In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed George F. Will for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). He was remarkably funny, insightful on pop culture and had an interesting childhood that might surprise you. And his new collection of columns, American Happiness and Discontents (Hachette), on everything from Bob Dylan to why he owns only one pair of jeans is beautifully written. Here's George in 1990 holding his own with David Letterman on baseball...
SiriusXM. On Thursday, I'll be on SiriusXM with Nik and Lori on Feedback to talk about Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way. Tune in at 9 a.m. (ET) on Chanel 106.
Horace Parlan. Last week, I received the following from Jan Anhalzer in Denmark:
Hi Marc, I have been following your excellent blog for a couple of years and agree with your views on Horace Parlan as a magnificent pianist. As a supplement to your previous posts on Parlan, I would like to direct JazzWax readers to two outstanding trio albums issued on the Danish Steeplechase label in 1975 and 1978.
Here's the Horace Parlan Trio's "No Blues" (Steeplechase), with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen on bass and Tony Inzalaco on drums...
Here's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" from Blue Parlan, (Steeplechase), with Parlan on piano, Wilbur Little on bass and Dannie Richmond on drums...
And finally, here's "We Three" (Bainbridge 1997), recorded for the Japanese market. The album features Parlan on piano, Danish bassist Mads Vinding and drummer Ed Thigpen...
George Wein. After my interview post on the late Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein, Kim Paris of the FM Radio Archive sent along a couple of on-air recordings from the Newport Jazz Festival [photo above of George Wein courtesy of Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.]
Marc, thanks for your article in remembrance of George Wein, founder of the Newport Jazz Festival. As you noted, we can thank George for making outdoor music festivals popular and successful. You may not be surprised that I have two good recordings from the Newport Jazz Festival posted on FM Radio Archive. The more recent concert is from the 2009 festival, and features the Cedar Walton All Stars. Cedar had played with Curtis Fuller in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the early 1960s and with Bobby Hutcherson in the Timeless All Stars in the '80s who reunited for this concert.
The earlier recording is from Avery Fisher Hall in 1975, and features Thelonious Monk in the sunset of his career. Monk was having issues with his health and mental state, and George personally persuaded Monk to play this concert, and introduced him and his band.
Both concerts were broadcast on NPR station WBGO-FM, serving New York City and Newark, N.J. I hope you and your readers enjoy these recorded concerts, in honor of George Wein's contributions to jazz. Go here to listen.
Nancy Wilson. Last week, I received the following link from Bruce Nutt, director of Crazy Mamas Concerts and Nightclubs in Columbus, Ohio, on the naming of Nancy Wilson Way in that city and the ceremony on September 10. In addition, to read my interview with Miss Nancy, go here.
Django Festival All-Stars. In New York between October 26 and 30? Head to Birdland, where the Django Festival All-Stars will be performing. The astounding French group features Samson Schmitt, Pierre Blanchard, Ludovic Beier, DouDou Cuillerier and Antonio Licusati. The Django Festival is being produced by Pat Philips of Stratta Philips Productions. For more information, go here.
For a taste, here are the Django Festival All-Stars performing Gypsy Wagon at WBGO-FM studios in Newark, N.J., in 2018...
Jon Hendricks radio. This Sunday (September 16), WKCR-FM in New York will feature a five-hour birthday-broadcast tribute to vocalist and lyricist Jon Hendricks from 2 to 7 p.m. To listen to the Sid Gribetz-produced special from anywhere in the world, go here.
And finally, I don't care what kind of music you love most, here's a masterpiece by The Band with the Staple Singers playing and singing The Weight, from Martin Scorsese's concert documentary The Last Waltz...
