by Sandy | Jul 3, 2023 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, CDs, music
Ms Streisand was all over PBS a few years ago with her show “Barbra Streisand: One Night Only At the Village Vanguard”. She can still touch people with her voice and it was fun to listen and watch her wrap her tiny audience (the NYC club only seats about 150) around her finger – or vocal chords in this case. She is still amazing.
I wanted to hear more, so dug I out an old Barbra Streisand record “The Broadway Album” (yes, “album” – like I said “old”, but now on CD) and again was in awe of her renditions of some great songs from past musicals. I have a weakness for Broadway show tunes, especially those songs from Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gershwin – music from Porgy & Bess, Carousel, West Side Story, The King & I, etc. This music appeals to me because it usually has a story to tell, an emotion to crystallize, a longing to express.
Over the years, these little song poems, have become “standards” – they haven’t gone away, they are being sung someplace, somewhere every day. Whether in person or on CD, Ms Streisand’s versions are beautiful, soaring, romantic, funny & perfect.
Barbra Streisand – a treasure!
(Originally posted May 2020)
~~*~~
by Sandy | Mar 23, 2020 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, dvd, music
“I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day…”
There is nothing like good music during questionable times. Gives a lift.
The opening bass line that precedes the above lyric is for one of my favorite songs by the Temptations, “My Girl”. It is instantly recognizable, instantly evoking a time/ place/age that is gone, but still very much alive when the music plays. (I still know all the words.)
I watched the DVD, “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” again. It tells the story of the “Funk Brothers”, those musicians who rhythmically supported the stars of Motown with their piano, drums, horn section and guitars. According to the liner notes, “They played on more #1 records than the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Elvis combined…”
There are interviews with the guys, funny and touching, as they reminisce about their experiences at “Hitsville, USA”. Unknown by the thousands of us that religiously bought a new 45 record whenever possible, they drove the beat behind the Motown hits from the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder (he was “little” then), the Miracles, etc. The stars were good, but so was the band.
We are also treated to terrific concert footage – artists of today singing the old songs. It’s been a long time, but the music lives – they do a great job, different – but still great.
***
by Sandy | Nov 3, 2019 | Art, Arts, Entertainment and Music, music, Photograhy
That famous 1958 black and white photo of 57 Jazz musicians, arranged on the steps of an apartment building in New York City – 17 East 126th Street between Fifth and Madison. It was expanded into a documentary in 1995 and can be found on DVD. Director Jean Bach assembled pictures and stories about how it all came together – photographer Art Kane’s assignment for Esquire Magazine, artists such as Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Marian McPartland, Thelonius Monk, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, May Lou Williams, the neighborhood kids that wanted to be in the picture too.
A Great Day In Harlem
See below for a list of all the musicians in the photo:
***
by Sandy | Jun 19, 2015 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, music
Barbara Cook continues to sing, interpret and represent Broadway and its’ composers in great style.Some of the songs are famous, some not, but, you can hear and see “Broadway” nevertheless with full orchestra and marquee lights blazing.
She is famous for singing the work of Stephen Sondheim, great music, great lyrics. Ms Cook weaves the listener into the fabric of his bittersweet little song stories with such feeling, you are there – Not a Day Goes By, Losing My Mind, Loving You – the songs are not new, but, she makes them so, each time.
Barbara Cook and Stephen Sondheim, together – brilliant!
(Such amazing octogenarians)
***
by Bob Martin | Feb 21, 2015 | Actors, Art, Movies, music
Whiplash was not a movie that was on my radar. Never saw an ad, a promo or trailer for it before seeing it. And there is a lot to be said for seeing or experiencing a movie without any preconceived notion. It was a splendid accident.
What Makes Whiplash a Gem!
Here is my spoiler alert, which is a list of what I believe every good movie should look to accomplish.
- Excellent Script – no wasted lines
- Actors who look and feel the role- believable and alive
- Story line – you can relate to it.
- Beautiful Cinematography – supports the narrative in an imaginative and beautiful way. Gorgeous.
- Meaningful Music – it is there for the right reasons, it engages the viewer.
- Direction – clean, precise, efficient and purposeful.
A nod to J.K Simmons, a solid professional, who deservedly has a bright spotlight beaming down on him.
***
by Bob Martin | Aug 28, 2014 | Art, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Culture, music
Discovery is what Spotify has been all about for me. I’m finding musicians and music that I’ve not heard before or music that I thought I would never hear again.
Listening to Joe Cuba brings visions and memories of Hunts Point Palace, in the Bronx, where both Latin and Jazz bands performed almost every weekend. For 3 to 4 dollars we got to dance and listen to Coltrane, Miles, Tito Puente live like they were our neighbors and friends.
Music and Musicians where so accessible, they didn’t have an entourage or handlers, they weren’t rock stars. Spotify has made the world a better place.
