Recently I happened to catch one of my favorite old movies on TV -- The Hustler, starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason -- and it made me reminisce a little about the first time I saw it and how it affected me. The simple fact is that even though Gleason's Minnesota Fats ended up being … Continue reading From Poolrooms To Bandstands – Remembering Fats
Category: Boomers
REVIEW: Linda Presgrave – Inspiration
When St. Louis native Linda Presgrave moved to New York about a decade ago, she'd already built a nice career as a respected jazz artist. But it might have been the catalyst that helped the talented pianist and composer begin to find wider success, because she soon signed a recording contract and began a string … Continue reading REVIEW: Linda Presgrave – Inspiration
The Jive Five — Keepin’ It Alive
The 1950s were volatile years in pop music (although the same could be said of most decades). Everything seemed to be in transition, with early rock and roll evolving from R&B, rockabilly and other influences, and beginning to find an identity of its own. By the end of the decade a lot of popular acts … Continue reading The Jive Five — Keepin’ It Alive
Another Appearance From Mr. O
I'd like to welcome back Mr. Obvious, who is making yet another guest appearance on the GMC. Regular readers might remember that Mr. O sometimes shows up here just for the purpose of helping me make a point, or in some cases beat it to death. Anyhow, this time around I was going through some … Continue reading Another Appearance From Mr. O
REVIEW: Carol Fredette – Everything In Time
Carol Fredette is a perfect example of an undiscovered treasure. Or at least undiscovered by a wide audience, because she's been a fixture on the New York club scene for many years and has built a following of loyal fans, some of whom are her fellow artists. She's been called 'a musician's singer,' and jazz … Continue reading REVIEW: Carol Fredette – Everything In Time
In Search Of The Real ‘Hot Lips’
Just a quick question. If I asked you who comes to mind when you hear the nickname 'Hot Lips', wouldn't you think of Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan, the character in M*A*S*H? To be honest I'd probably think of her too, but there was a real 'Hot Lips' who not only wasn't a sexy, kooky blond, … Continue reading In Search Of The Real ‘Hot Lips’
Some Stray Cats Are Musical
Listening to music while flipping through old family pictures today, I encountered an interesting coincidence. Just as I was enjoying a tune by the rockabilly revival group Stray Cats, I happened to run across a photo that included a kitten. More about the music later, but let's talk about the picture. It's from a color … Continue reading Some Stray Cats Are Musical
Tommy Cash – Singin’ In The Shadow
You have to hand it to Tommy Cash. Johnny's younger brother has managed to forge a pretty nice career for himself, even if much of it has been spent overshadowed by his superstar sibling (who died in 2003). I've written before about musical brothers, mostly focusing on those in early jazz, but it's obvious that … Continue reading Tommy Cash – Singin’ In The Shadow
REVIEW: Eddie Daniels & Roger Kellaway – A Duet Of One
If improvisational jazz is something that piques your interest, you might want to take a look at A Duet Of One, a new album now out on the IPO Recordings label. It's a deceptively simple pairing of clarinetist Eddie Daniels and pianist Roger Kellaway, recorded live at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, but the … Continue reading REVIEW: Eddie Daniels & Roger Kellaway – A Duet Of One
The Master Of The Love Song
I've written before about the incomparable Nat King Cole, but I thought Valentines Day might be a good occasion for a quick post with one of my favorites by him. It's a song that has been in the news lately because of the Etta James vs Beyoncé flap, although it was originally a Glenn Miller … Continue reading The Master Of The Love Song
Geezer Music Club 