Film
David Kramer Presents Jimi Hendrix – The Documentary/ The Review
by John Muller ( Blue Notes and Conversations)
“There’s so much misinformation out there in movies, documentaries and the internet, it’s as if there’s a deliberate campaign of disinformation to mislead in an attempt to rewrite history” says David Kramer. “The Hendrix-story has taken on urban myth-like proportions – stories abound that many people believe to be true but largely are not.”
I had the good fortune of seeing Emmy-Award winner David Kramer’s truly remarkable “Jimi Hendrix – The Documentary” at the Nyack International Film Festival. Hard for me to believe that the sensational 2-hour film that we were able to view is part of a much larger, even more extensive 12-plus hour, multi-part series covering the life and times of Jimi Hendrix. This is unauthorized, and that point was made by David at the screening on Saturday night, the Hendrix Estate legally trying to suppress the entire series, so far, thankfully unsuccessfully. It is a truly incredible slice of history, an amazing look into the life of Jimi Hendrix, without the hype and the canonization, without the beatification, leaving the legend behind so we get a deeper and closer look at the man himself. No bullshit – just the truth from those who knew him, performed with him, and were close to him.
Kramer has spent the last 30 years, with a small team, pulling together, unearthing, discovering hours of unseen Jimi Hendrix footage, well over 400 on-camera interviews, music clips and celebrating Jimi Hendrix – his joy, his humor, the tragedy, the mystery and all that surrounded Jim’s life and music.
I was fascinated by the segments presented on the screen, details many of which were unknown to me, a Jimi fan for decades. From the days when the Isley brothers auditioned an up and coming guitar player in the early 1960’s he already had quite a reputation for his unorthodox style of guitar work – left handed and upside down – onto the times Jimi spent living with the Isley Family in Teaneck, New Jersey; his performance at the Paterson Armory that had fellow musicians thunderstruck and amazed and the fans crazed with delight; his early days performing, including a date with the Isley’s in West Nyack, New York at a battle-of-the-bands held outside on a flatbed truck. Those acid-dripping and alcohol-fueled performances at the legendary nightclub: The Scene, located in the basement of 301 West 46th Street where bands like The Animals, the Who, Young Rascals, Fleetwood Mac, Jeff Beck, Traffic, Muddy Waters, The Lovin’ Spoonful, and Led Zeppelin, all performed nightly where jam sessions always followed. Jimi regularly jamming into the wee hours of the morning with folks like Janis Joplin, Stephen Stills, Jim Morrison. On one particularly wild night Morrison was deep into drugs and alcohol, his performance with Jimi incoherent as Morrison screamed into the mic, going so far as to try to sexually seduce Jimi on stage with bouncers dragging him out of the club, as Morrison continuing to howl like a banshee on the mic as he was dragged outside.
Hendrix jamming with anyone, Johhny Winter among so many others mentioned in the film, and everyone who was lucky enough to make it inside the cramped and packed basement club on any given night of the week. Seemed like everyone wanted to outperform Jimi up on that dimly lit stage – and both the interview with, and video of Larry Coryell and Hendrix really illuminates the rivalry that many felt. The interviews with musicians who were there, those who performed with Hendrix, managers, friends and musicians, give a real keen insight into the real-life Jimi Hendrix, tossing aside the myths and the halo. He was a quiet, unassuming guy, who loved to perform, thrilled to play his guitar and have fun on that small basement stage, drinking his red wine, blending into the crazy scene of hangers-ons, groupies, friends, musicians, managers, cultural icons and lovers.
Sitting there watching the documentary I was transfixed by the interviews, by the footage and details from the “Isle of Wight” concert, the mysterious gentlemen who surrounded Jimi just before he was found dead in London, the reminiscences that were carefully compiled, interviews that came straight from the heart from so many who knew Jimi, performed with him, hung out with him, slept with him, and deeply cared about him – and many who were very worried about so many strange events that were part of Jimi’s life towards the end of his life. The details about “The Monkees Party ” where Jimi was rescued by John Sebastian, a good friend, the infamous opening night party held at Electric Lady Studios where Japanese food was served spiked with acid unbeknownst to many, an event few remember, but those who do, say it was quite a trip!
As I sat there watching the film I could hear yells and cheers, cries from the audience as folks like Ginger Baker, Todd Rundgren, Jorma Kaukonen and Stephen Stills, to name but a few and many regional musicians from the New York area who were interviewed known to the audience as some were in attendance on Saturday night.
David Kramer Presents: Jimi Hendrix-The Documentary is a fascinating film, a project filled with enormous amounts of love and respect, dedication and perseverance. We get to see another side of Hendrix, stripping away the facade, hacking apart the legend, breaking down the walls of historical inaccuracies and legendary misinformation.
Jimi was a performer, a musician with other-worldly talent, who enjoyed playing the guitar, hanging out with friends, loved his women and up to a certain point in his life, was really enjoying himself as a regular person. We are welcomed into a world of intrigue, mistrust, free love, psychedelic-drug fueled jam sessions, explosive stage performances, explosive tirades, mafia influences, complete meltdowns, unbelievable guitar pyrotechnics and electrifying stage theatrics from a guy named James Marshal “Jimi” Hendrix.
A must-see for music fans worldwide. Seek this movie out immediately! I was captivated, mesmerized, and thoroughly entranced by the 2-hours that passed by as magically as the notes from “Purple Haze.” Outstanding achievement!
Rock guitarist, singer, composer, bandleader Jimi was gone by September 18, 1970 at the young age of 27. He certainly lived a remarkable life. Thanks so much David Kramer for giving us a chance to know Jimi a little bit better as a person, as a gifted and somewhat troubled human being, seeing him warts and all for the first time, a journey that was certainly worth the wait. What a trip!
Nominations for the 2024 Chita Rivera Awards were revealed by Bebe Neuwirth, this afternoon April 29 at 1 p.m. on ABC News’ “GMA3: What You Need to Know.” Winners will be named at an awards ceremony on May 20 at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters is the recipient of this year’s award for lifetime achievement.
The mission of the Chita Rivera Awards is to celebrate dance and choreographic excellence, preserve notable dance history, recognize past, present, and future talents, while promoting high standards in dance education and investing in the next generation.
Nominators considered outstanding choreography, featured dancers, and ensemble in shows on Broadway and Off Broadway, as well as outstanding choreography in film, that opened in the 2023-2024 season. Nominations for the productions under consideration this season will be determined by the designated nominating committee. There are separate nominating committees for Broadway, Off Broadway and Film. There is also an awarding committee for Broadway, which determines the final nominations that are received from the Broadway nominations committee.
All proceeds of the Chita Rivera Awards benefit the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation Scholarship Program. The NYCDA Foundation is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) committed to broadening performing arts awareness while advocating education and high standards of excellence in dance.
This year, all funding and proceeds will support the creation of a new Chita Rivera Training Scholarship.
Broadway
Outstanding Choreography In A Broadway Show
Camille A Brown, Hell’s Kitchen
Julia Cheng, Cabaret
Rick and Jeff Kuperman, The Outsiders
Lorin Latarro, The Heart of Rock and Roll / The Who’s Tommy
Justin Peck, Illinoise
Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water For Elephants
Outstanding Dancer In A Broadway Show
Antoine Boissereau, Water For Elephants
Ben Cook, Illinoise
Chloe Davis, Hell’s Kitchen
Gaby Diaz, Illinoise
Tilly Evans-Kreuger, The Outsiders
Rachel Lockhart, Illinoise
Phillip Johnson Richardson, The Wiz
Byron Tittle, Illinoise
Ricky Ubeda, Illinoise
Avery Wilson, The Wiz
Outstanding Ensemble In A Broadway Show
Cabaret
Hell’s Kitchen
Illinoise
The Heart of Rock and Roll
The Outsiders
Water For Elephants
Film & Documentary
Outstanding Choreography In A Theatrical Release
Barbie, Choreographer: Jennifer White
Carmen, Choreographer: Benjamin Millepied / Marina Tamayo
Color Purple, Choreographer: Fatima Robinson
Mean Girls, Choreographer: Kyle Hanagami / Casey Nicholaw
Wonka, Choreographer: Christopher Gattelli
Outstanding Direction Of A Dance Documentary
Daughters, Directors: Angela Patton / Natalie Rae
Eldorado: everything the Nazi’s Hate, Directors: Benjamin Cantu / Matt Lambert
Lift, Director: David Petersen
Studio One Forever, Director: Marc Saltarelli
Swan Song, Director: Chelsea McMullan
G.H. Harding
VANESSA & KJERTSI’S “LEGS” — (Via ET) The actress and singer has debuted her first new music in 15 years — proving she’s absolutely ageless. More than 30 years after her first music release, Vanessa Williams remains iconic! The 61-year-old actress and singer proves without a doubt that she hasn’t missed a step in her new pop-dance track, “Legs (Keep Dancing)” — poking fun at her age in the lyrics while inciting the envy of decades-younger viewers by flaunting her ageless gams and on-point dance moves in the accompanying music video. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGEs_X5Ngfo)
Kjersti Long
“They say the legs are the last to go / I’mma keep dancing,” Williams croons in the new track, her first original music since 2009. “I’ve got work left to do, and I’m not close to through / Not while I’ve still got these legs!”
The instantly-viral track had social media in a spiral, with fans posting, “Vanessa Williams just dropped a new song and video!!!!!! 61 y’all oh you pop girls are in danger.”
Williams announced “Legs” earlier this month, sharing on Instagram, “Finally my new music is coming out! Been 15 years since the last album but the time is right…
Called my old team up who’ve been creating with me for years. Still here, still standing, still kicking in fact …about to give em Hell again.
“In a press release about the single, Williams noted that the title was inspired by her late co-star, Diahann Carroll, whose 2008 memoir was titled The Legs Are The Last To Go. ‘Diahann played my mother in a movie I produced, The Courage to Love, and has always been a huge inspiration for me,’ she noted. ‘I remember seeing her talking to Oprah about her autobiography. She spoke so beautifully and confidently about her age and power and the fact that beauty fades but your legs give you strength and are the last to go.'”
Additionally, the longtime performer is taking the reins behind the scenes this time around, with her own recording label, Mellian Music.”What a joy it is to be making new music behind the [mic] again with old friends.”
“There’s a certain comfort in creating new works in the studio while reminiscing about how so many years in this business have brought successes, excitement, and lasting memories. Always moving forward is what drives me. Every challenge is exciting. And more new music to share with my fans is the fuel that lights my fire.”
Williams isn’t just making a comeback in pop music these days. She also recently signed on to play bad b**ch boss Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada’s musical debut on London’s West End. The upcoming rendition features a score by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub, a book by Kate Wetherhead, and direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell. The show is set to debut in October 2024 — with Williams sharing a sneak peek at a song titled “House of Miranda” on social media last month.
The actress and performer made her Broadway return in 2022, playing a fictitious first lady in POTUS, a comedy from playwright Selina Fillinger. “It is really wonderful to be a part of something that is so innovative,” she told ET at the time of the ensemble production directed by Susan Stroman.
The song “”Legs (Keep Dancing)” was written by Chantry Johnson, Kipper Jones and Kjersti Long.
The 17-year-old wunderkind Long, who has a hit with her current single “Sad Song,” (Origin Entertainment/ModSquad) is prepping an EP called Emotions for release later this year and is in preparation for her musical Relative Space to be presented in the U.K.
There’s also some additional news on “Legs (Keep Dancing)” which we will reveal shortly.
SHORT TAKES — CBS just can’t catch a break. First it was cutting off their debut airing of Billy Joel at MSG short; second was canceling their brilliant So Help Me Todd, and now, they’ve also canceled NCIS: Hawai’i ... Elliot Mintz, John & Yoko’s PR-man for decades is releasing his book, John, Yoko and Me in the fall. Never met him, though I’ve heard both positive and not-positive things about him. Check out People’s story: https://people.com/new-book-reveals-bond-between-yoko-ono-john-lennon-and-elliot-mintz-exclusive-8638472 …
One of the best movies of the 80’s was Alan Alda’s The Four Season, with Jack Weston; Carol Burnett; Len Cariou; Rita Moreno; and Tony Roberts. Alda, riding high with the success of MASH, wrote and directed the movie, which depicted three couples on vacation together. Sure, the original was quite some time ago but now the movie is being re-booted with Steve Carrel and Tina Fey in the title roles. I hope there’s a cameo for Alda … as there should be. Check out the story in Deadline: https://deadline.com/2024/04/steve-carell-joins-tina-fey-in-the-four-seasons-netflix-1235893627/#comment-4048146 …
Jon Bon Jovi’s Hulu doc premiered Friday (Thank You, Goodnight) and even though Richie Sambora walked out after episode 2 at a private screening, I’m keen to see what was said, and not said. So far, it’s been promoted as being pretty forthcoming; not like the very disappointing Run-DMC doc on Peacock.
Richie Sambora
I’ve watched the first two episodes and there’s no mention of his wife Dorothea, but there were glimpses of Paul Korzilius and Obie O’Brien. And, in episode 2, Sambora showed up very, very briefly. A revealing interview with him appeared in Deadline and definitely worth a read: https://deadline.com/2024/04/bon-jovi-hulu-thank-you-goodnight-interview-1235893947/ …
Can it really be 40 years since the Pet Shops Boys’ “West End Girls?” They have a new album out, Nonetheless, produced by James Ford, who has worked with Blur and the Artic Monkeys. Great interview in the Financial Times. Take a look: https://www.ft.com/content/b4e744ce-ca10-4b3b-a2c5-b7995dab089e btw: whatever happened to Bobby Orlando? … Interesting comment from Finneas (Billie Eilish’s brother) in the current Rolling Stone: “I feel like old-school music listening is going to have a comeback, in the same way that cinema did last year with Barbenheimer. Everything’s a counter-movement to the movement,” he says. “I think that’s going to lead back to immersing yourself in an album.” Exactly what we’ve been saying and hoping for, for months … Happy Bday Cindy Adams (94!); David LaRue; and RIP Mike Pinder and Tony Pigg.
NAMES IN THE NEWS — Roger Clark; Derek Storm; Paula Zion; Chloe Rabinowitz; Van Dean; Patti Conte; Simo Doe; Mark Bego; Paul Undersinger; Cori Gardner; Donnie Kehr; William Schill; Simo Doe; Madonna; Jellybean; Rich Dart; John Billings; Steve Leeds; Vinny Rich; Steve Plotnicki; Manny Bella; and ZIGGY!
Wow the question will be what to choose? Here are our top picks.
92 Street Y: 1395 Lexington Ave. 5/1: AMC’s Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire Season 2: Advance Screening with Series Stars Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Assad Zaman, Additional Cast and Creators in Conversation; 5/2: Jeff Daniels Discusses His Career and Latest Role in Netflix’s A Man In Full with Nicolle Wallace; 5/5: An Evening with Andy Cohen: The Daddy Diaries; 5/6: Whoopi Goldberg in Conversation with Adriana Trigiani: Bits and Pieces; 5/7: Tom Selleck in Conversation with Bridget Moynahan; 5/9: An Evening with Jason Robert Brown; 5/19: Merrily We Roll Along: Director Maria Friedman in Conversation with Jonathan Groff; 5/20: Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin in Conversation with MTV’s Josh Horowitz and 5/21: Steve Guttenberg in Conversation with Tony Danza: “Time to Thank: Caregiving for My Hero”
Birdland Jazz: 315 West 44 St. Every Monday at 5:30 Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks and 9:30pm Jim Caruso’s Cast Party; Every Tuesday at 8:30pm The Lineup with Susie Mosher; 5/10, 11 and 12: Billy Stritch Trio; 5/14: Ann Kittredge; 5/20: Steve Ross and 5/27: Karen Akers.
Cafe Carlyle: 35 E 76th St. 5/3 -4: Julie Benko; 5/7 – 11: Matt Doyle; 5/14 – 18: John Lloyd Young;5/21-23: Bettye LaVetteand5/28-6/1: Ethan Slater.
Carnegie Hall: 881 7th Ave at 57th St.
Klea Blackhurst
Don’t Tell Mama: 343 W. 46 St. 5/9 and 10: Tanya Moberly.
The DJango: 2 Avenue of the Americas.
Dizzys Club Coca Cola: Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street.
54 Below: 254 West 54 St. 5/2, 5, 6: Marilyn Maye; 5/7 – 9: Melissa Errico: Sondheim in the City Vinyl Release Celebration Concert; 5/12: Lea DeLaria: Brunch Is Gay; 5/16, 19 and 27 : Linda Eder; 5/22: Carolyn Montgomery: girlSINGER, A Celebration of Rosemary Clooney; 5/28, 29, 31 and 6/1: Tony Danza: Standards & Stories
The Green Room 42: 570 10th Ave. 5/4: Josie de Guzman; 5/13: Reeve Carney and 5/16: Sally Mayes
Reeve Carney – Photo by Matthew Tammaro
Sony Hall: 235 W. 46th St. 5/17: People Got To Be Free Tour The Rascals ft. Felix Cavaliere & Gene Cornish
Theatre at the West Bank Café: 407 West 42 St. 5/ 4, 5, 11, 16, 25 and 26: Lucky Cheng’s Drag Brunch; 5/12: Alison Arngrim; 5/15: Michael and Mardie and 5/19: Craig Rubano.
The Triad: 158 W. 72 St. 5/7: Hamptons Summer Songbook By The Sea; 5/21:Between Fire & Ice – A Diabolical Weimar Berlin Kabarett
The Town Hall: 123 West 43rd Street. 5/4: Django A Gogo 2024 and 5/10: An Evening With John Cusack And Screening Of High Fidelity
The Paley Center for Media will present ” Spotlighting the Costumes That Captivated America” at its midtown museum through Sunday, May 19th. Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature, is at The Morgan Library & Museum through 6/9. Florals in Fashion highlights the work of designers Hilary Taymour (Collina Strada), Olivia Cheng (Dauphinette) and Kristen Alpaugh, aka FLWR PSTL Also Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz’s “Giants,”is at the Brooklyn Museum until 7/7. The exhibition features artists who have made and continue to make a significant impact on the art world and contemporary culture. The show features 98 artworks by Black American, African, and African artists including Gordon Parks, Kehinde Wiley, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mickalene Thomas, Hassan Hajjaj, Barkley L. Hendricks, Lorna Simpson, and Amy Sherald. Until 8/11 the Whitney Biennial, this happens every two years. This year, the theme is “Even Better Than The Real Thing” and features the work of 71 artists and collectives. Also on display is Apollo: When We Went to the Moon at The Intrepid Museum. The exhibit is included with museum admission and goes until 10/2. The Rubin Museum, is permanently closing its physical space later this year and is open until October. If you’ve never been time to go.
5/1: Rooftop movie schedule includes classics like When Harry Met Sally, Dirty Dancing, Grease, Mean Girls, Clueless, and so much more. Also expect special programming for Star Wars day, AAPI Heritage Month, Black Music Month, and Pride Month. Plus, it’s adding a Saturday Cereal Club and Mimosas & Muffins Sundays. Get tickets here.
5/1: Return of the 14-court pickleball installation via CityPickle that took over Wollman Rink in 2023. This year, the experience will offer players of all skill levels the chance to reserve courts or partake in open play sessions between 8am and 9pm daily.
Tina Kim Gallery
5/1 -5: Frieze New York a leading international art fair that launched in 2012. Frieze New York brings together the world’s leading galleries to showcase ambitious solo, group and themed presentations by pioneering artists and offers the opportunity to not only discover up-and-coming talent but also engage with some of art history’s most important figures. Following last year’s sold-out edition, the fair will return to The Shed
5/2 – 4: IlluminationNYC, a free, large-scale outdoor light show across two Lower Manhattan locations. The festival will create a dreamy oasis of light artists, live performers and DJs at Battery Park City in Belvedere Plaza, located on the elevated northwest corner above North Cove Marina. DJs will perform and local and international light artists will show off their work across three nights. RSVP for the free events here.
5/3: Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm at the Brooklyn Museum. John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, in a highly personal look.
5/5: Cinco de Mayo
5/5: TD Five Boro Bike Tour Approximately 32,000 cyclists pedal their way through all five boroughs on a traffic-free, 40-mile course.
5/11: The 3rd Japan Parade 11-5 on 72nd street (Btwn Central Park W & Columbus Ave)
5/11: Ecological City: Procession for Climate Solutions Giant puppets parade through the Lower East Side on to raise awareness for a giant issue: Climate solutions. There will also be visual art, music, dance, theater, and poetry.
5/12: Mother’s Day
5/16 – 23: NYCxDesign Creativity reigns during the annual NYCxDesign, the City’s official celebration of global design.
5/17 -23: SummerStage See dozens of free and ticketed live music performances in parks.
5/18 – 10/27: The New York Botanical Garden is getting in on the Mad Hatter fun with a new, garden-wide exhibition for 2024 titled “Wonderland: Curious Nature.”
5/22 – 28: Fleet Week
5/24: Intrepid Museum’s Summer Movie Series. May 24: Top Gun: Maverick
5/28 – 6/3: Festival Of Free Shakespeare In The Park Enjoy free Shakespeare performances throughout the City.
5/30: 
Entertainment
Live From The Hotel Edison Times Square Chronicles Presents Producer Pat Addiss, Patty McCormack and Dan Lauria
“Live From The Hotel Edison Times Square Chronicles Presents”, is filmed live every Wednesday from 5 – 6 in the lobby of the iconic Hotel Edison, before a live audience.
In this episode T2C’s publisher and owner Suzanna Bowling talks with Producer Pat Addiss, Patty McCormack and Dan Lauria
We are so proud because the show and our guests are now featured on the TV screens in the lobby and the hotel rooms.
I am so grateful to my guests Producer Pat Addiss, Patty McCormack and Dan Lauria. From May 3 – June 30, Patty and Dan will star in Dan Lauria’s play Just Another Day at Theater555. You can get tickets here.
You can see Patty in the remake of “The Bad Seed” here and in the original here.
Patty and Suzanna
Thank-you Magda Katz for videoing and creating the content to go live, the audience who showed up to support us, Rommel Gopez and The Hotel Edison for their kindness and hospitality.
You can catch us on the following platforms:
Pandora:
https://www.pandora.com/podcast/live-from-the-edison-hotel-times-square-chronicles-presents/PC:1001084740
Stitcher:
https://www.stitcher.com/show/1084740
Spotify:
Amazon:
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e3ac5922-ada8-4868-b531-12d06e0576d3
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-from-the-edison-hotel-times-square-chronicles-presents/id1731059092
We hope to see you there on May 1st. We will be announcing our guests tomorrow.
The 68th Annual Drama Desk Award Nominations
2024 Chita Rivera Award Nominations Celebrating The Best in Dance and Choreography
She Says: Alicia Keys Brings Life To NYC With Hell’s Kitchen
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Entertainment4 days agoLive From The Hotel Edison Times Square Chronicles Presents Producer Pat Addiss, Patty McCormack and Dan Lauria
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Celebrities3 days agoCeleb Sightings in April
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Off Broadway5 days agoSauna Boy Steams Up the Laura Beecham Theater
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Celebrity5 days agoThe Glorious Corner
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Art3 days ago
Events in May
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Entertainment3 days agoTribeca Festival Lineup Continues to Build