Jason, Lennie and Marti

In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed actor Jason Alexander for my House Call column in the Mansion section. Jason is best known for his roles in Pretty Woman and Seinfeld. He's currently in The Electric State (Netflix). [Photo above of Jason Alexander, courtesy of Boston University]

Here's Jason in action...

Also in the WSJ, my monthly Album@50 essay looked at Earth, Wind & Fire's That's the Way of the World, which turned 50 this month. Go here.

What I'm watching

My favorite streaming series, ranked...

1. Babylon Berlin
2. My Brilliant Friend
3. The Promised Life
4. Killing Eve
5. The Crown
6. Mad Men
7. The Americans
8. Younger
9. Fleabag
10. Band of Brothers
11. The Sopranos
12. Enlightened
13. Friday Night Lights
14. Justified
15. Feud: Bette and Joan
16. The Old Man
17. Downton Abbey
18. The Blacklist
19. Goliath
20. The Gentlemen
21. Turn: Washington's Spies
22. Unbelievable
23. Landman
24. Voiceless (Bella da morire (2020/MHz)
25. Black Doves
26. Web Therapy

Worthwhile future stuff that has started or will start soon...

• Dark Winds S3 (now/AMC)
• Long Bright River (now/Peacock)
• Good American Family (now/Hulu)
• Alto Knights (now/film)
• The Better Sister (May 22/Prime)

Recommended series, films and documentaries...

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)
• Black Doves (2024/Netflix)
• 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)
• The Dropout (2022/Hulu)
• Elizabeth 1 (2005/Max)
• Emily in Paris—(2020-present/Netflix)
• Enlightend—(2011-2013/Max)
• Feud (S1): Bette and Joan—(2017/Hulu)
• Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans—(2024/FX, with streaming on Hulu)
• Fisk—(2021/Netflix)
• Friday Night Lights (2006-2011/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)
• Il Commissario Manara (Inspector Manara) (2009-2011/MHz)
• 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)
• Lioness—(2023-current/Paramount+)
• 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/Max)
• The Night Agent—(2023-present/Netflix)
• 1923—(2022-present/Paramount+)
• 1883—(2021-2022/Prime)
• The Old Man—(2022/Hulu)
• On Call—2025/Amazon Prime)
• Outlander—(2014-present/Netflix)
• The Perfect Couple—(2024/Netflix)
• Poldark—(2015-2019/Prime)
• The Promised Life—(2018/MHz via Prime Video)
• Reacher—(2016-present/Netflix)
• Ripley—(2024/Netflix)
• Scott & Bailey (2011-2016/Prime)
• The Spy—(2019/Netflix)
• 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)
• Web Therapy—(2011-2015/Fandango)
• Wilder—(2017-current)
• WPC 56—(2013-2015/Britbox)
• Yellowstone—(2018-present/Paramount Network)
• Younger—(2015-2021K/Netflix)

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)
• Enrico Piaggio - Un Sogno Italiano (An Italian Dream) (2019/MHz)
• The Equalizer 1, 2 and 3—(2014-2024/Prime)
• The Great Lillian Hall—(2024/Max)
• The Family Man—(2000/Netflix)
• Fury—(2014/Netflix)
• God's Country—(2022/Hulu
• Guy Ritchie's The Covenant—(2023/Prime)
• I Used to Be Funny (2023/Netflix)
• Jack Reacher (the movie)—(2012/Paramount+) 
• Just My Luck (2006/Paramount+)
• Kill Chain—(2019/Max)
• Killers of the Flower Moon—(2023/Apple+)
• La Palma (2024/Netflix)
• 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/assorted platforms)
• The Pledge—(2011/Peacock)
• Purple Hearts—(2022/Netflix)
• The Queen—(2006/Paramount+)
• The Queen's Gambit—(2020/Netflix)
• Queenpins—(2021/Pluto TV)
• Reptile—(2023/Netflix)
• Ruthless—(2023/Hulu)
• The Secret: Dare to Dream—(2020/Netflix).
• Sicario (2015/Netflix)
• Self Reliance—(2023/Hulu)
• Seraphim Falls—(2006/Netflix)
• Some Girl(s)—(2013/Amazon Prime)
• Somewhere in Queens—(2022/Hulu)
• Spy(ies)—(2009/Prime)
• The Stranger—(2022/Netflix)
• Toscana—(2022/Netflix)
• The Two Popes—(2019/Netflix)
• Up in the Air—(2009/Max)
• Woman in Gold—(2015/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)
• The Only Girl in the Orchestra—(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)
• Tsunami: Race Against Time—(2024/Hulu)

Lennie Tristano. Following my post on the Lennie Tristano Sextette's Wow, I heard from Carl Woideck [photo above of Lennie Tristano]:

"Marc, the studio version of Tristano’s Wow is indeed perfection. As you know, that’s in part because it was compact to fit on a 78. I’m sure you also know the low-fidelity, live version of Wow. Its expansive length (more than 8 minutes) is in stark contrast to the compression found in the studio version.

"The greatest contrast comes in the solos. Instead of musicians getting a partial chorus, each soloist gets multiple full choruses. Warne Marsh takes two, Billy Bauer gets two, Lee Konitz gets two and Tristano gets a lengthy four.

"Tristano takes full advantage of the added time, starting his solo with a full chorus of block-chords before launching into long single-note lines that sometimes cut across the eight-bar sectional divisions. Wow indeed."

Here's the live version...

Jazz in the movies. Here's the opening scene of I Want to Live (1958), featuring Johnny Mandel's Frisco Club, with (from left on the bandstand) Art Farmer on trumpet, Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Frank Rosolino on trombone and Bud Shank of alto saxophone, with Pete Jolly on piano, Red Mitchell on bass and Shelly Manne on drums...

Joe Pass. Following my post on guitarist Joe Pass, I heard from Mark Trank:

"Hi Marc, thanks for letting your fans know about the reissue of Joe Pass's album Virtuoso. I just placed my order. I have an original Pablo pressing, but I'm eagerly awaiting this one. Like you I really like his renditions of the Rolling Stones songs, several on a 12-string guitar.

"Are you also familiar with the record Pass made with Roy Clark doing Hank Williams songs (Joe Pass & Roy Clark Play Hank Williams)? That’s a great duet. Roy Clark was an accomplished player as well, and their disparate styles meshed well."

Here's a taste, playing Why Don't You Love Me, With Pass, Clark, John Pisano (rhythm guitar), Jim Hughart (bass) and Colin Bailey (drums)...

Horace Silver. Following my post on Horace Silver last week, I heard from Larry Daniels:

"Good morning, Marc. Re: pianist Horace Silver. He was from my home town, Norwalk, Ct., although I don’t recall him getting a lot of attention there. I met him once at a discount record store in lower Manhattan called J&R Music World. This was before CDs, when domestic albums cost $3.69 and Imports were $4.99. I was flipping through a record section when Mr. Silver popped up and faced me eye to eye as he was flipping through a record bin that faced mine. Mr. Silver was very pleasant to me that day. Oh, and J&R's records at that time were not top-quality discs. The domestic albums were often warped. The imports however were just fine."

Spring in Sicily. Last time Marti in Sicily wrote, it was summer of 2023 (go here and here). A week or so ago, a new robust email arrived [photo above of Serradifalco, Sicily]:

"Hi Marc. Finally putting virtual pen to virtual paper. Things are good in Sicily. Winter is over and we are moving into spring. The scirocco winds are bringing us a dose of dust, sand and warming temperatures. The vegetation is lush and the olive trees are wearing a fine crop of basal shoots. They cheer the arrival of spring, waving armloads of silvery foliage at each warming day. Most of the neighbor's almond trees have shed their white flowers. The pink blossoms of peach trees adorn some of the hills now.

"I found Enrico Piaggio - Un Sogno Italiano (An Italian Dream) (2019), the film you recommended about the founder of Vespa, online here. It prompted me to share a couple of local examples of Vespa's motorized products. Rosa Burgio, who owns the Antica Forneria Burgio in Serradifalco, Sicily, bought a Piaggio Ape six or more years ago and had it restored (above). She uses it for catering. 

"Our other friend has a late 1970's Vespa (above) and also had it restored. It was among the first models that mixed the fuel and oil automatically. 

"I was also struck by your post on the new Scott Lafaro box set (we bought a copy). In the post, you mentioned David Crosby losing his girlfriend, Christine Hinton, and the effect it had on his music and life. That triggered a memory for me.

"In the 1970s, I was living in Corvallis, Ore. There was a lot of folk music being played by friends. I remembered the music of Richard and Mimi Fariña and this song in particular: Reflections in a Crystal Wind. Richard had married Mimi Baez (Joan Baez's younger sister, who died in 2001). Sadly, he perished in a motorcycle accident in 1966 on the day of her 21st birthday. Go here...

"I only mention this because your post made me dig around for some memories that I hadn't thought about for a long time, so thanks for surfacing them. I imagine you are familiar with both of them and their music.

"Enjoy your spring in New York and I look forward to some pictures of that.

"PS: One more thing. I told Rosa that I had recalled her Ape, which made us think of this song, Vieni Via Con Me (Come Away With Me)."

Go here...

Free live jazz. Last week I heard from Kim Paris of the FM Radio Archive, who put together links to live broadcasts by artists featured at JazzWax recently:

Joe Pass—is featured at the Blue Note Tokyo in a 1991 concert broadcast by NHK in Japan, Go here.

Ray Barretto & His Orchestra—appeared at the 1982 Chicago Jazz Festival in a WBEZ broadcast. Go here.

Gerry Mulligan—has three shows at the archive: a 1972 concert with Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond; Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz in 1987; and a 2008 Jazz Profiles episode with Nancy Wilson. Go here.

Roy Ayers—played with the Robert Glasper Experiment at the 2011 North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. Go here.

Wes Montgomery—has a 1965 European tour show and a 1966 broadcast on KING FM in Seattle. Go here.
Who Elvis Idolized. On March 15, Chris Cowles at WRTC-FM in Hartford, Ct., hosted a show looking at the artists who inspired Elvis Presley. In addition to spinning records, Chris interviewed Preston Lauterbach, author of Before Elvis. You can listen to Chris's three-hour show in the archives by going here.

And finally, here are the French Barclay Stars playing Four Brothers in 1966...