Today is the birthday of Big Joe Turner, Rock awhile!
Joe Turner got his start shouting the blues in the KC clubs that nurtured the Count Basie Band, Lester Peterson, Mary Lou Williams and Charlie Parker. He came east to NYC for John Hammond’s spirituals and swing concert and performed with Duke Ellington. Recording with Atlantic in 1954, he eased off the tempo, leaned on the backbeat and turned swing into rock and roll.
A montage creates a whole out of fragmented bits. In movies, directors shoot short sequences and splice them to create a story line (this is why director’s say “cut”). A classic example is the Odessa Steps sequence in Battleship Potemkin (1925). Director Eisenstein cuts from shots of soldier’s boots to people fleeing to a tumbling baby carriage. By themselves, they have no relation; in sequence, they portray the brutal suppression of a protest. The sequence has since been alluded to in many movies. It’s polar opposite is Rope, which Alfred Hitchcock shot in 1 take.
Elton John and the Muppet band share the biggest thrill they ever got.
Launch your with Elton John. Today’s music birthday is Bossa Nova pioneer Oscar Castro-Neves. You can stream their music on Hoopla.
Our trial period with Kanopy video has been extended through May 29th. They are a go to source for indie flicks, classic movies, documentaries and kid’s programming. If you have not yet tried them out, go here to find out how to connect and give them a try. Line up a movie night for the weekend!
A muppet goes to bed with a tune in his head. See what happens!!!
(the dream team includes Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits on guitar, Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains on tin whistle, and George Martin of Beatle fame on piano).
Mark Knopfler and gang play Sultans of Swing, his ode to pub bands everywhere. Today’s music birthdays include jazz clarinetist Sydney Bechet and bassist Jack Bruce (Cream). Dire Straits and Cream can be streamed on Hoopla.
Catch up with New London artist Sue Bottomley, who has painted a scene from every one of NH’s towns and villages. Being stuck at home hasn’t slowed down her art or her inspiration. The show airs tonite, Wednesday, 5/13 at 7pm on WMUR.
Today was also the birthday of jazz arranger Gil Evans (d.1988). He di orchestrations for everyone from Miles Davis to Jimi Hendrix. Here is his lovely arrangement of Jimi’s Little Wing. You can stream Gil, Miles and Jimi on Hoopla.
More downloads now available. House of Kennedy by James Patterson, The Water Keeper by Charles Martin, Three Hours in Paris by Cara Black, Dead Land by Sarah Paretsky and more.
