I met Gubaidulina in 2017 at NEC. BSO was premiering her triple concerto for violin, cello and bayan and she gave master classes on her chamber rep. I was working on her Chaconne (another reference point for those Baroque roots) for my Master's recital at Boston Conservatory so I went and asked her about it in the Q&A. She (via translator) mentioned being a bit confounded by its recent resurgence in popularity - it's a student piece of hers - but her main advice was to give it the ferocity it requires. The climax has to sound "like a bomb," she said.
Walking Tall may seem like just another in the endless list of 70s good guy takes matters into his own hands. Lots of 70s camp and cheese, but I still remember it very clearly and JDB was catapulted into a natural hero. Then there was the short-lived "Eisheid" in which he developed the catchphrase "You done good". I loved that show. RIP JDB.
How the heck did I not know about Bunky Green until today? He sounds amazing! How many more other fantastic players like him have I never heard of? This is uplifting and depressing all at once. As per your classic quote, Ethan: "there is so much to listen to". I'll say. Starting on Bunky Green now, thanks for this.
And I'm sad to report drummer Greg Bandy died recently. A terrific old school drummer who always added so much. The New Yorker once called him "under appreciated ".
No one else of that period comes to mind who could have portrayed the character, Molly, in "Charley Varrick" as well as Joe Don Baker, or matched up as well with Walter Matthau. I think it's hard for a first time viewer who recognizes Varrick as the good guy of the two, who understands the conventions of a crime movie of that type, and who wants with something close to desperation for Varrick to get away to understand how he's going to manage to sustain the morale to beat Molly. And speaking of suspension of disbelief, Don Siegel certainly achieved it with that movie, didn't he? I wish the movie were better known than it is, but there is a hardy cadre of those of us who when we get the chance to evangelize for the movie, do so with pleasure.
I always hate to encourage anyone to watch a TV series unless it's something like "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," because the doing so never fails to make me feel as though I am contributing to the downfall of society, but inasmuch as ours is already shot, I have no hesitation in urging you to watch the entire "Cheers" series.
I took an excursion to read your recommendations of crime fiction. If you haven't read Dorothy B. Hughes' "The Expendable Man," I urge you to consider it. Do not read any reviews of the book first. It was published in 1963, and there is a plot twist which you won't see coming which is as effective as it is because of the American Zeitgeist of 1963.
I love Donald B. Westlake. I read the Dortmunder series in the 1980s. I will never forget Westlake's description of Dortmunder as having "hair colored hair." I made the mistake of reading one of the "Richard Stark" Parker series a few months ago, and, as you could anticipate, ended up reading thirteen of the first sixteen, as well as two of the four Grofields. Stark can make me suspend not my disbelief but my moral sense, and when I finish one of the novels I understand how a scandalized Puritan girl must have felt.
Thanks for the Himes recommendation. I just finished "Cotton Comes to Harlem" and was about to start "The Real Cool Killers." I agree entirely with your assertion that Harlem is the main character, and certainly the best developed one, at least in "Cotton Comes to Harlem." Maybe my favorite thing in that book is the portrayal of the eatery in which the lighting is kept as dim as it is so the customers won't notice the bugs in their food. When the detectives finish their meal and are offered dessert, blackberry pie, their "in this place?" reaction is hilarious.
A wonderful amalgam as always, but not sharing your love of the penn walken foley film--a loose bundle of brooding mannered cliches and over acting. Quite a contrast to what you correctly say about Baker who in fact never looks like he's acting.
I met Gubaidulina in 2017 at NEC. BSO was premiering her triple concerto for violin, cello and bayan and she gave master classes on her chamber rep. I was working on her Chaconne (another reference point for those Baroque roots) for my Master's recital at Boston Conservatory so I went and asked her about it in the Q&A. She (via translator) mentioned being a bit confounded by its recent resurgence in popularity - it's a student piece of hers - but her main advice was to give it the ferocity it requires. The climax has to sound "like a bomb," she said.
great story!
Anyone enjoying the Bunky Green albums Ethan references may also want to check out Bunky Green's Healing the Pain: https://youtu.be/DVVbIj4PVGU?si=9VVMX4H3Bx1HYnHI
Walking Tall may seem like just another in the endless list of 70s good guy takes matters into his own hands. Lots of 70s camp and cheese, but I still remember it very clearly and JDB was catapulted into a natural hero. Then there was the short-lived "Eisheid" in which he developed the catchphrase "You done good". I loved that show. RIP JDB.
Thanks Chris!
How the heck did I not know about Bunky Green until today? He sounds amazing! How many more other fantastic players like him have I never heard of? This is uplifting and depressing all at once. As per your classic quote, Ethan: "there is so much to listen to". I'll say. Starting on Bunky Green now, thanks for this.
Right on
And I'm sad to report drummer Greg Bandy died recently. A terrific old school drummer who always added so much. The New Yorker once called him "under appreciated ".
It's Gidon Kremer, not Gideon.
ah. Will fix
No one else of that period comes to mind who could have portrayed the character, Molly, in "Charley Varrick" as well as Joe Don Baker, or matched up as well with Walter Matthau. I think it's hard for a first time viewer who recognizes Varrick as the good guy of the two, who understands the conventions of a crime movie of that type, and who wants with something close to desperation for Varrick to get away to understand how he's going to manage to sustain the morale to beat Molly. And speaking of suspension of disbelief, Don Siegel certainly achieved it with that movie, didn't he? I wish the movie were better known than it is, but there is a hardy cadre of those of us who when we get the chance to evangelize for the movie, do so with pleasure.
I always hate to encourage anyone to watch a TV series unless it's something like "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," because the doing so never fails to make me feel as though I am contributing to the downfall of society, but inasmuch as ours is already shot, I have no hesitation in urging you to watch the entire "Cheers" series.
I took an excursion to read your recommendations of crime fiction. If you haven't read Dorothy B. Hughes' "The Expendable Man," I urge you to consider it. Do not read any reviews of the book first. It was published in 1963, and there is a plot twist which you won't see coming which is as effective as it is because of the American Zeitgeist of 1963.
I love Donald B. Westlake. I read the Dortmunder series in the 1980s. I will never forget Westlake's description of Dortmunder as having "hair colored hair." I made the mistake of reading one of the "Richard Stark" Parker series a few months ago, and, as you could anticipate, ended up reading thirteen of the first sixteen, as well as two of the four Grofields. Stark can make me suspend not my disbelief but my moral sense, and when I finish one of the novels I understand how a scandalized Puritan girl must have felt.
Thanks for the Himes recommendation. I just finished "Cotton Comes to Harlem" and was about to start "The Real Cool Killers." I agree entirely with your assertion that Harlem is the main character, and certainly the best developed one, at least in "Cotton Comes to Harlem." Maybe my favorite thing in that book is the portrayal of the eatery in which the lighting is kept as dim as it is so the customers won't notice the bugs in their food. When the detectives finish their meal and are offered dessert, blackberry pie, their "in this place?" reaction is hilarious.
This was a lovely comment to read, thanks!
A wonderful amalgam as always, but not sharing your love of the penn walken foley film--a loose bundle of brooding mannered cliches and over acting. Quite a contrast to what you correctly say about Baker who in fact never looks like he's acting.
That's an INCREDIBLE wedding band! Thanks for comment, Mike.