Reviews – Page 8

Marian McPartland and the Girls in the Band

October 23, 2020June 30, 2012 by David Michael Jackson

Marian McPartland Piano and Jazz

Marian Talks about her sound Marian McPartland Jam

THE GIRLS IN THE BAND a film by One Step Productions tells the “poignant, untold stories of female jazz and big band instrumentalists and their fascinating, groundbreaking journeys from the late 30′s to the present day.“Review in Variety

Jazz legendary piano wizard Marian McPartland continues to showcase the world’s best musicians on NPR’s longest-running jazz program, Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz.

Here is an excellent article about visiting Marion McPartland by Judy Chaikin. Judy Chaikin is the director of The Girls in the Band.

When you research a post you sometimes run into another who has already done a job far better than you of detailing and archiving the subject. When you meet such a resource, you have to acknowledge. To learn more about Marian McPartland and piano and the times and history be sure to visit Marian McPartland a Jazz Pianist, an overview of a musical career. by Clare Hansson. Excellent!

Here is Marian’s Facebook Page. Ladies and gentlemen that photo behind her is only the most famous Jazz photo in history and she, dear ones, is in it. Here is the photo again from A Great Day in Harlem Here is A bio of the musicians and Marian McPartland.

Her start came in WW II, the big one. My dad was in that war and met my mom there. Marian was in that war and met her husband in England.
Thanks to the film and the people who made it, I, on an island in a far off land once called Tanase, have learned about this lady and now love her work. To blog is to be always on a discovery path. This path led to Marian McPartland’s piano.

We have decided that this is a windmill to battle. This is the first blog of presentations of women musicians. Expect more. We, or I, or whomever this is, thinks we or you, yes you should want more music from more of the ladies in this blog starring women featured in THE GIRLS IN THE BAND. It’s a good page.

Marian’s piano music speaks for itself.

The Girls in the Band

Audience Award, Best Documentary Feature – Palm Springs International Film Festival

Audience Favourite Feature, Victoria Film Festival

Audience Choice Documentary, Omaha Film Festival

Produced by Judy Chaikin, Michael Greene, Nancy Kissock. Executive producer, Greene. Co-producer, Hugh M. Hefner. Directed by Judy Chaikin. Written by Chaikin, Edward Osei-Gyimah

david michael jackson june 29 2012, editors@artvilla.com send rose petals

Kangaroo Song SarahJayne Balash

October 23, 2020June 26, 2012 by David Michael Jackson

Kangaroo – SarahJayne Balash (original) from SarahJayne Balash on

From Clarksville, Tennessee – SarahJayne Balash

We think there is talent budding. Maybe we should take the last train to Clarksville or just wait for her in Nashville! Look out SarahJayne writes her own songs and is unabashedly presenting them already. Showmanship starts early.

An artist always represents a moment. This moment is captured so beautifully. It is refreshing to see young talent portray a part of our lives. When it is done too well it is often professional. When it’s done just well enough it is often art.
Thank you Sarahjayne for making our day.

Hollywood Blacklist History

March 19, 2019June 23, 2012 by David Michael Jackson

Here is a great article on the Hollywood Blacklist and the events that led up to the blacklist:

Hollywood Blacklist

Carmine Famiglietti and Matthew Bonifacio Make Great Movies

February 11, 2019June 10, 2012 by David Michael Jackson

Movie reviews aren’t my thing. I tend to try to make art rather than review art, then Matthew and Carmine come along and make movies that count, that have real people in them, that say something for a change.

I just finished Amexicano In Wiki’s words The film explores the relationship between a blue-collar Italian-American man and an illegal Mexican immigrant as they both try to make a living in Queens, New York.

A little more than that please. The film makes human the political immigration discussion in America. It takes a hard realistic look into the lives of people rather than into the political bullshit of our opinions. This movie shows the effect of the journey to the United States by portraying an average Caucasian dude, out of work, joining the line of Mexicans waiting for work in the U.S. It is well told.
This story causes you to examine our feelings toward our neighbors by first turning them back into people in our minds.
Why don’t they stay there? Would you take the dollar an hour at G.E. or sneak across for your family for five? Ah but that is back to the political bs, or is it?

Carmen Famiglietti is a lead actor who does not fit the stereotype at all. His performances have brought the real into movies for the first time in a long time, if ever. His performances are the essence of the real world rather than the Hollywood world which Matthew Bonifacio has the courage to portray for a change. It is the American version of the best foreign film. Films from other countries are about real subjects rather than action. They leave you with a feeling of art. There is such a feeling, that they just said something important, that I should notice and be lifted out of my conventions.

Matthew and Carmen have made two films Amexicano and Lbs. Both reach for something and improved my understanding. It needed improvement. Now that’s art!

Wake up Hollywood! I’m behind everyone else in movies, in most things, so this review is very late. So are the accolades it seems.

You can watch Amexicano and Lbs on Netflix now. If you agree then give the guys five stars for me.

Here is an interview:

But I love this one much better.

david michael jackson June 10, 2012 editors@artvilla.com