Lorraine, Curly and Alice

In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interview actress Lorraine Bracco for my House Call column in the Mansion section (go here). Lorraine, of course, played Tony Soprano's psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, on The Sopranos. She also was terrific in Goodfellas. She's now in Nonnas, a Netflix film about a guy (Vince Vaughn) who buys a restaurant and has Italian grandmothers come in and cook their favorite recipes. [Photo above of Lorraine Bracco from “My Big Italian Adventure,” courtesy of HGTV]

Here's the trailer...

And here's Lorraine in the famous Copa scene from Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. It's a through shot without a camera break. Watch carefully. Lorraine told me they had to shoot the three-minute sequence several times due to accidental mishaps along the way and Henny Youngman forgetting his lines...

What I'm watching

Watched this past week...

• Words of War (theater film)
• Sum of All Fears (Netflix/2002)

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)
• Words of War (theaters)
• 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)

Greetings from Mexico. Last week, I heard from Raúl Romero in Guadalajara, in western Mexico [photo above of Jim Hall, courtesy of the Jim Hall Estate]:

"Hi Marc. Maybe this is par for the course for a literal jazz scholar like yourself, but I came across some recordings that I think are interesting. A person on Bandcamp has made available live recordings of American jazz artists playing in Italy in the 1980s. The names almost made my eyes pop: Lee Konitz, Jim Hall, Elvin Jones, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and more. The person also included scans of the tape sleeves, and some of them are signed, which adds some interest and fun. As always, thanks for all you do for us jazz fans. Go here.

Terry Gibbs and Alice Coltrane. Don Frese informed me that the two albums Terry and Alice McLeod (Alice Colltrane) recorded can be found on a Fresh Sound release here.

Curly Chalker. As most readers know, I'm into a wide range of music, including country. I've always been a fan of the pedal steel guitar. In the right hands, the instrument is like an accordion—full of wow and joy, especially when it swings. [Photo above of Curly Chalker]

Last week, Ken Deifik sent along an email praising studio player Curly Chalker, who was indeed exceptional not only on country recording but also on pop, rock and jazz-pop recording sessions:

"One night, early in my Nashville years, a friend who knew of my love of jazz took me to the Carousel Club to see Curly Chalker play steel. From the first time I heard him, I felt that he was likely the finest musician in Nashville. He always invited me to sit in and didn't call tunes that a harmonica player couldn't cut. His sets mainly included jazz tunes.He's not as famous as some other steel players, but with the possible exception of Buddy Emmons, who is considered one of the greatest steelers of all of them. Here's a documentary on Curly I just found on YouTube"...

I'll add my two cents. Curly came out of the Western Swing tradition, so his use of jazz chords and licks makes perfect sense. His recordings with country star Hank Thompson were plentiful. And when he turned his fingers to pop, watch out.

Here's Curly playing For Once in My Life...

Here's Curly with Hank Thompson...

Here's Curly with Hank Thompson on an album devoted to the songs of Nat King Cole...

Here's Curly on a jazz-country album with jazz violinist Joe Venuti...

Here's Curly on a cassette tape...

Here's Curly playing You Are the Sunshine of My Life at a gig...

And here's Curly with the Wilburn Brothers on Heart Over Mind, with an ending appearance by a young Barbara Mandrell...

New music of note.

Howard Riley—BBC Sessions, 1968-1970 (Rhythm and Blues). Pianist and composer Howard Riley, who pioneered British free jazz and avant-garde jazz, died on February 8. He was 81. This album features his performances at the BBC in front of a live studio audience and airing just after the BBC had begun broadcasting rock. Riley's trio at the time featured Riley (p), Barry Guy (b) and Jon Hiseman (d), who was replaced by Alan Jackson in 1969. Riley's approach had a feel reminiscent of America's Herbie Nichols. What I've always found brilliant about Riley is the delicate quality of his abstraction. Buy here.

Here's Riley's composition Angle in 1968...

Angle

Alessandroni e Il Suo Complesso: L'Ora del Cocktail (Far Out). Library or stock music is a fascinating genre of instrumental jazzy pop. The music was recorded by work-for-hire musicians hired by music-library companies that in turn licensed out the music to movies and TV shows in need of themes and incidental soundtracks. One of the Italian greats was Alessandro Alessandroni. His L'Ora del Cocktail album was originally released in 1974. It's a combination of electronic lounge and Italian pop. Far Out Recordings in Brazil has just reissued the album outside of the U.S. and it's terrific, if you also dig Euro library pop. Listen to the full album ad-free here...

Peter Smith—Smitty Straightens Out (Real Magic). Peter Smith probably wishes he could travel back in time to 1960, stay a week, publish his music and return. Except for the first track, Road Song, the rest of the tracks on his new album are originals. And they are mostly fabulous, funky hard-bop numbers. What's more, the blowing is first rate: Aaron Janik (tp), Rickey Woodard (ts), Peter Smith (p), Trevor Ware (b) and Roy McCurdy (d). Peter also plays organ, Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer on track 7. Aaron Serfaty plays percussion on track 5. Plus, the music's fidelity is wonderful, having been recorded at Stained Glass Music Studio in Pasadena, Ca. Buy and listen here.

Here's Swagger Waggle...

Gerry Mulligan All-Star Tribute Band, Thank You, Gerry! (Arkadia). Recorded in 1997, this album featured a stunning collection of fire power. The sextet included Lee Konitz (as), Randy Brecker (tp/flghrn), Bob Brookmeyer (v-tb), Ted Rosenthal (p), Dean Johnson (b) and Ron Vincent (d). The tracks are Bark for Barksdale, Theme for Jobim, Elevation, My Funny Valentine, Rocker, Walkin' Shoes, Moonlight in Vermont, Line for Lyons, Festive Minor, Bernie's Tune and Curtains. Listen and buy here.

Here's Elevation...

Royce Campbell—Vagabond (Max Frank Music). Former Henry Mancini Orchestra guitarist Royce Campbell has a new album out backed by the Vosbein Magee Big Band. You'll find it on major streaming platforms.

Here's video of Royce and the band recording his composition Peepers, arranged by Carroll DeCamp...

And here's Royce'sViper, arranged by Carroll DeCamp...

Dave Thompson. Here's Dave playing Bill Evans's The Opener...

Free concerts. Kim Paris of the FM Radio Archive sent along links to free live broadcasts by artists featured at JazzWax recently. As always, thanks Kim! 

The Byrds—have four broadcast recordings in the archive, ranging from 1968 to their 1978 reunion concert. Go here.

Sonny Rollins—is featured at the 1985 Bern Jazz Festival from Switzerland, broadcast on 3sat streaming. Go here.

Ahmad Jamal (above)—played with his trio in Vienna, Austria, in 1993, also broadcast on 3sat streaming. Go here.

Hampton Hawes—played at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall in 1976, which aired on KJAZ. Go here.

Stan Getz—has two broadcasts in the archive: from the 1980 Chicago Jazz Fest and at Montmartre in 1987. Go here.

Hubert Laws—is featured on four CTI jazz concerts, ranging from 1972 to 2010. Go here.

Miles Davis—played on three archived concert recordings, ranging from 1984 to 1990. Go here.

And finally, here's one of the earliest, pure disco singles that helped get the dance craze going in New York at the start of the summer of 1975—Crown Heights Affair's Dreaming a Dream, reloaded by Disco Purrfection...