Cold war spies, smooth jazz and memories of Germany

Extremely powerful. That’s the first thing that came to my mind after seeing Tom Hanks in "Bridge of Spies." He and director Steven Spielberg have come up with an excellent movie focusing on Hanks’ attorney character, who is deeply involved with spies during the Cold War. The picture is sure to get Oscar nominations for Hanks and Spielberg. Besides the fine acting and direction, what made the Cold War picture even more engrossing to me was that a good part of it took place in Germany during the time when I was soldiering there and then working as a civilian near Frankfurt for the Stars and Stripes newspaper from 1955-1964.

The construction of the wall between East and West Germany was pictured in the movie. The film also shows Francis Gary Powers in his U-2 spy plane getting shot down from 70,000 feet and getting captured. These events all happened when I was there. I remember Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, and people getting shot trying to climb over the wall. I lived it. My frau and her family escaped from East Germany before the wall went up in 1961. Years later, after the wall came down, I drove her and her mother back to their former East German city and we saw their family’s movie theater and homes. My mother-in-law had business to discuss with a lawyer in their old town. He was a frail-looking older man — let’s say a geezer. For a short time he and I were alone in his office and he pulled out an American magazine that was underneath a small stack of magazines. It was an issue of Playboy. "Pretty good, eh," he said in broken English showing me the near-nude babe on the cover. How he acquired a copy of Hugh Hefner’s Playboy I never found out …

SWINGIN’ ON: As soon as I put on singer Jimmy Borges’ new album and heard Steve Jones’ groovy bass solo, followed by Deshannon Higa’s marvelous muted trumpet leading into Jimmy’s rich baritone of "Old Devil Moon," I knew I was in for a sweet ride. That swinging version of the classic is the first number and my favorite on the disc simply titled "Jimmy Borges." It’s fine work, a solid album. While listening, it’s easy to visualize Jimmy on stage moving smartly on the jazzy numbers and pouring out emotion on the ballads.

Jimmy’s idol is the late great Frank Sinatra, whose 100th birthday would have been Dec. 12. Many numbers on the album are Sinatra favorites. Besides Jimmy’s voice, phrasing and timing, what also helps make this disc a huge winner are the musicians, some of the best in town: Dan Del Negro is on piano and organ and is arranger, and like Jimmy, he deserves a standing ovation as does trumpet man Higa who shines throughout. Two of the 12 selections, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and another of my favorites "Here’s That Rainy Day," were arranged by Symphony Pops maestro Matt Catingub, who sits in on the ivories on both. Pianist Betty Loo Taylor, who accompanied Jimmy for 40 years in night spots around town, closes out the album with the crooner on "Aloha Oe."

The album’s drummers are Noel Okimoto on 10 tunes and Steve Moretti on a pair. Zanuck Lindsey is guitarist. There are no losers on this disc. Other songs that haven’t been noted earlier include: "Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," a blending of "I’ve Got You Under My Skin"/"Night and Day," "Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye," "Luck Be a Lady," "A Song for You," "Here’s to Life" and "Wildflower." The album was released by Jon de Mello’s Mountain Apple. Kudos!

Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.