Jazz On Film - Biopics on CD

Description

The 5th critically acclaimed and unique new release by Moochin About compiles for the first time a collection of stunning jazz scores from classic biographical films.... Films of biographies go through phases - sometimes favoured by the Oscar jurors, sometimes not. The 1950 s was a fertile period for them and in particular for jazz musicians,who's music influenced many... jazz was seen as rebellious enough to be part of the score to these tributes to the greatest symbols of the era ! The styles go from the beginning of jazz to west coast cool, but what every subject of the films has is desire. A desire to succeed, a desire to be the best, a desire to live in the here and now and (most of all) a desire to this on their own terms. It make for great stories and great Hollywood movies, but most of all, it leads to wonderful film scores..! The films themselves trace the life stories of some of the most influential Jazz & Blues musicians in history, as well as one of the most iconic film actors; James Dean. Two versions of the score appear in this collection ~ The original Leith Stevens soundtrack, plus the critically acclaimed Capitol Records version by Johnny Mandel, featuring top flight soloists Chet Baker, Bud Shank and an array of star spangled sidemen.! Other films included on this unique collection are Young Man With Horn which is loosely based on the tragic life of Bix Beiderbecke, who s sound in the film is expertly dubbed by the great Harry James... also The Five Pennies , which tells the dramatic story of jazz trumpeter Red Nichols, played in the film by a remarkably straight faced Danny Kaye and is especially memorable for his duet with Louis Armstrong. Also a great addition to this set is the very rare St Louis Blues, which is broadly based on the Father of The Blues, WC Handy... with a young and inspiring Nat King Cole playing the lead role... and the fantastic Pete Kelly's Blues, a fictional jazz biopic with Jack Webb's brilliant introductions to each tune...This collection scattered with Jazz legends appearing in both the films and the soundtracks and is a must for jazz and film buffs alike... The boxset will be released as a limited edition in 2 different covers... Version 1 will feature James Stewart on the cover, from The Glenn Miller Story and version 2 will feature Louis Armstrong, taken from the film The Five Pennies, with Danny Kaye on the reverse side... FOREWORD BY CERYS MATTHEWS ~ 6MUSIC Review Moochin' About have done it again ! this time a collection of film soundtracks which will transform that ordinary day into one worthy itself of a film just by the sheer brilliance of the sound spilling from your speakers.