Apr 30, 2026 5 min read

April '26: Down This Hill

Indie Journalists; The Christophers; Frog; Grantchester; Millay; Dave Mason

Tulips around the gazing pool in Washington, D.C. Photo by Dana Moser

"It is not enough that yearly, down this hill, / April / Comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers. --Spring by Edna St. Vincent Millay

NOTES:

The often-quoted poem above captures the late style of Edna St. Vincent Millay. I've included the entire poem at the bottom of these reviews. Brace yourself. She has attitude.

I work hard to keep my mind clear of the outrage, anger, and shock that is keeping a large segment of our country paralyzed. Our mainstream media also seems in lockstep seeking clicks over investigation.

I write these reviews to pass on what is working to keep me sane and balanced. The question always is: do art and creative acts matter?

All of us need balance and health and love. We need renewal and relaxation. We need to take the actions that feel right for us to live in love and truth.

This has been a difficult month, but I found a few beautiful and hopeful items to share. I thank you all for being part of the community I love.

Independent Journalism: Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez and Kait Justice

Here are two investigative journalists you will be hearing more about. They deserve your attention and support. Brave and amazing reporting. Both are on Substack and elsewhere. Remember their names.

Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez @alisavaldes In her own words: Investigative journalist. Ex-Boston Globe & LA Times. NYT bestselling author. Totally independent now. Unleashed. Done accommodating monsters. Got a tip? newstipsalisa@proton.me | buymeacoffee.com/alisawrites

She exposed Epstein's Zorro Ranch nuclear spy program and continues to expose the politicians protecting that program today.

Kait Justice @kaitjustice. In her words: I’m Kait Justice, and I’m here to fight for healthier communities and government transparency. We’re building a more accountable world one story at a time.👏 ☕️ Buy me a coffee 🫶 https://ko-fi.com/kaitjustice

Incredible story well researched and documented:

SCREEN: "The Christophers" directed by Steven Soderbergh starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel written by Ed Solomon

Steven Soderbergh's work is often perfectly imperfect. He's an artist who fills the screen with beautiful movement and detail. Sometimes his touch is obvious, and at other times he is invisible. He doesn't try too hard to be either. He never neglects the story form or the heart of the emotion in the actors' portrayal of his characters.

This is the kind of movie I need right now. Gentle, true, thoughtful, and entertaining.. Praise for the writer Ed Solomon for the complex dialogue that, for the most part, feels real. And providing humor. Jessica Gunning and James Corden are fun to hate. This movie stays with you long after viewing.

MUSIC: "1000 Variations on the Same Song" by Frog

Frog is Daniel Bateman, Steve Bateman, and Thomas White. This music feels fresh. It reminds me of when I heard Kenneth Patchen read his poems accompanied by a live jazz trio in North Beach. I had to concentrate to catch the changes in the jazz as it weaved through Patchen's voice. To me, Frog's work is crammed with musical influences that often tumble over each other. It demands attention and draws me in, inviting multiple listening. Once I've heard one of their songs once or twice, the inventive and poetic lyrics shine through.

Here is a cut from their newest album:

Simple instrumentation and complex changes that echo jazz and classical composition with always interesting lyrics. I'm in.

SCREEN: The 10 Seasons 67 Episodes of "Grantchester" based on the short stories of
James Runcie with additional writing by Daisy Coulam and Rachael New

Oh and an 11th and final series is scheduled.

I am a mystery and thriller junkie, but I'm sick of the graphic violence that substitutes for good writing and makes most television series feel like doom scrolling.

Michael Pilgrim of The Daily Telegraph wrote of the first season: "Delightfully neat and economical of plot, it's Cluedo with cassocks and just enough noir for the modern palate. Victoria sponge with a tablespoon of battery acid."

I love the pacing, the reverence for jazz, and the clockwork plots. Easy watching for me and what I need to breathe and unwind. Full seasons streaming on Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube. Limited seasons on Netflix.

Poem: "Spring" by Edna St. Vincent Millay

To what purpose, April, do you return again?
Beauty is not enough.
You can no longer quiet me with the redness
Of little leaves opening stickily.
I know what I know.
The sun is hot on my neck as I observe
The spikes of the crocus.
The smell of the earth is good.
It is apparent that there is no death.
But what does that signify?
Not only under ground are the brains of men
Eaten by maggots.
Life in itself
Is nothing,
An empty cup, a flight of uncarpeted stairs.
It is not enough that yearly, down this hill,
April
Comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers.

Dave Mason: May 10, 1946 - April 19, 2026

It was always about his live performances. Co-founder of Traffic. Great voice and not a shabby guitar player. Rest in Peace.

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