Molly, Brian and Alice

In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed actress Molly Ringwald for my House Call column in the Mansion section (go here). Molly currently plays socialite Joanne Carson, Johnny Carson's former wife, in Hulu's Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans. [Photo above of Molly Ringwald by Shervin Lainez, courtesy of The Wall Street Journal]

Here's the long trailer...

Also in the WSJ, I wrote my monthly Album@50 essay for the Arts in Review section on Brian Eno's Here Come the Warm Jets, which celebrates a 50th anniversary this month (go here). The album is fascinating for its combination of glam rock and electronica, and its early use of an EMS VCS 3 analog synthesizer. Best of all, I was able to find Eno, a 24-minute 1973 documentary on Brian that includes him recording tracks for the album. Go here to watch Eno.

Here's Cindy Tells Me from the album. Listen for the layering of vocal tape loops, ambient sounds and textures created by the VCS synth slipped in and around the instruments being played. Art rock at its finest. Eno would, of course, go on to become one of art rock's most influential producers...

What I'm watching now. Here's what I streamed last week and enjoyed (I have spared you the junk I had to endure). Past recommendations appear in the list below the new entries, for a handy reference:

Last week...

Fury (2014)—A terrific action film featuring Brad Pitt as a tank commander during the final weeks of World War II, in the spring of 1945, between the official German surrender and when rogue, fanatical German battalions wouldn't throw in the towel until they were killed or captured. (Netflix)

Seraphim Falls (2006)—This gripping Western stars Pierce Brosnan, who is being hunted by a vengeful Liam Neeson. There's even a cameo by Angelica Houston. (Netflix)

The Two Popes (2019)—A master class in acting as Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce square off as Pope Benedict XVI (Hopkins) and Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Bishop of Rome who would become Pope Francis (Pryce). The film centers on what might have taken place between them as the former contemplated resignation and the latter tried to talk him out of it. Pope Benedict ultimately did quit and Bergoglio became Pope, resulting in two living popes. (Netflix)

Past recommendations...

TV series

• The Affair—(2014-2019/Hulu)
• The Americans—(2013-2018)/Prime)
• Band of Brothers—(2001/Netflix) 
• Belgravia—(2020/Prime Video)
• Bosch—(2014-2021/Prime)
• Bosch: Legacy—(2022-current/Prime)
• The Crown—(Netflix)
• Dark Winds—(2022/AMC)
• The Diplomat—(2023/Netflix)
• Downton Abbey—(2020-2015/Prime)
• Feud (S1): Bette and Joan—(2017/Hulu)
• Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans—(2024/FX, with streaming on Hulu)
• Fisk—(2021/Netflix)
• Goliath—(2016-2021/Prime)
• The Gilded Age—(current/Max)
• Homeland (2011-2020/Showtime)
• Jane Eyre (2006/Britbox)
• Justified—(2010-2015/Hulu)
• Life & Beth—(Seasons 1& 2, 2022-present/Hulu)
• Lincoln Lawyer—(2022-present/Netflix)
• Loudermilk—(2017-2020/Netflix)
• MI-5, the Series—(2002-2011/BritBox)
• 1923—(2022-present/Paramount+)
• 1883—(2021-2022/Prime)
• Outlander—(2014-present/Netflix)
• Pieces of Her—(2022/Netflix)
• Poldark—(2015-2019/Prime)
• Reacher—(2016-present/Netflix)
• Turn: Washington's Spies—(2014-2017/Prime)
• Unbelievable—(2019/Netflix)
• Veronica Mars—(2004 to 2019/Hulu)
• The Woman in the Wall—Due in January (Showtime)
• Yellowstone—(2018-present/Paramount Network)

Films

• The Accountant—(2016/Hulu)
• American Gangster—(2007/Max).
• Armageddon Time—(2022/Prime)
• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs—(2018/Netflix)
• The Ballad of Lefty Brown—(2017/Netflix)
• Eiffel—(2021/Prime)
• Enola Holmes 1 and 2—(2022/Netflix)
• The Equalizer 1, 2 and 3—(2014-2024/Prime)
• God's Country—(2022/Hulu)
• Guy Ritchie's The Covenant—(2023/Prime)
• Jack Reacher (the movie)—(2012/Paramount+) 
• Kill Chain—(2019/Max)
• Knight and Day—(2010/Roku)
• Last Night in Soho—(2021/Prime)
• Last Seen Alive—(2020/Netflix)
• Man on Fire—(2004/Max)
• MI-5—(2015/Max)
• The Mule—(2018/Netflix)
• The Night Agent—(2023/Netflix)
• Nobody—(2021/Prime)
• Ordinary Angels—(2024)
• Purple Hearts—(2022/Netflix)
• The Queen's Gambit—(2020/Netflix)
• Queenpins—(2021/Pluto TV)
• Reptile—(2023/Netflix)
• Self Reliance—(2023/Hulu)
• Somewhere in Queens—(2022/Hulu)
• The Spy—(2019/Netflix)
• Spy(les)—(2009/Prime)
• The Stranger—(2022/Netflix)
• Wonder Wheel—(2017/Prime)

Documentaries

• Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake—(2022/Netflix)
• Carole King: Live in Central Park—(2023/PBS)
• The Comeback—(2005 and 2014/Max)
• Five Came Back—(2017/Netflix)
• The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari—(2022/Netflix)

Eydie Gormé. Last week, following my posting of performance clips by singer Eydie Gormé, I heard from Las Vegas saxophonist Gary Anderson...

Hi Marc. Excellent post, and good timing. Last night, for dinner, I sat in the Steve & Eydie booth at Lorraine Hunt and Dennis Bono's Bootlegger Bistro in Las Vegas (see photo above). Coming home to your post was the icing on the cannoli.

More Eydie Gormé. Last week, Heidi Glow, daughter of trumpeter Bernie Glow, sent along a clip of her father playing prominently on a recording by Eydie Gormé of Let Me Be Loved in 1957. Lots of photos of Bernie as well. As for the studio photo in the clip, I'm going to guess at the personnel:

Hal McKusick is on the far left in the saxes; I believe that's Peanuts Hucko on clarinet, Hymie Shertzer in the middle, Al Klink and then Zoot Sims on the far right, Urbie Green on trombone, Bernie Glow and Buck Clayton on trumpets, and I'm not sure of bass and drums. Please correct me, readers, if I'm wrong on any of these.

Here's Let Me Be Love, with Bernie Glow's trumpet behind Gormé...

Bill Evans. Following my post on Bill Evans's 10 recordings of On Green Dolphin Street, I heard from Bill Kirchner...

Marc, here's a transcription of Bill Evans's remarkable "locked hands" solo from his 1959 recording of On Green Dolphin Street, which wasn't released until 1977...

Bill Kirchner also sent along the full recording. Go here...

Bill Kirchner added:

Locked-hands style is a technique of chord voicing for the piano. Popularized by jazz pianist George Shearing, it is a way to implement the "block chord" method of harmony on a keyboard. The locked hands technique requires the pianist to play the melody using both hands in unison.

Block chord style (also known as chorale style) uses simple chordal harmony, in which the notes of each chord are played all at once as opposed to being played one at a time.

Bill Evans's solo would make a great feature for a saxophone section (preferably soprano lead) or five-guitar ensemble.

Joni Mitchell. Last week, following my post referencing my WSJ column on Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark, I heard from British arranger-composer John Cameron [image above courtesy of Joni Mitchell]:

Hi Marc. Loved your piece on Joni Mitchell and Tom Scott. Great recordings. Her voice was made for jazz-tinged arrangements. In fact, we had, in 1968, made recordings with her, for "Top Gear," a radio program fronted by John Peel, with an all-jazz musicians line-up: Harold MacNair (fl), Kenny Baldock (bs), Tony Carr (d), Dave Cousins (g) and me on harpsichord.

Ringo Starr too often is overlooked as the funniest Beatle. I don't mean goofiest, as he often was portrayed by the media and in the 1960s Beatles cartoon show. I mean funny in terms of the best sense of self-depicting humor and keenest sense of timing. John always had an edge and Paul's sense of humor always seemed a bit smug. George was, well, George. But Ringo had it nailed. Here he is in 2015...

Alice Darr (1930-2024). I last posted about singer Alice Darr in 2019. Last week, David Torresen informed me that Alice passed away just days ago. For her obit, go here.

Walt Namuth. I most recently posted about guitarist Walt Namuth last year. Last week I heard from Jim Montgomery:

Hi Marc. In 1961, I was a 14-year old guitar wannabe service brat in Naples, Italy. Walt was there with the Navy Band, and I was lucky enough to study with him for a couple of years. As I recall, he wasn’t that much older than me, maybe 19 or thereabouts. I took two lessons a week with him—one to do the “serious” stuff (Nick Manoloff’s "Plectrum Guitar Method," among other things), and one for the fun stuff ("Guitar Boogie," "What’d I Say," and jazz tunes.) He even let me borrow his very precious, hand-written fake book for copying. No Real Book back then.

Walt took an interest in the motley little band we put together, and even joined us on gigs from time to time. He was a great, enthusiastic coach. He introduced me to Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell, and jazz in general. He was always genuinely pleased whenever I managed to play something that sounded OK. “Yeah, man,” he’d say. "You got that straight, Jack.”

I always wanted to get in touch to thank him, but that was pre-Internet. By the time I learned he was in the Baltimore area, he was gone. Anyway, thanks for helping others remember him.

Sammy and Sarah. Last week, I found two YouTube clips of Sammy Davis Jr. and Sarah Vaughan (above) singing together:

Here they are during a Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon singing Tenderly...

And here's Sammy hosting the Tonight Show, with Sarah Vaughan as a guest (click "watch on YouTube" in the embedded box below)...

In New York on February 18? Head up to Washington Heights in Manhattan for a rare performance by pianist Harold Danko. He'll be playing The Lounge at the Hudson View Gardens located at 128 Pinehurst Avenue at West 183rd Street. He'll be joined by saxophonist Rich Perry. For more information about the gig on February 18 at 5 p.m., go here.

And if you're in Old Lyme, CT on February 16, go hear vocalist Giacomo Gates. He'll be at the Side Door Jazz Club, at 85 Lyme Street and will be backed by pianist Tim Ray (and former Tony Bennett music director), bassist David Zinno and drummer James T. Lattini. For more information, go here.

FM Radio Archive. Last week Kim Paris of the FM Radio Archive sent along a trove of free live radio broadcasts:

Joni Mitchell—is featured in two concerts, one from Cirque Royal in Brussels in 1983 and another at the Gene Autry Museum in LA in 1995. Go here.

Tom Scott—who played on several of Joni's albums, played with George Harrison at the L.A. Forum during Harrison's 1974 North America tour. Go here.

Nancy Wilson—hosted many of NPR's Jazz Profiles broadcast recordings, featuring shows on Art Tatum, Louis Jordan, Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, McCoy Tyner, Count Basie, Jimmy Smith, Zoot Sims, Bud Powell and Stanley Turrentine. Tim Owens was the producer and creator for this NPR series. Go here.

Lionel Hampton—is featured in a NPR Jazz Alive concert from the 1980 Chicago Jazz Festival, broadcast on WBEZ and recorded and shared by Mark Rabin. Go here.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra—performed at Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens in a 1969 concert recorded for TV by the Danish Broadcasting Corp. (DR), rebroadcast on Mezzo TV in France. Go here.

Bobby Hutcherson—is featured in 10 broadcast recordings on the archive ranging from 1969 to 2013, along with a tribute concert at Birdland in 2012, and two radio shows celebrating his legacy. Go here.

And finally, here are The Friends of Distinction on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1970 covering Hugh Masekela's Grazing in the Grass...