Diary: December 2018

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Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

The third in a series of musical installments from singer Mandy Patinkin and pianist/producer Thomas Bartlett, Diary: December 2018 was recorded by the two musicians in Bartlett's NYC studio. The eleven tracks of this Diary entry include two songs written by Patinkin himself plus songs by Paul Simon, Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields), Randy Newman, Biff Rose, Teitur, and John Grant.

Description

The third in a series of musical installments from Tony and Emmy Award–winning singer/actor Mandy Patinkin and pianist/producer Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman)—Diary: December 2018—it out today on Nonesuch Records. The digital release’s eleven songs were recorded by the two musicians in Bartlett’s New York studio last December and include two songs written by Patinkin himself plus songs by Paul Simon, Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields), Randy Newman, Biff Rose, Teitur, and John Grant. This Matthew Beighley–directed video for the album track “Wandering Boy” by Randy Newman was filmed at Patinkin's Diary concerts with pianist Adam Ben-David at the Connelley Theater in New York City in October 2018:

As Patinkin explains, “After thirty years my musical collaborator, Paul Ford retired. I wasn’t sure if that meant I would have to as well. But my dear friend Bob Hurwitz [of Nonesuch] introduced me to Thomas Bartlett, who introduced me to an entirely new way of making music … in his studio, hours of playing, singing, and recording, never searching for the illusion of perfection.” He continues, “We’ve decided to share our music making journey with you, in the form of a Diary. Hope you enjoy, and thanks for listening.”

Patinkin has played CIA agent Saul Berenson on Showtime’s Emmy and Golden Globe Award–winning Homeland for the last seven seasons; a role for which he has received four Emmy nominations. The eighth and final season of Homeland began filming in January 2019. He has released seven previous albums on Nonesuch.

Well known for his portrayal of Inigo Montoya in the 1987 movie The Princess Bride, Patinkin most recently played Irwin in Dan Fogelman’s Life Itself. Patinkin’s other film credits include Yentl (1983), Alien Nation (1988), Dick Tracy (1990), Wish I Was Here (2014), and Wonder (2017), among many others. In addition to his role on Homeland, he has appeared in major roles in television series such as Chicago Hope (Emmy Award), Dead Like Me, and Criminal Minds. Patinkin is a noted interpreter of the musical works of Stephen Sondheim and is acclaimed for his work in musical theater, originating iconic roles such as Georges Seurat in Sunday in the Park with George and Che in the original Broadway production of Evita (Tony Award). Additionally, Patinkin has been passionately involved in volunteer work with various NGOs throughout his life, and currently travels the world with the International Rescue Committee, spending time with refugees and raising awareness of their plight.

Thomas Bartlett, also known as Doveman, is an American pianist, singer, and producer. He has worked with many Nonesuch artists—including Sam Amidon, Olivia Chaney, David Byrne, the Magnetic Fields, Nico Muhly on Peter Pears, Mandy Patinkin, and Chris Thile—as well as Sufjan Stevens, Glen Hansard, The National, St. Vincent, Father John Misty, Rhye, Florence + The Machine, The Gloaming, Martha Wainwright, and others. Born in Vermont, Bartlett studied piano in London with Maria Curcio.

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by Thomas Bartlett at the Dwelling, Reservoir Studios, New York, NY

Cover photo by Joan Marcus

Nonesuch Selection Number

595950

ns_album_releasedate
Album Status
Artist Name
Mandy Patinkin
Thomas Bartlett
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Mandy Patinkin, vocals
Thomas Bartlett, piano, Mellotron, op-1

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
075597924732
Label
FLAC
Price
10.00
UPC
075597924725
  • 595950

News & Reviews

  • Mandy Patinkin and his wife Kathryn Grody were on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday with their son Gideon Grody-Patinkin to talk with host Scott Simon about what Simon calls the "sweet little interrogations of his parents" Gideon first posted to social media during the pandemic and which have offered viewers a glimpse into their lives together. So much so that the family will be in conversation together on stage in North Bethesda on Valentine's Day and New London on April 14, around the ongoing dates for Patinkin's own concert tour. You can hear their conversation with Simon here.

  • Mandy Patinkin was on The Economist's The Economist Asks podcast. He talks with host Anne McElvoy about his performing career, being an activist, and his becoming a social media sensation at home with his family during lockdown. "The difference between working with a gifted person and working with a genius. A genius opens the doors to everyone else's thoughts and opinions, asks questions," Patinkin says of working with Stephen Sondheim. "What he did, similar to Shakespeare in my opinion, is he turned darkness into light," You can hear their conversation here.

  • About This Album

    The third in a series of musical installments from Tony and Emmy Award–winning singer/actor Mandy Patinkin and pianist/producer Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman)—Diary: December 2018—it out today on Nonesuch Records. The digital release’s eleven songs were recorded by the two musicians in Bartlett’s New York studio last December and include two songs written by Patinkin himself plus songs by Paul Simon, Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields), Randy Newman, Biff Rose, Teitur, and John Grant. This Matthew Beighley–directed video for the album track “Wandering Boy” by Randy Newman was filmed at Patinkin's Diary concerts with pianist Adam Ben-David at the Connelley Theater in New York City in October 2018:

    As Patinkin explains, “After thirty years my musical collaborator, Paul Ford retired. I wasn’t sure if that meant I would have to as well. But my dear friend Bob Hurwitz [of Nonesuch] introduced me to Thomas Bartlett, who introduced me to an entirely new way of making music … in his studio, hours of playing, singing, and recording, never searching for the illusion of perfection.” He continues, “We’ve decided to share our music making journey with you, in the form of a Diary. Hope you enjoy, and thanks for listening.”

    Patinkin has played CIA agent Saul Berenson on Showtime’s Emmy and Golden Globe Award–winning Homeland for the last seven seasons; a role for which he has received four Emmy nominations. The eighth and final season of Homeland began filming in January 2019. He has released seven previous albums on Nonesuch.

    Well known for his portrayal of Inigo Montoya in the 1987 movie The Princess Bride, Patinkin most recently played Irwin in Dan Fogelman’s Life Itself. Patinkin’s other film credits include Yentl (1983), Alien Nation (1988), Dick Tracy (1990), Wish I Was Here (2014), and Wonder (2017), among many others. In addition to his role on Homeland, he has appeared in major roles in television series such as Chicago Hope (Emmy Award), Dead Like Me, and Criminal Minds. Patinkin is a noted interpreter of the musical works of Stephen Sondheim and is acclaimed for his work in musical theater, originating iconic roles such as Georges Seurat in Sunday in the Park with George and Che in the original Broadway production of Evita (Tony Award). Additionally, Patinkin has been passionately involved in volunteer work with various NGOs throughout his life, and currently travels the world with the International Rescue Committee, spending time with refugees and raising awareness of their plight.

    Thomas Bartlett, also known as Doveman, is an American pianist, singer, and producer. He has worked with many Nonesuch artists—including Sam Amidon, Olivia Chaney, David Byrne, the Magnetic Fields, Nico Muhly on Peter Pears, Mandy Patinkin, and Chris Thile—as well as Sufjan Stevens, Glen Hansard, The National, St. Vincent, Father John Misty, Rhye, Florence + The Machine, The Gloaming, Martha Wainwright, and others. Born in Vermont, Bartlett studied piano in London with Maria Curcio.

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Mandy Patinkin, vocals
    Thomas Bartlett, piano, Mellotron, op-1

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by Thomas Bartlett at the Dwelling, Reservoir Studios, New York, NY

    Cover photo by Joan Marcus