Begin

As drummer Alex Kautz sees it, there are two parts to his musical brain: the Brazilian side, developed while growing up in São Paolo, and the jazz side, which came later, opening his ears to a wide world of musical possibilities. Those two approaches developed separately for Kautz and were initially fueled by different inspirations. Upon moving to New York City in 2007, though, he found a musical community that encouraged both, soon pushing him to new heights. “New York makes you find your uniqueness as a musician,” Kautz explains. “You really need to find a voice to fit. There are so many people playing so well and so many artists with their own ideas.

This riveting biography is the first to provide a satisfactory answer to the question, Who was Menachem Begin? Based on wide-ranging research among archival documents and on testimonials and interviews with Begin's closest advisers, the book presents a detailed new portrait ofIsrael's founding leader.

Embark on a Personal Evolution: Rewire Your Mind, Cultivate Abundance, and Manifest Lasting Self Transformation

For their fifth album on Venus Records, Bill Charlap and his New York Trio took on another songbook. This time it was Cole Porter's. Begin the Beguine is part of Charlap's songbook series. Previous entries include that of Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, and Duke Ellington. When you mix the divine melodies and romantic nature of Cole Porter with this great piano trio that has played together for five years…well, the results are extraordinary. The album begins with the lively "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", then goes through the lovely "So In Love", the surprisingly unhurried "Begin the Beguine", and ends with the heart-rending "Every Time We Say Goodbye".