by Sandy | Dec 4, 2009 | Art, Artist, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Museums
In celebration of its re opening and 40 year anniversary, El Museo Del Barrio New York presents, “NEXUS NEW YORK: Latin/American Artists in the Modern Metropolis”.
Featuring work from 1900 to 1942, by such artists as Carlos Enríquez, Alice Neel, Marius de Zayas, Francis Picabia, Joaquín Torres-Garcia, and José Clemente Orozco, the display “examines pioneering Caribbean and Latin American artists who lived in New York City before World War II and shaped the American avant-garde.”
“NEXUS NEW YORK Latin/American Artists in the Modern Metropolis” – until February 2010
El Museo Del Barrio New York, 1230 Fifth Avenue (at 104th Street)
New York NY
Image: “Untitled”, 1920 – Joaquín Torres-Garcia
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by Sandy | Nov 28, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, CDs, music
A Voice in Time: 1939-1952, issued in Sept. 2007, is a Frank Sinatra CD box set with music from the early years of his career (when I think his voice was at its best – creamy smooth, distinctive – he didn’t sound like anyone else).
The songs are mostly about love, romantic, sentimental, whether joyous in the experience or yearning for it, you can’t help but enjoy these old “standards”. Although not as jazzy and “Rat Pack” hip as the music from his 60’s and 70’s period, these songs from before and just after War II are clever and well written, they’re so simple and direct: All or Nothing at All, As Time Goes By, It Had to Be You, Body and Soul
I appreciate the fact that you can understand his every word. The listener can tell Mr. Sinatra has given thought to the meaning of the lyrics and his voice embraces them like old friends.
Regardless of what is said about him personally, Frank Sinatra is such an “American” treasure. He sang his way from Hoboken, NJ to the rest of the world with much acclaim– what a success story! And, the magic of his talent still endures.
BTW – His legendary moody, dark “bar stool” classic album, “Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely” released in 1958, is the best with songs like: “Willow Weep for Me’, One for My Baby and One More for the road”, “Angel Eyes”. Hardly up tempo, but, great nevertheless. All sung with feeling.
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by Sandy | Nov 23, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, CDs, music
Maxwell – the singer, who some call the heir apparent to Marvin Gaye and other R&B balladeers with beautifully, soaring voices – is back.
Released in July 2009, his first album after 8 years is called “BLACKsummers’night”. The Brooklyn born Maxwell may have cut his hair, but he hasn’t lost his vocal strength. He is still terrific, still soulful, still smooth, and still lovely. Great stuff!
BTW: If you can’t place his name, just listen to the local “Easy Listenin” or R&B “classic” radio station. Songs from his 1996 album “Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite” – “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)” and “Sumthin’ Sumthin'” – are still being played. (Great for old school dancers – that old rock from side to side move, with hunched shoulders and finger snaps…)
by Sandy | Nov 21, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, dvd, Film, Movies
17 DVDs/13 films, along with an illustrated coffee-table book, has been as a celebration of this actors work.
Some of the films included in the box set:
The Long, Hot Summer (1958
From the Terrace (1960)
Exodus (1960)
The Hustler (1961)
Hombre (1967)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Quintet (1979)
The Verdict (1982
Unfortunately, some of my favorites, The Sting, The Hustler, Road to Perdition, Hud, are not included in this tribute – but they are available on separate DVDs.
Paul Newman passed away in September, 2008 at age 83. A good actor and humanitarian, he had a long, full and varied life. He entertained us and he contributed to us.
“Paul Newman: The Tribute Collection”
by Sandy | Nov 13, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, music
One of the great many things about the Holidays is the rush to “Box Set” any music that isn’t nailed down. This season is no exception – there is a plethora of new packages of Jazz greats in a box:
* “The Complete Miles Davis Columbia Album Collection” – 70 CD set (yes, 70) with DVD
* “Ella Fitzgerald: Twelve Nights in Hollywood” – 4 CD set from Ella’s 1961 engagement at the Crescendo Club in Los Angeles
* John Coltrane’s, 1960 studio recording “Giant Steps” (He wrote all the music)
*And there are also new compilations of early live recordings from Billie Holiday and Oscar Petersen.
Abundance! Cool.
by Sandy | Nov 7, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Museums, music
“Michael Jackson: A Musical Legacy” is a special exhibit on view at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.
Featured is the King of Pop’s famous fedora, sequined gloves, samples of his embellished military style jackets and even some Jackson Five stage costumes.
The GRAMMY Museum
800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
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