Samara, Harry and George

In The Wall Street Journal this past week, I interviewed jazz singer Samara Joy for my House Call column in the Mansion section (go here). Samara is the winner of five Grammys and she just performed at a sold-out Carnegie Hall. She's now on a global tour. [Photo above of Samara Joy courtesy of NPR]

Here's Samara at New York's Town Hall in September...

Also in the WSJ, my Album@50 essay for Arts in Review looked at Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger (go here). The LP's meteoric success dramatically changed his career and set Nashville on its heels, forcing Music City to take outlaw country more seriously. Great to write about country. 

What I'm Watching

Watched and loved this past week...

• The Stones and Brian Jones (2023)—a heartbreaking documentary on the ill-fated founder of the Rolling Stones (Hulu)

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)
• The Bletchley Circle (2012/Britbox)
• 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

• Anna (2019/Tubi)
• 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)

Bill Holman. This is your last chance to hear the Bill Holman Band, a 16-piece ensemble that the late composer, arranger, conductor and tenor saxophonist formed in 1975. It rehearsed every week for 45 years, until the pandemic put a halt to rehearsals. Up until then, the band performed in clubs, concerts and festivals throughout both the U.S. and Europe, recording five albums. Bill died in May 2024. [Photo above of Bill Holman]

Now, the band is back together for one final performance. You can see the band perform live if you're in Los Angeles on Sunday (May 25). Or you can stream the concert starting on June 1.

Details for The Bill Holman Band: The Final Concert:

Live: The two-set 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) and $55 (plus $7.15 in fees). Dinner or a two-drink minimum is required in addition to tickets. For more information: (323) 466-2210.

Streaming: You can view the two sets from home starting on Sunday, June 1. A ticket to stream is $15. Go here.

To give you a taste (live or streamed), here's the Bill Holman Band in 2007, led by Bill, performing his game-changing arrangements for Stan Kenton in the early 1950s. If you want to know what jazz band excellence looks and sounds like, this is it...

Harry James. Following my post on the Harry James Band's hard-charging recordings of the late 1950s and early '60s, I heard from Bill Kirchner, who reminded me of Thad Jones's composition and arrangement of That's Thad, from the album Our Leader (1966). [Photo above of Harry James] Go here...

Bill also made me aware that Thad Jones arranged an entire album for James, called New Versions of Down Beat Favorites (1964). Here's Cherokee...

Bonnie Bowden, who sang with Sergio Mendes from 1972 onward into the 1980s as a member of his "Brasil" groups (see my interview with Bonnie here), sent this along [photo above of Bonnie Bowden, courtesy of Bonnie Bowden]:

"Marc, this is one of my favorite solos by my husband and guitarist David Amaro. We met at Disneyland in 1970 when we were both playing in the South Castle Limited top-40 cover band. This clip aired on TV's Midnight Special in 1976 and featured Flora Purim (vocal), Airto (percussion), Hermeto (flute), David Amaro (g), Hugo Fattoruso (keyboards), Ringo Thielmann (bass), Jorge Fattoruso (drums) and me (backing vocal)." Go here...

And here's Bonnie with Sergio Mendes in the late 1970s...

Billy Joel. Tough news late last week that Billy cancelled all upcoming concerts due to the diagnosis of a brain disorder. Here's Billy and Marlee Matlin on Sesame Street in 1989 singing Just the Way You Are...

New music of note

James Moody—60 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note (Origin). Linda Moody, wife of the late saxophonist and flutist James Moody, has just released a previously unissued live recording at New York's Blue Note, from March 2005. If you had the pleasure of seeing Moody at the Blue Note, this album will bring it all back. Featured are James Moody (ts,fl,vcl), Jon Faddis and Randy Brecker (tp), Paquito D'Rivera (cl,as), Slide Hampton (tb), David Hazeltine and Cedar Walton (p), Todd Coolman (b) and Adam Nussbaum (d). Listen at most streaming platforms or buy here.

Here's Bebop (with Randy Brecker on trumpet and David Hazeltine on piano) ...

More Moody. Linda, along with Moody's long-time agent, Ina Dittke, and producer Danny Kapilian, will celebrate Moody's centenary by presenting a tribute concert at New York's Sony Hall (235 W. 46th St.) this Tuesday, May 27. Featured artists include Jon Faddis, Christian McBride, Renee Rosnes, Randy Brecker, Terri Lyne Carrington, Paquito D’Rivera and more. For more information, go here.

Dave Bass—Trio Nuevo Vol. 2. Dave Bass plays one mean piano. His new album features him backed by Tyler Miles on bass and Steve Helfano on drums. A wonderful selection of tracks—Legrand/Lester Left Town (Dave Bass/Wayne Shorter), Heart Above My Head (Bass), Frevo (Egberto Gismonti, Melquiades (Bass), Latin Journey (Ernesto Lecuona/Bass), Questions (Bass), Trinkle Tinkle (Thelonious Monk), Fools Rush In (Rube Bloom), Dance of the Infidels (Bud Powell), Journey With Bach (Bass) and Lennie's Pennies (Lennie Tristano). To buy, go here.

Here's Dance of the Infidels...

Joris Teepe is one of my favorite bassists. He's a solid, straight-ahead player who lays down meaty lines and works in and around the notes while holding the groove. He came to New York from the Netherlands in 1992 and shuttles back and forth. You'll find his discography here, and the music on YouTube and other streaming platforms. His most recent album, from 2024, is a trio date, A Common Language (Daybreak), with Steve Nelson (vibes), Joris Teepe (bass) and Eric Ineke (drums).

Here's Bags' Groove...

And here's Joris with Benny Golson. Listen to the bass...

Joy Marshall—Who Says they Don't Write Good Songs Any More..? (Decca). Back in 2021, I posted on American singer Joy Marshall, who relocated to London in 1962 and wound up recording only one album there for Decca, in 1965. Her other recordings were singles. Now her U.K. album is back in print on vinyl. You'll find it here. 

Here's Hal David and Burt Bacharach's A House Is Not a Home...

A House Is Not A Home

And finally, from Peter Coppock, who says this may have been George Benson's last performance six nights ago (May 18), go here...