In The Wall Street Journal last week, I interviewed Molly Shannon for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). We talked about her childhood that followed the death of her younger sister, mother and cousin in a car crash after her father fell asleep at the wheel. Molly was just 4. She still wears her mother's diamond ring whenever she acts. Molly is in a new hysterical Showtime sitcom series, I Love That for You.
Here's the trailer...
Here's Molly in Seinfeld...
Shorty Rogers. Following my interview with Marshall Rogers on his father, Shorty Rogers, I heard from Marshall...
Marc, just wanted to thank you for this. You did a great job. Shorty would be proud.
Peggy Lee. Last week I heard from many readers after my Peggy Lee video post. Many offered up their own favorites. All were good, but I either posted on them before or had seen them years ago. Here's one of the videos that vocalist Diana Panton surfaced. As Diana notes, when Lee was still mirroring Billie Holiday...
Roger in London noted that the live YouTube clip I featured is missing The Shining Sea's first verse. So he sent along the full album version. Go here...
And here's Lee on TV's What's My Line in 1957. Move the time bar to 17:09...
Jackie Paris and Anne Marie Moss. Following my recent interview with bassist Harvie S, who played on the 1974 album Jackie Paris & Anne Marie Moss Live at the Maisonette, I received the following from Helene Garcia [photo above of Anne Marie Moss in the 1980s]:
Good morning, Marc! I stumbled upon your interview today, which brought me to tears. That "Live at the Maisonette" album holds very special meaning for me. My father was a drummer and one of the most knowledgeable lovers of jazz I've ever known. His album collection and ability to know who was playing what instrument and with whom was extraordinary. As a child, I was exposed to all kinds of big band sounds, but for some reason, after hearing this particular album, it became my favorite and I probably drove him crazy wanting to hear it all the time.
My father actually brought me to a Jackie Paris-Anne Marie Moss gig, when I was only 5. Anne Marie brought me up on stage and sang "Bright Lights and You Girl" to me! She spoke with me afterward and even gave me a bracelet from her own wrist that I have to this day. I will never forget her or that night. My father passed away two years ago, you know that I now have that album in my possession and treasure it.
Anyway, we are coming up on the two-year anniversary of my father's passing, so for some reason I was meant to see this article and interview. I know the names of the musicians on this album because I would always quote Jackie Paris saying, "Steve Gadd, Harvie Swartz, Mike Abene! Beautiful..."—the way he did at the end of the album. So thank you for this gift and for keeping jazz alive! I know it would have made my dad so happy. I only wish he could read your interview himself.
Two from Ed Sullivan. These two clips just went up on the Ed Sullivan Show's page at YouTube:
Here's Sarah Vaughan singing Poor Butterfly in 1957...
And here's Count Basie playing Frank Foster's Back to the Apple in 1959. The front line saxes, from left, are Billy Mitchell, Frank Wess, Marshal Royal, Frank Foster and Charlie Fowlkes. The tenor solo is by Foster and the drum solo is by Sonny Payne...
Mel Brooks. Director Raymond De Felitta posted a terrific four-minute short at his blog last week that Mel Brooks made in 1963. Go here to view The Critic and here to listen to his interview with Brooks (click on your favorite podcast platform at the bottom of the page)...
Cándido Camero, the legendary congaista who played with Charlie Parker and dozens of other jazz greats and died in 2020, was beloved by jazz Latin and pop music fans alike. His centenary is on April 22. In tribute to Cándido, drummer and percussionist Amaury Acosta composed and produced Gracias Maestro. Cándido was often at the New York apartment of his dad, playwright and director Ivan Acosta. That's where I first met Cándido in the 1990s. [Photo above, from left, of Cándido Camero, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker at New York's Birdland in 1950]
Here's Amaury's Gracias Maestro...
Duke Ellington. Last week, Michael O'Daniel sent along a link to a video of Duke Ellington on the Dick Cavett Show, in which Ellington talked about the origin of the plunger mute and his sleeping and composing habits. The interview aired in September 1971, and Dick Cavett mentions Duke's 1970 recording with the Cincinnati Symphony (a deal I put together). Duke left us in 1974. Go here...
Don Ellis. Last week I heard from Matt LeGroulx in Montreal...
Hi Marc, I extracted and uploaded to YouTube this clip of Don Ellis's band playing their tune "Bulgarian Bulge." I think it's the only known live footage of the band playing it. The outfits may be dated but the music is timeless and I think you and your readers would get a kick out of seeing it. It's from the documentary "Electric Heart," which is worth watching despite a somewhat hyperbolic voice-over. The talking heads are uniformly great and include Milcho Leviev and Maynard Ferguson. Here it is...
Vinyl Nation. Available on April 19 on video on demand is the documentary Vinyl Nation, which examines the resurgence of vinyl records, the diversification of vinyl fans and what this all means for America today. The film was directed by Kevin Smokler and Christoper Boone and released by 1091 Pictures.
Here's the trailer...
Music break. Last week, pianist Dave Thompson sent along a link to his renditions of Bill Evans's Letter to Evan and The Opener at his home studio. Go here...
Charles Mingus radio. Next week, from 12:01 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 21, until the midnight on Saturday, April 23, radio station WKCR-FM in New York will be honoring the centennial of bassist, composer and bandleader Charles Mingus by playing his music around the clock. Listen from anywhere in the world by going here.
And finally, three great Latin clips:
Here's Luis Mario Ochoa, whom I posted about recently, in a new video for La Mulata Chancletera, from his new album Forever Lecuona...
Here's a fantastic salsa treatment of Stevie Wonder's Overjoyed by the Pacific Mambo Orchestra in 2015 [pictured above the Latin tracks]...
And here's Los Hermanos Colón singing John Sebastian's Welcome Back...
A special thanks to Jordan Frosolone—executive chef and partner at New York's The Leopard at des Artistes—for an amazing dinner last Thursday night. Big hug for a dear friend. If you're in town, make a reservation. You'll find all you need to know here.