This week in The Wall Street Journal, I interviewed actor Val Kilmer for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Val grew up in Chatsworth, Calif., in the northern reaches of the San Fernando Valley, where many Westerns were taped and filmed for TV and the movies. I remember driving up there several years ago to interview a famous Motown singer and thinking to myself that the landscape looked like something out of Bonanza or One More Train to Rob. The area is arid with a landscape of sandstone bluffs and brush. Perfect for a cowboy ambush or fistfight over stolen gold.
Val, of course, played Batman in Batman Forever (1995), Simon Templar in The Saint (1997) and Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991). One of the Academy of Motion Pictures' greatest crimes was not nominating and awarding Val for a best-actor Oscar in The Doors. In the film, Val became Morrison and even did his own singing after nearly a year of voice training. The nominees and winner that year can be found here.
Here's The Doors' trailer...
Stream scene. I've been asked to share what I've been watching on TV. Here goes...
- Homeland (Showtime)
- My Brilliant Friend (HBO)
- The Comeback (HBO)
- Line of Duty (BritBox)
Tower of Power. In the wake of my post on Tower of Power's new album, in which I listed the drums, horns and lead vocals as key ingredients of Tower of Power's infectious sound, Robert Strickland sent along the following:
...and fourth, the relentless pace of eighth note funk by the innovative bassist, Rocco Prestia. That is an indispensable element of their sound and feel. It is what made What Is Hip so intoxicating.
Here's What Is Hip?...
Dave Thompson this week uploaded his composition Waiting to Soundcloud. The song reflects his impressions of life in a desolate, anxious New York on virus lockdown. He then shifted to Bill Evans's Laurie and Re: Person I Knew. As you'll hear, Dave is a superb pianist who plays in the Evans style. Go here...
Donna Lee. Don Rice sent along a link to a video of Eddie Daniels and Damian Draghici playing Charlie Parker's Donna Lee...
Betty Bennett. Following my post on the late singer Betty Bennett, I received the following email from Bernard McAlinden in Manchester, England, who sent the photo above:
Hi Marc. On February 5, 1966 Betty Bennett performed at Manchester's Club 43. She was accompanied by the club's trio of Joe Palin (p), Paul Bridge (b) and Tony Oxley (d). Yes it was a long time ago but I quite recall what a very impressive, imaginative performance she gave.
Lee Konitz. In the days following my post on the late Lee Konitz, I received the following video clip from Claude Neuman of Lee and pianist Dan Tepfer in 1992...
And this one from David Chilver in the U.K....
Hi Marc. Hope all continues to be well with you. The Lee Konitz selection of clips was great—and your comments a fitting tribute to a truly significant artist. Many of the tributes I have seen rightly highlight his great artistic contribution, but few so far have mentioned his dry sense of humor and his ability to make a witty riposte (as he did during what was clearly the very memorable and agreeable breakfast meeting you had with him).
I have one memory of this aspect of his character which I can share. In the mid 1970s, I accompanied my father (former guitarist Pete Chilver) and his close friend, bandleader/arranger/drummer Jack Parnell, to Ronnie Scott's Club one afternoon before opening time. They wanted to say hello to Ronnie, and I tagged along. We went through to Ronnie's office and there he was along with another person reading a newspaper in a chair.
Jack Parnell had a newly released Lee Konitz LP with him titled Satori (featuring Martial Solal, Jack deJohnette and Dave Holland). He asked Ronnie if he'd heard it. He hadn't, so they told him it was great and proceeded to highlight Solal's virtuosity, deJohnette's great drumming and how good it was to see Dave Holland in pianist Pat Smythe's trio. In what must have come across as a passing afterthought, my dad added "Oh, and let's not forget Konitz."
Ronnie, who by now had a mischievous smile on his face, said "Gentlemen, have you met Lee Konitz?" And at that point, the anonymous person reading the newspaper, who we had barely noticed, lowered it to reveal himself as none other than the man himself. Cutting through the natural embarrassment of the moment and the attempts of Jack and Pete to extricate themselves from the hole they'd dug, Konitz wryly commented "Thank you guys, no need to say anymore, you've just given me the title of my next album, Let's Not Forget Konitz.
Found on Facebook, at the page of Andrea J. Lareau, a video of Henry Mancini leading his orchestra on various flutes through a medley of his hits...
Ella and Duke radio. WKCR-FM in New York will present birthday broadcasts celebrating Ella Fitzgerald (April 25) and Duke Ellington (April 29). In both cases, Ella and Duke's music will be featured for 24 hours on each day. To tune in from anywhere in the world, you can listen starting at midnight (EDT) on your computer, phone or iPad by going here.
What the heck. Here's one of my favorite Carole King songs, Been to Canaan, that King performed in 1982. From her Rhymes & Reasons album of 1972...
