French Films

I GET VERY ENTHUSED over French Films.  There is such a heady, delightful texture to them.  'The 400 Blows' is an especially imaginative mode of French film art.

Charlie Parker

THE GENIUS, Charlie Parker, is so profound.  When his saxophone wails on haunting ballads like 'Laura' then life is maevelous.  The jazz of the stylish one, Mr. Parker, is so emphatically vivid.

Jackman and 'The Wolverine'

POSITIVE AND HAPPY MARVEL TIMES.  I am so very happy Mr. Hugh Jackman and his Marvel-flavored movie called 'The Wolverine' is here.  Like many pseudo-souls I am  going to run see this film.  The world of the Marvel folks is fun and also I am always very impressed with the astute acting chops Mr. Jackman brings to his work. It is summer...Jackman and 'Wolverine' is here and all is "cool."

Coltrane

I am diggin' the wild jazz of John Coltrane today. His Giant Steps is super, indeed.

Royal Baby Breaking News

THE ROYAL BABY is born today.  It's a boy....I think it's wonderful news.  What a marvelous day this Monday is!  I feel this Royal news about Kate and William's 8 pound, 6 ounce son, is truly a wonderful landmark not only in our American culture but also in British culture and all the rest of the world...Let's Say:  HOORAY!

Zoot Sims: A Huge Talent on the Tenor Saxophone

TENOR SAX music is very powerful..I listened early today to the grandiose tones of finite joy coming from the big tenor of the lucid, ingenous sax man, Zoot Sims.  This guy with his work heavily influenced by Ben Webster and the super fellow, Lester Young, had so much vibrant jazz style.  When a soul listens to Zoot Sims with that strong elegance of swing, well then one realizes that this is what jazz is all about.

7 faces of Dr. Lao.....A 'Cool' Film

LAST NIGHT WAS HUGE FUN FOR ME.  I watched the bizarre, sleek, Tony Randall film from the exuberant year of 1964 called '7 Faces of Dr. Lao.'  This movie amused me because it hit the viewer on numerous levels...in some ways it was a rich mystery, in others it was a remarkable adventure tale and in many depth-inflected ways it was a fantasy laden with highly well-constructed philosophical overtones.  The crafty Tony Randall comes to the small Arizona town with his his tiny show with many odd, unique characters. The man they know as Dr. Lao succeeds in changing all the people of the community. In truth, quite quickly Dr. Lao instructs the people of the town in the acerbic thoughtful missive about just how precious what we call life is.  This  is a delight of a movie.  The director, George Pal, did an expressive and so superb piece of work crafting this movie.

Johnny Hartman

JAZZ VOCALISTS like the elegant Johnny Hartman are certainly a resounding joy.  This man with his vibrant baritone produced fascinating vocal performances.  His time with Earl Hines was great but his superior work with John Coltrane was even more joyous. His 'Lush Life; was a superior piece of work.