This week in The Wall Street Journal, I interviewed legendary fashion designer Pierre Cardin for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). I've always admired Cardin for his exquisite taste, pop-couture sensibility and love affair with the future. His accomplishments in design are exceptional. [Photo above of Pierre Cardin courtesy of Pierre Cardin]
In 1947, he worked with Christian Dior, including Dior's "New Look" collection and the revolutionary Bar suit (above).
Pierre opened his first boutique, Eve, in the early '50s, he was the first haute-couture designer to take his designs to French department stores in the late '50s (known as ready-to-wear), first to add his "P" logo and scripted name to clothing, the first to launch a men's line, first to integrate the Space Age into his collections, first to turn his name into a brand and put it on a wide range of products, first to launch lines in Japan and to employ a Japanese model, and the first to hold a fashion show on China's Great Wall in '79. The 98-year-old designer talked about his two escapes as a child and his early fascination with fashion, theater and architecture. I wore his spread-collar dress shirts in the late 1970s and I still wear his lemon-based aftershave today. A joy to interview, the designer encompasses all of post-war fashion.
Here are the Beatles being asked about their collarless Cardin jackets in 1963...
Here's Cardin's 1969 collection...
Here's Cardin's 1969 spring collection...
Here's Cardin's 1970 collection...
And here's the trailer for Cardin's new documentary, House of Cardin...
SiriusXM. Last week I was on SiriusXM's Feedback with Nik Carter and Jeff Slate, who was sitting in for Lori, to talk about Gordon Lightfoot's Sundown. Go here...
Carmen McRae. Pianist Roger Kellaway dropped a line last week on my Carmen McRae posts...
Hi Marc. I produced Carmen's 1972 album, I Am Music. For that album, I wrote a song for her that was my first collaboration with the Bergmans. The song was, I Have the Feeling I’ve Been Here Before. The band was recorded at United‘s studio B in Los Angeles, live. We only had enough money in the budget for 10 strings. So, for this chart I wrote for a stereo string quintet—with three violins, viola and cello on the left and on the right.
Here's I Have the Feeling I’ve Been Here Before...
Bill Frisell. In July, the guitarist stepped outside for a bit of fresh air with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston. [Photo above of Bill Frisell courtesy of Bill Frisell]
Watch what happened when they did...
Thelma Huston and composer-pianist Jimmy Webb got together with singers for Someone Is Standing Outside. Go here...
Vocalist Meredith d'Ambrosio wrote last week about my post on Michael Weiss's album, Soul Journey...
Hi Marc. This is a great review! I love Michael Weiss's playing. His album sounds great. I had the pleasure of hearing him for the first time at Riles in Cambridge, Mass., before the club closed. We were honoring the life of Steve Schwartz of WGBH radio who had passed away too soon. It was a huge concert for Steve. I played and sang some songs just before Michael played. Needless to say, I was impressed!!
Charlie Parker radio. To celebrate the centennial of Charlie Parker, WKCR-FM in New York will present a special eight-day marathon radio broadcast, from August 27 through September 3 (EDT). You can tune in from anywhere in the world on your phone, iPad or computer by going here.
