In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Kevin Bacon for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Kevin and I talked about what it was like to have a famous father. His dad was Edmund Bacon, who was on the cover of Time magazine in 1964 as "the father of modern Philadelphia." [Photo above courtesy of Showtime]
Kevin's dad was an architect and the city's chief urban planner. His vision for the city led to significant changes in the 1950s and '60s, including a shift to glass skyscrapers. Kevin said his dad's fame only made him want to become more famous. Kevin is currently starring in City on a Hill (Showtime). The series is about Boston law enforcement's rivalries and crime in the 1990s. Season 2 starts tomorrow.
Here's Kevin in the series trailer...
And here's Kevin in 2012 with wife Kyra Sedgwick on Finding Your Roots...
For my "House Call" with Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin's wife, go here.
SiriusXM. Last week I was on SiriusXM's Feedback with Nik and Lori to talk about my "Anatomy of a Song" on John Fogerty's Bad Moon Rising as well as the history of roots rock and 10 singular covers of the song. To listen to the broadcast, go here...
Twyla Tharp. I absolutely adore Twyla Tharp. It all started when I researched Twyla and her work prior to our "House Call" interview in 2019 (go here). Last night (Friday), PBS featured a spectacular documentary on her as part of its American Masters series. Twyla, of course, is a groundbreaking dancer, choreographer and arts entrepreneur who formed her own dance company, Twyla Tharp Dance, in 1966, merging with the American Ballet Theatre in 1988. Her original avant-garde ballets are breathtaking, sensual and pop-classical—whether she's taking on the Beach Boys' music in Deuce Coupe, Frank Sinatra in Nine Sinatra Songs or Billy Joel in Movin' Out. She partnered with David Byrne in The Catherine Wheel, and her Push Comes to Shove in '76 featured Mikhail Baryshnikov. Her work ethic, alone, will make you gasp, and the graceful, provocative art that emerges will blow you mind, make your joints ache and motivate you to work harder and better at whatever you do. You simply must watch this documentary. Here it is...
American Legion redux. Last week, the service that sends out my daily JazzWax post had a flaw in its system. The result left subscribers unable to see the mini-documentary called Post 398. If you were among the unfortunate ones left confused by what arrived, you can view the documentary by going here.
Lee Morgan. Last week, following my post on new hard-bop videos, I heard from Jeremy Mushlin, who pointed out that the Lee Morgan clip was part of a longer video here...
Steve Miller's wife, Janice, informed me on Friday that on May 14, Steve will release a video-and-audio set from his August 3, 1977 concert recorded at the Cap Center in Landover, Md. The music sounds fantastic, with the Steve Miller band at its peak, as this clip of Jet Airliner proves...
Here's the promo video...
And yes, you can pre-order here.
Elsa Peretti. Last week, after I posted on the late Elsa Peretti (above) and Halston, I heard from Margy Bloom [photo courtesy of Tiffany & Co.]...
Hi Marc, I’m thrilled that you wrote about Elsa. I think I’ll polish up my cuff bracelet (always worn pre-covid, not so much during lockdown) and put it on with my sweats. A new look! The documentary you featured is very good, especially if one lived (as I did) through the Halston years and worked in fashion. Next time I shop, I think I’ll bring home a few big orchid plants just to salute the whole thing. It was wonderful while it lasted. Thank you so much for writing about this. I absolutely adored Elsa Peretti. I might even put on the bean necklace as well.
Mel Torme. Not usually a big Mel Torme fan, but he does a nice job on these two songs. Listen carefully how he twists things around in 1967...
Last week, following my post that included of a track by alto saxophonist Bobby Porcelli, I heard from Bill Kirchner. He sent along a link to an extended interview of Bobby by reed player and educator Ed Joffe [photo above of Bobby Porcelli]...
Bill also sent this clip of Bobby with Tito Puente in 1995 playing I Concentrate on You...
Barney Wilen. Following my post last week on French saxophonist Barney Wilen, I heard from Parisian photographer Gilles D'Elia [Photo above of a woman reading at a cafe in Paris by Gilles D'Elia]
Hi Marc, what a pleasure to read your post this morning on Barney Wilen and Kenny Dorham. And for praising "Jazz sur Seine." I listen to the album often and I think it's Wilen's best. First, because the choice of tracks is quite simply extraordinary, including standards by Charles Trenet and Django Reinhardt. In this sense, it's a very French record, imbued with melodies that everyone knows and sings in France. They are the equivalent of Cole Porter songs in America.
Second, the other crazy aspect of this record is the rhythmic meeting of Kenny Clarke on drums and Milt Jackson on piano. Hearing Jackson on the piano is quite fascinating. It's like hearing the instrument reinvented! During his solos, Jackson uses one or two fingers, and plays the piano solos like a vibraphonist, it's fascinating. If you add to this the percussionist Gana M'Bow on the track "Swing 39," which opens the album, you have a Parisian jazz masterpiece.
Joan Chamorro. Here's Joan Chamorro leading the Sant Andreu Jazz Band in Barcelona in 2015 on Randy Weston's Hi-Fly, featuring Magalí Datzira on bass and vocal, Luigi Grasso on alto saxophone and Joan Codina on trombone...
Freddie Redd. Sid Gribetz (above) of WKCR-FM in New York wrote last week to let me know that he published a Freddie Redd discography. You can access it here.
FM Radio Archive. Kim Paris in Portland, Or., sent along the following on the FM Radio Archive following my post on the Freddie Redd radio broadcasts sent along by Mark Rabin:
Hi Marc, Thanks to you and Mark Rabin for crediting FM Radio Archive. I'd like to invite you and JazzWax readers to check out even more recordings. This link will take you to 50-plus jazz and blues broadcasts—over half of them came from Mark's collection here.
Liza Minnelli. Here's Liza in 1969 on The Ed Sullivan Show singing Jimmy Webb's Didn't We...
CD you should know about:
Jamile—If You Could See Me Now (1533838 Records ). This New York-based Brazilian singer has swell taste. Every song she takes on is given a smart, sophisticated spin. Best of all, the song for her is about the shape and feel. It has to have attitude so she can swing it around like a lifeguard's whistle. And Jamile loves to shift from the low register to high alto—reminiscent of Annie Ross. Songs on this 2019 album include Shiny Stockings, Jobim, In the Land of Oo-Bla-Dee, Ugly Beauty, Luiza, O Pato and Nobody Else But Me. Jamile is backed by saxophonist Steve Wilson, pianist Ray Gallon, bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Vito Lesczak. Jamile sings with hip abandon and passion, a refreshing mix. Go here.
For more on Jamile, go here.
Here's Frank Foster's Shiny Stockings...
A salute to all of my Broadway readers. Here are three songs of encouragement for stage performers who have been sidelined by the pandemic. Hang in, it's almost over:
Here's Hooray for Hollywood from Hollywood Hotel (1937)...
Here's There's No Business Like Show Business from Annie Get Your Gun (1950)...
And here's That's Entertainment from The Band Wagon (1953)...
