Jazz in film scoring

There you go JF, check it out next time you see the film.

Ok, I did play again Black Dahlia the other day.

How could I forget that powerhouse opening track?? Wow, this score is magnificent.

But the jazz elements in it don't dominate the score, in my opinion. They're like a recurring background flavour, and quite welcome respite from the hard-hitting dark cues.

It's much more balanced than something like Quiz Show or Losing Isaiah or Little Man Tate. These are wall-to-wall jazz, nothing but happy-go-lucky bland landscapes with no real emotions or drama to them.

For anyone interested, the soundtrack to Bird, the Eastwood film about Charlie Parker will give you an idea of what jazz really is albiet very conservative in this film due to the fact that the sax player could only approach Parker in what he was capable of doing.
Thomas

My custom Jazz Film Score Playlist

Cafe Swing ~ Horner, James ~ *Batteries Not Included
Catch Me If You Can (Reprise and End Credits) ~ Williams, John ~ Catch Me If You Can
Love Theme from Chinatown (End Title) ~ Goldsmith, Jerry ~ Chinatown
The Cooler ~ Isham, Mark ~ The Cooler
Lara's Theme [Jazz Version] ~ Jarre, Maurice ~ Doctor Zhivago
The Edge ~ Goldsmith, Jerry ~ The Edge
Main Title (Jack's Theme) ~ Grusin, Dave ~ The Fabulous Baker Boys
Soft on Me ~ Grusin, Dave ~ The Fabulous Baker Boys
The Moment of Truth ~ Grusin, Dave ~ The Fabulous Baker Boys
End Title (Marlowe's Theme) (Farewell, My Lovely) ~ Shire, David ~ Farewell, My Lovely / Monkey Shines
Willa's Theme ~ Goldsmith, Jerry ~ Fierce Creatures
Main Theme [Jazz Version] ~ Rugolo, Peter ~ The Fugitive [TV]
Main Title ~ Howard, James Newton ~ Glengarry Glen Ross
End Titles ~ Howard, James Newton ~ Guilty By Suspicion
Hawk Swing ~ Kraft, Robert ~ Hudson Hawk
Moon River {from Breakfast at Tiffany's} ~ Mancini, Henry ~ In Session: A Film Music Celebration
Down Here on the Ground - Cool Hand Luke ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
The Cat - Joy House ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
The Face of Love - The Osterman Weekend ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
The Cincinnati Kid - Cincinnati Kid ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
Street Lights - Cincinnati Kid ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
That Night - The Fox ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
Mission: Impossible - Mission: Impossible ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
People Alone - Competition ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
Once a Thief - Once A Thief ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
Share the Dream - Manhattan Merengue ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
Bullitt (Main Title) - Bullitt ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
Blues for Basie - Roller Coaster ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
Insinuations - Once A Thief ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
The Race Is On - Golden Needles ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz Goes to Hollywood
Suite from Bullitt ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz in Film
Touch of Evil ~ Mancini, Henry ~ Jazz in Film
Cinderella Liberty ~ Williams, John ~ Jazz in Film
Dudley Moore Tribute ~ Moore, Dudley ~ Jazz in Film
The Gauntlet ~ Fielding, Jerry ~ Jazz in Film
The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3 ~ Shire, David ~ Jazz in Film
The Man With the Golden Arm ~ Bernstein, Elmer ~ Jazz in Film
Walk on the Wild Side ~ Bernstein, Elmer ~ Jazz in Film
Dirty Harry Suite ~ Schifrin, Lalo ~ Jazz in Film
Austin Powers (Soul Bossa Nova) ~ Jones, Quincy ~ Jazz in Film
Last Tango in Paris Suite [Jazz Waltz] ~ Barbieri, Gato ~ Last Tango in Paris
It's Probably Me ~ Sting/ Clapton, Eric ~ Lethal Weapon 3
Main Title from "The Pink Panther Strikes Again": The Pink Panther Theme ~ Mancini, Henry ~ The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Round Midnight ~ Hancock, Herbie ~ Round Midnight
Rounders ~ Young, Christopher ~ Rounders
Brass Brazilians ~ Young, Christopher ~ Rounders
The Family Arrives ~ Goldsmith, Jerry ~ The Russia House
Moonlight ~ Williams, John ~ Sabrina
The Party Sequence ~ Williams, John ~ Sabrina
Flashback ~ Shore, Howard ~ The Score
New Orleans Street ~ North, Alex ~ A Streetcar Named Desire
Car Train ~ Jazz Jury, The ~ Swingers
Tu Vuo' Fa l'Americano ~ Guy Barker International Quintet, The ~ The Talented Mr. Ripley
Pent-Up House ~ Various Artists ~ The Talented Mr. Ripley
Moanin' ~ Barker, Guy ~ The Talented Mr. Ripley
Four ~ Various Artists ~ The Talented Mr. Ripley
You Don't Know What Love Is ~ Guy Barker International Quintet, The ~ The Talented Mr. Ripley
Theme from Taxi Driver ~ Herrmann, Bernard ~ Taxi Driver
Jazz Autographs ~ Williams, John ~ The Terminal
Goodnight/Breaking & Entering ~ Conti, Bill ~ The Thomas Crown Affair
Attic Jazz/Attic Beguine ~ Duning, George ~ Toys in the Attic
Cool World (Mark Isham) ~ Isham, Mark ~ Varese Sarabande: 25th Anniversary Vol. 2
Nobody and Nothing - Jazz ~ Barry, John ~ The Whisperers
Valiant and Valiant ~ Silvestri, Alan ~ Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Why Don't Do You Do Right? ~ Silvestri, Alan ~ Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Jessica's Theme ~ Silvestri, Alan ~ Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Eddie's Theme ~ Silvestri, Alan ~ Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Swing, Swing, Swing ~ Williams, John ~ 1941
36 Hours (Jazz Trio) ~ Tiomkin, Dimitri ~ 36 Hours (FSM)

-Erik-

I'm surprised to see your only Barry choice is from The Whisperers? Barry has done so many jazzy tracks.

p.s. Except for a few I'm not familiar with that looks like a fantastic selection and listen Erik

I thought you didn't like Jazz?

The list was pretty much something I through together within 10 minutes or so. What other Barry recommendation would you make?

-Erik-

I'd have to look through my albums but there are some great jazzy cues on the likes of The Ipcress File, The Knack, Body Heat, Hammett and particularly Petulia which has a handful. One that particularly springs to mind is Dance With Reality from The Beyondness of Things and it's a great, more modern jazzy track.

I think I've mentioned Barry's non soundtrack album Americans before? Excellent album but only ever available on LP.

Some very nice listening Erik and Martijn

Errrrr....not a Legrand fan.
As you can probably see from my list, I'm pretty partial to the big band or cool jazz approach, neither of which I would think is Legrand's forte.

Though I'd happily take some suggestions?

Please do! Again, my list was just a spur of the moment thing so the more recommendations the better!

-Erik-

Cool Hand Luke, Cincinnati Kid (Both Schifrin) I Want to Live (Mandel), Harlow (Hefti), Anatomy of a Murder (Ellington), Bird (Lot of cool Parker), and Round Midnight (Gordon and Hancock). Jazz by Ken Burns has a lot of cool cuts also and is available in a CD.
Thomas

I'll think about it... harpischord?

GET GET GET!