Because it’s fun. Because it’s perfectly satisfying.
No time to breathe. I am busy working, and planning and scheming. And writing. And reading a book about the House of Rothschild. And visiting with family. And getting together with friends. And leaving some time out for crying jags. And exercise.
But mostly … mostly I’m scheming.
I have always loved the above clip and find it very relaxing. It’s two Superpowers Meeting and Chilling. It’s two grown men enjoying each other, being awesome for each other. Kinda like that great Cher/Raquel Welch duet.
Happy Monday.
Sheila–
My wife and I just finished viewing a superb DVD called The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher. It features three BBC films that cover her career, and she is played by three different actresses. Two performances, by Patricia Hodge and Lindsay Duncan, are commanding. Meryl Streep may have offered an actor’s tour-de-force, but these two get down into the gut. Highly recommended.
Milton – wow, sounds really really interesting. I will check it out!
Oh Sheila! Thank you for that!
Isn’t it just FABULOUS?
A thing of beauty is a joy forever!
I love how it’s such a great example of how little you have to do to be 100% entertaining. (That is, if you have talent). I could watch these two guys for hours, doing just that, and never get sick of it.
Jones’s metronomic bobbing contrasts marvelously with Lewis’s impulsiveness. That’s not remotely a slight on Jones; his sinewy fidelity to the beat is the furthest thing from stiff. While Lewis, equally deserving of the praise Manny Farber gave Thelonious Monk for always hitting the right wrong note, tosses off that lean-back/slow-mo arcing right arm/keyboard-running left arm/heel-to-the-keys combo with the frictionless panache of a champion athlete.
This works just as well on a Tuesday, Sheila. Thanks.
Bruce – // the frictionless panache of a champion athlete. // Totally. And making it look easy, no strain. He also looks like such a bad-ass – like, there’s something nasty and cold in his eyes, if you know what I mean. Decadent.
And yeah: Jones. Cool and yet hot at the same time, and always, always, keeping his eye on Jerry Lee Lewis.
Just love this pairing!
Sheila–
In line with your reading about the Rothschild’s, there has been heightened. recent interest in Panonica (Nica) Rothschild de Koenigswater, known as the “Jazz Baroness.” Born into Rothschild wealth, she developed a passionate interest in American jazz and for over three decades befriended, encouraged and in many cases virtually saved a number of jazz musicians, allowing them to practice their art. Particularly of note was her close relationship to Thelonius Monk. She brought food to musicians’ families, bought them new instruments and held jam sessions in her apartments until she was kicked out. Somewhat eccentric, she still became one of the greatest positive personalities in jazz history.
Two biographies have been published recently: the fascinating Nica’s Dream (the name of a famous Monk compositiion), by David Kastin, published in 2011 and the newly issued The Baroness by her great-niece Hannah Rothschild, who also made a documentary about her great-aunt which appeared on the BBC and HBO. It is narrated by Helen Mirren. Over the years there were sinister rumors about Nica’s involvement with jazz musicians, particularly because Charlie Parker died in her apartment. These books set the record straight. Her life was an important part of jazz history, and a fascinating offshoot of the Rothschild family’s history.
Milt
Very interesting that Thelonius Monk was referenced twice in this comments thread – once about the clip of Jerry Lee Lewis/Tom Jones and once about the Rothschilds. There are moments when I remember: “Wow, I love my own site!”
Thanks for the further information, Milt! I am way back in the beginning of the family, so I have quite a ways to go!