Just Jazz

and stuff I like.

Mainly for me but if you stumble in here, I hope you enjoy some of it, too.

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10/4/09

Gravitation by Kandinsky

Gravitation by Kandinsky

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10/5/09

The day after I found out I had a brain tumor, I saw Sting in concert with my kids. I love Sting! Today’s a Sting day!

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10/6/09

Stars over Stonehenge

Planets Over Stonehenge Credit & Copyright: Philip Perkins

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10/7/09

Cat yodeling… too funny!

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10/8/09

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10/11/09

Heartbreaking…

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10/12/09

Truly Jazz

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10/13/09

N.C. Wyeth

Maxfield Parrish

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10/14/09


Scenes from Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious

Cary Grant & Ingrid Bergman, sung by Peggy Lee

On being Cary Grant

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10/18/09

I think he’s my cousin. Good lookin’ enough to be for sure… HA!

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10/20/09

“I took the one less traveled by…”

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10/21/09

Yep, this dates me:


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10/26/09

It’s not a palindrome…

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10/28/09

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10/31/09



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11/09/09

Once Cat Stevens, now Yusuf Islam

Georgia O'Keefe

11/16/09

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Andrew Wyeth (N.C.’s son)

Christina's World


I still have such a crush on Capt. James T. Kirk!

The sexiest song ever written!

Santana with Rob Thomas

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11/22/09

The Matterhorn at sunrise.

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12/06/09

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12/07/09

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12/08/09

Fun to watch and count the ones you’ve not seen. I think there are 19 on this list that I haven’t seen. Two of those were made before 1918!

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12/10/09

And Jane’s favorite Christmas song:

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12/21/09

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12/30/09

My three favorite comedies all star Kevin Kline. This one, Soapdish:

1/3/10

Just for Jane, who loves gummy bears!

1/11/10

How about some REAL rock ‘n roll?

… I got cat class and I got cat style…

7/11/10

West Side Story

8/8/10

Coldplay – Viva La Vida

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listened as the crowd would sing
Now the old king is dead long live the king
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
Missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you'd gone there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was a wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world


73 responses to “Just Jazz

  • crispin

    Im confused most of these artists are freedom hating godless liberals. How can you support them like this?

    • roxannadanna

      To begin with, I don’t know why you are confused because it shouldn’t matter to you at all. We don’t know each other. My opinions have no bearing on your life.
      Secondly, unlike “freedom hating, godless liberals” like you apparently, I am able to see, value and appreciate the gifts and talents of ALL people, regardless of their politics and beliefs.

      Thank you and have a nice Sunday. And don’t come back.

  • Robert Frost on a Friday… The Road Not Taken (video) « Frugal Café Blog Zone

    […] to my dear friend and fellow blogger Roxy at Diary of a Mad Conservative… thanks for the reminder that of all the divurging roads we face in life, our choices often […]

  • steve

    Hey Roxy, here’s a treat for you.

    • roxannadanna

      I love this! Thank you Steve.

      I’ve really neglected this page and that’s too bad. I seem to be too wrapped up in real life crap – like work and the hell Obama’s causing us. I need a break and you provided me a good one.

  • Foxwood

    “The day after I found out I had a brain tumor, I saw Sting in concert with my kids. I love Sting! Today’s a Sting day!”

    Are you ok? My Sensai died from a brain tumor! It was removed, but came back 7 years later.

  • samhenry

    A little lightness to end. This long version with famous musical and film stars – Madeline Kahn too – is rarely played.

    • roxannadanna

      My God! how did I miss this? This is wonderful! I can’t wait to share with Jane. Her 2nd graders will love this.

  • samhenry

    Actually, I was Glad was played in full during her GOLDEN not silver jubilee in 2002. Another jubilee in 2012.

    About this last piece.

    Colour and sound fill the Mall as the Queen processes to the thanksgiving service at St Paul’s. The stirring music you hear is NOT DUBBED. A full orchestra and choir is performing in the Mall as the procession begins. A great London sight.

    Princess Anne and Prince Charles are on horseback behind the coach in their military gear.
    In these economic times, this scale of things is no more. The Queen has put everyone in her household on an austerity budget.

  • samhenry

    OKAY

    Last one for the day – my all time favorite English Anthem. The full anthem is only played at the coronation. Midway there is a Vivat. However, at the silver anniversary of Elizabeth’s reign, at a service at St. Paul’s, it was played in full:

    Here it is – based on the psalm that begins “I was Glad”

  • samhenry

    Technically a Christmas Carol – this is sung by my MOST loved choir – Kings College Choir – Cambridge UK. Some beautiful views of their magnificent chapel in this with the remarkable oil by Reubens of the Virgin and Child.

  • samhenry

    Here’s another one to keep in mind when dealing with the world. The person who posted it said:

    From Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997. What makes this special is the unexpected descant on the last verse. Earl Spencer had just finished his amazing eulogy and I wasn’t watching when Make Me a Channel came on, but had it on in the background…. then that descant broke into the last verse and I had to rush back to the TV!

    [YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHVz45n5a9M&feature=PlayList&p=0858FA7E0C908366&index=5]

  • samhenry

    Here’s something for Jane’s musical education. When she graduates from somewhere for something, “Pomp and Circumstance March #1” by Elgar is usually played. Here Elgar is conducting this work at the Abbey Road EMI studios when it opened. I think they were the Beatles’ label for a time – don’t really know. So, you can hear Elgar saying in low tones to the orchestra to “play this as if you have never heard it before.”

  • samhenry

    Finally to bed and peace. A Rutter choir song to end:

    • roxannadanna

      I wonder if there’s a way to put this on my iPod? I’d love to listen to this at work while I’m charting.

      So very pretty.
      Thank you for everything… all the days of pleasure. Rest well, yourself!

      • samhenry

        I think you can purchase some of this and download it. If you view this in YouTube – they may tell you how to do it.

        I love the way the Brits are masters of Ceremony and their composers the masters of the church music anthems.

  • samhenry

    I forgot to say that the male lead in the Carousel ballet was Jacques D’Amboise who, after her retired, taught school kids in large numbers to stage dance numbers – and in the ghetto. He was quite a guy.

    And here we are in 1980 – and another ballet dancer is on Broadway in a Musical – in the program “Baryshnikov on Broadway with Liza Minnelli. It is one of the smoothest renditions of “ONE” evah!

    • roxannadanna

      oh wow… that is terrific! And you’re right, it was perfect and smooth. They make it look so easy and I know how hard it is and how much work they have to do.

      Love it, Sam!!!

  • samhenry

    De Mille continued with Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel.” The best is the dream sequence. It begins in the movie when Louise is dancing in the surf but those steps are De Mille’s.

    • roxannadanna

      When I was in high school, this is one of the musicals that we put on. Another was The Music Man. But for Carousel, I designed the programs and silk screened t-shirts for it. I also painted flats. I can’t act. LOL But I could paint, draw and silk screen.

      What beautiful choreography she did. She was really talented and I never paid any attention to that before now. Thanks so much for these!

      I come to this page every few days and watch and listen to everything here. lifts my spirits, I guess. 😉

      • samhenry

        I have a cousin who is now a shrink but who WAS in the theater. She just about died laughing at the story of my career in the theater. It lasted about 5 minutes. I wanted to be a great actress so at about age 14, my mother dropped me off at the Community Playhouse at the beginning of the summer. The director said I should go out back and wash flats. I looked at her and said: “But I’m an actor.” End of career. LOL

  • samhenry

    You have B’way song but no dance! Agnes DeMille brought dance into the B’way musical with her choreography for “Oklahoma.” Slide to near the end of this to see her work.

  • samhenry

    PS RE Murlow – SamHenry is very real, too. The avatar IS SamHenry! Shhhhhhh.

  • samhenry

    You remember Kahn from her most famous scene from Mel Brook’s “The Young Frankenstein” And this will be it for a time. I don’t want to over run your treasures here!

  • samhenry

    Madeline Kahn has THE best performance of “Not Getting Married” from Sondheim’s “Company.”

    • roxannadanna

      That’s great! I love Madeline Kahn and miss her so much. She was a wonderful talent.

      • samhenry

        It is a big loss when anyone that funny and that talented in so many other ways dies. There seem to be fewer laughs these days. I am so bad. Serious debate is carried on at VF blog as you well know. And there I am goofing off!

  • samhenry

    This is THE very best version on the web of Chenoweth singing “Popular” from “Wicked” – she is such a ham!

  • samhenry

    As and art major – you have to love the green costumes in the Emerald City on “one short day” – London cast.

    • roxannadanna

      Wonderful!!! Jane will love seeing all of these.
      The costumes are fab. I so love theater. We’ve gone to the Shakespeare festival in Cedar City, Utah, several times – my kids and I. And we have so much fun.

  • samhenry

    ROX – on the last one “Song for Athene” click on “more Info” and it will give you the words from Shakespeare on which it is based.

    One of our own contemporary composers, Samuel Barber, wrote a beautiful piece for strings that also builds to a beautiful climax. It was played at the funeral of Princess Grace of Monaco and just after 9/11 in this version by the BBC as a fitting memorial to those who had died that day.

  • samhenry

    I see where you like Gregorian Chant. So do I. It is ancient and grounding. Now this is not meant to be maudlin – here is Tavner’s “Song for Athene.” Tavner is a contemporary composer and friend of Prince Charles. It was the recessional for Diana’s funeral. It builds to a marvelous climax followed by the 1/2 muffled bells of Westminster Abbey.

    • roxannadanna

      I love chants. I think listening to them is really calming. Well, for me at least.
      And I’ve been to Westminster Abbey. Went to London 2 years ago this summer. It was a WONDERFUL trip… saw Stonehenge which has always been a dream of mine!
      The abbey is one amazing place!

      • samhenry

        If you watch this on youtube (click the Youtube icon and it will take you there). Then up at the top box where there is info on the clip there is a phrase like “more info.” Click on it and there is a drop down of the Shakespeare quote.

  • samhenry

    I deserved for that last one not to post!

  • samhenry

    Ok, OK – Pavorati in the piece that made him famous. They played it at his funeral at they took his casket from the church. You would never know I am not a great opera fan! I don’t like most of it at all.

    [youtubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VATmgtmR5o4&feature=PlayList&p=DFE8F55E918903F7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2]

  • samhenry

    “Time to say good-bye for tonight….”

  • samhenry

    Glen Close IS Norma Desmond

    • roxannadanna

      Sunset Boulevard is one of my all time favorite movies! I knew this had been done on the stage with Close but I had no idea it was a musical! How amazing. And how well she sings too!

      “All right Mr. De Mille, I’m ready for my close-up…”

  • samhenry

    Here’s one of Broadway’s own – Kristin Chenowith

  • samhenry

    If you go to Brandywine – go into Philly and see:
    The Academy of Art – think that is the name of the art school:

    Here by Winslow Homer is one of my favorite paintings of all time – Fox and Crows – a lot like the NC Weyth don’t you think?

  • samhenry

    OK one more.
    Jesse Norman dressed in the French Flag singing La Marseilles – Paris – for the Anniversary of the French Revolution.

    • roxannadanna

      She has a beautiful voice! And so beautifully done.

      Thank you Thank you Thank you for your additions to my page! They are all great!

      By the way, we had a black lab named Murlow who looked just like your avatar. I smile everytime I see you. We loved him so much…

  • samhenry

    Finally – 3rd movement PINES OF ROME conducted Von Karajan w/ Berlin Philharmonic

  • samhenry

    Roxi

    Here’s one more of Dudley from BEDAZZLED. You may delete these vids and no hard feelings.

    • roxannadanna

      Oh no way! I listened to the first one and will listen to this one now. No way would I delete – they’re great!

      Thanks so much for them Sam!

  • samhenry

    Here’s a surprise:

    Dudley Moore who was “Arthur” in two movies with Liza Minnelli; starred in “10” etc. made some obscure movies with Peter Cook in which his talent as a composer came to the fore. I have LPs of the sound tracks. Here he is with “Bedazzled” from the movie of the same name. It’s the Dudley Moore Trio:

  • samhenry

    How about the portrait of the pig by Jamie Wyeth? Or Island Funeral – Is that by Andrew?

    Have you been to the Brandywine Museum or its Web Page? When I lived in Wayne, PA I used to drive there with my family for many happy hours and visit their wildflower gardens. The museum is in an old stone barn by a creek.

    I love that entire river valley. The lovely valley where I live has a conservancy modeled after the Brandywine Conservancy.

    • roxannadanna

      I’ve never been to PA. But I went to the museum website that you mentioned and that would be a wonderful place to visit! I was an art major – a million years ago.

      Thank you for looking in on this page. 😉 It’s a mish-mash of my whimsy.

      • samhenry

        I was an art history undergraduate major. I played a lousy cello but my teacher and I had great fun terrorizing the halls of the August Conservatory at the Eastman School of Music.

  • steve

    Right on with Norah Jones and Santana!
    Let me know if you like this:

    • roxannadanna

      I love this guy, Steve!!! He’s great and it reminds me of real good old rock ‘n roll. I’ve never heard of him. Who is he?

      • steve

        Hey Roxy! Glad you liked it. He’s outstanding; been playing professionally since he was 6 years old! There’s alot of his stuff on Youtube. Though my taste in music leans heavily towards blues, I like this kind of stuff too.

  • Dena

    Thanks for posting the O’Keefe. It’s one of my favorites.

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