In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed fashion designer Cynthia Rowley for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Growing up, Cynthia loved designing clothes. But a pair of elephant bell-bottoms she made for a middle school event was so radical, no one asked her to dance. Throughout high school and college, teachers constantly tried to suppress her creative streak, but Cynthia resisted and wound up having the last laugh. A lesson in believing in yourself, no matter what. [Photo above of Cynthia Rowley wearing one of her wetsuit designs in Montauk, N.Y., in June, courtesy of Cynthia Rowley]
Here's the elegant and irrepressible Cynthia at home...
Hamptons radio. Today (Saturday, July 24), starting at noon (ET), I'll be on Lunch on the Deck in Sag Harbor, N.Y., with hosts Jessica Ambrose and Bill Evans (above). They asked me for 20 favorite songs, so we'll be spinning discs and gabbing for two hours. You can listen in from anywhere in the world by going here and clicking "listen live." If you select "mp3 player," the show will open automatically in your iTunes.
Half-Nelson. In the wake of my post on cool jazz and the Miles Davis composition Half-Nelson, Lou Califano wrote:
Marc, WKCR-FM's "Bird Flight" host Phil Schaap tells the story of how "Half-Nelson" got its title. He said it was because bassist Nelson Boyd only got a half-chorus solo on the recording with Miles and Bird, who, by the way, played tenor on that session.
Elliot Lawrence. Last week, Matt Schudel of The Washington Post wrote a lovely and complete obit of Elliot Lawrence. Many thanks, Matt, for quoting me and citing my JazzWax interview. Go here.
Dom Um Romão. After my post on Brazilian percussionist Dom Um Romão, I received a lovely email from percussionist Frank Colón in Rio de Janeiro:
Hello, Marc! As a close friend of Dom Um Romão, I thoroughly enjoyed your article on him and his brilliant musical trajectory. Dom Um took me under his wing and pulled me and guided me through some very interesting situations and opportunities. We weren't pals like I am with Airto, but we'd visit each other and hang out whenever we got the chance. Thanks for bringing it all back.
In January 2020, Frank released Latin Lounge. Here's his amazing Latin Wonder album...
I also heard from Brazilian-American drummer Duduka De Fonseca:
Hi Marc. Bom dia. This is a great post! Dom Um was like a father to me when I arrived in New York at the end of 1975. He got me a gig with Astrud Gilberto that lasted 14 years. Dom Um helped many musicians in the city, including Dom Salvador, Claudio Roditi, Naná Vasconcelos and Cyro Baptista, among many others. He was a superb player with a big heart. He also was a black belt in Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art.
Here's Duduka Da Fonseca...
David Sacks. Following my post on Astrud Gilberto, I hard from Danilo Morandi in Switzerland:
Hi Marc. On Gilberto's 1988 clip of "The Girl from Ipanema," you can see (and almost hear) a fine American trombonist, David Sacks, who had quite a career in Brazil in the '80s. In 2017, back in Rio after 27 years away, he performed at Um Café La em Casa in a show led by guitarist Nelson Faria, with (mostly) Brazilian stars. Amazingly, on "Chega de Saudade," at 5:00 into the clip, Nelson and David point out some common mistakes made interpreting the tune.
Here's the entire show...
Chico Hamilton. If you're online on Tuesday evening, July 27, catch Uncivilized, an experimental Brooklyn collective when they take on the music on Chico Hamilton's El Chico album, recorded in 1965. Uncivilized has been a fixture at Brooklyn's Barbès club since 2013. The group features Rachel Housle (d/percussion), Ben Stapp (tuba), Nick Jozwiak (cello), Kevin Sun (ts) and Tom Csatari (g/effects). Their set will start at Barbès (376 9th St.) at 7 p.m. (ET) and will be live-streamed for free (the group urges a $20 donation). Live stream tickets can be found here.
Jazz samba radio. Sid Gribetz will host a special five-hour show on jazz samba this Sunday, July 25, from 2 to 7 p.m. (ET) on WKCR-FM in New York. To listen from anywhere in the world, go here.
