In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Olivia Newton-John for my my "House Call" column in the paper's Mansion section (go here). Until I began my pre-interview research, I had no idea Olivia's grandfather was Max Born, the physicist and mathematician who received a Nobel Prize for developing quantum mechanics. Or that when her mother was little, Albert Einstein played violin in her mother's home in Germany while her father played piano. As Olivia pertly remarked, "Well, at least we had music in common."
Here's Olivia in Grease...
SiriusXM. Appearing with Feedback co-hosts this past week was, as usual, a ton of fun. I was on to talk about my "Anatomy of a Song" interview with Keith Richards and Steve Jordan, co-writers of Take It So Hard, off Keith's first solo album, Talk Is Cheap in 1988. To hear the show in its entirety, go here...
Bill Evans in England (Resonance) starts rolling out next week on vinyl on Record Day, April 13. Digital arrives April 19. JazzTimes is previewing one of the album's tracks, Our Love Is Here to Stay. Go here to listen.
The Zombies were formed in England about the same time as the Beatles in 1962. And like so many other British groups then, they rode in with the Fab Four's invasion of America in 1964. Three of their songs were top 10 Billboard pop hits—She's Not There (1964/#2), Tell Her No (1965/#6) and Time of the Season (1969/#3). More important, their album, Odessey and Oracle (1968), has become a pre-prog, psychedelic-folk classic. The group's first two albums remain their most dynamic and evocative of the sweet-beat Brit sound that swept the States. Now, just weeks before their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the band has issued a five-LP box set of their complete studio recordings. The set includes their two original US albums: She’s Not There/Tell Her No and Odessey & Oracle; two compilations—I Love You and R.I.P.; as well as a collection of rare singles and UK-only album tracks called Oddities & Extras. Go here.
Here are the Zombies in 1965 singing Tell Her Now...
Ib Glindemann, a Danish jazz and orchestra arranger and conductor, died April 4 in Odense. He was 84. Early in his career, Glindemann led one of Denmark's finest big bands and became friendly with Stan Kenton. I posted about his album, Special Brew, featuring Bill Holman arrangements here. Later in his career, Glindemann became one of Scandinavia's foremost arrangers and conductors of engaging easy-listening music. A special thanks to Guy Jones in Stockholm for alerting.
Here's Glindemann conducting his swing band in 2005, opening with Talk of the Town, his theme...
Here's an example of Glindemann's unique brand of relaxed mood music, which has interesting touches throughout...
And here's another that shows off Glindemann's string writing...
Gary McFarland. The reaction to my post on composer-arranger-vibraphonist Gary McFarland was overwhelming. I think I'll write a more in-depth post on McFarland's entire discography in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, David Chilver sent along a clip of McFarland conducting his arrangement of C Jam Blues while Stan Getz solos in 1963. Steve Kuhn is on piano. Go here...
Also, Terence Mark wrote in to say that Gary McFarland's Point of Departure is available on an online music service called Tidal for streaming in high-resolution. As Terence says, "Tidal is great for jazz and worth supporting, I think."
It's springtime in New York, so let's listen to the old WNEW jingle pegged to the season change...
Big Jay McNeely one of rock 'n' roll's founding fathers and a pioneer of rock-concert stagecraft, died in September. Now, a benefit concert in tribute to the high-octane tenor saxophonist will be held on May 4 in Los Angeles from 6 to 10 p.m. The concert will feature Tom Kenny & The Hi Sea's, Rob Stone, Barbara Morrison, Christy & Devine, MrJQualiT, Michael Hermark, Chad Watson, Cody Bryant, Ventage, Carolyn Gaines, John Palmer, Al Rappoport, Aisha Gillard, Ronnie Heard, and Steve F'dor. The event will be held at Phoenix Hall at 10950 S. Central Avenue. General admission tickets are $45 each. For more information, go here.
Dig trombones? Arranger and trumpeter Marty Sheller sent along the following clip featuring the T-Bones Brasil Ensemble playing Chega de Saudade (No More Blues)...
Keystone Korner jazz club in San Francisco was managed by the irrepressible Todd Barkan (above) from 1972 to 1983. Now, Todd is cutting the ribbon on Keystone Korner Baltimore at 1350 Lancaster Street in Baltimore's Harbor East. Opening night will be held on International Jazz Day, Tuesday, April 30th, 2019. Appearing will be the Ron Carter Trio with guitarist Russell Malone and pianist Donald Vega. Shows at 7 and 9 p.m. For more information, go here.
Billie Holiday radio. WKCR-FM in New York will present its annual “Billie Holiday Birthday Broadcast” this Sunday, April 7, playing the music of the vocalist for 24 hours on the radio. The music starts at midnight on Saturday night. Listen on your phone or computer from anywhere in the world by going here.
Old Birdland, last call. Milan Simich tells me he only has five sets left of his three-volume set of Birdland photos, when the famed club was at 52nd Street and Broadway in New York. I posted about the set back in the fall here. When they're gone, they're gone, he writes, since he doesn't intend to print any more. All three volumes sell as a set for $300 plus $30 for shipping. For questions or to order, send an email to Milan here: [email protected].
Jorma Kaukonen is still active as a rock and blues guitarist on tour with Hot Tuna, but he's best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane in the 1960s. WRTC radio host Chris "King" Cowles interviewed Jorma for his Saturday radio show, Greasy Tracks. Kaukonen talks about his recently published autobiography, Been So Long: My Life and Music (St. Martin's) as well as music from his career. To listen to the show, go here.
What the heck: Here's Chris Connor singing Somebody Loves Me from her favorite album, Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac of Song, recorded for Atlantic in February 1957. On the date were Milt Jackson (vib), Stan Free (p), Mundell Lowe (g), Milt Hinton (b) and Ed Shaughnessy (d). Talk about perfection...
Oddball album cover of the week.
Wow, the meaning of this cover went right over my head. So the "golden years" are spent consuming beer in a stein and passing out in the woods while listening to this album? Or as you get older and lose your mind, you start to believe that beer grows on trees? Or better yet, German birds have taken to drink?
