Jools Holland Two 7/12-18
Second half of my conversation with Jools.
Mike Reiss 7/19-25
Comedy writer Mike Reiss has enjoyed a long career making people laugh, from his early years with National Lampoon, Johnny Carson and The Gary Shandling Show, to his continuing work with the animated series, The Simpsons.
Mike was one of the original writers for The Simpsons, a show he still contributes to 35 years on between writing children’s stories, traveling with his excursion-loving wife Denise and publishing his most recent book, What Am I Doing Here? A Simpsons’ Writer Visits the World’s Hellholes So You Don’t Have To.”
Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton 7/26-8/1
Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton have individually and collectively won, Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and on and on. Emma’s father, costume, set and production designer, Tony Walton (who passed away in 2022) won three Tonys, an Academy Award and an Emmy. Yes, it’s a talented family.
Emma and Julie have written thirty-five children’s books, many illustrated by Tony. Their latest, Waiting in the Wings, is based on a family of ducks who took up residence outside Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, NY, the theater Emma started with her husband Steven Hamilton and Cybil Christopher in 1991. Tony Walton generously agreed to be my first guest on Jazz Inspired, twenty-five years ago, so having Emma and Julie on now is a wonderful way for me to celebrate Waiting in the Wings, and 25 years--so far--of Jazz Inspired.
Frank Marshall 8/2-8/8
Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar winning producer/director Frank Marshall grew up on picturesque Lido Isle in Newport Beach, CA surrounded by the musical friends of his father, jazz guitarist, composer, arranger, Jack Marshall, whose arrangement of “Fever” for Peggy Lee was one of many celebrated albums he worked on for Capitol Records in the late ‘50s and 60s. Frank Marshall has produced and/or directed multiple stage shows and films, including the Jason Bourne, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future and Jurassic World franchises. Through it all, music has played a major role in Frank’s life and his memories of being surrounded by great musicians growing up is a vivid and joyous.
In the summer of 1972, Jack Marshall and trumpeter/vocalist, Jack Sheldon joined forces to entice trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker back into the studio after Chet had stopped recording, due to an injury to his mouth. The record was made but never released until Frank recently discovered the master and together with Zev Feldman, produced Chet Baker & Jack Sheldon, In Perfect Harmony: The Lost Album.
Larry Koonse 2
Guitarist Larry Koonse is a favorite musical collaborator with everyone from Billy Childs and Seth MacFarlane to Tierney Sutton and Luciana Souza. He’s as supportive, and musically flexible as he is virtuosic, which explains his popularity in the music world and why he’s been featured on more than 400 albums.
Larry and I recorded the our conversation and played together onstage in picturesque Dixon, Illinois, outside of Chicago, at The Next Picture Show art gallery as part of my Jazz Inspired Onstage series.