Articles by Craig M. Cortello

Amy, The Movie: The Pure Artist, the Singular Voice, and the Fragile Heart of Amy Winehouse

by Craig M. Cortello
July 11, 2015

Amy Winehouse Amy Produced by James Gay-Rees, George Pank, Paul Bell Directed by Asif Kapadia 2015 I attended an advance screening this week of Amy, the Amy Winehouse documentary that was co-sponsored by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (GRAMMY) and the New Orleans Film Society. The movie hits the theaters Friday July 10, 2015. While the inevitable, tragic ending of the narrative and the roller-coaster ride that is the struggle to ...

Wilson & Moore: Side by Side

by Craig M. Cortello
August 11, 2010

Chip Wilson is best known in and around New Orleans as the former guitar luthier who extracts supreme sounds from the instrument he once made a living producing. Jesse Moore is a versatile performer equally at ease on stage in music clubs and theaters, on television, or on film. Side by Side, the debut album by these two veteran performers of the New Orleans music scene, is a collaborative effort that has the visionaries of the neighborhood known as The ...

The "Hang" That George Built: The Pioneer of New Orleans' Frenchman Street Music Scene

by Craig M. Cortello
October 26, 2009

Jazz guitarist and New Orleans native Davy Mooney relocated to New York in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After one of his periodic return visits over a year later, I asked him to assess the state of the recovery of the music community. “When I go down to Frenchman Street, it's still a great 'hang.' I know everybody on a first name basis," he said. “It's always like a homecoming. It's like Cheers. Everybody knows your name. It's a small ...

Parallels of Recovery: Melody Gardot Finds Inspiration in the Spirit of New Orleans

by Craig M. Cortello
October 14, 2008

I recently interviewed Ms. Melody Gardot for a podcast episode regarding her amazing journey from a devastating accident to a successful music career. For those not aware of her background, Ms. Gardot was struck by an SUV while riding her bike at the age of nineteen. She suffered brain trauma and multiple fractures of the pelvis. As a result of her injuries, she remained bed-ridden for more than a year, endured pain that was at times excruciating, suffered ...

Twangorama: Twangorama

by Craig M. Cortello
August 29, 2007

Somewhere on the periphery where progressive rock meets fusion comes this CD that merges the talents of three of the most prolific and versatile guitarists of the New Orleans music scene. It is perhaps a meeting of the minds, a display of mutual respect for four decades of fretboard wizardry, and a callout to the world what New Orleanians have known for years--the talents of Jimmy Robinson, Phil deGruy, and Cranston Clements deserve a larger stage, and this Twangorama coming ...

Marilyn Harris: The Future Has Arrived

by Craig M. Cortello
June 14, 2007

The title track to pianist/vocalist Marilyn Harris' Future Street (Wrightwood, 2004) details that magical avenue where all things are possible, where potential is realized, and where dreams can come true. Listening to her follow-up Round Trip (Wrightwood, 2006), a compilation of twelve songs featuring powerhouse arrangements and ten original compositions, it's clear that the future has arrived.

It is said that the reason that Vince Lombardi was such an outstanding football coach is that many of his colleagues were promoted ...

Bob Dorough & Friends: Through the Years

by Craig M. Cortello
December 6, 2006

There was a sense of familiarity when I listened to the late night jazz radio concert introduced as Three Duos and a Trio circa 1983-84. The voices seemed stunningly familiar. Upon further investigation, I came to realize that those voices had been a part of my life for years, influencing an entire generation. The voices and piano riffs were those of Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg, and Blossom Dearie, accompanied by Bill Takas on bass. Those voices also ...

Steely Dan: Aja

by Craig M. Cortello
August 6, 2006

Steely Dan Aja MCA 1977

In the movie Mr. Holland's Opus, Richard Dreyfuss, playing a high school music director, recounts his childhood memory of first hearing a John Coltrane album. He recalls how he hated the music, but couldn't stop listening to it. He played the album over and over again until he appreciated every note--until he knew it would be an inspirational force in his life.Steely Dan's Aja was like Dreyfuss' ...

Hank Mackie: "Pass"-ing Jazz Guitar to a New Generation

by Craig M. Cortello
June 9, 2006

Ensuring the continuity of the lessons and traditions from one generation to the next can be a delicate process. It often requires the care and sensitivities of someone with a unique balance of admirable qualities. With respect to the arts, it calls for someone who has both respect for the masters and an appreciation for the innovation of a new breed. It demands a thorough understanding of the traditional practices of old and enthusiasm for the evolution of the craft. ...

Does Anybody Here Remember Joe (Pass)?

by Craig M. Cortello
April 21, 2006

Does anybody here remember Joe? That's the question I asked myself in May of 1994 when I learned that my hero had died. As the television show Entertainment Tonight rolled the closing credits one evening, they noted that the legendary jazz guitarist Joe Pass had passed away, while a brief clip from one of his live performances closed the show. I doubt that Mary Hart knew the magnitude of the words she read, but few of the ET viewers probably ...