‘Birdman,’ ‘Whiplash’ Get a Punch From Jazz
It might be America's most indigenous art form, but jazz has been dying on the vine for many years, accounting for just a miniscule fraction of music sales in the marketplace, and lacking the kind of…
Steve Chagollan
West Hollywood’s Design History Goes on Display
The Pacific Design Center, aka the Blue Whale, has always loomed as West Hollywood's beacon of architectural and interior design. But the upcoming exhibit Decades of Design 1948-2014 should go far to…
Alexandre Desplat Proves a Perennial Fave at Ghent’s World Soundtrack Awards
As the emcee at Saturday night’s 14th annual World Soundtrack Awards — the culmination of Belgium’s Film Fest Ghent — announced, “this should be called the Alexandre Desplat Awards,” after the French…
‘Book of Life’ Score Represents a Series of Firsts for Composer Gustavo Santaolalla
The score for "The Book of Life" represents several precedents for two-time Oscar-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla: It's his first animated feature; the first time he worked with a large…
Franco Lolli’s ‘Gente de Bien’ Wins Top Prize at Film Fest Gent
"Gente de bien," a coming-of-age drama by Columbian-born, Paris-schooled filmmaker Franco Lolli that initially screened at Cannes in May, was awarded the top prize, the Grand Prix for Best Film, at…
New Book Analyzes Gotham’s Mid-Century Skyline
According to the compelling new book "New York Mid-Century: 1945-1965" (Vendome Press), the "exuberance" that gave rise to Gotham's iconic skyline that began during the Jazz Age was long gone by the…
Miles Beyond the Biopic: Don Cheadle Riffs on a Jazz Legend
Don Cheadle has managed to accomplish something no one has been able to pull off in two decades: serve up a bigscreen tale of jazz great Miles Davis.
Laura Nyro’s Heartbreaking Spirit Summoned by “Map to the Treasure” LP
For many people weaned on the music of the '60s/'70s, Laura Nyro was one of those ungraspable artists — someone they knew of but didn't follow or know much about. She was idolized by David Geffen…
‘Gone Girl’ Cinematographer Gives Dark Tale a High-Res Look
Despite "Gone Girl's" murder-mystery trappings, director David Fincher doesn't like the word "thriller," says the film's cinematographer, Jeff Cronenweth. "He thinks it's more of a dramatic mystery…
Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page Brings Rock Era to Life in New Photo Book
In the days when guitar gods ruled the Earth, Jimmy Page commanded his own celestial body. As the lead guitarist in the Yardbirds, he had inherited the mantle once worn by Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck…
