I picked up a remaindered book by Michael Connelly a month or two ago. The Narrows was published in 2004 and shrink wrapped with a DVD titled “Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly’s Los Angeles.”
On it, Connelly tells a bit about the detective he writes about: Harry Bosch. Excerpts from his stories are read as the camera pans across pieces of LA, “A sunny place for shady characters.”
The most haunting jazz I have ever heard is on that DVD. During the title menu, a snippet of Lullaby, a song written by George Cables and played by Frank Morgan, is on a loop. Frank Morgan was Charlie Parker’s heir apparent and released the album Frank Morgan in 1955. The expectation proved to be too much for him and he self-destructed. For the next thirty years he ping ponged from institution to institution, “Every time they tried to send me to New York I’d go back to prison.” Finally, in 1986 (Morgan was 54), Leonard Feather told him, “just show up and do what you do, and the world will open up to you.”
We liked Frank Morgan’s music so much we’ve bought two CDs, A Lovesome Thing and Mood Indigo. We play Lullaby every morning and night.
“Bosch thought he knew nothing truer than the sound of a saxophone.”
He may be right
Nullius in Verba 
Thanks for the shout. I play Lullaby every morning before I write.
MC
You’re welcome MC. Thank you for dropping by. I hope I quoted you correctly on LA. Currently, we’re listening to Trunk Music and thoroughly enjoying it.
We start every day with the two-minute and four-minute versions of Lullaby.
I’m wondering what the song is at the beginning of the Blue Neon Night.
Hey, Alan, what about,
Really good theatre is the closest you’ll get to magic in this life.
?
The trophy cup drawing is one of your wobblier. Glad none of mine look like that…
My daughter has, on the whole, picked up the best her parents’ genes had to offer (artistic ability, scientific ability, the better bits of our looks) and avoided the worst, which I won’t go into. Result.
Norm,
Sorry to hijack your comments area. If I wasn’t getting all those potentially profitable hits from the Ukraine and Uzbekistan I’d jump ship on the ol’ website and come over here. Oh, and the “b” word is a bit of a problem.
Lexi,
I like the theater and magic one. A wonderful play has it all over the movies when it comes to really “taking you away’.
As for the sketch, I figure if I’m going to have Wobbly Sketches by Plumboz as my brand I need to live up, or down, to it.
“B” word? Book? Bosch? Benson?
Starts with a “b”, ends with a “g”, and has an “l” and an “o” in the middle.
I’ve sworn off the word.
And it’s not easy.
How’s the short story coming? I’ve written five beginnings to mine so far.
I showed my critique group That Sinking Feeling. They liked it. I need to polish 150 words out of it.
Timber,
I’m a big Michael Connolly fan. I have to say though when his last book came out, I didn’t have the $$$ to buy it. I colunteeer at my local library and within days of its release, it came in as a donation for our monthly book sale and I snapped it up for a buck. I didn’t know there was acutal Trunk Music…hmm…I’ll check it out.
We listened to Trunk Music on CD. Great story.
Oooh…now I get it…the audio CD…duh…mebbe I shoulda been a BARISTA????
Having been washed out as a fast food service worker. I have great respect for such folks. It’s hard work.