Christie, Samara and Andy

In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed model and entrepreneur Christie Brinkley for my House Call column in the Mansion section (go here). Christie has a best-selling memoir out, Uptown Girl, and it's terrific (go here). [Photo above of Christie Brinkley courtesy of HSN and TWRHLL]

Here's Christy on the Today show a few days ago...

What I'm watching

Currently or just finished...

• Adolescence—(2025/Netflix series), courtesy of Julia D., now my #2 favorite series
• The Bridge—(2025/Prime series)
• The Lost City (2022/Netflix comedy film)

Worthwhile stuff that started or will start soon...

• Bosch Legacy S3 (Prime)
• 1923 (Paramount+)
• Mobland (Paramount+)
• Dark Winds S3 (AMC)
• Long Bright River (Peacock)
• Good American Family (Hulu)
• Alto Knights (film)
• The Four Seasons (Netflix)
• The Better Sister (May 22/Prime)
• Deep Cover (June 12/film)

My favorite streaming series, ranked...

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

Past 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)
• Enlightened—(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)
• Mobland—(2025/Paramount+)
• 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)
• Protection—(2024/S1/BritBox)
• 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)
• Life or Something Like It—(2002/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)
• 99 Homes—(2014/Roku)
• 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)

Samara Joy. On Thursday night, I was at Carnegie Hall to see Samara Joy's first appearance on stage at the famed concert space. I have known Samara since she was in college at SUNY Purchase. She's warm, gracious and relentlessly curious and soulful. Her voice is a world wonder. It's huge beyond your imagination, and coy as it wraps around songs, twisting melodies and working notes in between notes.

On stage, rather than use merely a trio, she was backed by a mini Gil Evans-y septet from her latest album, Portrait: Connor Rohrer (p), Paul Sikivie (b), Evan Sherman (d), David Mason (as,fl), Kendric McCallister (ts), Jason Charos (tp) and Donavan Austin (tb). At only 25, Samara could easily move to Broadway musicals or even operas at the Met.

Seeing her backstage after, she was resplendent, wearing the stunning gold dress she wore on stage by German designer Mellita. She's going to be one of the world's greatest vocalists, beyond what past greats have already accomplished. You just wait and see.

Here's Samara at Rudy Van Gelder's studio recording You Stepped Out of a Dream...

Georgia and Alan. Following my post last week on Georgia Mancio and Alan Broadbent's magnificent new album, I heard from Bernard McAlinden in Manchester, England:

"Hello Marc. Thank you so much for your post on Georgia Mancio and Alan Broadbent and their current U.K. tour promoting their new album, A Song Untold. The tour started last Thursday, April 24, opening at Seven Arts in Leeds.

"I was lucky enough to be present at the concert, which I can only describe as quite magnificent. As you know, all the songs were composed by Alan and lyrics by Georgia, and they were all beautifully crafted vehicles.

"Seven Arts is a very nice, intimate performance space and was perfect for this occasion. We, the audience, were treated to a truly memorable evening. It was as if we were invited by four world class musicians—Alan, Georgia, bassist Andy Cleyndert and drummer Dave Ohm—to a private recital.

"I could refer to all the songs as being highlights but I will just refer to three. From Me To You, which Georgia sung as a wonderful, heartfelt tribute dedicated to her late father-in-law; another tribute dedicated to Georgia's sister, When The Time As Come to Part, which she sang in English and Italian; and One For Bud, a tribute to Bud Powell, which required and received superb vocal gymnastics and great accompaniment.

"You are quite right, Marc, when you wrote, "Georgia and Alan have come to define jazz singing, accompaniment and songwriting at the highest level." Since the concert, I have felt that this collection of songs, just like the ones on their first two albums, Songbook and Quiet Is the Star, are very worthy successors in the traditions of the standards of the great American and British Songbooks.

"However, I also feel that without proper airplay from radio and TV, and on specialist radio programs, the public at large will not have the chance to hear them. A five-star plus rating for the concert and album. Thanks for your post."

Fender Rhodes. Following my post on 10 favorite albums that feature the Fender Rhodes electric piano, I heard from Bill Kirchner, who sent along two more tracks:

Here's Herbie Hancock's Actual Proof from Thrust (1974)...

Here's Clare Fischer's You Call It Madness from Great White Hope (1970)...

And I'll add the one Erik Kihss sent along: Chick Corea's Light as a Feather (1973). Go here...

Two by Les Brown. Les Brown always had his arrangers craft gripping hat-on-fire openings. Here's How About You in 1954...

Here's You're the Top in 1951, which Buddy Bregman borrowed for Anita O'Day in 1955...

And here's the Anita O'Day recording from This Is Anita...

Andy Bey (1939-2025), a singular jazz singer and pianist, died last week at age 85. I heard from pianist Harold Danko:  

"Hi Marc. By now, I'm sure you're aware of the passing of Andy Bey. He was sadly underappreciated despite a legendary career and important recordings. It was always a treat when Andy would sit in and sing the blues with Thad Jones and Mel Lewis's band, and I'm certain that he cured a cold for me on one of his melismatic passages.

"Thad wanted Andy to tour with the band but it never came to be. In 1980, I even managed to convince Andy to portray the prophet in an off-Broadway production of A Matter of Opinion, an ill-fated musical I co-wrote that ran 11 performances at the Players Theater in the village. It was panned by the New York critics.

"A bit later, François Zalacain, founder of Sunnyside Records, asked me what artists his new label should pursue. I touted Kirk Lightsey and Andy Bey. Kirk made himself available and became a label mate but Andy had other commitments so it didn't work out.

"Andy made many recordings that I love but the clip below with Gary Bartz and the NTU Troop was the record that introduced me to Andy's voice, and it has some of that crazy mixture of ritual element and spiritual healing that made him such a special artist. Go here...

And Bill Kirchner sent along Andy Bey's Hey, Love. It features Bey (p,voc), Peter Washington (b) and Kenny Washington (d). The song was composed by Mary Rodgers and recorded at New York's Birdland in May 1997, from Bey's album Ain't Necessarily So. Go here...  

Ross Tompkins. Last week, I heard from Erik Kihss on pianist Ross Tompkins, a member of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show band:

"Hi Marc. I thought JazzWax readers might like to hear Marian McPartland's interview with Ross Tompkins in 1983 on her radio show Piano Jazz. Tompkins was always one of my favorites, and he used to hang out at New York's Sanford Gold Studios on breaks from the Tonight Show when it was still based in Manhattan":

Here's Part 1...

Here's Part 2...

New music of note...

Shai Maestro—Miniatures and Tales. A solo jazz piano album that caught my ear and wouldn't let go. It's hard enough to record without accompaniment. Even more challenging when you decide to present captivating originals and standards with a twist. Buy here.

Here's All the Things You Are...

Jon Dalton—Carousel. Singer-guitarist Jon Dalton has released a compelling album that sounds new and fresh. Some of the tracks are straight-ahead jazz while others fuse a range of styles, which is what makes them interesting. One thing is for certain, the guy can play. Buy and listen here.

Here's the title track...

Azymuth—Marca Passo. Azymuth is a Brazilian jazz-funk group that formed in 1973. Marca Passo is the first full-length release since the passing of founding drummer Ivan "Mamão" Conti in 2023, following the earlier loss of keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami in 2012. Bassist Alex Malheiros is the sole remaining original member. Their new album is a journey back to the late 1970s and '80s, when Deodato and Marcos Valle pioneered a new Brazilian funk-dance style. The sound is unmistakable. Buy and listen here.

Here's Arabuta...

Bill Holman was one of the greats of West Coast jazz. His arrangements for Stan Kenton in the 1950s as well as his own recordings as a tenor saxophonist were top notch and set high standards for the new jazz style. [Photo above of Bill Holman by Lesley Bohm]

In 1975, he formed the Bill Holman Band, a 16-piece ensemble that rehearsed every week for 45 years, until the pandemic took rehearsals off the agenda in 2020. Until that time, the band performed in clubs, concerts and festivals throughout both the U.S. and Europe. The band recorded five albums.

Get this—the band is reuniting on May 25 in Los Angeles for one final concert and is expected to stream, paying tribute to Bill, who passed in May 2024. The evening will consist of two sets, starting at 7:30 p.m. (PT), and will feature some of his greatest compositions and arrangements, written not only for his own band over the years, but for such artists as Charlie Barnet, Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, Terry Gibbs, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Gerry Mulligan, Buddy Rich and Zoot Sims.

Intermission will feature band members and others offering reminiscences of Bill, as well as clips from films he scored, such as Roger Corman's Swamp Women and Get Out of Town. There will be excerpts from Charting Jazz: The Mastery of Bill Holman, a documentary still in production.

Here are details for The Bill Holman Band: The Final Concert:

The concert will be held on Sunday, May 25, at 7:30 p.m. (PT), at Catalina Jazz Club, 6725 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. Tickets are $40 (plus 6.70 in fees) & $55 (plus $7.15 in fees). Dinner or a two-drink minimum is required in addition to tickets. for more information: (323) 466-2210.

Dave Thompson playing Bill Evans's Letter to Evan can be found here...

And finally, here are the Byrds in 1965 playing Turn, Turn, Turn...