A Story is a Deal

On this enjoyable release, bebop altoist Richie Cole performs seven of the main themes from West Side Story, plus his own complex "West Side Blues." Cole teams up with his longtime guitarist Vic Juris, pianist Lou Forestieri, bassist Ed Howard, drummer Tommy Campbell and veteran percussionist Ray Mantilla to give the familiar melodies his "alto madness" treatment, being respectful of the themes while stretching out. Highlights include "America", "Maria" and "Tonight".

Philadelphia socialites Tracy Lord and C.K. Dexter Haven married impulsively, with their marriage and subsequent divorce being equally passionate. They broke up when Dexter's drinking became excessive, it a mechanism to cope with Tracy's unforgiving manner to the imperfect, imperfections which Dexter admits he readily has. Two years after their break-up, Tracy is about to remarry, the ceremony to take place at the Lord mansion. Tracy's bridegroom is nouveau riche businessman and aspiring politician George Kittredge, who is otherwise a rather ordinary man and who idolizes Tracy. The day before the wedding, three unexpected guests show up at the Lord mansion: Macaulay Connor (Mike to his friends), Elizabeth Imbrie - the two who are friends of Tracy's absent brother, Junior - and Dexter himself.

Avant garde artist Leonardo Ferri (Nero) decides life in Milan is stifling his artistic creativity, and persuades his agent and lover, Flavia (Redgrave), to rent a secluded villa, just outside Venice. Ferri's hopes of enjoying a period of tranquility are shattered by timeslips, disconcerting replays of the past and an unseen presence who appears to be targeting Flavia.

A young woman is writing a series of love letters, telling her lover the story of O, for his entertainment, but also, it seems, as a challenge. O is a fashion photographer, who falls for Rene, a wealthy man who proceeds to take her to the manor of Sir Stephen, where for several weeks, along with other women, she is enslaved in bondage and subject to torture, humiliation, and sexual assault at the hands of Sir Stephen, Rene, and their friends. After a time, Rene takes her back to her old life where she remains in love with him and has learned that when in love, "you are not free at all".

Follow the animated story to understand Agile Values, Practices & How to avoid common pitfalls