Bob Powers

MARIETTA, OH, USA - Not everyone can boast of having appeared on the radio in the Land Down Under. I can.

A phone call came from Nathan Phillips, producer of a popular talk show in Melbourne, Australia. The program is hosted by Roland Rocchiccioli (please don't request a pronunciation guide; for the live show I called him Roland). Show business types invariably call everyone by their first name, so I felt safe in not tackling the proper name in my accent, a combination of the places I harken from: Kentucky where I was born and West Virginia where I grew up.

Phillips explained that his boss had decided to devote the following Sunday night's show to Rosemary Clooney. That date, June 29, marked one year since the death of singer Rosemary Clooney.

It took a couple of phone calls from Melbourne to set up what would be expected of me. Since I worked four years as entertainment reporter for Columbus Radio Station WCOL and conducted my own show there on weekday mornings, radio wasn't something that made me nervous or anxious. Early in my "career" at WCOL, I would do a live segment every Friday morning, discussing who would be coming to Columbus. Occasionally I would do an interview with a visiting musician or actor, which I found to be the highlight of those days on radio. Celebrities I talked with included the irrepressible Mickey Rooney, the Broadway producer Lawrence Kasha, and actress Mariette Hartley (who wasn't exactly the most gracious person I'd ever encountered).

In the days prior to the anniversary commemoration, I made some notes to help prevent any senior moment (which occur with more frequency as the years speed by). Finally, Sunday morning arrived. I was supposed to receive a call around nine. Australian time runs eleven hours ahead of Eastern daylight, so the program with Rocchiccioli was being heard late Sunday evening.

The host had found a 1998 article in Harper's Bazaar that included an interview with Rosemary and he read excerpts. He also found time to play one of Rosemary's older hit records, "Mambo Italian." Finally, after sitting with the phone in my hands for what seemed an eternity, Roland began to introduce me. The only miscue he made was in calling the magazine for which I write as "Generation 21: The World's Magazine." At the end of the program, he apologized for the misstatement. Good guy he was.

Since I'm usually doing the questions, whether for my 21 columns or for other writing pieces for my book review column in the local (Marietta, Ohio) newspaper, I found it a bit odd. But Roland had done a good job in asking the questions about Rosemary. It seemed almost impossible to believe a year had passed since her death.

Roland, who was altogether a decent chap, seemed pleased with the segment. "Good show," he declared as he thanked me for participating. Later I wished I had complained about not being invited, at the station's expense, to Melbourne for an eye-to-eye encounter. I've always wanted to visit the country. Oh well, I have producer Nathan's e-mail address, so I can do a follow-up message suggesting the broadcast company pay for a flight to Melbourne, along with a plane ticket for my wife Betty and a nice hotel for the duration of the visit. Sounds good to me. How about you?

The Piano Explosion

The piano has exploded onto the jazz scene this year, with any number of outstanding CDs worth your attention. Leading the pack is "Going Home" (Palmetto Records), a stirring exhibition of finger technique and jazz expertise.

Billy Mays has been around for years, and he's definitely a good one. "Going Home" puts the spotlight on a musician best known as an accompanist and to our amazement, we learn that Mays has more than paid his dues. The musicians he worked several decades ago include some of the big names, including Buddy Collette, Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Shelly Manne and other brilliant performers.

The new album includes Matt Wilson on drums and Martin Wind on base. Mays has a loud and percussive sound that may seem a bit overdrawn. He has assembled an array of tunes that become better with every hearing.

A Mays composition, "Judy," opens the album with a sense of comfort and just a small slice of showing off, in the best sense of that phrase. Mays plays with strength and confidence and the payoff comes naturally. This veteran never need apologize to anyone for the gray hair and crow's feet. Don't mess with Billy. He's the real article and he's on the prowl.

Also from Palmetto Records is a terrific collection featuring the Fred Hersch Trio. Recorded at the fabled Village Vanguard in New York City, this disc provides a bit more of an adventuresome attitude from pianist Hersch, ably abetted by Dress Gress on bass and the outstanding Nasheet Waits behind the drum kit.

There are six originals on the CD, along with Thelonious Monk's collabaration with Denzil Best, "Bemsha Swing." It's a perfect way to launch the album. Wayne Shorter's goodie, "Miyake/Black Nile" should bring smiles from the remaining bopsters still healthy enough to make it down to the Village Vanguard. This wonderful album ends with the delightful "I'll Be Seeing You." I can guarantee that most people who take home this CD will be seeing (and hearing) it often.

Sheila Takes Off

Sheila Jordan is another one of those accomplished singers who someday will finally achieve the acclaim that should have been hers many moons ago. If you just said, "Who's Sheila Jordan?" I won't launch a lecture. But do me a favor. Listen to Sheila Jordan and then try to say she's not one of the best that jazz has to offer.

Agreed, the voice is sort of scratchy and you may find her vocal gyrations more than a trifle odd. But keep playing this new CD, "Sheila Jordan: Little Song" (High Note Records) and you will find yourself ready to join her fan club.

Jordan shows a wide range in choosing material, from "Autumn in New York" to "On a Slow Boat to China" (when did you last hear that chestnut?). Kenny Dorham's "Fairweather" shows Jordan just as relaxed with this jazz gem as with those elderly pop songs from long ago.

Do yourself a major favor. Buy a copy of a wonderful singer's latest album. You'll thank me and admit that sometimes I even know what I'm writing about.

Bob Powers always is interested in hearing from record distributors who deal in jazz, rock, folk, and anything that's good. For instructions on getting your album reviewed, contact him at oldbob@localnet.com.

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