Last week in The Wall Street Journal, I interviewed painter Jonathan Yeo for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Jonathan's controversial red portrait of King Charles was unveiled on May 14 to much praise and criticism. I loved the portrait the moment I saw it. It's exciting, dynamic, courageous and radically different. [Photo above of Jonathan Yeo on May 14, 2024 at Buckingham Palace by Aaron Chown/AFP]
The miracle and magic of my job is that I can wake up one morning, see someone in the news who fascinates me, huddle with my editor, get the green light, reach out and interview a subject for a column that has 8 million readers. It's a joy and a privilege to provide readers with the private childhood recollections of the celebrated people I speak with each week.
Here's the unveiling at Buckingham Palace in London on May 14...
Also in the WSJ, my "Album@50" column this month takes a fresh look at Gil Scott-Heron's Winter in America, which was released 50 years ago in May (go here). The album is stunning for Brian Jackson's music and Fender Rhodes and flute, for Scott-Heron's vocals and lyrics, for the socially conscious message of each song and for influencing soul and hip-hip rolling forward.
Here's The Bottle from the album...
What I'm watching.
Killing Eve (2018-2022)—Now on Season 2. Dark, comedic British spy thriller starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. I don't know how I missed this during the pandemic, but I did. Spectacular series. (Netflix)
The Veil (2024)—Just finished the miniseries. Wow, what a final episode. Spectacular spy thriller miniseries starring Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men, The Handmaid's Tale) about a deadly game of truth, lies and a looming terrorist threat. (Hulu/FX)
Previously watched and recommended...
TV series
- The Affair—(2014-2019/Hulu)
- Alaska Daily—(2022/Prime)
- The Americans—(2013-2018)/Prime)
- Anatomy of a Scandal—(2022/Netflix)
- Apples Never Fall—2024/Peacock)
- Band of Brothers—(2001/Netflix)
- The Bay (2019-current/BritBox)
- Belgravia—(2020/Prime Video)
- Blue Lights—(2023/BritBox)
- Bosch—(2014-2021/Prime)
- Bosch: Legacy—(2022-current/Prime)
- The Crown—(2016-2023/Netflix)
- Cherif—(2013-2019/Prime)
- 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)
- The Gentlemen—(2024/Netflix)
- Godless—(2017/Netflix)
- Goliath—(2016-2021/Prime)
- The Gilded Age—(current/Max)
- High Water—(2022/Netflix)
- 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)
- Monsieur Spade—(2024/AMC)
- Murdaugh Murders: The Movie, Parts 1 and 2—(2023/Lifetime)
- 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)
- Ripley—(2024/Netflix)
- Scott & Bailey (2011-2016/Prime)
- Turn: Washington's Spies—(2014-2017/Prime)
- Unbelievable—(2019/Netflix)
- Veronica Mars—(2004 to 2019/Hulu)
- The Watcher—(2022/Netflix)
- The Way Home—(2023-current/Peacock)
- Who Is Erin Carter—(2023/Netflix)
- The Woman in the Wall—(2024/Showtime)
- WPC 56—(2013-2015/Britbox)
- 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)
- Blackout (2022/Netflix)
- The Bricklayer—(2024/Netflix)
- The Commuter (2018/Netflix)
- The Dig—(2021/Netflix)
- Eiffel—(2021/Prime)
- Enola Holmes 1 and 2—(2022/Netflix)
- The Equalizer 1, 2 and 3—(2014-2024/Prime)
- Fury—(2014/Netflix)
- 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)
- The Little Things—(2021/Netflix)
- Man on Fire—(2004/Max)
- Manchester by the Sea—(2016/Prime Video)
- 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)
- The Secret: Dare to Dream—(2020/Netflix)
- Self Reliance—(2023/Hulu)
- Seraphim Falls—(2006/Netflix)
- Somewhere in Queens—(2022/Hulu)
- The Spy—(2019/Netflix)
- Spy(les)—(2009/Prime)
- The Stranger—(2022/Netflix)
- Toscana—(2022/Netflix)
- The Two Popes—(2019/Netflix)
- Wonder Wheel—(2017/Prime)
Documentaries
- Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake—(2022/Netflix)
- The Beach Boys—(2024/Disney)
- Carole King: Live in Central Park—(2023/PBS)
- The Comeback—(2005 and 2014/Max)
- Cunk on Earth—(2022/Netflix)
- Cyndi Lauper: Let the Canary Sing—(2023/Paramount+)
- Facing Nolan—(2022/Netflix)
- Five Came Back—(2017/Netflix)
- Kate Hepburn: Call Me Kate—(2023/Netflix)
- The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari—(2022/Netflix)
- 'Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris—(2007/go here
Dizzy Gillespie. In 1990, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and the CTI All-Stars recorded Rhythmstick, an album and video that became one of the last CTI projects produced by Creed Taylor before his label was absorbed by Columbia. Tom Fine alerted me that the album and videodisc were originally recorded in analog HD for the Japanese market and that both have now been uploaded at YouTube. Go here...
Dorothy Donegan. In 1965, pianist Dorothy Donegan (above) appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show to play a medley featuring Rhapsody In Blue and The Man I Love. Go here...
Hazel Scott. Here's Hazel Scott (above) in 1943...
And here's Mary Lou Williams (above) in 1974...
Eva Swiderski. Here's guitarist Eva Swiderski playing and singing a João Bosco-Aldir Blanc song, with Simon Bräumer on pandeiro...
Florian Hutter. Here's Floria Hutter playing Walter Wanderley's cover of Marcos Valle's Summer Samba (So Nice)...
Ernest Ranglin. Courtesy of Gilles D'Elia in Paris, here's an hour of Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin (above) in 2002, recorded live in Paris...
Calling all tape nerds. Mark Rabin sent along this 21-minute promotional film, The Miracles of Magnetic Recording, from 1970 and made for Ampex. The music is by Vince Guaraldi, the film was produced by Lee Mendelson (the Charlie Brown TV specials) and it was narrated by Jim Lange, host of The Dating Game. As Mark notes, all three were San Francisco Bay Area residents, and Ampex was based there. Go here...
What was Ampex? To learn all about the company that made magnetic tape recorders, this 1955 promotional film sent by Mark Rabin explains how the machines were made and why we all owe Bing Crosby a debt of gratitude. Go here...
Paul Weston. Here's Paul Weston's sublime arrangement of September in the Rain from Music for the Fireside (1955), one of his many mood albums...
And finally, here's Jo Stafford backed by husband Paul Weston's orchestra. in 1958 on Swingin' Down Broadway...
