Well, dear readers, I have breaking bombshell news for you, so hold onto your hats – it is May. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, it is May and it is my fervent hope and prayer that May will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful. Otherwise, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to I Remember Bill, a tribute to Bill Evans by the marvelous Don Sebesky, who just passed away. Wonderful arrangements and orchestrations. I think I have all his albums in the Music thing on the big boy computer. He and Mr. Ogerman were particular favorites of mine in the late 1960s, as both did amazing work for A&M Records.
We had us a really fun Zoom Q&A for Sami yesterday afternoon. A bunch of cast members who said they were coming, didn’t – have no idea why, but so it goes sometimes. We did have three of our leads – Sami, Karim, and Kerry showed up about thirty minutes in. Sal Viviano was with us as was the woman who played the mean boss in the pie scene, and the always delightful Charles Busch. Editor Marshall Harvey was with us as was cameraman Martin Awano, who is shooting a documentary and had to leave not too long after we began, and Richard Allen. In attendance, and I won’t remember everyone, were several dear readers, including elmore, Jrand, John Griffin, Singdaw, Ginny, and old friend from LACC, Barbara Bellows-Terranova, several Partridge Family fans, Henry Stanny, friend John Christopher, Adryan Russ, and others. There were questions, there were answers, a few secrets revealed that we shan’t be revealing elsewhere, including what was used for the sound of the pies hitting folks in the face. It lasted just under ninety minutes.
I hadn’t eaten prior to that, so I got one of those Marco’s pepperoni small pizzas, which I haven’t had in a couple of weeks, just because I wanted something good to eat. And it was good. I tried like the dickens to find something to watch, but nothing was interesting to me. I did doze off for a while. Then I just listened to music and that was that.
Yesterday was fine. I got seven hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails, had a PM from someone that could result in something nice, finally had a couple of orders, shaved and showered, and then got everything ready for the Q&A or talkback as some call it. The rest you know.
Today, I’ll be up by ten, and I’ll mosey on over to do the cashing the check thing and then I’ll deposit that in my nearby branch, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll eat something at some point, I must get Diet Cokes here as I’ve been out for five days now. I need a few other things, too, so I’ll pick those up. We’ll be writing Amazon to see why at least three or four reviews written on day one STILL aren’t up, and I’m sure there are more from other days, too. Given that the show’s been up for a week, I’m not sure why they’d keep holding reviews. Hopefully, they’ll show up. I know we’re getting ready to submit to the Emmys to make sure we’re eligible, which I believe we are, and then those submissions will officially go in. Then at some point, I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is more Sami, hopefully getting the test books so I can place that order, hoping for miracles, if we finish casting then we’ll set our short rehearsal schedule, and then whatever else needs doing, I shall do.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by ten, do my banking stuff, do whatever needs doing, eat, do some marketing, write Amazon, check on Emmy stuff, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: Who are your favorite orchestrators, both past and present? Let’s make THAT a lively discussion. I’ll start with my favorites that I’ve worked with on my albums and shows – short list – elmore, Lanny Meyers, David Siegel, and Richard Allen. I’ve worked with others, certainly, but those four are the gold standard. Outside of that, in the pop world I love Billy May, Gordon Jenkins, Nelson Riddle, Don Sebesky, Claus Ogerman, Pat Williams, Eddie Sauter and their ilk. For Broadway, I love Jonathan Tunick, Eddie Sauter, Don Sebesky, Phil Lang, Robert Ginzler, Sid Ramin, Irwin Kostal, Robert Russell Bennett. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland as we welcome in the month of May, and it is my fervent hope and prayer that May will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.