In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Jane Seymour for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Jane talked about growing up outside of London deeply fond of science and opera and eager to be a top ballerina. Then a jazz dance class caused an injury and forced her to become an actress. [Photo above of Jane Seymour at her Malibu, Calif., home in May by Brinson+Banks for The Wall Street Journal]
Here's Jane in the James Bond film Live and Let Die (1973) with Roger Moore...
Here's her most recent film, Bereave, with Malcolm McDowell...
Willis Conover was one of the great voices in jazz radio. Throughout the 1950s and into the '60s, he hosted a show on Voice of America and broadcast jazz into Eastern Europe. Gil Evans was one of the great modernist jazz arrangers who, from the late 1940s to the 1970s, crafted scores with innovative instrumentation and harmony. The blog Take the A Train recently featured a broadcast of Willis Conover interviewing Gil Evans. A special thanks to Mosaic's Michael Cuscuna for sending along the audio link. Go here.
Batter up! I found a video last week of the entire 7th game of the 1952 World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers. TV was brand new, Joe DiMaggio had retired the year before and Mickey Mantle was moved from left field to center. Starting pitchers were Eddie Lopat for the Yankees and Joe Black for the Dodgers. By the final inning, Bob Kuzava was on the mound for the Yanks and wound up being the game's hero, taking the mound in the 7th inning and holding onto the Yankees' two-run lead. The game was played at the Dodgers' Ebbets Field in Brooklyn on October 7, 1952. Watch for a stunning catch by Yankees second baseman Billy Martin in the seventh inning as Jackie Robinson pops up to end the inning with the bases loaded (2:24:10). As for home runs, there were three, all by Yankees—one by left-fielder Gene Woodling and two by Mantle. Here's the game...
Jazz in July from July 16 to 25. If you're in New York from July 16 to 25, check out 92Y's annual Jazz in July festival under the direction of Bill Charlap. 92Y is one of New York's preeminent and most historic cultural institutions. Here's the lineup:
July 16, 7:30 p.m.—Standard Time: The American Songbook in Jazz with John Pizzarelli, guitar & vocals / Harry Allen, tenor sax / Bill Charlap, piano / Jay Leonhart, bass / Dennis Mackrell, drums.
July 17, 7:30 p.m.—Rhythm Warm, Rhythm Hot! with the Brazilian Trio featuring Maucha Adnet, vocals / Helio Alves, piano / Nilson Matta, bass / Duduka Da Fonseca, drums and Cubop! with Zaccai Curtis, piano / Luques Curtis, bass / Willie Martinez, timbales / Camilo Molina, congas / Reinaldo De Jesus, bongos.
July 18, 7:30 p.m.—Cécile McLorin Salvant Meets the Bill Charlap Trio with Cécile McLorin Salvant, vocals / Bill Charlap, piano / Peter Washington, bass / Kenny Washington, drums.
July 23, 7:30 p.m.—The Melodic Genius of Clifford Brown with Tom Harrell, trumpet / Warren Vaché, trumpet / Joe Magnarelli, trumpet / Veronica Swift, vocals / Bill Charlap, piano / Peter Washington, bass / Kenny Washington, drums.
July 24, 7:30 p.m.—Renee Rosnes and Bill Charlap in the Key of Us with Renee Rosnes, piano / Bill Charlap, piano / Ken Peplowski, clarinet / Peter Bernstein, guitar / Sean Smith, bass / Bill Stewart, drums.
July 25, 7:30 p.m.—Old Devil Moon: Swingin' Through the Songs of Burton Lane with Steve Wilson, alto sax / Roxy Coss, tenor sax / Michael Dease, trombone / Sandy Stewart, vocals / Bill Charlap, piano / Peter Washington, bass / Carl Allen, drums.
For more Jazz in July information and tickets, go here.
Dorsey days. In my post on Billy VerPlanck's Jazz for Playgirls, I included the cover of VerPlanck's album Dancing Jazz. This prompted the following note from Steve Brauner:
Hi Marc. I enjoy your JazzWax blog immensely. My dad was Buzz Brauner was featured as the tenor sax soloist on several of the cuts. My dad met Billy when they were both in the last Dorsey Brothers band. After Tommy and Jimmy passed, he remained friends with Billy and his wife and vocalist Marlene VerPlanck. Dad appeared on several of her records. I recently created a Facebook tribute page for my dad that has many photos from the last Dorsey band. The profile picture on the page was taken by his childhood friend and lead trumpeter Al Stewart backstage at Hello Dolly in 1964 during the run. Go here.
Mosaic Records is holding an open house for just the third time in the record label's 35-year history. The open house will run from July 11 to 13 at Mosaic's Stamford, CT, headquarters. The label will be offering out-of-print CD sets, partial sets, over 125 Mosaic booklets and more than 30 Mosaic cover slicks. There also will be framed photos and jazz art as well as other rarities and collectibles at special prices. Of note are the Francis Wolff prints in various sizes. First come, first served. Cash, checks credit cards and Paypal are accepted. Hours: July 11, 12 and 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Mosaic Records, 425 Fairfield Avenue, Suite 421 (second floor), Stamford, CT (exit 6 on I-95).
What the heck: Here's Freddie Mercury of Queen singing a previously unreleased version of Time Waits for No One in 1986...
Oddball album cover of the week.
Hard to know why she's on a magic picnic blanket, why she has a suitcase and make-up case, and why, with all that space, she's all by herself. Also tough to tell which city she's soaring over.
