My good friend Max Navarre, who I knew as a fellow waiter at The Landmark Tavern in NYC during the early 1980s, always wanted to be a cabaret singer. So he hired a kick-ass band (yup that’s me on bass), made some recordings and played some gigs at Tramps (a cabaret in Manhattan). I found this old cassette tape and was inspired to make this video from the recording. Viva La France!
Author: cliffordjim@hotmail.com
The Wallets – Own Outfit 1981 (An unreleased recording with a new video)
The Wallets – Rare Video Found
I’m not sure greater Minnesota was ready for this live, in-studio performance at KTCA (Channel 2) on New Year’s Eve 1982. Long lost, this video, now over 40 years later, is back!
New Album
Cloud Diva
As I was playing this on piano I felt like I was in the clouds. The music, Promenade Sentimentale, composed by V. Cosma, is from the French movie Diva (1981). I arranged it for piano, bass and pedal steel guitar. The extraordinary video is of cumulous clouds over the Swiss Alps before sunset (by Jens Bydal).
Um Refúgio
From a poem in Portuguese, with vocal, piano and strings.
A Vida Na Lagoa
This is a song I wrote that describes the crazy fantastic life in Lagoa, a small town on the island of Florianopolis, Brazil, where I stayed many times. The photos are of the people and wonders I experienced there. (2011/2012).
The Love I Have For You
I saw Alberta Hunter in the late 70s in NYC, heard this song, and never forgot it. I worked up this arrangement for voice, piano, bass, drums, muted trumpet, and singing saw. I hope you like it.
Return of the Winnie
A long-lost relic from the past. Bill Reynolds, Robert Winston, Dana Johnson and I are the instigators of this dusty nugget. We made it for a speech project in high school over 50 years ago. Bill found the super 8 footage and we resuscitated it as best we could. To our astonishment we got an A on this project even though not a word is spoken. Credits: Cinematography – Bill Reynolds; Sound Design – Jim Clifford; Monster – Robert Winston; Hitchhiker – Jim Clifford; Hunter – Dana Johnson
Kojak at The Schooner Tavern
Yes time-warped as I stepped onto the stage as an emissary of The Wallets (1980 – 1989) for this rendition of Kojak. Happy birthday to John Bryn and special kudos to Ukrainian Village Band.