William N. Law Blog: Ed, Rhoda and Allan

In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed actor Ed Harris on growing up in Tenafly, N.J. (go here), and why he gave up football at Columbia University to move to Oklahoma. His new film is Kodachrome. [Photo above from YouTube]

Here's the trailer...

SiriusXM. I will be joining Nik Carter and Lori Majewski on Feedback (Ch. 106) this Thursday (April 26) to talk about my recent go-go-dancing article in the WSJ, with a focus on the music and the evolution of the outsized mid-1960s beat. Tune in from 9 to 10 a.m. (EDT). I'll be on from 9:15 to 10a.m.

For those who may have missed my last visit with Nik and Lori a couple of weeks ago to talk about my "Anatomy of a Song" column on Rocket Man, here's a link to the show: go here.

Django at Carnegie Hall. If you're in New York on Tuesday, May 1, Pat Philips will present in association with Leonardo and George DiCaprio an evening of Gypsy jazz. Passing the Family Torch will feature the Django Festival All Stars Dorado, Samson and Amati Schmitt (guitars), Ludovic Beier (accordion) and Pierre Blanchard (violin). Plus Philippe "Doudou" Cuillerier (guitar), Antonio Licusati (bass), Francko Mehrstein, (guitar) and Gino Roman (bass). Special guests are vocalist Melody Gardot, clarinetist Ken Peplowski and vocalist Veronica Swift. The concert starts at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information, go here.

Here's a taste...

The concert is dedicated to Maestro Ettore Stratta.

Gene Ammons's daughter, Lila Ammons, is trying to raise money to produce a new album. She has an absolutely beautiful voice. Go here to listen and donate toward the stretch goal of $14,000. Here's her Kickstarter video...

Denny Zeitlin, live. On May 2-5, pianist Denny will be at New York's Mezzrow. At the club, he'll be playing solo on some nights and with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Matt Wilson on others. For more information on his run as well as directions and other information, go here.

If you can't make it or you're out of town, stream Denny's gigs live at the Smalls Live site. First check the dates and times above at the Mezzrow schedule. Then dim the lights, pour yourself a cup of tea and watch and listen here.

Birthday radio extravaganza. WKCR-FM has three 24-hour jazz birthday-broadcast radio specials coming up:

Charles Mingus—Sunday, April 22, airing from Saturday night at 11:59 p.m. through Sunday at midnight.

Ella Fitzgerald—Wednesday, April 25, airing from Tuesday night at 11:59 p.m. through Wednesday at midnight.

Duke Ellington—Sunday, April 29, airing from Saturday night at 11:59 p.m. through Sunday at midnight.

You can access WKCR-FM from anywhere in the world on your computer and smartphone by going here.

In France, or going to be? Organist Rhoda Scott, who lives in France, is touring extensively to celebrate her 80th birthday (on July 3). She will be in concert with her Lady Quartet and the Ladies All Stars in France and Belgium now through the end of the year and into 2019. For information about her schedule, go here. Here's Rhoda in action last year with her group...

To read my 2011 JazzWax interview with Rhoda Scott, go here.

Brazil break. Clark Wurzberger sent along this marvelous clip of singer-songwriter and guitarist Dori Caymmi playing Hurricane Country...

What the heck. Here's comedian Allan Sherman in 1965 singing a parody of Petula Clark's Downtown on Australian TV. The expressions on a fruging Jacki Weaver's face are priceless. Still a riot!...