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American Morning
Showbiz Today Reports: Sir Paul McCartney Appears at Adopt a Mine Field Gala; Latin Jazz Artists Star in New Documentary
Aired June 15, 2001 - 10:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Paul McCartney with a little help from his friends, working like a dog to draw attention to the problem of land mines.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: And joining us from New York to tell us more about that in our "Showbiz Today Reports," CNN's Michael Okwu -- hi, Michael.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Donna. Hi, Miles, and good morning everyone.
You're right, we are in a music kick this morning and we might as well start with Paul McCartney. The rock legend and some of his celebrity pals gathered in Beverly Hills last night at the first annual Adopt a Mine Field gala. The former Beatle was joined by his girlfriend Heather Mills, late night talker Jay Leno, rocker Cheryl Crow and director Penny Marshall. Adopt a Mine Field is an international organization that provides funds for land mine clearance and survivor assistance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL MCCARTNEY: My take on this is just very simple. I'm basically asking the people who are going to read your newspapers and who are watching the telecast to understand that land mines are a cowardly weapon. They leave the war behind when the soldiers go home and the people they destroy or the lives of the people they destroy are the civilians.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OKWU: Some other musicians were honored last night in New York at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICIAN: I want to love you night and day. Nobody...
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OKWU: Marc Anthony honored Billy Joel, who received the Johnny Mercer Award, the Hall's most prestigious honor. Whitney Houston was a surprise presenter to her cousin Dionne Warwick. The music making couple of Gloria and Emilio Estefan were presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. And country crooner Willie Nelson finally got his due. He was inducted as well. We'll hear from some of the inductees later today during our "Showbiz Today Reports" at 2:35.
And now, music and movies. In the documentary "Calle 54," a number of Latin jazz artists gathered for a series of interviews and performances. Jodi Ross caught up with some of the musicians to talk about taking their talents to the big screen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JODI ROSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If Tito Puente is the only Latin jazz musician you know, then get ready for an education.
PAQUITO D'RIVERA, "CALLE 54" MUSICIAN: The first jazz flute solo in the history was played by an Afro-Cuban flautist by the name of Alberto Socarras. So we have been here forever and we plan to stay here forever, too.
ROSS: Paquito D'Rivera is just one of 13 artists featured in the film "Calle 54." Narrated and directed by Academy Award winner Fernando Trueba, it's a jazz journey across four continents.
(on camera): Did Fernando hand pick all these musicians for this movie?
D'RIVERA: Fernando is a friend of mine.
ROSS: So that's one way?
(voice-over): Other friends of Fernando include Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias, and from the Dominican Republic, Michel Camilo.
(on camera): This must be very rewarding for you.
MICHEL CAMILO, "CALLE 54" MUSICIAN: It is.
ROSS: Yeah?
CAMILO: It is a dream come true. It makes all that touring worthwhile, you know? All those planes and all these times at the piano.
ROSS: This is the best way to see and hear jazz, in an intimate setting live, and that's because so much of the music is improvised. But the stars of "Calle 54" say the film fully captures these musical moments.
D'RIVERA: We've captured the live performance spirit so strongly that at the end of each number people clap.
CAMILO: And the cameramen were, as we were into the music, improvising, capturing, just looking at our eyes, signals, winks, you know, OK, here we go. ELIANE ELIAS, "CALLE 54" MUSICIAN: I really feel that this is a very special movie. It's a special documentary. And of course I am flattered to be part of it and representing Brazil. And yes, I am the only woman there and that's nice, too.
D'RIVERA: It's a pity that there's not enough time to, you know, to put all the people that deserve to be there, you know? But it's a good opportunity to do another film now.
ROSS: That's true, maybe part two, right?
D'RIVERA: Yeah. And three.
ROSS (voice-over): Sequel or not, this first film is historic, capturing one of the final performances from the late Latin jazz leader.
CAMILO: He said he came from heaven and he's playing heavenly, as well.
ROSS: Jodi Ross, CNN Entertainment News, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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