This week in The Wall Street Journal, I interviewed actress Patricia Arquette for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Patricia talks about growing up poor in a Virginia commune in the early 1970s, the strains of childhood and a mom who was abusive due to the stress. Patricia's latest film is Permanent...
Just days left. Order your paperback copy of Anatomy of a Song now, before you're stuck for a holiday gift. The paperback is now #1 at Amazon in the "music history and criticism" category. I hear that those who have received the book as a gift keep thanking those who gave it to them. And remember, there's a free playlist featuring all the songs—in table-of-contents order—at Spotify. Just type in "Anatomy of a Song" and my name. If you're buying in the U.S., go here. If you're in the U.K., go here.
Shhh. I'm hoping to have a gift for all of you ready by late next week. I can't say more than that now, but each and every one of you will love it, I'm sure. Stay tuned.
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Stuff Smith radio. "Symphony Sid" Gribetz will be presenting another one of his must-listen, five-hour radio shows. This time his focus will be jazz violinist Stuff Smith. Tune in Sunday (December 17), from 2 to 7 p.m. (EST) on WKCR-FM in New York. Listen from anywhere in the world on your cell phone or computer by going here.
Alan Broadbent, the exquisite jazz pianist, will be appearing in New York at Mezzrow on December 22 and 23. I can't think of a better way to spend a snowy evening than sipping a Campari and soda listening to Alan with bassist Don Falzone and drummer Billy Mintz. If you haven't been to Mezzrow yet, the acoustics are exceptional. Two sets each night, at 8 and 9:30 p.m. For more information, go here.
What the heck. Vocalist Jimmy Sabater was the master of the bolero and boogaloo styles of Latin music. No one could deliver a ballad like Sabater.
Here's Sabater and Cheo Feliciano singing the Si Te Dicen in the style of "bolero filin"...
Here's Sabater's 1963 hit, To Be With You, which he recorded originally with the Joe Cuba Sextette...
When Sabater died in February 2012, here's how his friends celebrated his life (thank goodness someone taped it). I believe that's David Oquendo on guitar...
And here's Sabater singing his original hit, To Be With You, with Joe Cuba...
Oddball album cover of the week.
This album, on French Decca, was sent along by Michael Bloom of Michael Bloom Media Relations. I can't quite figure out whether the female model is helping our inebriated patron down his drink, keeping him from falling off his perch or is trying to get him to call it a night. Also hard to decipher what exactly is going on in back on the left. All we know is the bartender is making money. Nice linoleum flooring, though.