You never know who’s listening. Skipping around in Jeffrey Lyons’ entertaining new book about his father Leonard, the prolific New York Post columnist, I came across this item in the Sophia Loren section:
In 1961, she was back in Spain filming El Cid, and after finishing the day’s shooting of that medieval epic, Loren would always turn on Dave Brubeck and Dizzy Gillespie records. “It’s the best way to snap back into the twentieth century,” she explained.
It’s worth mentioning the book, Stories My Father Told Me: Notes From “The Lyons Den” if only as an excuse to show you the cover shot of Leonard Lyons, his wife Sylvia and Marilyn Monroe.
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
It’s told the story that Lady Sophia and Mr. Heston hated each other very fondly. Now, the interesting question would be to which sounds Charlton relaxed after a day’s work with gorgeous Miss Loren
Highly suggestive cover indeed. Marilyn was such a cute looker!
Interesting photo of Marilyn and the Lyonses — it brings to mind the scene in the restaurant/club in Sweet Smell of Success when one married target of JJ Hunsecker’s blackmailing fights back with his wife at his side.