JazzWax

Norma, Rob and Richard

In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed fashion designer and icon Norma Kamali for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Norma talked about her mom, who was a seamstress, a painter, a cook who could reproduce restaurant dishes by eating them once, a hairdresser and had many other artistic talents. Norma also talked about sleeping on her nose as a kid so it would turn up, like other kids' noses in her Manhattan neighborhood in the 1950s. Oh, before I forget, Farrah Fawcett's red bathing suit in the famed poster? That was Norma's. [Photo above by Norma Kamali at home in Manhattan’s West Village in October by the fabulous Brad Trent for The Wall Street Journal]

I've interviewed some real Nu Yawkers—Fran Drescher, Judge Judy, Ronnie Spector to name a few with triple-thick accents. Norma is the first whose accent sounds a lot like the one I heard growing up in Washington Heights. It's pure Manhattan (I do a fairly good job of hiding mine but was able to slip into it with Norma). As you can imagine, she was a lot of fun to interview. Here's Norma in action...

Sirius XM. Join me on Tuesday, December 17, when I visit with Nik Carter and Lori Majewski on their Feedback (Ch. 106) show to talk about my latest "Anatomy of a Song" on Steve Miller's Fly Like an Eagle. Plus another Hot 10 tracks at the end.

NPR. On Friday, I was on Steve Kraske's terrific Up to Date segment on NPR station KCUR in Kansas City. He asked me to bring along a handful of jazzy holiday songs that most listeners wouldn't know but would love once they heard them. Steve added one to the list as well. Here's the show...

"Up to Date" on KCUR

Why Jazz Happened. Last week, I received the following email from Oliver in Dublin with these lovely words. Thank you Oliver and Andrew:

Hi Marc. Bought a copy of your book, Why Jazz Happened, on Friday at Chapters bookstore on Parnell Street for one of my team, pianist Andrew Carroll. He just called to say it's a brilliant read. Have a great Christmas!

Now in paperback here.

Speaking of Eagles. Rob Hyman, a dear friend, Cyndi Lauper's collaborator on Time After Time and leader of the band The Hooters emailed from Bremen, Germany, where the band was on tour. He sent along a clip of the band at Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in November 2018 performing a cover of Fly Like an Eagle...

Buddy Rich, 1943. Last week, following my post on Buddy Rich, I received the following from Dave James:

Good morning, Marc. I played a lot of drums in my misspent youth, so I've always been drawn to the great drummers of the past. During a recent deep YouTube dive into Buddy Rich, I came across this pristine color video of Buddy with the Tommy Dorsey band playing Well, Git It!...

Richard Williams radio. On Sunday, December 15, Sid Gribetz will present the music of Richard Williams from 2 to 5 p.m. on WKCR-FM's “Jazz Profiles” feature brodcast. As Sid writes, "Williams was a trumpeter of sheer brilliance. His solos make you stop and take notice with their clarity, bright tone and creative invention." You can listen from anywhere in the world on your phone, iPad or computer by going here.

Stuck for a gift? There's always my Anatomy of a Song book, an Amazon bestseller that's now in paperback. The stories behind 45 rock, soul, pop, reggae, country and disco hits from the artists who wrote and recorded them. Fast, fun and you can jump in anywhere. Also, you'll find a playlist of all 45 songs here, allowing you to listen along for free. You'll find Anatomy of a Song in the U.S. here, in the U.K. here and in Canada here.

What the heck: Impossibly talented, the Nicholas Brothers had it all, even in 1936, when they were still kids...

Oddball album cover of the week.

I can think of worse places to be on Christmas than at a Holiday Inn. Syria, for example. But at least there was going to be a banquet at this one. Plus free live parking-lot music from the Commanders.

Videos: Ben Paterson

Unfamiliar with Ben Paterson? Stick a pair of glasses on him and he'll remind you of Bill Evans, circa 1958—but in much better shape. As for his playing, Paterson is extraordinary on both the piano and the Hammond organ. And he can sing! The other day, my friend Jimi Mentis emailed me YouTube links. When Jimi emails, I always stop what I'm doing. Here are the Paterson clips he sent along...

Here's Ben Paterson on piano, playing and singing I Wish I Knew, with Erik Soderlind on guitar and Neal Miner on bass...

Here's Ben Paterson on organ playing I'll Close My Eyes, with Kyle Asche on guitar. Shades of Don Patterson!...

Here's Paterson playing Anthropology, with Chris Flory on guitar and George Delancey on bass...

Here's Paterson playing In a Mellow Tone with Flory on guitar and Delancey on bass...

Here's Paterson playing his own On the Move, with Jake Vinsel on bass. Dig Paterson's string strumming...

And here's Paterson playing The Christmas Song, with Josh Ramos on bass and Jon Deitemyer on drums...

You'll find much more Ben Paterson here.

Paterson's discography is here.

And here's Paterson's site.

Roberto Magris: Sun Stone

Roberto Magris is an Italian jazz pianist with a fondness for drama. His albums always explode in stormy excitement and robust flavor. His latest release, Sun Stone, was recorded with his sextet at the Hit Factory in Miami in 2017 and features Shareef Clayton (tp), Ira Sullivan (as,sop,fl), Mark Colby (ts), Roberto Magris (p), Jamie Ousley (b) and Rodolfo Zuniga (d). It's finally out now. [Photo above of Roberto Magris]

All of the songs are by Roberto, except Innamorati a Milano, a beautiful, romantic Italian pop ballad by Memo Remigi from 1965. The album opens with the title track, a ferocious uptempo song that lets Roberto show off his forceful technique.

Innamorati a Milano takes the Remigi ballad faster than I recall it but retains the song's sunny La Dolce Vita-era sensuality and sophistication. I was in Rome in 1968 with my artist parents and younger brother. I still remember this song drifting up from the hotel bar's jukebox during a sweltering hot Italian summer with little or no air conditioning.   

The 6/8 waltz, Planet of Love, has a beautiful flute solo by Ira Sullivan (above). Maliblues is a moody minor-key melody with a crackling trumpet solo by Clayton. Beauty is Forever also sounds Milanese from the mid-1960s and is lyrically lush and breezy, with a solo by Colby. On Look at the Stars, we get to hear Sullivan's soaring soprano saxophone. By the way, Sullivan remains an extraordinary instrumentalist. And finally, Sun Stone II is back, slightly transformed.

Roberto, throughout, alters the mood of his piano depending on the piece, from pop cafe to textured typhoon. The reason I love his playing is there's so much to hear and his heart is always in Italy. Sigh.

JazzWax tracks: You'll find the Roberto Magris Sextet's Sun Stone (JMood) here.

JazzWax clips: Here's Beauty Is Forever...

Beauty Is Forever

And here's Innamorati a Milano (Fall in Love in Milan)..

Innamorati a Milano

So you have context, here's the original Remigi single...