In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed the two Italian actresses who co-star in the amazing HBO series My Brilliant Friend for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). The actresses—Margherita Mazzucco and Gaia Girace—play Lenu and Lila and are just 19 and 18, respectively. They weren't professional actors when they were cast in Naples four years ago, but now they are accomplished but humble superstars. I've been watching the series since its start, and interviewing Margherita and Gaia separately in Naples via Zoom was pure bliss. Pure delight. If you haven't watched, make time and start Season 1. You'll thank me. [Photo above of Gaia Girace, left and Margherita Mazzucco on set in My Brilliant Friend, courtesy of HBO]
Here's the Season 1 trailer...
Here's Season 2...
And here's Season 3, which just started on Sunday...
How good is the acting? See for yourself. Here's a scene from Season 2...
Here's another scene from Season 2...
And here's another from Season 2...
Every scene is a moment of tension or elation, a mini movie inside a larger one. It's a pleasure to watch unknown actors this good and to listen to their expressive articulation in Italian. If you want to feel deeply, watch the series on HBO.
Jerry meets Ornette. Last week, Max Frazee sent along a recording of the Grateful Dead live at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in 1993 when they were joined by free jazz alto saxophonist Ornette Coleman. You'll find them together on tracks 15, 16, 17 and 18. Go here. [Photo above of Jerry Garcia and Ornette Coleman]
Sammy Nestico. For the one-year anniversary of arranger Sammy Nestico's passing, Diane Estelle Vicari put together a mini doc. You can watch it here. [Photo above of Sammy Nestico]
You also can read my complete JazzWax interview with Sammy here.
Here's It's Oh, So Nice, Sammy's composition and arrangement for Count Basie...
Here's Sammy's Scott's Place...
And here's Sammy's By My Side...
Mary Kaye Trio. In 2020, Les Block and David Cummings put up a YouTube tribute to Mary Kaye, whose music-and-comedy trio pioneered the Las Vegas lounge act in the late 1940s and paved the way for Louis Prima and Keely Smith and many others. I last posted about the Mary Kaye Trio in 2019 here. Here's Les and David's remembrance...
Ernie Andrews. Following my post on the late singer Ernie Andrews last week, I heard from Kim Paris of the FM Radio Archive:
Hi Marc, thanks to Mark Rabin, I can share this recording of Ernie Andrews at the LA Garlic Festival in 1987 on FM Radio Archive. Ernie performed some jazz classics in this set, including Satin Doll, 'Round Midnight and Take The A Train. Go here
Ornette Coleman and Bix Beiderbecke birthday broadcasts. WKCR-FM in New York at midnight (ET) on March 8 will begin a 36-hour birthday tribute to alto saxophonist Ornette Coleman. Then at noon on March 10, you'll hear 24 hours of cornetist Bix Beiderbecke until noon on March 11. Listen from anywhere in the world on your phone or computer by going here.
Johnny Ventura radio. Before the Coleman birthday broadcast, WKCR-FM's Latin Music Department is presenting a special 24-hour broadcast that will look at the life and career of Johnny Ventura, the musician and public figure from the Dominican Republic, on March 8. All regular programming will be preempted that day. Listen from anywhere in the world on your phone or computer by going here. [Photo above of Johnny Ventura]
Here's a taste of Johnny Ventura, who died last July...
And finally, let's stick with the Latin bag. Here's Tito Puente's El Cayuco, from RCA's Dance Mania, recorded in 1957 and released a year later. Crank it up...
