Lamorne, Bill and Peggy

For The Wall Street Journal this past week, I interviewed actor-comedian Lamorne Morris for my House Call column in the Mansion section (go here). Fearful for her family's life, Lamorne's mother moved them an hour outside of Chicago, to a predominantly white neighborhood. With his father deported back to Belize, the move was an adjustment for young Lamorne, but he soon made a diverse group of friends for life. [Photo above courtesy of Lamorne Morris/Facebook]

Here's Lamorne in his Emmy-winning role on FX's Fargo...

What I'm Watching Now

My favorite streaming TV series, ranked...

1. Babylon Berlin
2. My Brilliant Friend
3. Killing Eve
4. The Crown
5. The Americans
6. Band of Brothers
7. Landman
8. Feud: Bette and Joan
9. Downton Abbey
10. The Blacklist
11. Goliath
12. The Gentlemen
13. Turn: Washington's Spies
14. Unbelievable
15. Justified
16. Voiceless (Bella da morire (2020/MHz)

Just viewed and highly recommended...

I Used to Be Funny (2023)—In this drama-comedy, a struggling young female stand-up comedian battles depression after taking a job as a nanny to care for a young teen who becomes attached to her. (Netflix)

Here's the trailer...

The Blacklist (2013-2023)—I'm up to Season 5 out of 10 and still hooked on this spy-thriller series. James Spader is fantastic as the man who knows where the bad guys are and, in action-packed scenes, does away with them with an FBI task force. Lots of other subplots going on throughout. An attention-holder. (Netflix)

Worthy shows this fall...

• Elsbeth S1 (out now/CBS)
  
• Landman S1 (Nov. 17/Paramount+)
• Interior Chinatown S1 (Nov. 19/Hulu)
• A Man on the Inside S1 (Nov. 21/Netflix)
• No Good Deed S1 (Dec. 12/Netflix)
  
• American Primeval S1 (Jan. 9/Netflix)

Worth watching...

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)
• Babylon Berlin (2017-2024/MHz via Prime Video)
• Band of Brothers—(2001/Netflix) 
• The Bay (2019-current/BritBox)
• The Blacklist (2013-2023/Netflix)
• 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)
• Emily in Paris—(2020-present/Netflix)
• 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)
• My Brilliant Friend—(2018-current)
• 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)
• Voiceless (Bella da morire—(2020/MHz)
• 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)
• Wilder—(2017-current)
• 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)
• The Great Lillian Hall—(2024/Max)
• 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)
• Lonely Planet—(2024)/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)
• Nobody Wants This—(2024/Netflix)
• 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)
• Some Girl(s)—(2013/Amazon Prime)
• Somewhere in Queens—(2022/Hulu)
• The Spy—(2019/Netflix)
• Spy(ies)—(2009/Prime)
• The Stranger—(2022/Netflix)
• Toscana—(2022/Netflix)
• The Two Popes—(2019/Netflix)
• Up in the Air—(2009/Max)
• 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)
• Jane Fonda in Five Acts—(2024/Max)
• Kate Hepburn: Call Me Kate—(2023/Netflix)
• Suzi Q: Suzi Quatro—(2019/Prime)
• The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari—(2022/Netflix)
• 'Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris—(2007/go here

Donald Bailey. After my Perfection post this week, featuring Jimmy Smith and Stanley Turrentine with Donald Bailey on drums, bassist Chuck Israels sent along the following note [photo above of Donald Bailey by Francis Wolff (c)Mosaic Images]:

Hi Marc. Far too few know about Donald Bailey or recognize his unique playing. I don’t think any of his recordings begin to do justice to his sound and creativity, though his drive is unmistakable.

If I were to attempt a description of what it was like to make music with Donald, to be astonished at the textures and sounds he’d get from the drums, my usual skill with translation of musical experience into intelligible words would fail me.

No one else I’ve ever played with had his level of creativity combined with unfailingly appropriate responses to the emotional and formal elements of the performance—whatever it was: ballad, waltz, an out-and-out swinger, medium shuffle—anything. This guy just stayed under the radar.

Donald played trombone, baritone sax and chromatic harmonica too. He played the harmonica as background in the film "Buck and the Preacher." I’ve had the glorious good fortune to have played with so many wonderful drummers: Kenny Clark; Billy Higgins; Philly Joe Jones; Roy Haynes—it’s a long list.

But two stand out as having had a level of musical understanding beyond what’s normally expected of even the best of drummers: Donald, in his wildly varied and surprising way, and Larry Bunker in his profound understanding of musical detail and ability to support and delineate Bill Evans’ subtle rhythms.

I’m sure there are a few younger people playing at something like that level. I just don’t get the chance to hear them or play with them.

Bill Evans. Bret Primack sent along a bit of news in a press release that raised an eyebrow. It will either be creatively amazing or a massive mistake. No middle ground:

Anders Danielsen Lie, Bill Pullman and Laurie Metcalf are set to star in the biopic "Everybody Digs Bill Evans," about the acclaimed U.S. jazz pianist and composer.

Grant Gee will direct from a script written by Mark O’Halloran, based on the book "Intermission" by Owen Martell. The film synopsis reads: “June 1961, NYC: legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans has found his musical voice and created the perfect trio, including bass player Scott LaFaro, said to be his soulmate through music.

A residency at New York’s Village Vanguard culminates in the live taping of two of the greatest jazz records of all time in one night. Ten days later, LaFaro dies in a car crash. Numb with grief, Evans stops playing. "Everybody Digs Bill Evans" is the story of what happened next for one of the most influential and gifted figures in 20th century music.”

Multitracking. Last week, following my post on Zoot Sims Plays 4 Altos, several readers wrote in claiming that Sidney Bechet was the first to multitrack in April 1941.

While Bechet did indeed make two sides of a 78 playing clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, piano, bass, and drums, this wasn't multitracking, which began in 1955 and by definition requires a tape recorder. But it was certainly “overdubbing”—adding a performance to previously recorded performances.

About multitracking: A track is a magnetized strip that runs the length of a piece of tape. Early three-track machines (in the 1950s) could record three such strips, side-by-side, on one tape. For example: Track #1 might have a combination of bass and drums, track #2 might have a combination of guitar and piano, and the vocals might to on track #3.

Or, if needed, tracks 1 and 2 could be combined on the still empty track 3, freeing up tracks 1 and 2 for more recorded material. These did not have to be recorded at the same time. For example the vocalist could come into the studio, put on headphones and sing along to the instrumental tracks—recording his or her vocal on the last empty track. Then the three tracks would be combined or “mixed down” onto a final mono track on a separate tape for the vinyl release (or broadcast tape).

In the 1960s, stereo (two tracks, left and right) succeeded mono, and advances in technology allowed for many more tracks. The recorder pictured above recorded 16 tracks on a 1-inch tape. That hugely increased the possibilities for separate performances and overdubs.

Bechet, with the help of some adventurous RCA engineers, recorded each instrument on a separate lacquer disc. Then all of those recordings were played at once and their sounds combined on a master disc. That the engineers managed to keep the playback of the discs in sync is a technical marvel.

A special thanks to Lorenz Rychner.

Here's Bechet playing multiple instruments on the overdubs for The Sheik of Araby in 1941...

In New York next week? Pat Philips will present the Django Festival All-Stars (above) at Birdland from November 5th through the 9th. The award-winning band features Dorado Schmitt, his sons Samson and Amati, Ludovic Beier, Francko Mehrstein and Gino Roman. I saw them in 2018 (here) and flipped. For more information, go here.

Here's a list of the special guests who will join the group on different nights:

• November 5—Bruce Harris (trumpet)
• November 6—Helio Alves (piano)
• November 7—Tatiana Eva-Marie (vocal)
• November 8—Ute Lemper / (songstress)
• November 9—Lucy Yeghiazaryan (vocalist)

The festival that producers Pat Philips and Ettore Stratta originally brought to Birdland is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Live concerts, free. Kim Paris of the FM Radio Archive sent along live FM performances by artists covered in JazzWax in recent weeks:

Stanley Turrentine (photo above)—has two broadcast recordings, a 1975 appearance at Ebbets Field in Denver and an NPR Jazz Profiles episode in 2008.Go here.

Jimmy Smith—is featured on four recordings in the archive ranging from a 1969 concert at Salle Playel in France to an NPR Jazz Profiles episode in 2008. Go here.

Eddie Jefferson—plays with Richie Cole in two concert recordings, one from the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society in Miramar Beach in 1978 and then in 1979 from the Jazz Showcase in Chicago. Go here.

Zoot Sims—has two recordings, a New Years Eve show with Al Cohn at Blues Alley in Washington D.C. in 1979 and an NPR Jazz Profiles episode in 2008. Go here.

Thanks from Kim to Mark Rabin for sharing the Zoot Sims/Al Cohn 1979 set and Jimmy Smith from 1981.

Please note that the FM Radio Archive and all collections on archive.org have limited functionality at this time, due to maintenance and repairs as a result of their hack attack earlier this month. 

And finally, two by Peggy Lee. Here she is on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1962, singing I Believe in You. First dig the great arrangement with trombones out front. Then dig how Lee comes in early on the last word of lines in the verses. Next catch how she phrases the lyrics to accentuate the swing...

And here's Lee in 1966 on The Danny Kaye Show singing So What's New?, for which she wrote the lyrics. Dig Artie Kane on organ (who also appeared on Frank Sinatra's Strangers in the Night album that same year) and Lee's impromptu facial reactions to his quirky, hip lines, which she digs almost immediately after coming out...