In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Tracy Pollan on her wellness regimen, flexitarian diet and why husband Michael J. Fox loves the diet as well (go here). As Tracy notes, eating meat and fish occasionally removes the all-or-nothing aspects of being a plant-based eater along with the risks of quitting a primarily vegetarian diet. [Photo of Tracy Pollan in the kitchen of her Manhattan home by Brad Trent for The Wall Street Journal]
A special thanks to Sam Armstrong for selecting my book, Why Jazz Happened, in his essay: Best Jazz Books: 20 Essential Reads For Newcomers And Old-Timers at UDiscover.com (go here).
Marjorie Hyams. Last week, I mistakenly wrote that Marjorie Hyams was reflected in the mirror of a photo of Charlie Parker and Red Rodney taken by William P. Gottlieb in 1947. The Library of Congress mistakenly has her credited in the photo. In fact, the woman pictured is pianist Barbara Carroll. I corrected my post that day, but in the process, I did have the lovely opportunity to hear from Marjorie's daughter, Lisa Erickson. Here's what she wrote:
"Hi Marc. You know, Charlie Parker had a terrible reputation with women (immortalized in Clint Eastwood's film, Bird), but my mom said she never saw that side of him. He always treated her wonderfully and with respect. They were friends. If you go to my mom's Wikipedia page, there is a picture of a marquee of The 3 Deuces when she and Charlie were performing at the same club (photo above, by William P. Gottlieb).
"I don't think there are any recordings of my mom playing piano with her trio, which is such a shame. I don't know if she told you this in your interview with her but she wrote November Seascape that the George Shearing Quintet recorded. She wrote it for my dad (who was a Scorpio). If you listen to it on YouTube, you can tell how heavily influenced by Stravinsky she was. Thanks so much for writing and for helping to keep my mom's legacy alive." [Photo above of Marjorie Hyams with Woody Herman's band]
Here's Marjorie Hyams playing piano on the intro to Cherokee in 1949 and then behind Shearing, who plays the accordion. Marjorie also takes a piano solo!...
And here's Marjorie's composition, November Seascape...
To read my interview with Marjorie Hyams, go here.
Bobby Hutcherson. Following my post last week on Bobby Hutcherson, readers sent along their favorite videos:
From Neal Horwitz: "I'd politely add one more, which poetically shows the importance of using space to say more v. crowding in every note. And actually, It gets a bit too pensive towards the end for Cedar Walton, who lets loose with a small blast. Hutcherson smiles. Beautiful stuff. Thanks as always, Marc. No idea how you do it, but thank goodness you do. The Mundy Lowe interview was terrific, by the way. Didn't recall he'd brought Bill Evans to the world."
Here's the Bobby Hutcherson Quartet with Cedar Walton playing Dear Lord...
From Marco Romano: "Great Bobby Hutcherson videos! My favorite"...
Here's the Bobby Hutcherson Quartet playing Delilah...
Birth of the Cool—on vinyl. Yesterday, Capitol released for the first time The Complete Birth of the Cool on two vinyl LPs. The album's release is a tribute to the 70th anniversary of the first issuing of the material in 1949 on a series of 78s. The package features a wrapped gatefold jacket with laminated coating, as well as a new retrospective essay by Ashley Kahn. The first LP is mastered from analog tape of the original singles for the first time since the original 12-inch Birth of the Cool release in 1957. Go here.
What the heck. Here's Frankie Valli singing Can't Take My Eyes Off of You...
Oddball album cover of the week.
Hard to dis this one too much. It's under the direction of Phil Bodner, who as Bill Kirchner notes, was "one of New York's most versatile woodwind doublers." Still, she's either 6-foot 10 or the guy is 4-foot 3.
