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)
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by Sandy | Jun 14, 2015 | Blogroll, Books, Culture, Writers
Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, by Richard Dowden
Do you ever get the feeling that westerners do not understand Africa at all? Even after so many years of subjugation and interference, Europeans still don’t have a clue about the people they colonized. They, along with we Americans, black or white, don’t really get how a continent beset by such poverty, misery, cruelty and waste can still produce men and women who keep going. Putting one foot in front of the other, bringing children into their world and expecting good things to happen – somewhere/sometime.
English correspondent Richard Dowden attempts to explain it in his book, Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles. He proposes that the African has a different approach and reaction to life, a different appreciation:
“Terrible times produce strength. Grief enhances joy. Death invigorates living…Africa lives with death and suffering and grief every day, but to be alive is to talk and laugh, eat and drink – dance”.
Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, by Richard Dowden
btw: The author also thinks that “only Africans can develop Africa.” (Hmmmm.)
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by Sandy | Jun 11, 2015 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, dvd, Film, Movies
I loved the documentary, “20 Feet From Stardom” a music and reminiscence filled ode to the back-up singer released last year on DVD. Some added their voices to those early Phil Spector songs (“Da Do Run, Run“) and Rock & Roll tunes featuring great vocals by Darlene Love and Patti Austen. They also did back ground for Elvis and rockers like the Rolling Stones. Anonymous trios and quartets still sing a few feet behind the main acts of today like Bruce Springsteen, Bette Midler, Stevie Wonder.
You may not know the singers by name or by sight, but you will know them by ear. A talented bunch, back in the day they sang everything, from “do wop, du wahs”, to the now classic line, “rape, murder, it’s just a shot away” (Merry Clayton on “Gimme Shelter” – called to the session late at night, she did 3 takes while dressed in night gown, fur coat & curlers).
2014 Oscar Winner for Best Documentary, “20 Feet From Stardom”, directed by Morgan Neville, never showed up at my local movie theater, thank goodness for the DVD, I would have missed a thoroughly entertaining chance to fit the names and faces to the background voices on some of my favorite songs. Included in the documentary are old concert footage, interviews with singers (those that tried to move 20 feet forward and those that enjoyed singing backup) and stars that hired the voices with great stories about the music biz – a lot of fun, a lot of memories. Watched it twice 🙂
“20 Feet From Stardom”
Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill, Patti Austen, Claudia Lennear, Táta Vega, the Waters, the Ikettes and many more.
FYI: “Da Do Run, Run” The Crystals, 1963 – I still know all the words 🙂
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by Sandy | May 31, 2015 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Directors, Film, Movies
“Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection“
This is a DVD collection of 7 early films, 1927 -1947, from the master of suspense. The movies may have different plots and locations – spies in South America, the trials of a new wife, London court room intrigue, people lost at sea – but, they all have that element of surprise/edge of seat tension that director Alfred Hitchcock does so well.
The Lodger, 1927 – (Rare silent film)
Young and Innocent, 1937 – (Spies/intrigue)
Rebecca, 1940 – (The housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, gave live-in help a bad name)
Lifeboat, 1944 – (Chance to see Tallulah Bankhead at her best)
Spellbound, 1945 – (Ingrid Bergman & Gregory Peck – lovely!)
Notorious, 1946 – (Ingrid Bergman & Cary Grant – also lovely!)
The Paradine Case, 1947 – (Gregory Peck, Charles Laughton-courtroom maneuvering)
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by Sandy | May 5, 2015 | Art, Artist, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Exhibits, Museums
“This exhibition features Warhol’s depictions of the persona that forever embedded celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Sylvester Stallone and Prince – to name a few – into America’s cultural conscience as well as several of his self-portraits including silkscreen works…”
“Andy Warhol: Portraits includes nearly 200 portraits, paintings and drawings produced by Warhol from the 1940s to the 1980s.”
“Andy Warhol: Portraits” – Until June 21, 2015
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ
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by Sandy | Apr 26, 2015 | Artist, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Exhibits, Galleries
We’ve enjoyed Bob’s online presence for several years and now we get a chance to see his work up close and personal as part of a group show, “Know Yourself At Every Age”.
Stop by and meet him on May 1, 2015. More than 25 pieces of Bob’s art will be on view until the end of the month.
“Know Yourself At Every Age”
Bob Martin – Artist Reception
Friday, May 1, 2015, 6 – 10 PM
First Studio, 631 N. 1st Ave, Phoenix, AZ
PS – you can also see some of his work here!
