For The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed actor-comedian Will Forte for my House Call column in the Mansion section (go here). Will is best known for his years on Saturday Night Live and the sitcom The Last Man on Earth. He now co-stars in the new Netlfix series The Four Seasons as Tina Fey's husband. [Photo above of Will Forte in The Four Seasons by Jon Pack/Netflix]
Here's the trailer...
Watched and liked this past week...
- Anna (2019)—Action thriller (Tubi)
- The Bletchley Circle (2012)—Mystery drama series set in 1952 (Tubi/Britbox)
Worthwhile stuff that started or will start soon...
- Bosch Legacy S3 (Prime)
- 1923 (Paramount+)
- Mobland (Paramount+)
- Dark Winds S3 (AMC)
- Long Bright River (Peacock)
- Good American Family (Hulu)
- Alto Knights (film)
- The Four Seasons (Netflix)
- Words of War (theaters)
- The Better Sister (May 22/Prime)
- Deep Cover (June 12/film)
My favorite streaming series, ranked...
- Babylon Berlin
- Adolescence
- My Brilliant Friend
- The Promised Life
- Killing Eve
- The Crown
- Mad Men
- The Americans
- Younger
- Fleabag
- Band of Brothers
- The Sopranos
- Enlightened
- Friday Night Lights
- Justified
- Good American Family
- Feud: Bette and Joan
- The Old Man
- Downton Abbey
- The Blacklist
- Goliath
- Julia
- The Gentlemen
- Turn: Washington's Spies
- Unbelievable
- Landman
- Voiceless (Bella da morire)(2020/MHz)
- Black Doves
- Web Therapy
Past 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)
- Enlightened—(2011-2013/Max)
- 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)
- Il Commissario Manara (Inspector Manara) (2009-2011/MHz)
- 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)
- Mobland—(2025/Paramount+)
- Monsieur Spade—(2024/AMC)
- Murdaugh Murders: The Movie, Parts 1 and 2—(2023/Lifetime)
- My Brilliant Friend—(2018-current/Max)
- The Night Agent—(2023-present/Netflix)
- 1923—(2022-present/Paramount+)
- 1883—(2021-2022/Prime)
- The Old Man—(2022/Hulu)
- On Call—2025/Amazon Prime)
- Outlander—(2014-present/Netflix)
- Protection—(2024/S1/BritBox)
- The Perfect Couple—(2024/Netflix)
- Poldark—(2015-2019/Prime)
- The Promised Life—(2018/MHz via Prime Video)
- Reacher—(2016-present/Netflix)
- Ripley—(2024/Netflix)
- Scott & Bailey (2011-2016/Prime)
- The Spy—(2019/Netflix)
- 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)
- Younger—(2015-2021K/Netflix)
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)
- Enrico Piaggio - Un Sogno Italiano (An Italian Dream) (2019/MHz)
- 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)
- Life or Something Like It—(2002/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)
- 99 Homes—(2014/Roku)
- 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).
- Sicario (2015/Netflix)
- Self Reliance—(2023/Hulu)
- Seraphim Falls—(2006/Netflix)
- Some Girl(s)—(2013/Amazon Prime)
- Somewhere in Queens—(2022/Hulu)
- 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)
- The 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)
Greg Abate. After my post last week on alto saxophonist Greg Abate, he reached out to chat and sent along a link to a recent full live gig at Smalls in New York. Go here and move the time bar to 40:30...
Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival will run this year in Ystad, Sweden, from July 30 to August 2. Among the artists who will be performing are guitarist Mike Stern, vocalist Catherine Russell and pianist Jan Lundgren. Jan will be with bassist Anders Jorman and drummer Wolfgang Haffner playing a tribute to Bill Evans. (Wish I were there for that, Jan. I hope someone is recording for future release.) For artist and ticket information, go here. [Photo above of Ystad]
More from Sweden. The Swedish broadcasting company Sveriges Radio/Jazzradion has posted a long list of amazing jazz performances. Go here. For starters, check out baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin and tenor saxophonist Rolf Billberg performing in 1964 here. Thanks, Itta! [Photo above of Lars Gullin]
New music of note
Mafalda Minnozzi—Riofonic (MPI). Italian singer-guitarist Mafalda is proficient in classical, jazz and bossa nova, and she brings them all together on her new album. After performing in Rio de Janeiro in 1995, she remained in Brazil for a year recording and touring. She also has performed regularly in New York. Her new album was recorded in Rio and produced by Paul Ricci, who plays guitar and arranged many of the album's songs. Mafalda's voice and the music have a beachy feel, so much so you can imagine sand underfoot. When I searched for the album on Amazon to add a link, it was surrounded by sponsored ads for suntan lotions. Go figure! It's not a stretch to say she's the Italian-Brazilian Blossom Dearie. Buy here.
Here's Roberto Menescal and Ronaldo Boscoli's Rio...
Albare—Eclecticity (ALFI). Albare is the stage name of Albare Dadon, a guitarist born in Morocco and raised in Israel and France. His new album is intoxicating largely because he's one of a kind. Songs are lyrical and fusion-esque, building to a crescendo with a guitar-noir quality. Albare plays unlike anyone else, and all of his tracks are thought out and intended to steal your heart. That's why I love his new album. It gets under your skin fast. Listen to it here.
Ray Barretto—Barretto (Craft Recordings). The Craft Recordings label is doing an amazing job reissuing salsa masterpieces. Most jazz fans know Ray Barretto as the session musician who was brought in to play congas and bongos behind artists on recording sessions since the early 1950s. Jazz musicians who have recorded with him include Red Garland, Neal Hefti, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Lou Donaldson and virtually everyone else. On his own in the late 1960s and '70s, Barretto was a salsa monster, recording numerous albums. Craft has just re-issued Barretto (1975), remastered on 180-gram vinyl. It sounds fantastic. Buy here.
Here's Guarare...
Harold Mabern radio. WKCR-FM's Sid Gribetz will present a five-hour tribute to the pianist on Sunday, May 18, from 2 to 7 p.m. (ET) on “Jazz Profiles.” Listen from anywhere in the world by going here.
And finally, to wind up on live TV in the mid- and late-1950s, you had to be exceptionally talented. To have your own show, you had to be flawless. Here's Rosemary Clooney and the Hi-Lo's singing a swinging rendition of Don'cha Go 'Way Mad (move the time bar to 14:55) [photo above of Rosemary Clooney]...