Category Archives: Performers

Nothin’ Beats a Noir Dame: Hazel Brooks in “Sleep, My Love”

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Considered a failure by director Douglas Sirk, SLEEP, MY LOVE is a decent enough noir for fans of the genre. The film concerns a brittle New York blueblood, played by Claudette Colbert, who is being gaslighted by her … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers, Sex | Tagged Alberto Vargas, Billy Gibbons, Cedric Gibbons, Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, Douglas Sirk, Film Noir, glamour, Hazel Brooks, Hollywood, Pin-Ups | 3 Comments

Sunday Jazz Selection

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Paul Bley, Ida Lupino.

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged Ida Lupino, Paul Bley | Leave a comment

Showtune Saturday: “Whatever Lola Wants”

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Your hot leggy redhead of the day. Gwen Verdon in “Damn Yankees”. Pretty damn sexy for 1958, or anytime, to be honest. Bob Fosse choreographed, of course.

Posted in Movies, Music, Performers | Tagged damn yankees, gwen verdon, showtune saturday, whatever lola wants | 1 Comment

Sunday Jazz Selection

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Ornette Coleman, Sadness.

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged Ornette Coleman, Sadness | Leave a comment

Carlo Bergonzi, Five Ways

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: There aren’t many singers who have epitomized the true meaning of bel canto better than Carlo Bergonzi. It literally means “beautiful singing”, and refers to the style or school that emphasizes vocal beauty and line above other … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged carlo bergonzi, five ways, Opera | 3 Comments

Showtune Saturday: “Lonely House”

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: The late American tenor Jerry Hadley gives us a haunting and wistful rendition of this tune, from Street Scene. Like Porgy and Bess, Street Scene is often the basis for pedantic musical arguments about whether it’s an opera … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged elmer rice, jerry hadley, kurt weill, langston hughes, lonely house, Opera, showtune saturday, street scene | 3 Comments

“Saving Mr. Banks”

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: As P.L. Travers, the author of the Mary Poppins books, Emma Thompson projects a grave sort of loneliness. Nested confidently into middle age, yet still grappling with the issues of her childhood, the Travers of “Saving Mr. Banks” … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged Collin Farrel, Emma Thompson, Film, John Lee Hancock, Mary Poppins, movies, P.L. Travers, Paul Giamatti, Saving Mr. Banks, Tom Hanks, Walt Disney | 2 Comments

Sunday Jazz Selection

Posted on July 20, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: McCoy Tyner, Lonnie’s Lament, streaming version here.

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged Lonnie's Lament, McCoy Tyner, Soliloquy | Leave a comment

Showtune Saturday: “Ain’t Got No Tears Left”

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: The sublime Donna Murphy sings this nightclub/torch song from On The Town, the classic Bernstein/Comden/Green musical later remade (and substantially revised) as a Gene Kelly-Frank Sinatra film. The song was cut from the original but is sometimes … Continue reading →