Southern Bookman

Pianist Garrick Ohlsson, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra reach Rachmaninoff fusion

Piano concertos can turn unbalanced, with the master musician's showy runs overwhelming the orchestra.

Avoiding that discord, master pianist Garrick Ohlsson and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra achieved a stirring symmetry Saturday night in a well-calibrated performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff's demanding Piano Concerto No. 3.

As Ohlsson thrilled the nearly full audience with rousing power chords contrasting with delicate melodic reveries, the ASO met the challenge of the Russian composer's protean score.

Spurred by the return of conductor Robert Spano, the ASO rose to the heights of Ohlsson's majestic stylings, a blending of voices that transplanted jazz's call and response harmonies to classical themes.

After the thunder and lightning of Rachmaninoff, Ohlsson gave the crowd the perfect nightcap: a solo performance of a Chopin etude.

Ohlsson, one of the world's leading interpreters of Chopin, brought Paris' springtime to Atlanta. 

 

 

Ron Rash's "The Caretaker" displays his major gifts as a novelist

Ron Rash's 2023 novel "The Caretaker" affirms that he's one of America's best writers.

Returning to the author's familiar Appalachian Mountain territory of western North Carolina, Rash's 20th book and first novel in 10 years fully displays his narrative power.

Set in 1951 with the backdrop of the Korean War, "The Caretaker" tells a compelling story of family tragedy, cruelty toward the disabled, class prejudice and the endurance of love and compassion.

As with his past novels, Rash showcases memorable characters, an entrancing plot, evocative language and a deep love for North Carolina's natural beauty.

The book takes in place in Blowing Rock, a fictional North Carolina small town in which a cast of memorable characters exhibit a full range of human emotions and dramatic acts.

Blackburn Gant, the novel's main character, is the caretaker of the town's cemetery. Facially disfigured and partially crippled by childhood polio, he possesses a noble and compassionate personality, despite suffering the unkind stares of strangers and bullying from town toughs.

His best friend, Jacob Hampton, alienates his wealthy parents by marrying the lower class Naomi Clarke, who's vilified by Hampton's father and mother and the town.

When Jake's drafted and sent to Korea, Gant cares for the pregnant Naomi, who outrages Blowing Rock residents by wearing provocative clothing and going alone to movies and businesses.

Jake's wounding in the war, his parents' desperate attempt to end his marriage and win back his love, and Gant's continual ennoblement accelerate with spellbinding force.

Rash's novels, stories and poems transcend the boundaries of his regional territory. 

 

 

 

"A Man in Full's" conclusion leaves empty feeling

Jeff Daniels played Atticus Finch on Broadway.

His Charlie Croker in the Netflix miniseries "A Man in Full" is another Southern archetype. Sharing Finch's liberal attitudes on race, Daniels' Croker displays little of the noble small-town lawyer's modesty and wisdom.

In his flamboyant portrayal of the real estate tycoon who built Atlanta, Daniels resembles Tennessee Williams' Big Daddy rather than Harper Lee's Atticus.

Spewing folksy maxims of male dominance and business triumph, Daniels' Croker struts, cajoles and postures in a performance that goes beyond cliche.

Producer and writer David E. Kelley's script makes significant changes from Tom Wolfe's novel about the rise of Atlanta as a Sunbelt dynamo. Atlanta landmarks star in the production.

Directed by Regina King and Thomas Schlamme, the miniseries explores Atlanta's racial conflicts in politics and the criminal justice system.

Putting aside his usual bombast, Croker nurtures a close relationship with his black attorney Roger White, whose quiet competence and prudence contrast with Croker's rashness in Ami Ameen's nuanced performance.

Racial tensions build to a violent confrontation in which young warehouse worker Conrad Hensley is jailed for striking a policeman in an act of self-defense.

In a compelling performance, Jon Michael Hill defines Hensley's emotional range from concern for others to explosive anger.

As Conrad's wife, Jill, Croker's efficient secretary, Chante Adams portrays the show's most appealing character with warmth and forbearance. Her joy at her husband's eventual exoneration is the show's brightest moment.

Diane Lane as Croker's ex-wife Martha glows as a middle-aged woman rediscovering her sexuality. Lucy Liu also brings glamour and style to her performance as Joyce Norman, Martha's best friend and one of Croker's foils.

The production's dominant plot element, Croker's cartoonish rivalry with the obsequious Raymond Peepgrass, creepily played by Tom Pelphrey, crashes in an outrageous conclusion that made me wish I could have back those hours I spent watching the show.

"Man in Full" deflates like a giant balloon.

 

 

New York Post's Knicks coverage puts Times' Athletic to shame

New York basketball fans desiring in-depth coverage of the Knicks' playoffs run must turn to the New York Post rather than the New York Times' lackluster Athletic.

While the Athletic all but ignores the Knicks, Post columnist Mike Vaccaro and colleagues report on every big shot, rebound, coaching decision and referee controversy of the hometown team's postseason. The Post even tells who's on celebrity row.

Vaccaro displayed his deep knowledge of New York sports history with Thursday's column on the Knicks' 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers to take a 2-0 lead in the second round of the playoffs.

With vivid writing, Vaccaro captured the fans' despair at Madison Square Garden when star guard Jalen Brunson left the game with a foot injury and their joy when Brunson returned after sitting out the second quarter. Brunson scored 24 of his 29 points in the second half to lead the Knicks' triumph.

Vaccaro noted that Brunson's heroic return came 54 years to the day after injured center Willis Reed thrilled fans by entering a playoffs game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Reed played for just 27 minutes, scoring four points, but inspired the Knicks to win the game and eventually capture the NBA championship. 

While the Athletic emphasizes feature stories on teams and players outside of New York, the Post diligently covers the hometown heroes.

Matt Singer's "Opposable Thumbs" shines spotlight on Siskel and Ebert's TV popularity

 Gene Siskel and Robert Ebert turned film criticism into a TV spectator sport.

The Chicago newspaper movie writers - Siskel for the Tribune and Ebert for the Sun Times - brought their heated rivalry to the Windy City's public TV station WTTW in 1975 in a show first titled "Opening Soon at a Theater Near You."

Their disdain for each other and barbed disagreements over the latest movies generated compelling TV conflict. The show, retitled "Siskel & Ebert at the Movies," spread to public TV stations across the country. Later, their intellectual vaudeville act reached broader audiences through syndication to local commercial stations.

Film crritic Matt Singer examines Siskel and Ebert's rise in the entertaining dual biography/cultural history "Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed the Movies."

The title comes from the critics' trademark "thumbs up or thumbs down" judgments on movies, reflecting their low-tech appeal. Siskel and Ebert sat in a mock movie theater balcony, just two guys arguing over which new movies they liked or disliked.

Siskel and Ebert appeared on TV until Siskel's premature death in 1999, their popularity coinciding with that of blockbuster movies like "Jaws" and "Star Wars." Along with hit films, the two rumpled newspapermen gave attention to art films like "My Dinner With Andre."

The unlikely TV stars in their later years responded to the rise of the VCR and increased home viewership of movies, leading to the advent of Netflix and streaming, which has upended the movie industry.

Singer in his in-depth look at Siskel and Ebert's careers delivers an enticing history of American television and movies. The two print journalists built an entertainment empire, appearing on TV talk shows and interviewing movie stars.

Siskel and Ebert's power is a long gone artifact of the past, like the VCR and Blockbuster film rentals.

A sad summer without Braves on TV

I understand how Brooklyn fans felt when the Dodgers fled to Los Angeles.

The Braves haven't gone anywhere, yet they are no longer on my TV screen. Comcast has done a Walter O'Malley by not reaching a deal with the Diamond Media Group, the bankrupt parent of Braves broadcaster Bally.

On the Comcast channel where the Braves broadcasts once beamed, a corporate message on an empty blue screen has replaced Truist Park, Brian Snitker, Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies and the tomahawk chop.

If Frank Sinatra were a Braves fan, he'd sing "there used to be a ballgame here."

TV and the Braves go together like peanut butter and jelly. In the glory years of Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy and Bob Horner, the Braves lifted Ted Turner's Channel 17 into a national treasure. Channel 17 made the Braves America's team.

I enjoy listening to the Braves on the radio. Announcer Ben Ingram's resonant voice, wit and baseball knowledge enlighten the broadcasts. Joe Simpson's humor and passion for the game bring excitement, a pleasurable change from the sour judgmental tone he all too often showed on TV.

But unless Comcast and Diamond reach a deal, it'll be a long summer without the Braves on TV.

 

 

 

Thomas Friedman backs Saudi Arabia-Israel accord, and Saudi dominance of AI

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has a raging crush on Saudi Arabia.

Friedman in two recent columns advocated an alliance between the desert kingdom and Israel, a plan supported by the Biden administration.

In both columns, Friedman tacitly supported the Saudis' investing billions to develop artificial intelligence.

Along with Saudi ruler Mohammed Bin Salman's $100 billion AI research fund, high-tech companies like Amazon are making major investments in the Saudi plan to dominate global AI.

Amazon recently donated $10 billion for the Saudis to build data centers, which consume huge amounts of electric power generated by fossil fuels

Friedman in Sunday's column praised MBS for giving women more freedom, mentioning in passing that he's accused of murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia has become more like democratic Israel, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made Israel more like repressive Saudi Arabia, Friedman asserted.

Friedman expressed hope that a Saudi-Israeli agreement would end Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza and give the Palestinians a separate state.

But Friedman ignored the dangers of the Saudis ruling global AI.

Saudi control of AI will bring an end to U.S. dominance of the world economy.

 

 

The Rolling Stones and Irma Thomas defy time at New Orleans Jazz Festival

The Rolling Stones and Irma Thomas performed "Time Is on My Side" at the New Orleans Jazz Festival Wednesday, celebrating the city's enduring musical heritage.

The 80-year-old Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and the 83-year-old queen of New Orleans soul looked great performing the band's first American top 10 hit, which Thomas first recorded in 1964. Time indeed seemed on their side.

A crowd of 40,000 came to the New Orleans Fair Grounds to hear the Stones play 18 songs in a two-hour concert, the second stop on their tour supporting their latest album, "Hackney Diamonds."

The Stones-Thomas duet closed a circle: the British invasion of the 1960s eclipsed New Orleans rhythm and blues, a major influence on the British groups that conquered America.

Jagger expressed joy at the band's long-delayed presence at the Jazz Festival. The Stones' scheduled appearance at the 50th Jazz Festival was canceled when Jagger had to undergo heart surgery, and the Covid epidemic scuttled the 2021 festival, where they were to play

In another homage to Louisiana's rich musical heritage, zydeco accordion master Dwayne Dopsie, a  youthful 45, also joined the Stones onstage. .

The Jazz Festival celebrates the incredible variety of New Orleans music, from jazz to rhythm and blues to Cajun and zydeco and gospel. Many ethnic groups contributed to the city's musical traditions.

For two hours, the Stones gave thanks to the city for its musical gifts to the world