)
• The Dropout (2022/Hulu)
• Elizabeth 1 (2005/Max)
• Emily in Paris—(2020-present/Netflix)
• Feud (S1): Bette and Joan—(2017/Hulu)
• Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans—(2024/FX, with streaming on Hulu)
• Fisk—(2021/Netflix)
• Friday Night Lights (2006-2011/Netflix)
• The Gentlemen—(2024/Netflix)
• Godless—(2017/Netflix)
• Goliath—(2016-2021/Prime)
• The Gilded Age—(current/Max)
• High Water—(2022/Netflix)
• Homeland—(2011-2020/Showtime)
• Jane Eyre—(2006/Britbox)
• Justified—(2010-2015/Hulu)
• Killing Eve—(2018-2022/Netflix)
• Life & Beth—(Seasons 1& 2, 2022-present/Hulu)
• Lincoln Lawyer—(2022-present/Netflix)
• Lioness—(2023-current/Paramount+)
• Loudermilk—(2017-2020/Netflix)
• MI-5, the Series—(2002-2011/BritBox)
• Monsieur Spade—(2024/AMC)
• Murdaugh Murders: The Movie, Parts 1 and 2—(2023/Lifetime)
• My Brilliant Friend—(2018-current)
• 1923—(2022-present/Paramount+)
• 1883—(2021-2022/Prime)
• The Old Man—(2022/Hulu)
• Outlander—(2014-present/Netflix)
• The Perfect Couple—(2024/Netflix)
• Poldark—(2015-2019/Prime)
• Reacher—(2016-present/Netflix)
• Ripley—(2024/Netflix)
• Scott & Bailey (2011-2016/Prime)
• Turn: Washington's Spies—(2014-2017/Prime)
• Unbelievable—(2019/Netflix)
• Under the Banner of Heave—(2022/Hulu)
• Veronica Mars—(2004 to 2019/Hulu)
• Voiceless (Bella da morire—(2020/MHz)
• The Watcher—(2022/Netflix)
• The Way Home—(2023-current/Peacock)
• Who Is Erin Carter—(2023/Netflix)
• The Woman in the Wall—(2024/Showtime)
• The Veil—(2024/Hulu-FX)
• Web Therapy—(2011-2015/Fandango)
• Wilder—(2017-current)
• WPC 56—(2013-2015/Britbox)
• Yellowstone—(2018-present/Paramount Network)

Films

• The Accountant—(2016/Hulu)
• American Gangster—(2007/Max)
• Armageddon Time—(2022/Prime)
• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs—(2018/Netflix)
• The Ballad of Lefty Brown—(2017/Netflix)
• Blackout (2022/Netflix) 
• The Bricklayer—(2024/Netflix)
• The Commuter (2018/Netflix)
• The Dig—(2021/Netflix)
• Eiffel—(2021/Prime)
• Enola Holmes 1 and 2—(2022/Netflix)
• The Equalizer 1, 2 and 3—(2014-2024/Prime)
• The Great Lillian Hall—(2024/Max)
• The Family Man—(2000/Netflix)
• Fury—(2014/Netflix)
• God's Country—(2022/Hulu
• Guy Ritchie's The Covenant—(2023/Prime)
• I Used to Be Funny (2023/Netflix)
• Jack Reacher (the movie)—(2012/Paramount+) 
• Just My Luck (2006/Paramount+)
• Kill Chain—(2019/Max)
• Killers of the Flower Moon—(2023 (Apple+)
• La Palma (2024/Netflix)
• Knight and Day—(2010/Roku)
• Last Night in Soho—(2021/Prime)
• Last Seen Alive—(2020/Netflix)
• The Little Things—(2021/Netflix)
• Lonely Planet—(2024)/Netflix)
• Man on Fire—(2004/Max)
• Manchester by the Sea—(2016/Prime Video)
• MI-5—(2015/Max)
• The Mule—(2018/Netflix)
• The Night Agent—(2023/Netflix)
• Nobody—(2021/Prime)
• Nobody Wants This—(2024/Netflix)
• Ordinary Angels—(2024/assorted platforms)
• The Pledge—(2011/Peacock)
• Purple Hearts—(2022/Netflix)
• The Queen—(2006/(Paramount+)
• The Queen's Gambit—(2020/Netflix)
• Queenpins—(2021/Pluto TV)
• Reptile—(2023/Netflix)
• Ruthless—(2023/Hulu)
• The Secret: Dare to Dream—(2020/Netflix)
• Self Reliance—(2023/Hulu)
• Seraphim Falls—(2006/Netflix)
• Some Girl(s)—(2013/Amazon Prime)
• Somewhere in Queens—(2022/Hulu)
• The Spy—(2019/Netflix)
• Spy(ies)—(2009/Prime)
• The Stranger—(2022/Netflix)
• Toscana—(2022/Netflix)
• The Two Popes—(2019/Netflix)
• Up in the Air—(2009/Max)
• Woman in Gold—(2015/Max)
• Wonder Wheel—(2017/Prime)

Documentaries

• Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake—(2022/Netflix)
• The Beach Boys—(2024/Disney)
• Carole King: Live in Central Park—(2023/PBS)
• The Comeback—(2005 and 2014/Max)
• Cunk on Earth—(2022/Netflix)
• Cyndi Lauper: Let the Canary Sing—(2023/Paramount+)
• Facing Nolan—(2022/Netflix)
• Five Came Back—(2017/Netflix)
• Jane Fonda in Five Acts—(2024/Max)
• Kate Hepburn: Call Me Kate—(2023/Netflix)
• Only Girl in the Orchestra—(2023/Netflix)
• Suzi Q: Suzi Quatro—(2019/Prime)
• The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari—(2022/Netflix)
• 'Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris—(2007/go here

Two for the Seesaw. Following my post last week on Two for the Seesaw's theme, also known as Second Chance, Bill Kirchner sent along a link to Jackie Cain (above) singing the song. Go here...

Sid Gribetz sent along a recent version by baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan with the Israel Camerata Jerusalem. Go here...

Artie Shaw interview. Following my post last week on Joe Smith's off-the-record, Library of Congress interview with bandleader Artie Shaw (above), Bob Waldman sent along an informative email:

Hi Marc. Joe Smith’s interview with Artie Shaw is great. Thanks for posting! Have you checked out Joe Smith’s other interviews that he did for his 1988 book, "Off the Record?" He interviewed everyone from Paul Weston to Paul McCartney—225 interviews in all—and they are available for listening online here.

More Artie Shaw. I also received this wonderful email from Francois Zalacain, founder of Sunnyside Records, and a clip:

Hi Marc. In 2002, I attended the International Association for Jazz Education conference held in Long Beach, Ca. All I remember about that event now is the on-stage interview conducted with Artie Shaw. I bought the cassette of the event and I want to share an mp3 with you and you JazzWax readers. Artie was great even at 91.

To listen, go here...

Artie Shaw speaks at IAJE Conf (2002)

Dutch treat. Following my post on drummer Eric Ineke's fabulous new album, Dutch singer Louise Alexandra Koopman (above) sent along a selfie of herself with Eric in the Netherlands celebrating his new album. Both are enormously gifted and both are lovely JazzWax friends.

Jack Sheldon. Following my post on Jack Sheldon, Lee Prout sent along the following clip of Frank Marshall talking about the music he recorded that appears now on Chet Baker and Jack Sheldon in Perfect Harmony: The Lost Album (Elemental) on The Paul Leslie Hour. Go here...

Johnny Winter. I interviewed blues-rock guitarist Johnny Winter twice for The Wall Street Journal and wrote the paper's appreciation of him when he died. During that time, I spent a few evenings with him—watching from the audience and the wings and backstage after at New York's B.B. King's. Johnny was astonishing on those nights, even though he was up in age and forced to sit while playing. As I watched, I pitied the poor strings on his Erlewine Lazer guitar as he tore into song after song. He made the instrument sound like a crying saw.

Last week, Brett Lehocky sent along a link to Down and Dirty, a new documentary on Johnny, who died in 2014. Go here...

Here Johnny Winter on TV's Midnight Special in 1973...

Los Angeles AM radio. 93 KHJ ("Boss Radio") was the city's most listened-to AM station in the 1960s and '70s. When you heard the station's jingle—"93 KHJ, Los Angeles," you were in the city that made the music that inspired the youth-culture upheaval—an endless summer of pop and soul, fast cars, surf and going steady. Here are the famed station jingles and a few promos:

Here's the standard station jingle...

Here's a Beach Boys promo for the station in 1965...

Here's a Batman promo in 1966 for the station...

And here's how the magic was made in Los Angeles in the 1960s...

Eydie Gormé. Last week, Larry Pluth sent along a link to an interview of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé's son, David, reflecting on his mother's Spanish-language albums and hits, a now-forgotten side of the great singer. Go here...

Bluesette. Here's pianist David Thompson's rendition of Toots Thielemans' Bluesette...

Antonio Carlos Jobim radio. WKCR-FM in New York will present its annual Jobim Birthday Broadcast next Saturday, January 25, playing the singer-songwriter's bossa nova for 24 hours, starting at midnight (ET) on Friday. To listen from anywhere in the world, go here.

And finally, to get you in the mood, here's Antonio Carlos Jobim's beautiful Stone Flower album in full...

Backgrounder: Herbie Nichols Trio - 'Master Takes'

Pianist Herbie Nichols has long been considered a Thelonious Monk disciple. In truth, Nichols had his own modernist bag that combined bebop's jagged attack and Dixieland's hard syncopation. A fascinating artist who was largely ignored during his lifetime (1919-1963), Nichols is perhaps best known for penning the jazz standard Lady Sings the Blues. [Photo above of Herbie Nichols by Francis Wolff (c)Mosaic Images]

Nichols began recording as a leader in 1955 after begging Blue Note's Alfred Lion to capture him in the studio. On his first albums, The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Vols. 1 and 2, he was joined by bassist Al McKibbon and drummer Art Blakey. His third Blue Note album, Herbie Nichols Trio, was recorded in 1955 and '56, with McKibbon and Teddy Kotick, separately, on bass and Max Roach on drums. His last album was recorded in 1957—with George Duvivier on bass and Dannie Richmond on drums.

Many critics complained that one Monk was enough or that Nichols sounded as if he were playing standards backward. Not until his Blue Note recordings were released by Mosaic in 1987 was Nichols reconsidered by a new generation of jazz fans. I love his music. There's a wonderful mix of abstraction and drama in his playing, resulting in a special, singular groove.

Here's 2 1/2 hours of Herbie Nichols 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.
• Jimmy Forrest: Forrest Fire!, go here.
• Brazilian Jazz Quartet: Coffee and Jazz, go here.
• Art Blakey!!! Jazz Messengers!!!, go here.
• Sidney Bechet/Martial Solal, go here.
• John Carisi: The New Jazz Sound Of "Show Boat," go here.
• The Marty Paich Quartet, Featuring Art Pepper, go here.
• João Gilberto, 1998, go here.
• Bobby Timmons: Soul Time, go here.
• Gerry Mulligan: Jeru, go here.
• Ray Bryant: Alone With the Blues, go here.
• Leon Spencer Jr.: Bad Walking Woman, go here.
• Jimmy McGriff: Step 1, go here.
• Johnny "Hammond" Smith: Breakout, go here.
• Oliver Nelson: Taking Care of Business, go here.
• Quincy Jones: Americans in Paris, go here.
• Sonny Stitt: Tune-Up!, go here.
• Herbie Mann: Yardbird Suite, go here.
• Quincy Jones: Twilight Time, go here.
• Lou Levy Quartet: Jazz in Four Colors, go here.
• Johnny Alf: Rapaz de Bem, go here.
• Hank Mobley: Poppin', go here.
• Barney Kessel: Kessel's Kit, go here.
• Larry Young: Into Somethin', go here.
• Henry Mancini: The Jazz Sound From Peter Gunn, go here.
• Sonny Stitt: Night Crawler, go here.
• Maynard Ferguson: Around the Horn, go here.
• Frank Rosolino: Franky Speaking!, go here.
• Ben Webster: King of the Tenors, go here.
• Kenny Dorham: Una Mas, go here.
• Gigi Gryce: Nica's Tempo, go here.
• Charlie Parker With Strings: The Master Takes, go here.
• The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn Jr., go here.
• The Complete Chet Baker Sings, go here.
• Shorty Rogers Courts the Count, go here.
• Miles Ahead: Miles Davis +19, go here.
• Kenny Burrell, Jazzmen - Detroit, go here.
• Bill Watrous, In Love Again, go here.
• Gene Ammons, Boss Tenor, go here.
• Roy Eldridge: The Strolling Mr. Eldridge, go here.
• Clifford Brown and Max Roach with Sonny Rollins, go here.
• Fats Navarro: Nostalgia, go here.
• Hank Mobley: Hank Mobley Quintet, go here.
• Sandy Mosse: Relaxin' With..., go here.
• Maynard Ferguson: A Message From Newport, go here.
• Jimmy Raney: Two Jims and Zoot, go here.
• Zoot Sims Plays 4 Altos, go here.
• Jimmy Forrest: Out of the Forrest, go here.
• Jazz Studio 2, From Hollywood, go here.
• Billy Taylor: My Fair Lady Loves Jazz, go here.
• Hank Mobley: Soul Station, go here.
• Sylvia Telles, Lúcio Alves and Roberto Menescal: Bossa Session, go here.
• Horace Silver: The Horace Silver Trio, go here.
• Walter Davis: Davis Cup, go here.
• Wynton Kelly: Kelly at Midnite, go here.
• Jack Sheldon: Jack's Groove, go here.

Interview: Artie Shaw Takes the Gloves Off

I've long known that Artie Shaw was outspoken, mercurial and blunt. As a boy wonder in the band business in the 1930s, Shaw was also temperamental and didn't tolerate boredom or repetition for long. But I didn't realize how outspoken he was until I heard a lengthy interview with Shaw that surfaced last week. [Photo above of Artie Shaw]

Pete Neighbour, a clarinetist and saxophonist, alerted me to it. Interviewed by Joe Smith of the Library of Congress on July 1, 1986, Shaw spoke freely. The comments were considered off the record, but Joe and the Library of Congress allowed it to be uploaded to YouTube just days ago.

What I've always admired about Shaw was his take-no-prisoners position on art (I'm the same way) and his bilious rejection of spin and preening (I'm for that as well). I also love that Shaw confirmed what I've long believed—that his 1949 Thesaurus band was his best.

My one regret as a jazz journalist is that I arrived three years too late on the scene to interview him. Shaw died in 2004. Can't have it all.

So today, let's listen to the two-part interview. When it's over, you'll know exactly who Shaw was and why he was way ahead of his time as a musician and uncompromising and restless artist.

Here's Part 1 (click "Watch on YouTube")...

Here's Part 2 (click on "Watch on YouTube")...

Here are three tracks by Shaw's 1949 Thesaurus band:

Here's Gene Roland's arrangement of his own Aesop's Foibles...

Here's Johnny Mandel's arrangement of his own Krazy Kat, which may be this band's and Johnny's best...

Here's Johnny Mandel's equally daring arrangement for Love Is the Sweetest Thing...

And here's Johnny's Innuendo in 1949...

My second-favorite Shaw band was his Musicraft orchestra in 1946 with strings and vocalist Mel Torme, arranged by Sonny Burke. Shaw was at his prettiest here...

And here's Changing My Tune in 1946, with Torme and the Mel-Tones...

To read my complete 2008 JazzWax interview with Johnny Mandel, go here.

Here's Johnny on Artie Shaw...

JazzWax: Your arrangement of Krazy Kat for Artie Shaw's bop band of 1949?
Johnny Mandel: Wow, what a band. Artie picked a bad time to start a band. He had been out of the business for quite a few years. He said that his 1949 band was the best one he ever had. Tadd wrote some of the charts. So did George Russell. I wrote some ballads for him. Gene Roland was writing great stuff for that band, too.

JW: The reeds weren't half bad either.
JM: The saxophones were incredible. Zoot [Sims], Al [Cohn], Herbie Steward, Frankie Socolow and Danny Bank. Jimmy Raney was on guitar. Don Fagerquist was on trumpet. Wow, what a player. And Sonny Russo. If I recall, some of the older-sounding arrangements were by Ray Conniff and Roger Segure.

JW: You composed and arranged for that band. What was Artie like?
JM: If he liked you, musically, he had a great deal of respect for you. He left me alone. Unlike Benny Goodman, he didn’t pick on his players. Artie molded musicians and taught them how to play better. I don’t know what he saw in me. I suppose he liked what he heard. I never played with him. I’d write the charts and give them to his road manager, Lenny Lewis, who would give them to the copyist. Artie was always up at his Connecticut dairy farm. Lenny was a clarinetist, and he'd hire the band and rehearse it. Then Artie would come down from his farm and weed out the lesser players, some of whom were Lenny's pals. Artie's genius was he knew how to form a band and how to make the musicians play the way he wanted. He was a great bandleader. One of the best. And he could do it without beating up on the guys.