This week in The Wall Street Journal, I interviewed actor Josh Gad for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Josh stars in HBO's comedy series Avenue 5. He also is the voice of Olaf in the Frozen series and many other characters in animated movies, including the upcoming Artemis Fowl. Josh and I talked about his childhood, the trauma of his parents' divorce and how the stage helped him overcome his restlessness at an early age. [Photo of Josh Gad above courtesy of Josh Gad/Twitter]
Here's Josh as Herman Judd (with blond hair) in Avenue 5...
Birth of the Cool. Following my post last week on Bobby Spellman's Revenge of the Cool and my mention of Gil Evans's apartment at 14 West 55th Street, director Raymond De Felitta sent along the photo above of 14 and 16 West 55th St. in 1940 (with the laundry evident, if you enlarge the photo). This from Peter Levin: "Based on the bio excerpted here, Gil Evans’s apartment was at the back of the building, behind the laundry, looking onto a courtyard. So No. 14 still works for the address."
Here's Gerry Mulligan's arrangement of Miles Davis's Deception from the Birth of the Cool sessions...
Rosemary Clooney. In 1968, singer Rosemary Clooney suffered a breakdown following the assassination of Robert Kennedy in June. More on this in a Ladies Home Journal article in 1976. (Bear with the odd sexism that crept into the writing.) More on this period on page 215 of Clooney's memoir here. Fortunately, Clooney overcame her mental challenges and, in 1975, she performed for the first time in years on The Merv Griffin Show. At Lin McPhillips's Facebook page last week, I found this clip, which marked her comeback...
Bill Evans. Last week pianist Dave Thompson sent along a link to the rare, out-of-print Homewood sessions by Bill Evans in November 1970. According to Peter Pettinger, author of Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings...
In November [1970], the trio [Evans, Eddie Gomez on bass and Marty Morell on drums] was in Chicago recording a half-hour set for television. The film was made for use in Los Angeles and was later relayed from the Homewood Theatre in Hollywood under the title Jazz Sounds and a Cool Groove... The Evans [audio] set was issued as Homewood on Red Bird Records, a rare pressing indeed.
And here's pianist Dave Thompson at home playing Bill Evans's Time Remembered...
Brad Terry. If you enjoyed my recent post on guitarist Lenny Breau and clarinetist Brad Terry, you're in luck. Brad has a wonderful memoir out entitled I Feel More Like I Do Now Than I Did Yesterday: A Collection of Remembered Stories. The 390-page book is thick with recollections, including the Lenny Breau sessions.
To order the memoir from Brad, send him check for $30 (postage is included and he'll autographed it if you ask). Send the check to...
Brad Terry
36 Willow St.
Bath, ME. 04530
Jimmy Cobb radio. On Tuesday, June 2, WKCR-FM in New York will present a memorial broadcast honoring late drummer Jimmy Cobb. His music will air for 24 hours. To listen from anywhere in the world on your phone, iPad or computer, go here.
Movie podcast. Raymond De Felitta's latest Movies Til Dawn podast is with Nina Mann, daughter of legendary director Anthony Mann (Winchester 73, The Naked Spur, The Glenn Miller Story, El Cid and The Fall Of The Roman Empire). [Photo above of Anthony Mann]
As Raymond notes:
Mann, who passed away in 1967, had an exemplary career that mirrored the trends of mid-century American filmmaking. He began by directing film noirs, moved into adult Westerns, many of which starred James Stewart, and ultimately found his way into the world of epics, which dominated commercial cinema in the early to mid 1960s, making two of the undisputed classics of the genre.
Nina has some fascinating insights and stories about her father. She is also brave and honest about aspects of their lives that a lesser person might not have chosen to reveal.
You can listen to Raymond's interview on any of your favorite podcast platforms (Stitcher, Apple, Spotify etc.) or by going here and clicking on the "Episodes" button in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
John Cameron is a British composer, arranger, conductor and musician and a dear friend. Known for his many film, TV and stage projects, John also made hit recordings with Donovan and Cilla Black among others. Now, the lockdown has compelled John to try his hand at something new—original chilled jazz and visuals with Dave Mann. Here's one of them...
There are more here, here and here.
Michel Legrand. Last week, Kurt Kolstad sent along this Zoom tribute to Michel Legrand's music...
What the heck. Here's Teena Marie performing her 1984 hit, Loverboy...
