In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed actor and comedian Zach Woods for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Zach played Gabe in The Office, he was on Veep and he returns in the new season of the space-com Avenue 5. Zach talked about his OCD growing up, his love of jazz and how improv for the first time let him become completely absorbed in something. [Photo above of Zach Woods courtesy of HBO]
Here's Zach as Gabe in The Office...
And here's Zach in Avenue 5...
Also in the WSJ, for the Opinion section, I reviewed Eliane Elias's new album Quietude (Candid) (go here). It recaptures the intimacy and authenticity of Rio’s original beach music through Eliane's vocals sung in Portuguese and her piano embellishments and bossa solos. More prominently featured are three different acoustic guitarists accompanying her. The album can be found here.
I caught her opening night this week at New York's Iridium with her partner Marc Johnson on bass, Rubens de La Corte on acoustic guitar and Rafael Barata on drums and percussion. Great to catch up with Eliane and Marc after and to meet Rafael and Rubens. If you're in a city where Eliane will be performing (see tour schedule here), go and enjoy. She had a New York audience on their feet at the set's end howling for more. She's there again tonight (Saturday) before heading off to Boston.
Here's the opening track of her new album...
You know you want it. Who wouldn't? The stories behind the writing and recording of 55 hit pop, rock and soul songs in the words of those who were there. Each one is a knockout. Learn the secrets of how hits were composed and then captured in the studio. Easy, fast reading. Pre-order here.
Chef's table. Jordan Frosolone is Executive Chef and partner of New York's Leopard at Des Artistes, one of the city's finest Italian restaurants a stone's throw from Lincoln Center Last week he sent along the photo above. After a long day creating in and overseeing the restaurant's magnificent kitchen, what better way to unwind than with Rock Concert (2021) or Anatomy of a Song (2016)—or both. Looks like Jordan will soon be ready for Anatomy of 55 More Songs (2022), coming December 6.
Ronnie Cuber, RIP. Last week, following the passing of baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber, I heard from the great pianist Roger Kellaway:
Marc, so sorry to hear about Ronnie’s passing. I didn't know him well, but I do remember in 1963 or so that I played a five-day run at the original Birdland with trombonist Kai Winding and his four trombones (including Bill Watrous and Carl Fontana). For some reason Kai needed a bass trombonist and couldn’t find one. Instead, Ronnie came to the gig and sightread the bass trombone book brilliantly, which wasn't easy. The baritone sax is up one octave and a sixth from the trombone. So if we were playing a song in C-major, he had to sight read in A-major. And because the baritone's range doesn't go as low as a bass trombone, some extremely low notes had to be played an octave higher as well as transposed. He did it all beautifully!
In Paris in November or December? Photographer Gilles D'Elia will be exhibiting at a fabulous restaurant, Birdie Num Num, at 91 Rue Lamarck in the 18th arrondissement, behind Montmartre. Eat, observe and love.
Francesca Tandoi. Unfamiliar with this spectacular Italian jazz pianist and singer? Let me put her on your radar. More from Francesca in the weeks ahead [photo above of Francesca Tandoi courtesy of Facebook]. For now, dig this...
Artie Shaw. I love the major swing bands of the late 1930s and '40s, but Artie Shaw's band arrangements and executions always have a hip elegance that's a cut above. [Photo above of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw]
Here's a taste of what I listened to yesterday...
Here's Love of My Life in 1940 with Anita Boyer on vocal. This is Shaw's arrangement and 24-piece band with strings...
Here's Lennie Hayton's arrangement of Dancing in the Dark in 1941. Love the way the strings hand off to the brass and then Shaw's rich swing clarinet...
Here's Shaw and Hayton's arrangement of Moonglow...
And here's Shaw and William Grant Still's arrangement of Frenesi...
And finally, here's Buddy DeFranco playing Autumn in New York, with Kenny Drew (p), Milt Hinton (b) andArt Blakey (d)...
