Julliard Jazz Orch. Performs John Coltrane, arr. by Wynton Marsalis

Wednesday night the Julliard Jazz Orch. played at the Sharp theater a program of John Coltrane's music under guest conductor Todd Williams.  Williams is a highly acclaimed musician in the jazz world known for his saxophone & clarinet work with both The Wynton Marsalis Quintet & Linc. Ctr Jazz Orchs.  He has received the ASCAP's Plus Award for Composers multiple times.  I mention these accolades to note that the jazz students are among the most talented & promising young artists and receive excellent musical training & mentorship from today's leading jazz artists.  The Julliard Jazz Orch. is comprised of tomorrows' great jazz performers.   The pianist, Jahaan Sweet & bass player, Russell Hall could take to the stage of Carnegie Hall & Lincoln Ctr, today.  Unfortunately, the 1st sax soloist started out with a major faux pas and needed a reboot.  However, his pose & command & support from his band members is estimable.  He reprised himself with his 2nd solo.  It's astonishing to recognize how young, gifted & hard working these students are.  Consideration and allowances deserve to be made.  Nonetheless, the evening was an incredible blend of cool jazz.  Their next performance (all are free) is Feb. 25th.  Tickets may be obtained on-line.  Take advantage of great jazz from the Julliard students & come out to support them.

STILL ALICE starring Julianne Moore & Alex Baldwin

Award winning writing/directing team, Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland, adapted STILL ALICE for the big screen.  Julianne Moore stars as Dr. Alice Howland, a brilliant linguistic prof. married to Dr. John Howland (Alec Baldwin) with 3 grown children.  Shortly after Alice's 50th birthday, her picture perfect life fractures.  Alice is diagnosed with early on-set Alzaheimer's.  This incredibly well acted movie by Moore, Baldwin & Kristen Stewart (Lydia, the youngest daughter) portrays, the anguish, horrow and struggles with this devastating disease. Alzheimer's destroys one's cognitive ability, essentially robbing a person of their very being. Moore's performance is nothing less than phenomenal.  Her portrayal of Alice is profound & deeply moving.  We feel her confusion, & anxiety as we watch her progressively diminish and loose her hold on life.  It is heartwrenching to watch the transformation from an exceptional person with a rich life to a non-verbal, feeble person totally dependent on caregivers.  Baldwin & Stewart show the collateral pain & suffering Alzheimer's inflicts on loved ones.  Alice tells her husband "I wish I had cancer.  I wouldn't have to be so ashamed."   This intelligent & stirring film reminds us that we are a compilation of our memories and while we're still here, to live life to its fullest.      

BETWEEN RIVERSIDE & CRAZY@2ND STAGE, Crazy Good

Stephen Guirgis' (Our Lady of 121st St) new play is a perplexing good time.  The characters are either bona fide criminals, addicts or delusional regarding their self-importance.  Pops (Stephen Henderson, Fences/Raisin in the Sun with Denzel Washington) is the patriarch & ruler of of the roost of a decripit (rent frozen) apartment on the UWS on Riverside.  He's a widower living there with his nefarious son Jr., Jr.'s sexy girlfriend and Jr.'s ex-con pal.  Pops is a retired police officer who delivers a new twist to the miserable, loud mouthed curmudgeon.  Eight years ago, Pops was shot multiple times while off duty, drinking in the wee hours by a white officer who allegedly yelled "Nigger" before firing.  Regardless of the threat of eviction for failing to pay, he is still holding out for a huge settlement from the city.  Pop's was offered a large settlement at the time which he declined holding out for a richer pot.   Pop's ex-female partner professes her adoration for Pop while her fiancee, also a cop, tries to get him to  settle.  A trying & enigmatic poker game of offers & demands ensues.  The sharp dialogue and exceptional acting by the entire stellar cast makes this show a wild; a mix of dark humor & character study.  The gifted playwright asks "Who really knows anybody?"  This is an entertaining play to see, & discuss.  There will be viewpoints from various deranged sides.

ON the TOWN-It's a Hell of a Shitty Show except for the Dancers

Leonard Bernstein & Jerome Robbins have made arguable the best musical of all time; "West Side Story."  "On the Town" was created stemming from Robbins' ballet for the NYC Ballet Co."Fancy Free," which is still being performed around the world by major ballet companies.  The legendary composer, conductor Leonard Bernstein, wrote the music for "On the Town" which was 1st performed in 1944 as a jingoist salute to our soldiers with a wink at finding love on shore leave in the Big Apple.  The show starts with a large Amer. Flag & the splendid orchestra performing a rousing rendition of our Nat'l anthem which had the audience rightly up on their feet.  However, after that the audience can fall asleep for this silly snorer except for seeing Megan Fairchild, a principal dancer for NYC Ballet dancing on stage.  Two of the male ensemble dancers are also with the NYC Ballet.  The dancing elevated the choreography to a new art form in musical theater. But, aside from those few glimmering highlights, the show was dated, campy, ludicrous with garish, glaring lighting.  A nightclub emcee in the show called out Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara in the audience only to insult them.  This cast member also asked the crowd to sing happy birthday to a member of the audience.  I thought the show appalling bad, however,  I was surrounded by a laughing, cheering crowd.  I can only say On the TOWN holds an appeal for out of towners & not New Yorkers.  Hopefully, this show will bring more people to the ballet. audience to ballet.

AMERICAN SNIPER-Taking a lot of Unwarranted Pot Shots

The film "American Sniper" directed by Clint Eastwood is based on Navy Seal Chris Kyle's life & service in Iraq.  Kyle's 160 kills makes him the deadliest sniper in U.S. history. This movie warrants being viewed by all Americans.  Hopefully, this will open discussions on America's war involvement. The film itself is frentic & choppy.  The Iraqi combat scenes & family life in the states are erratically juxtaposed.  Eastwood's lens puts the viewers in the trenches with palpable tension & abhorrence.  An unrecognizable Sienna Miller plays Taya, Chris' frustrated wife.  Bradly Cooper portrays Kyle making a brutal & exhausting war movie, watchable & thought provoking.  We must not be blindsided to the fact that many heroic men & women are getting themselves killed & gravely wounded serving our country.  Between tours in Iraq, Kyle is disoriented & easily agitated.  Chris tells Taya "People aren't talking about the war going on and I'm going to the mall. I should be over there."  Taya questions Chris, "why do you have to go back?  Let someone else serve."  She also asks, "Do you realize there's a person at the other end of your gun."  We all need to ask, why are our troops there and what should be done as a nation.

WEDDING RINGER-Watch It & Laugh

The Wedding Ringer is a hilarous romp with a humdinger plot.  Doug (Josh Gad, Book of Mormon) is about to marry his dream girl, Paige (Kelly Cuoco, Big Bang.)  Paige is a beautiful wedding diva who appears to be out of Doug's league.  In addition, Doug needs a league of groomsmen to match her 7 bridesmaids. (Gad has the lovable loser down pat.)  As Doug, he can't scrap up anyone to stand up for him. In comes Jimmy (Kevin Hart.)  Hart has stolen mine with his comedic flair.  He's a lovable schemer who runs a clandestine service to aid hapless chaps in need of bestman services.  Finding 7 groomsmen in 2 is Jimmy's most challenging request.  Doug is willing to pay "anything."  Can you say kahching-this is strictly business?  Jimmy rounds up a motley crew of oddballs.  Let the good times roll.  Despite, an obvious outcome, gratuitous car chases & salacious bachelor party, this movie had me laughing in the aisle.  Even Broadway Joe makes a cameo.  This is silly fun with some touching moments.  Don't miss the party, see WEDDING RINGER.

British Film MR. TURNER, A Work of Art Slowly Drawn Out

MR. TURNER, the biopic film on the famous British landscape painter, known for capturing light on canvas, is a movie that captures great scenice beauty and the "Downton Abbey" lifestyles of the patritian society & working class.  The sumptuous cinematography is the canvas for this masterpiece of artistic achievement in filmmaking.  The epoch of British life in the 19th C is brought vivdly to life in the marketplaces, art galleries, drawing rooms and countrysides.   Major industrial advancements such as the railroads & steamships convene into the fabric of life as well as the disdainful slave trade; Turner portrayed this in "Slave Ship" 1840.  This is not a sluggishly paced movie.  We observe Mr. Turner as eccentric, reclusive & crude.  His only true devotion seems to be for his father, an elderly widow & his passion for his art.  The arduous process of painting & procuring materials are highlighted.  This movie is a glorious kaleidoscope of colors, light & landscapes that are constantly shifting.  Turner's legacy of works has been made into an extraordinary film.  As magnificent as this film is, there will be cynicism in viewing for many as being tedious and dreadfully long.  Still, one will be hard pressed not to observe our surroundings on a more intent level.        

EVERY BRILLIANT THING-Glimmers with Bright Moments

British comedienne, writer Jonny Donahoe co-wrote & stars in this "solo" play at the Barrow Theater.  "Solo" because he draws audience participation, both as actors & reciters of items on his interminable list of brilliant things.  There are 2 types of audience goers, those who love to be drawn into being an active participant (or find this amusing) and those who dread the idea of being called upon and find this droll.  The charming idea to EVERY BRILLIANT THING is a riff on Our Town.  "Do any human beings ever realize life when they life it? (T. Wilder) A 7 yr. old boy understands his mother is very unhappy.  (His mother is depressed & suicidal.)  The son thinks his list of things that give him joy, presented to his mom, will make her happy.  A brilliant idea from a child, nonetheless, not one that serves to mitigate his mother's clinical depression.  Audience members are called upon to recite items from this list "ice cream, yellow, striped things…"  Jonny finds willing participants (hams; wanna be actors) to play in his "game:" father, psychologist, wife.  Not without its heartwarming & poignant moments, the play feels like a public service announcement for those considering suicide, "Don't do it, things get better."  For those considering this show, don't do it.  Unless, of course, you're the type who finds this sort of thing amusing.

Isreali Choreographers Showcase Their Work @ 92ndY

After having seen Israeli choreographer, Ohan Naharin's "Minus 16" performed by the amazing Alvin Ailey Co., I was anticipating avant garde works from the Out of Israel 2015, program. The tickets were only $10 for the hour program, but I found it disappointing.  (Still, $10 for an hour live dance program is a bargain.)  The 1st piece, Teaser by Dana Katz, had 3 dances.  Katz was among the dancers. The mannequin like stances were interspersed with robotic, sporadic movements.   Cryptic comments were spoken by the dancers.  This piece had originality, a tense dynamic and a bit of whimsy.  I enjoyed the visual art projection that followed the dancing. The other piece by Idan Porges, "Too Hot To Handle" was intriguing with a pastiche of dance styles.  The movements on the floor were sensual with a dreamlike quality.  Porges used music by Rachmaninov which provided both a romantic & lyrical quality to the dancing.  The other two works on the program were interchangeable and forgettable aside from the athleticism of the dancers.  According to the program "Tel Aviv-based choreographers are showing the rest of the world why Israel is the current hub of of boundary-breaking contemporary dance."  I don't agree. Do see works by Israeli choreographer, Ohad Naharin.  

Maya Angelou's AWAKING in NY-PoetryinMotion'15

Jackpot!  METRO's Poetry-in-Motion series is starting off with a hard act to follow.  Poetress, writer, entertainer, & woman extraordinaire, Maya Angelou, sadly passed away last year.  Ms. Angelou, awarded the Nat'l Medal of the Arts & Pres. Medal of Freedom & besotted with countless other well deserved honors, pays tribute to her beloved New Yorkers with her poem "Awaking in New York" which I spotted on today's subway:

      Curtains forcing their will against the wind,
Children sleep, exchanging dreams with seraphim.
 The city drags itself awake on subway straps; and
          I, an alarm, awake as a rumor of war,
  lie stretching into dawn, unasked and unheeded.

This beautiful poem captures the irrepressible New Yorker's spirit and optimism.

Kara Walker's Afterworld exhibit-Remnants of A Subtlety

Kara Walker's large scale sphinx sculpture (35' tall) A Subtlety a.k.a. the Marvelous Sugar Baby was the most memorable art experience of the summer.  Walker, known for her paper silohuettes depicting leud & oppressive images of slavery, was commissioned to make a large installation in the defunct Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn.  The installation featured an all white sphinx nude figure of a black woman except for an "aunt Jamima" scarf.  The installation drew long lines and close to 150,000 visitors.  The experience was open to various interpretations and was subject to demolishment exposed to the elements inside the broken down factory.  There were also several life size resin sculptures of young boys covered in molasses.  The Sikkema Jenkins Gallery in Chelsea has several remnants from the exhibition including several molasses sculptures & the fist of Sugar Baby.  There are numerous study sketches by Walker for her gargantuous figure.  Also on view are watercolors that are picturesque from a distance until you come up close & perceive the horrors depicted.  Note the large scale Turner style painting of a colorful sea landscape that reveals slave hands with chains protruding through the water.  Most entertaining are the sketches Walker made observing people interacting with her art.  If you missed Sugar Baby, don't miss this exhibit.  If you were fortunate to interface with the show, you will find sketches of reactions to her powerful & enigmatic work. Some show lude & antagonistic responses.  Walker's work does spark controversy, more importantly - dialogue.

SELMA Historic Preamble for Civil Rights-A MUST SEE

SELMA represents our country's heroism in the face of orchestrated oppression & cruelty.   The film focuses on  the most significant period of the 20th C in our country's history; the civil rights movement.  The consummate degradation & persecution of blacks rendered a morass of hopelessness & fear.  The brutal & unflinching footage of horrific beatings & killings of peaceful demonstrators seeking their constitutional right to vote are extremely painful to watch.  Dr. Martin Luther King (portrayed with pensive dignity by a magnificient David Oyelowo) is shown strategizing, speaking and meeting with Pres. Johnson to seek passage of the Voting Rights Act in order to abolish systemic white tyranny.  This movie may be viewed as the darkest of our history's humanity and, as the most honorable acts of courage & sacrifice by many.  But, everyone must view this salient film.  The recent police killings & failures to indite reenforces that complacency in society is a dangerous & a slippery slope to forfeiting our rights.  The right for peaceful protest is imperative for a just & equal  society.  Utilize your right to vote.  Responsibility lies with everyone and the time is always now to oppose inequality & inhumanity.  SELMA is a great movie.  SELMA will receive numerous awards & Oscar votes.      

CONSTELATIONS with Stars Jake Gyllenhall & Ruth Wilson

British playwright, Nick Payne received a Laurence Olivier nomination for his celestial & cerebral play CONSTELLATIONS ('12.)  This 1 act 2 actor play stars Ruth Wilson (The Affair) as Marianne, a Cambridge physicist and Jake Gyllenhaal (Acad Award nom. actor) as Roland, an apiarist.  The 2 meet at a mutual friend's party and their relationship and their lives are played out in multiple scenarios in a superior sliding doors format. This clever play is a thespian's dream of stimulating theater.  Scenes are replayed between short blackouts in countless ways along a tenuous time line.  Similar situations are rehashed with varying dialogues, reactions & interpretations as if by happenstance.  The intriguing premise built upon the mysterious relationships between choice & preordained destiny.  This is a beguiling, philosophical examination of life's infinitesimal realm of possibilities, with the foreknowledge of one's mortality.   Are there parrallel universes, simultaneous existence?  Is time irrelevant?  Are we free to choose or change our minds?    This intellectual play will be a stellular choice for an erudite audience.  Did I mention it stars Jake Gyllenhall; Hubbuh Hubbuh.