In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed actress Christine Lahti for my "House Call' column in the Mansion section (go here). Christine currently is playing Gloria Steinem in Gloria: A Life, an Off-Broadway play in New York. Christine talked to me about growing up in Michigan and the power of her mother's smile and what it masked in terms of frustration. [Photo above of
Here's Christine with Al Pacino in the film ...and Justice for All (1979)...
SiriusXM. If you missed me on Feedback (Volume, Ch. 106) last week talking about Todd Rundgren with Nik Carter and Lori Majewski, you can listen at your leisure here...
Next week on SiriusXM, I'll be on with Feedback's Nik and Lori on Thursday, December 6, at 9 a.m. (EDT) to talk about Frank Sinatra's perfect recording of Angel Eyes on his 1958 album Only the Lonely. Dig Feedback on the Volume network (Chanel 106).
Bill Evans. This past week, I sat down with producer Zev Feldman to talk about pianist Bill Evans for an upcoming Resonance album project due next year. I also was able to catch up with bassist Eddie Gomez, who played with Evans for years. Watch this space for more details on the project. As you can see, a fun time with Zev the Great.
Gene Russell. Back in the 1970s, I loved the Black Jazz label. Here's a track from Gene Russell's Talk to My Lady, with a pure '70s Fender Rhodes sound on Stevie Wonder's You Are the Sunshine of My Life...
Todd Rundgren. Following my WSJ "Anatomy of a Song" column on Todd Rundgren's Hello It's Me, Steve Waters sent along the following email...
"Hi Marc. I really enjoyed your article today in The Wall Street Journal. Thanks for taking the time to write it. As I read the story behind Hello It’s Me, I couldn’t help recalling an incident that happened to me when I was in high school. Todd Rundgren graduated from high school in one suburban Philadelphia high school and I graduated from high school one ‘burb over. I was a big fan of Todd’s group Nazz and played their albums incessantly, especially their second one, Nazz Nazz.
"One summer day, I was listening to Nazz Nazz and the song Meridian Leeward was playing on the turntable. About half way into the song, the door to my bedroom smashed open and my dad, without saying a word, stormed into my room, ripped the album off my turntable, broke it over his knee, splitting it in two. Then he opened the window and threw the pieces out. Turning to me, he glared and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
"It’s pretty safe to say that Dad wasn’t a fan. My Dad would have also turned the garden hose on him. Many years later, when my dad retired, I was asked to say a few words at his retirement party. I decided to tell the story about Nazz Nazz. At the time I told that story, the album had become a bit of a collector's item and, in front of his coworkers, I told my dad that he owed me about $300. Unfortunately, I checked eBay this morning and you can buy a pristine copy of the album now for around $30.
"I’m happy to say that dad did laugh at my story. But no, I never did get that $300 check! My dad passed away in 2005, and I miss bantering with him.
"My grandfather actually was my musical guide. Before the Depression, he was a professional trumpet player. He even did a gig with the Marine Band playing under John Philip Sousa. Unfortunately, the Depression forced him to take over the family business, and he became a florist. He had a fantastic LP collection and was the one who introduced me to the music of Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Bing Crosby, Crazy Otto (a German honky-tonk player) and many, many more. Grandpop, although bald, was the one that would have had the long hair!
"I never did get the chance to meet Todd, but I still enjoy his music. His last album, White Knight, is terrific."
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. Here's Davis playing Nina Never Knew from his terrific Lock the Fox album for RCA in 1966 with Les Spann on guitar...
Meredith D'Ambrosio. Following my post on pianist Dave McKenna, I received a lovely email from one of my favorite singer-pianists, Meredith d'Ambrosio (a gifted painter, the cover art above also is by Meredith):
"Hi Marc. It's so nice to finally see something about Dave McKenna at Jazzwax! He was a genius. If it were not for him, my lyric to his melody, Shadowland, would never have been written. I first heard his song on one of his albums as a haunting, pure jazz piece. He was very kind to me and accepted my lyric. I think it was his best composition. You brought back memories. Because of him, after his stint at the Copley Plaza Hotel, he spoke to the powers that be to hire me for a year to play and sing there. After that, I was suddenly in New York. Much love, Meredith."
And here's Meredith singing her lyric to Shadowland backed by husband Eddie Higgins in 1992...
And here's Dave McKenna being interviewed by Monk Rowe...
Shirley Scott. Following my post last week on pianist-organist Shirley Scott, Peter Nevraumont sent along a link to Scott playing 'Round Midnight on piano from Blues Everywhere, a 1991 piano album with bassist Arthur Harper and drummer Mickey Roker recorded live at Birdland...
Moving essay. Alex Belth at Esquire Classic sent along a link to an article he wrote for the December issue of Men's Health on his wife Emily, her struggle with a chronic illness and the role he plays in making sure she's cared for. Go here.
What the heck: Here's David Ruffin and the Temptations in 1965 singing My Baby...
Oddball album cover of the week.
Looks like the early 1970s based on the hair band and "burnt orange" jumpsuit. The album must have been released in Europe, where the English verb "go" wound up a "gutter ball" in Polydor's marketing department. A special thanks to Michael Bloom Media Relations.