In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed fashion designer and icon Norma Kamali for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Norma talked about her mom, who was a seamstress, a painter, a cook who could reproduce restaurant dishes by eating them once, a hairdresser and had many other artistic talents. Norma also talked about sleeping on her nose as a kid so it would turn up, like other kids' noses in her Manhattan neighborhood in the 1950s. Oh, before I forget, Farrah Fawcett's red bathing suit in the famed poster? That was Norma's. [Photo above by Norma Kamali at home in Manhattan’s West Village in October by the fabulous Brad Trent for The Wall Street Journal]
I've interviewed some real Nu Yawkers—Fran Drescher, Judge Judy, Ronnie Spector to name a few with triple-thick accents. Norma is the first whose accent sounds a lot like the one I heard growing up in Washington Heights. It's pure Manhattan (I do a fairly good job of hiding mine but was able to slip into it with Norma). As you can imagine, she was a lot of fun to interview. Here's Norma in action...
Sirius XM. Join me on Tuesday, December 17, when I visit with Nik Carter and Lori Majewski on their Feedback (Ch. 106) show to talk about my latest "Anatomy of a Song" on Steve Miller's Fly Like an Eagle. Plus another Hot 10 tracks at the end.
NPR. On Friday, I was on Steve Kraske's terrific Up to Date segment on NPR station KCUR in Kansas City. He asked me to bring along a handful of jazzy holiday songs that most listeners wouldn't know but would love once they heard them. Steve added one to the list as well. Here's the show...
Why Jazz Happened. Last week, I received the following email from Oliver in Dublin with these lovely words. Thank you Oliver and Andrew:
Hi Marc. Bought a copy of your book, Why Jazz Happened, on Friday at Chapters bookstore on Parnell Street for one of my team, pianist Andrew Carroll. He just called to say it's a brilliant read. Have a great Christmas!
Now in paperback here.
Speaking of Eagles. Rob Hyman, a dear friend, Cyndi Lauper's collaborator on Time After Time and leader of the band The Hooters emailed from Bremen, Germany, where the band was on tour. He sent along a clip of the band at Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in November 2018 performing a cover of Fly Like an Eagle...
Buddy Rich, 1943. Last week, following my post on Buddy Rich, I received the following from Dave James:
Good morning, Marc. I played a lot of drums in my misspent youth, so I've always been drawn to the great drummers of the past. During a recent deep YouTube dive into Buddy Rich, I came across this pristine color video of Buddy with the Tommy Dorsey band playing Well, Git It!...
Richard Williams radio. On Sunday, December 15, Sid Gribetz will present the music of Richard Williams from 2 to 5 p.m. on WKCR-FM's “Jazz Profiles” feature brodcast. As Sid writes, "Williams was a trumpeter of sheer brilliance. His solos make you stop and take notice with their clarity, bright tone and creative invention." You can listen from anywhere in the world on your phone, iPad or computer by going here.
Stuck for a gift? There's always my Anatomy of a Song book, an Amazon bestseller that's now in paperback. The stories behind 45 rock, soul, pop, reggae, country and disco hits from the artists who wrote and recorded them. Fast, fun and you can jump in anywhere. Also, you'll find a playlist of all 45 songs here, allowing you to listen along for free. You'll find Anatomy of a Song in the U.S. here, in the U.K. here and in Canada here.
What the heck: Impossibly talented, the Nicholas Brothers had it all, even in 1936, when they were still kids...
Oddball album cover of the week.
I can think of worse places to be on Christmas than at a Holiday Inn. Syria, for example. But at least there was going to be a banquet at this one. Plus free live parking-lot music from the Commanders.
