Dex

The richest character ever played by the greatest movie actor of all time ~ in The Philadelphia Story (1940), C.K. Dexter-Haven embodies everything: weakness, sympathy, anger, tension, joy, sorrow, addiction, fear, freedom, elegance, bravery, secrets and remarkable openness. Above all, naturalness. He has been destroyed by the woman he loves, to the point of collapse and alcohol sickness. In a movie of astonishing self-aborption, Dexter-Haven absorbs all. He is always listening and watching, off the edge of the frame, humanizing all around him with his generous-hearted presence. He is never not sorrowful in the picture, while bringing the only joy into this otherwise arch and joyless romp. Everything is elevated by his broken ardor. His physical grace and attraction are immense, yet he uses his powers to put others at ease, to relinquish control. Grant's love comes at us slowly, like a slow dark wave. Yet always in perfect isolated darkness, outside the world.

Here are Dex's 46 minutes, with all the rest of The Philadelphia Story cut out.

Guilty as Sin

Word

This morning, the Palestinian liberation group known as Hamas released a (beautifully formatted) statement regarding October 7th and the genocidal, Nazi State of Israel (and its people).

Right here.

Nowhere Land

Five years ago, Chris Hedges gave a lecture regarding the near-total atomization of U.S. "society" -- before COVID, before Woke, before the spreading of the TransCancer, before the Trump/Biden shitpile. . .

Now it is total.

Everybody Digs Bill Evans

 

Of the Golden Age of jazz pianists, he was the most elegant, the most professional. And the most heartbroken.

 

Some Advice for the New Year

Rotting Vegetable

Dial "S"

During a set in New York City, he died of a heart attack at his piano, sixty-one years ago tonight.

Sonny Clark was 31 years old.

Impressions

Dave Brubeck, piano
Paul Desmond, alto sax
Norman Bates, bass
Joe Morello, drums

"Plain Song"
"Curtain Time"
"Sounds of the Loop"
"Home at Last"

Out

Herbie

Born 105 years ago today.

"Sunday Stroll" -- perhaps the most beautiful six minutes in jazz.

Beyond Grace

2023 was the darkest year for the world since 1945, almost entirely caused by the ghouls, vampires, and Satanists in control of the United States. Perhaps the most heartbreaking darkness was the obviousness of the cultural, emotional, economic, and political destruction of Europe.

Let us remember, since that is all we have left.