Haines His Way

Okay, our new Kritzerland release is up for preorder - who will be first???  It's an exceptional release - a 2 CD limited edition of the soundtrack to Jacques Demy's Une Chambre En Ville by Michel Colombier.  You can hear some track samples and read the blurb at www.kritzerland.com.  I've kept the price low for a 2 CD limited edition (limited to 1200 copies).  

For anyone who loves Mr. Demy's The Umbrellas of Cherbourg or The Young Girls Of Rochefort, this score, although not by Legrand, is right up there with those - it is an achingly beautiful score, through-sung (the film would have to be categorized as a musical, since every line is sung, as in Umbrellas), symphonic, filled with glorious melodies.  Take my word, it's a winner all the way.

So exciting (and I've already ordered).  Michel was such an underappreciated genius--but not by me.  

A little Michel Colombier info:  he came from a very musical family, and first became famous in France as a partner with Pierre Henry in some of the first musique concrete recordings there.  He later became, in a fascinating evolution, Petula Clark's music director.  He met Herb Alpert when Petula guested on a TJB special (Brass Are Comin' I think, though I can't recall).  Herb hired him to write "Wings," a jazz rock oratorio that is simply unbelievably wonderful.  From that collaboration he became Lani Hall's music director, and later Flora Purim's.  He also wrote a lot of scores for U.S. films, though none became blockbusters.  He sadly died of cancer at a very young age a few years ago in Santa Barbara, IIRC.

I was thinking Lumet had a Group Theatre connection, DR JMK....but I could be wrong.

Rex Smith AND Patrick Cassidy?

It's an embarrassment of riches.

Speaking of Patrick Cassidy, the first time I ever saw him in anything was the first time I ever saw Alec Baldwin in anything.

That "anything" was "Dress Gray", and I thought it was terrific.

It's way overdue for transfer to DVD.

Also, "Chiefs" is overdue, too.

I liked the book of DRESS GRAY and the mini series was pretty good, too.

WILD HOGS - well I don't need to see it again, but it had some funny moments.

DR Ginny, you are lucky to enjoy a nice day with your mother.

Oh, don't I know it, DR Jane.  She and I have always enjoyed being together.  My job keeps me from spending as much time with her, and with my other family members, as I'd like.  That's why I grabbed the couple of hours that presented themselves today.

Maybe DR RLP is cranky because he's being forced to work overtime tonight.

Oh, don't I know it, DR Jane.  She and I have always enjoyed being together.  My job keeps me from spending as much time with her, and with my other family members, as I'd like.  That's why I grabbed the couple of hours that presented themselves today.

I wanted a daughter just like you  

Maybe DR RLP is cranky because he's being forced to work overtime tonight.

Methinks Mr. P is just being his ol' snarky self. He'll miss me and all my gratuitous and repetitious material when I go E and T again -- and then his foot will start hurting.

Oops.  I guess it was only a few minutes of overtime.  Poof!  He's gone.

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAN IN TORONTO[/move]


[move=right,scroll,6,transparent,100%]WE MISS YOU![/move][/b]

DR Jane ~ Your fall photos make me wish I was there to take Deuce for his walk in your park.

Adequately. Actually, they're going fairly well, but we still don't have any sheet music.  I think it's safe to assume that we're not going to get actual sheet music at all.

Otherwise, I didn't have to go to rehearsal last night and tonight is my one real conflict!  I have a season ticket for Capital Playhouse and they're in the middle of their production of Sweeney Todd (supposedly based on the recent Broadway production) starring the Tony Award® Winner (for his performance in Damn Yankees) Jarrod Emick!  It should be wonderful...and a great reason to miss rehearsal!

Based on the recent Broadway production?  I love Jarrod Emick, but I am glad I didn't buy a ticket.

So... Eight hours of auditions later...

Today was a long day.  And, unfortunately, it was one of those days where I just never felt fully awake nor alert - which made the day seem a little bit longer than it actually was.  I didn't screw up anyone's auditions, but I did have a couple of interesting finger-slips, and there were a few times when I went ahead and restarted someone's song because I realized I had not read the key signature properly.  Ooops!  In any case...

It was a good day of auditions and auditioners.  There were no real clunkers, and there were even a few new "discoveries" as it were.  And I had a couple pieces of music put in front of me that I don't think I ever played before, or even heard before.  However, it's amazing how easy it is to play/sight-read a well-written song.  There were some fun Irving Berlin and Cole Porter obscurities.  -Alas, there was one "undiscoverd" Gershwin tune that someone brought in that probably should have remain undiscovered.

But all in all, a good day.  I just wish I had had a bit more vim and vigor to carry me through the day.