Jeff Lubeck

Wide Open = Wide Appeal = Michael McDonald

Wide Open, Michael McDonald’s first album of original lyrics and music since since 2009 is superb. It also feels true and genuine to the sound that is best attributed to Michael McDonald.

While the songs adhere to McDonald’s blue-eyed soul and open road nature they feel original and fresh.

McDonald includes the sounds of new players. However, he has clearly called in markers from the very best musicians. Sting, Robben Ford (Guitar), Branford Marsalis (Alto Sax), Marcus Miller (Bass), David Paich (Hammond Organ), Steve Porcaro (Synthesizer),and Tom Scott (Tenor Sax) all add influence to the sound of this album.

Jeff’s Worthless Trivia

The World is Small…

Warner Brothers Records and the Doobie Brothers hired me to photograph the group in the 1970’s. I photographed them in concert in Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago. This sounds much better than reality.

Fast forward to 2004. Pete Kramer Director of Operations of Sun Valley (SUN) Airport and I are on the Board of Directors of the newly created Wood River Baseball Association (I am Chairman).

For the first few meeting Peter looks at me with a questioning eye. After a few meetings, Pete declares “You are The Photographer!” I look at Pete with questioning nature. “You were the photographer for the Doobie Brothers when I was their Road Manager” says Mr. Kramer. After working through the details Pete and I establish he is correct.

Pete and I agree that Nicollete Larson was our favorite singer during this period.

Everybody Knows or At Least So They Should

With Everybody Knows, Two-time Academy Award winning Writer & Director Asghar Farhadi has created another superb film. As with A Separation (2011 AA Best Foreign Film) and A Salesman (2016 AA Best Foreign Film) Farhadi can write, tell, and, present a story in film like few others.

Similar to A Separation and A Salesman, Everybody Knows delves deep into people, their family, and surrounding environment – presenting a tale that is irresistible and engrossing. Farhadi is uncanny in his ability to reveal all that is true about them – good, bad and indifferent.

Everybody Knows is a Spanish Language film that stars Hollywood heavyweight’s Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, and Richardo Darin (The Secret In Their Eyes, Nine Queens).

With Everybody Knows, you quickly feel something askew – but not certain as to what or why. Farhadi, and the superb cast expertly telegraph nothing, and reveal the secrets and motives bit by bit.

Hollywood deems it needs Franchise films to continue to exist. However films such as Everybody Knows by talent such as Asghar Farhadi are what drive me to the Movie Theatre and buy a ticket, popcorn, and a beverage.

Jeff’s Thought’s and Worthless Trivia

Everybody Knows Co-star Richardo Darin, is the male lead in The Secret In Their Eyes (AA Best Foreign Film 2009) and Nine Queens (2000). These two films are superb and worthy of being considered Best Film regardless of country of origin.

American Exceptionalism Rendered Brilliantly: Apollo 11

Apollo 11 is a documentary created by filmmaker Todd Douglas Miller that is a must see for all.

Apollo 11 captures the United States of America achieving a goal – ahead of schedule – without partisan or hyperbolic narrative. There is no post-event analysis or commentary filled with talking points.

Apollo 11 The Documentary presents Apollo 11 The Mission from start to finish without a narrator. Its footage is accompanied by NASA Public Address announcements (e.g., three hours and counting the is NASA Mission Control…), news reporting (e.g., Walter Cronkite) and the spoken word of the actual people themselves (e.g., Neil Armstrong).

What sets Apollo 11 apart from any other film about the event is the film footage. NASA had the foresight to film the Apollo 11 Mission with 70MM, 65MM, and 35MM film. The film footage was restored using 21st century tools. Most of it has never been seen before by the general public.

The resulting presentation is nothing short of breath-taking. American life of 50 years prior is on view with today’s level of precision optics. While the NASA spacecraft, launch pad (39A) and footsteps on the Moon are super cool to see with such clarity, what is even more interesting is seeing real people, clothes, cars etc in the same fashion.

See this film!

Jeff’s Worthless Thoughts and Trivia

Apollo 11 is about the mission and nothing else – for its entire 93 minutes. I appreciate its singularity.

This documentary will not pivot to reference or mention the influence of German Rocket Scientists on the program, the Vietnam War being in full engagement, The Students for Democratic Society and The Black Panthers being in full force, or the Zodiac Killer receiving full attention by the media in San Francisco for context and perspective. It also does not mention the Detroit Tigers are in the midst of defending their 1968 World Series Title or that Denny McClain has released his “At The Organ” album. These aspects would suggest that America was not in a Simpler Time.

Wide Open = Wide Appeal = Michael McDonald

Everybody Knows or At Least So They Should

American Exceptionalism Rendered Brilliantly: Apollo 11

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