Kelsey, Anthony and Julia

Two weeks ago in the Wall Street Journal, I interviewed Kelsey Grammer for my House Call column in the Mansion section (go here). Kelsey opened up about his harrowing childhood—the death of his grandfather, who was a father figure to him after his parents' divorce; his father's murder in St. Thomas and his sister's ghastly murder at age 18 in 1975. Kelsey currently stars in Murder Company, a film set in World War II. [Image above of Kelsey Grammer courtesy of YouTube]

This past week I interviewed Anthony Michael Hall for House Call (go here). His mom, Mercedes Hall, is a jazz and R&B singer. His parents divorced early and he spent his early years "watching my mother sing for our supper." Anthony currently co-stars in Trigger Warning. [Photo above of Anthony Michael Hall courtesy of Wikipedia]

What I'm watching.

Babylon Berlin (2017-2024). If Killing Eve was my favorite series watched this year, this one is a close second. The action thriller with German actors (the dialogue is in subtitles) takes place in Berlin between the wars, when communists were clashing with fascists and the city was a bevy of decadence, hedonism and cabaret. The period is splendidly recreated, and the acting and writing are superb. I'm up to Season 2, and Season 4 just came out (MHz via Prime Video)

Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music even has a sweet-and-sour cameo as a club singer. Go here...

Wilder (2017). This contemporary Swiss detective-suspense drama takes place in a small town in the German Alps, ensuring amazing cinematography. Intriguing and captivating. (MHz via Prime Video)

Here's the Season 1 trailer...

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)
• Killing Eve—(2018-2022/Netflix)
• 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)
• Under the Banner of Heave—(2022/Hulu)
• 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)
• The Veil—(2024/Hulu-FX)
• 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)
• Ruthless—(2023/Hulu)
• 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

Worth reading

Escape Artist, by David Denby. In his 2010 essay for The New Yorker, Denby retrospectively evaluates the shortcomings and triumphs of actress Joan Crawford, who came from nothing to become a star with the advent of talking pictures. Masterfully written and smartly engaging, if even if you couldn't care less about Crawford. Go here.

When Your Identical Twin Wins a Grammy, by Callie Holtermann. In The New York Times, a fascinating look at Laufey and Junia Jonsdottir, identical twins from Iceland who now live in New York. The former is an American pop star and the latter is her fascinating fashion and design guru. Go here. 

The Kidnapping I Can't Escape, by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Another New York Times gem. As the subhed reads: "Fifty years ago, my father’s friend was taken at gunpoint on Long Island. Then he went on with his life — and that’s the part that haunts me." Go here.

Joan Chamorro. Last week, I heard from Gary Berman, who recently wrote about the great Barcelona jazz educator for Medium. To read, go here. [Photo above of Joan Chamorro]

 
Miles Davis. Here's the trumpeter in 1967 with Wayne Shorter (ts), Herbie Hancock (p), Ron Carter (b) and Tony Williams (d) playing 'Round Midnight in Sweden on October 31 1967...

Gary Bivona. Last week I head from Steve Schindler [photo above of Gus Bivona]:

Hi Marc. Gary Bivona, son of the late clarinetist, saxophonist and flutist Gus Bivona, hosts weekly professional musician sessions at his home in Los Angeles. I thought you might find it of interest. I worked with Gary at NBC for many years. Go here...

Phineas Newborn Jr. After my post on Phineas Newborn Jr (above)., Alan Broadbent sent along a note:

Thanks for this, Marc. Now might be the time to remind new fans that his name, Phineas, rhymes with dryness. Yours pedantically, Alan.

More Newborn, from Ken Deifik:

Hi Marc. I got to see Phineas Newborn at the Exit/Inn in Nashville in 1976. Every good musician in town was there. One of the guys who had brought Newborn in from Memphis told me he lived in a care facility of some sort. He was a tiny guy and he spoke with a tiny voice. He barely seemed present. And yet the music thundered out of the Steinway. Amazing. Almost as amazing was that the opener guitarist was Lenny Breau. What a night. Everybody left feeling uplifted and completely inadequate.

By the way, Lenny couldn't have been a sweeter guy. He used to play at a tiny club near Vanderbilt University. When he saw me at a table, he'd start up a blues in A and invite me up. He knew I didn't play jazz but that I always carried a D harmonica. That's the one that plays in A. Beautiful cat.

Rasmus Sørensen. Don Frese sent along a note [photo above of Rasmus Sørensen by Erik Barden]:

Marc, a while back, you posted on a new CD by Rasmus Sørensen. I just found a YouTube clip featuring two sets by his trio. Go here...

Lobster roll. If you dig the New England sandwich, you'll dig Jacques Pepin with Julia Child. Go here...

Foamy. Following my post on shaving razors, C. Claiborne Ray sent along the following:

Marc, one of the earliest radio jingles I remember began:

"Just twist that dial and you”re all set / With the adjustable razor from Gillette.”

It was sung to “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe."

Kirby Stone Four. Following my post on Charlie Parker With Strings, the Master Takes, I heard from Larry Pluth:

Hello Marc. Thanks for acknowledging the accomplished arranger Jimmy Carroll and his musical association with Charlie Parker. He was also an arranger for the Kirby Stone Four. New York City native Kirby Stone founded his group after World War II, signed a recording contract with Columbia and the group was a frequent guest on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in the 1950s.

I truly enjoyed the group's upbeat swinging jazz-pop sound. Jimmy Carroll helped create what was once called the "Go Sound of the Kirby Stone Four." Per the YouTube link, I fondly recall their swinging and breezy version of the classic Broadway standard "Baubles, Bangles and Beads." Go here...

Vinyl releases...

Ellington Indigos. Impex, the audiophile company based in Indiana, recently released a 65th anniversary pressing of Ellington Indigos. It sounds fantastic. The album originally came out on Columbia in 1958, and the new 180-gram release is the stereo version. The two-LP Impex set plays at 45rpm, which maximizes fidelity and sonic detail. There are four bonus tracks, and it's available on black and purple vinyl. The format lets you hear Ellington's orchestra in all its romantic glory and comes with a 16-page booklet with new liner notes. The black vinyl version is limited to 3,000 copies; the purple vinyl version is limited to 1,000 copies. For more on the LP, go here. For the 24K Gold CD, go here.

Louis in London. Verve has just released Louis in London on vinyl, CD and digital download. It was Louis Armstrong's last live performance. Recorded by BBC-TV on July 2, 1968 and aired on September 22, all of Pops's big hits are here, including When It's Sleepy Time Down South, What a Wonderful World and Hello Dolly! Accompanying Armstrong are Tyree Glenn (tb), Joe Muranyi (clar), Marty Napoleon (p), Buddy Catlett (b) and Danny Barcelona (d). Go here.

Joe Zawinul interview. Bret Primack has posted his on-camera interview with the jazz and fusion pianist and composer Joe Zawinul. Go here.

I Want to Live. Last week I heard from Mark Cathcart:

Marc, I know you touched on this in your Johnny Mandel interview, but I actually watched "I Want to Live" the other day for the first time. Despite the controversy over the factual aspects of the story, it was great! I loved seeing both a young(ish) Art Farmer and Gerry Mulligan. An HD restoration is on the Tubi TV streaming platform with ads and it's available on Amazon Prime Video for a fee. I had no idea about the film until I picked up a copy of the soundtrack album a few weeks ago. You will certainly enjoy my four-page post on the real Barbara Graham and her treatment as published in the San Francisco Examiner. Go here.

In New York today and tomorrow? The Django Festival All-Stars are at New York's Dizzy's Club, located in Jazz at Lincoln Center. The All-Stars include Samson Schmitt, Ludovic Beier, Pierre Blanchard, Antonio Licusati and Francko Mehrstein. For information and reservations, go here.

FM Radio Archive. Kim Paris of the FM Radio Archive put together a bunch of free live radio concert based on my recent posts:

Eliane Elias—is featured in a 2014 France TV performance from Jazz a in Vienne at the Théâtre Antique de Vienne, France. Go here.

The Beatles—have two broadcast recordings in the archive. The first is from a Nippon TV broadcast in Japan in 1966, and the second is from the WBCN broadcast of the "Get Back" acetate in 1969. Go here.

Clark Terry—performed in the Jazz Members Big Band with Louie Bellson at the 1981 Chicago Jazz Festival. They were featured in an NPR Jazz Alive! broadcast tht Mark Rabin shared. Go here.

Charlie Parker—was celebrated at the 1980 Chicago Jazz Festival by the Charlie Parker All Stars, in an NPR Jazz Alive! broadcast from Mark Rabin. Go here.

Harold Land—is featured in three Timeless All Stars broadcast recordings between 1982 to 1989, and also with Bobby Hutcherson at the 1969 Festival International du Jazz in Antibes, France. Go here.

And finally, here's Chet Baker on flugelhorn in Belgium in 1964 singing and playing Time After Time. He's backed by Jacques Pelzer (as,fl), Rene Urtreger (p), Luigi Trussardi (b) and Franco Manzecchi (d)...