14/08/2024
If you watched TV as a small child in the 1960s 70s, 80s or 1990s in America, you probably encountered Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, recently featured in the Marielle Heller film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood with Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys. What the movie left out was one of Rogers's most remarkable a chievements - he had a kids' show for decades which used jazz to accompany just about everything. Rogers was himself a fine musician, and his pianist, John Costa, was a treasure, as you'll see here. He also brought on other musicians from time to time, to explain what they do and play.
Here's a way to talk to kids without talking down to them. The US doesn't have the designation National Treasure, but if they did, Rogers would fill the bill.
Hat tip to pianist/composer/writer Ethan Iverson for posting this video in his substack Transitional Technology.
I claim no rights to any of the material used in this video, I just wanted to share how incredible these two men were. Please don't get me in trouble for cop...