Jazz for aficionados
Today's Listen: Erroll Garner -- CLOSEUP IN SWING & A NEW KIND OF LOVE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U01FX2CG2Pc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_7CHhkiF88 They say he could not read music. He sure could play music. Cheers |
http://www4.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/31883/ASSAULT-ON-A-QUEEN/ This Ellington soundtrack has been recently released on CD. It’s been oop for a long time. I enjoy Anatomy Of A Murder more, but this is an interesting work. Forgive me if someone else has already pointed this out, I have not been following this thread in lately. |
In my mind, the most powerful film scores, are those that changed the landscape of jazz; as a matter of fact, we no longer think of them as film scores; they are: Exodus, Laura, and "On Green Dolphin Street"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAEciccQlF0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-QtnIaG0xE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-QtnIaG0xE Now I will give you jazz versions of those excellent movie themes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II_LtoZGSVg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGVdAlxlp18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsA-krIF_ao Enjoy the music. |
It seems that I missed the film score of "On Green Dolphin Street", but it was an old movie and in my opinion was subdued, and although it's the original, you didn't miss much, but that doesn't change the fact that the composition is the original. Rok, those are fantastic cuts by Mr. Erroll Garner who could not read music. There are other jazz musicians who could really jam, but could not read music. In no way am I implying that a musician can play jazz better, if he can not read music. Reading music usually requires school, and school requires money. Not reading music isn't a brag, just a fact. Enjoy the music. |
Here's the sound Ghosthouse spoke of in his post; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3949DkdAN6Q Enjoy the music. |
This ain't jazz, but it's a soundtrack that's "Bad To The Bone" can you dig it? Here she is, "Christine", and she is bad to the bone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FDq-PBlc9A&list=PLJ3mgaOyNH5lELCtCARlQB-9Ow9J7nV4S Enjoy the music. |
Apparently we have ran out of jazz movie soundtracks. Since I believe we can walk and chew gum at the same time, let's go with "jazz" soundtracks, and any jazz that comes to mind. Although I can't play any LP's at the moment, since I discovered one that had not been posted, I decided to look through the vinyl again, and look what I found; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU3KI3L2t4g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4RZi7j2wMo Enjoy the music. |
Here's another one. Beautiful saxophone playing throughout. Can't be sure, but would bet it's Phil Woods on the featured alto: http://youtu.be/2dl1-OW_oFw |
Acman3, Charlie Chaplin’s work is definitely not for everyone; a unique combination of slapstick and pathos. Groundbreaking in the film world. This is not about music per se, although the music is by the great Hans Zimmerman. I am posting this only because I think it’s an extraordinary moment in a pretty extraordinary later movie (a talkie this time) of his and considered one of the great speeches in a movie. From "The Great Dictator": http://youtu.be/nKm_wA-WdI4 |
Frogman, that was an unforgettable movie, and I was shooting pool at that time; unfortunately, I was not the hustler, but the one who got hustled. The soundtrack was awesome. Charlie Chaplins speech was the greatest ever made, but also one that will never be fulfilled because of the greed and lust for money. Enjoy the music. |
Frogman, I think I could sit through the movie in a theatre, but I did not make it through the whole thing on my computer. I enjoyed the music. It changed musically so often I thought of John Zorn"s "Spillane " recording. I wonder if that is where he got the idea of changing tune's so fast? https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/jazz-for-aficionados?page=141 |
Zorn does have a whole series called "Filmworks" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VNup9ZRZTY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejCAHuGV_FI |
Acman, I clicked on that link three times before I realized what was happening. That's what I do when I get bored and no one is responding; maybe the next time I'll change to "hillbilly" just to see if anyone is out there. In response to the movie, there is no way I'll even attempt to watch a faded out movie like that. "Pueblo" required a lot of listening; I thought it was repetitive, and at the same time I was trying to connect it with the Pueblo Native Americans. (almost used that word "Indians") I'm sure it would work in a movie. Enjoy the music. |
"Christine" had the best soundtrack ever, for anybody who can remember sitting in the back seat with a "Little Bitty Pretty One" or pledging your love to the girl of your dreams. My uncle had a brand new 58 Fury like "Christine" that my cousin drove so fast, 120 at least, that we traveled 120 miles in less than 1 hour. I can tell you, those fins work like the fins on an airplane; I went to sleep as soon as I got in the car (had been up all night) and woke up with the wind whistling like crazy, but the car was as steady as standing still. I peeped at the speedometer, and decided; "If any thing happens, I'll never know it", and went back to sleep. The soundtrack to this movie, and that car, took you back to that time like nothing else; the car and the music was the star of the show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8WA5fqCB8g&list=PLJ3mgaOyNH5lELCtCARlQB-9Ow9J7nV4S&index=4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4rv3kMUBf4&index=9&list=PLJ3mgaOyNH5lELCtCARlQB-9Ow9J7nV4S https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuvGP2_RQ50&index=8&list=PLJ3mgaOyNH5lELCtCARlQB-9Ow9J7nV4S No girls were ever as pretty as the one's in high school. Enjoy the music. |
Surprised that Frogman did not chose something from this movie, after all its caled 'A King In the New York'... Again,Chaplin, I realy like this movie. First link is a speech,I have a slight idea who here might respond on it... The second link is more about the music. The movie can be seen on ytube. https://youtu.be/WDfSS1ZqDQA https://youtu.be/gUoopyebfTI |
Sorry about the link, Notice how Zorn changes themes often. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_oqmZ1BPbI O, I just picked two randonm clips off the Filmworks series. I am not a Zorn expert in any way, but love most every thing I hear. If someone, anyone out there, was a Zorn expert it would be fun. |
Alex, thanks for those clips. I am by no means a Chaplin-file and came to his work fairly recently. For a long time I assumed, as I suspect many do, that his works were primarily caricaturish and slapstick; until I became aware of their substance and importance. My experience with his films began with my involvement in projects having to do with the recreation of their music several years ago. I have not seen King In NY but will make a point to do so. Why surprised? Is it the "NY" part, or the "King" part 😉? |
Just a thought: An incredible amount of potentially VERY INTERESTING topics and themes for discussion in recent posts. Excellent! It is MY impression that this thread tends to move away from topics to new ones without even getting close to exploring all there is to explore in any one topic (theme, music style, musician, etc.) if there isn't quick response time and posts. We all live in, not only different time zones, but different parts of the world and with different levels of free time at any given moment. Perhaps we should consider being more comfortable slowing the pace down a bit. Would love to look at Zorn and film further. Jus sayin...... |
Frogman, a good one, joke, I mean. Yes, by all means, Chaplin is great, often his later work is overlooked, he was not at all ’just a funny guy’... Acman, some good movies you have posted, some of the french ones are my all time favourits... If by any chance you have not seen any of these, I strongly recommend them... J.P. Melville’s ’Samourai’ with A.Delon...some original score, and remix included... https://youtu.be/KR-nveJx-LU Again, J.P. Melville’s ’Le Cercle Rouge’ with A. Delon some nice music and scenes https://youtu.be/8zR7S-NPzNQ Interesting to see is that Melville’s movies were in a way homage to american authors and films of crime and noir, but later new american authors choose to make films in a homage to Melville... Frogman, I agree, we should incorporate 'time out' tool.... |
Today's Listen: Duke Ellington -- JAZZ PARTY Malletoba Spank- includes nine classical musicians on percussion instruments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_enr0nOZX8 Hello Little Girl- features Jimmy Rushing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2_yjHDPsGo Cheers |
All jazz based or jazz influenced scores: "Shadows", very interesting film by John Cassavetes with music by the great Charles Mingus. Particularly appropriate for this topic since Cassavetes was known as a director who encouraged actors to improvise and who were given broad plot themes to build on: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_4Fjpx5kxzs Beautiful and very evocative music that was cut from the film for some unknown reason: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3fZux3tczAA A Roman Polanski film "Knife In The Water". Music by Krystof Komeda. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4f1DpoYLBTc And, of course, one that I am sure the OP likes the music from, "Last Tango In Paris" with the classic theme played by Gato Barbieri: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cq5oYOquQPM |
Alex, thanks for those clips. Very nice music! I particulaly enjoyed "Le Cercle Rouge". Here is one of my all time favorite scores. Written by the brilliant Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu for one of Akira Kurosawa’s epics "Ran". I’ve always been a fan of Kurosawas’s samurai epics; this one is amazing. The score is gorgeous, haunting and violent at various points: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xOeauXqEF-A |
Today's Listen: Ella Fitzgerald -- ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE DUKE ELLINGTON SONGBOOK 2 CD set. From Disc 1: Ella With Small Groups https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQw9s5rSuR0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGEvw3xPzuE Stuff Smith on Violin. And They Say Nothing Is Perfect. Cheers |
Today's Listen: Ella and Duke -- ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE DUKE ELLINGTON SONGBOOK Disc 2: Ella with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3tIGXA68pA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfaDOYrwuOA Just gets better and better. Cheers |
Another great movie with very recognisible theme. 'Das Boot' made by W.Petersen from 1981,music by Klaus Doldinger (Passport) https://youtu.be/aKXi7f7AFmU https://youtu.be/iaJR9cG2_AM live |
Ok, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jth1fjSJ59k BTW, great Ella Duke; especially the small group stuff. |
The greatest jazz movie that's ever been made is "Round Midnight", starring "Dexter Gordon". Not only is this the greatest jazz movie that's ever been made, it's probably the greatest jazz movie that ever will be made, along with the greatest soundtrack. I know you ask; "How can I say such things about a movie"? But if you have to ask that question, you are not an "Aficionado", because all aficionados were talking about this movie for months after it came out. Those who Knew Dexter Gordon personally, said all he had to do was appear in front of the camera as himself, there was no acting, that was "Dexter Gordon". The movie is about Dale Turner, a famous tenor saxophone player in Paris in the 1950s is befriended by Francis, a struggling French graphic designer specializing in film posters, who idolizes the musician and who tries desperately to help him to escape alcohol abuse. As he succeeds, the budding friendship they develop changes their lives forever. The director, Bertrand Tavernier, defied the movie studio by insisting that real-life jazz tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon play the role of Turner. Gordon, who himself played with Bud Powell in Paris in the early 1960s, helped to revise and rewrite the script. (The story is loosely based on "Bud Powell" in Paris) The supporting cast is likewise composed of jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, John McLaughlin, and Wayne Shorter. The soundtrack comes in two records: "Round Midnight" and "The Other Side of Round Midnight" – released under Dexter Gordon's name and featuring his last recordings, although he does not appear on all tracks. Both albums were produced and arranged by Herbie Hancock. Naturally I have both CD's, and I enjoy them thoroughly. The first, "Round Midnight", is one of the best CD's in my collection. Herbie Hancock – piano Ron Carter: bass Tony Williams – drums Bobby McFerrin – vocal Dexter Gordon – tenor saxophone Pierre Michelot – bass Billy Higgins – drums John McLaughlin – guitar Chet Baker – vocal & trumpet Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone Bobby Hutcherson – vibes Lonette McKee – vocal Freddie Hubbard – trumpet Cedar Walton – piano Here are some links; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UazdjAWMocY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4nVDKeVxok Enjoy the music. |
"Round Midnight" is a fine film with Dexter giving a pretty amazing performance (for a mere saxophone player 😎), but I'm not prepared to say it's the best ever or that ever will be (maybe I'm not an Aficionado 😱); definitely one of the best 'though. Too many considerations and different points of view as to what a "jazz movie" should be to give it such an exclusive ranking. For starters, I have a little trouble with the choice of McFerrin on the melody in the title tune; good, but can't get past the "gee-wiz, how clever vibe". Imo, as good as McFerrin is, I don't think he can "play" (sing) an intricate jazz melody such as this as convincingly as a great horn player. I can't get past how McFerrin's easily recognized voice quality takes away (for me) from the period authenticity of the movie; not to mention the obvious technical shortcomings in his delivery of the melody (2:11 in the film soundtrack is one example-ouch!) which make it sound a little belabored overall. Dexter is awesome and the movie is really good overall. http://m.ranker.com/list/15-jamming-jazz-movies/konnoisseur411 https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/definitive-jazz-movies/ BTW, saw the new "Miles Ahead". Big disappointment. Not particulely factual and Miles is portrayed as an almost buffoonish character. Cheadle's portrayal of Miles, except for a pretty good voice imitation, is not very believable. |
Frogman, according to "Aficionados", Dexter Gordon puts this movies over the top by simply being himself, without acting; in addition to a fantastic jazz track that was sufficient for two records, plus the musicians were the greatest. While a top actor, and a good script, could make a fantastic jazz movie for the movie going audience; Dexter Gordon signed, sealed, and delivered it for aficionados. That's because they saw a "real" jazz musician, with the idiosyncrasies of a working jazz musician. This is a jazz aficionados movie if there ever was one. As you stated, "Too many considerations and different points of view as to what a "jazz movie" should be to give it such an exclusive ranking." My ranking was based totally on the music and the musicians who are so very outstanding; "Herby Hancock" is transcendental, and I use that word in the sense that he has been an accomplished performer in so many different genres of jazz, and his stamp is all over the place in that movie. "Bobby McFerrin", is incredible, but I can understand your comparison to him and a horn; while I think he does the impossible, I'm not a horn player. As far as considerations and points of view, if one simply compares jazz movies, and doesn't put so much emphasis on the music; "Paris Blues" was a better movie, and it dealt with the same subject "Expatriates". "Miles Davis" is an "Enigma"; while I never met the man, some of the people in his autobiography are related to me, and they were his best friends. The Miles they knew, has no relation to the Miles the public has been presented. Just like his music, it's all about "which" Miles are you speaking of? That was an impossible movie to make. Enjoy the music. |
Frogman, I had forgotten about that one; from an acting point of view, I don't think it will ever be beat. Like you said "Jamie Foxx's portrayal of "Ray" is incredible". That movie was fantastic from beginning to end; Ray Charles, like all other blues musicians, began in the "Juke Joints", and those places in the movie were so authentic, that I could smell the beer, wine and whisky. Enjoy the music. |
There is 'acting', and there is 'imitation'. Imitation -- The assumption of behavior observed in other individuals. Some of these movies are just people imitating the physical traits, mannerisms and characteristics of famous people. The story lines are not that compelling. 'Ray' heads that list. When the actors are chosen based on having a similar physical appearance to the person being depicted, that's a red flag. 'Amadeus' was probably 99% BS, but a great and enjoyable movie. With music like that, what else could it be. Cheers |
Sounds good; but, doesn't hold water. Couldn't disagree more about the Foxx performance. I think we agree that a great performance does not a great movie make. Acting IS imitation. However, what is the difference, as far as the craft goes, between "imitating" a character as defined and described by a script and directorial cues and "imitating" the traits of a famous person? I think you're short changing Foxx's performance. It s true that he bears a resemblance to Charles, but the performance was first rate by any standard; even the "piano playing" was the most realistic and believable that I've ever seen from an actor. |
acting, the representation of a usually fictional character on stage or in films. At its highest levels of accomplishment acting involves the employment of technique and/or an imaginative identification with the character on the part of the actor. In this way the full emotional weight of situations on stage be communicated to the audience. |
