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April 30, 2005:

COUNTDOWN TO GUY HAINES

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, we’re on our countdown to the Guy Haines album. We’re also on our countdown to May. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, today is the final day of April, as hard as that is to believe. Tomorrow we begin a brand spanking new month and for me there will be some very interesting things taking place in May. May I tell you about them? I May? Excellent. First of all, the Guy Haines album. That’s very exciting for those of us who have been slaving over it. Then, on May 5th we have a huge event to celebrate, but more I shan’t say at this time, oh, no, more I shan’t say at this time. Then, at some point during the month I shall journey to the York of New to do Kerry Butler’s duet with Mr. Haines. So, I’m quite certain we can have a splendidly splendid hainsies/kimlets gathering whilst I’m there. There are several other interesting things baying at the door, and we’re hopeful that one or two of them may actually pan out – you will all be the first to know. I also intend to mush on with this little play I’ve begun, and I also intend to mush on with some more short stories – I’ve got three done already, and I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head. We’re also in the process of having a website designed for our new little boutique label, which is called Kritzerland, in honor of you-know-what. I hope to have it up and running by early June, and we hope that pre-orders will be taken for the Guy Haines album by mid-June. Isn’t that a lot of things for May already? I do hope and wish that everyone here has a lovelier than lovely May. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?

Last night, whilst relaxing the voice box, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled The Americanization of Emily, of which I got an early copy. I first saw the motion picture at a Sneak Preview at the late great Stanley Warner Beverly Hills (where Lawrence of Arabia played). Several cast members were there, including, as I recall, Miss Julie Andrews. I was quite taken with the film and saw it three or four more times after it opened. I hadn’t seen it in quite some time, so it was lovely to watch the brand spanking new DVD of it. The film remains mostly marvelous, with beautifully verbose writing by Mr. Paddy Chayefsky, unobtrusive direction by Mr. Arthur Hiller, great black-and-white photography by Phil Lathrop, and a cast the likes of you just couldn’t have any more. James Garner, Julie Andrews, James Coburn, Melvyn Douglas (brilliant in a very difficult role), William Windom, and a host of fantastic character actors, including, in small roles, Mr. Steven Franken, Miss Judy Carne, and Mr. Alan Sues. In what was a fairly strong movie year, it is still shocking to think that this film was only nominated for two Oscars – art direction and photography. I’ve been saving my highest praise for two other contributors to the film – first and foremost for Miss Joyce Greenfell, who, in two short scenes, delivers one of the finest supporting performances I’ve ever witnessed. It’s high screen acting, and she should have certainly been nominated over the hambone performance of Agnes Moorehead in Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. Miss Greenfell does more with a look or an eye movement or a smile than most of today’s actors can do with ninety pages of dialogue. I cannot watch her first scene without dissolving into tears at the end of it. My other highest praise goes to the film’s composer, Mr. Johnny Mandel – what a glorious score, and certainly its theme, Emily, is one of the most gorgeous ever concocted for a film (it’s lyric is credited in the opening credits – Johnny Mercer supplied it – even though the song is never sung in the film). The transfer is lusciously luscious. There is also a commentary track by Arthur Hiller. I listened to a bit of it, and may give the rest a go, because he’s bright and witty and very emotional. In the first five minutes, he heaps the word “genius” onto Paddy Chayefsky (“the only genius I ever worked with), and gets very emotional when he recounts that Chayefsky died at the young age of fifty-nine (I’d forgotten this – very scary when you’ve just turned fifty-seven). In any case, the movie remains a delight and I recommend it to one and all and also all and one.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must hie myself to the Oaks of Sherman for the Guy Haines horn session.

And now – Dino at the piano. I’m very excited to hear the horns – it’s always very exciting when the band parts get filled in. Mr. Grant Geissman seemed very happy with what he was doing in the writing of them. He has done all the orchestrations for the album, save for I’m Past My Prime, where I simply used David Siegel’s wonderful charts. I’ll have a full report for you upon my return.

Can you believe tomorrow is May? We’ll be in our fifth month already. It seems like we were just in January, doesn’t it? But, I’m very much looking forward to May and all it May bring.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must hear horns, I must write, I must not use the voice box too much, I must drink EmergenC, I must eat, and I must watch a DVD or three. Today’s topic of discussion: Here are two ethnic foods I have never been able to get into – Greek and Indian. And yet, most people I know love these two ethnic foods. So, tell me your favorite Greek and Indian dishes and which you think I should try. Let’s have lots of lovingly loving description and detail, and any recipes, too. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we bid a fond farewell to April and we welcome in May with open arms.

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