Jazz In Film

The Cool World

The Director: Shirley Clarke

The Writers: Shirley Clarke, Carl Lee, Warren Miller and Robert Rossen

The Actors: Rony Clanton, Carl Lee, Yolanda Rodriguez, Clarence Williams III, and Gloria Foster

The Music: The soundtrack of abstract jazz colorings was never officially released, however, this Dizzy Gillespie re-recording is the next best thing.

The Story: This 1964 film is a powerful, stark semi-documentary look at the horrors of Harlem ghetto slum life filled with drugs, violence, human misery and a sense of despair due to the racial prejudices of American society. There is no patronizing of the black race in this cinematic cry for justice. A fifteen-year-old boy called Duke is ambitious to buy a “piece” (a gun) from an adult racketeer named Priest, to become president of the gang to which he belongs, and to return them to active “bopping” (gang fighting) which has declined in Harlem. It is a clearly patent allegory of an attempt by Duke to attain manhood and identity in the only way accessible to him – the antisocial one.

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Jazz In Film

Bullitt: This 1968 crisp, technically assured thriller was directed by Peter Yates and starred Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Vaughn. The story follows an all guts, no glory San Francisco cop who becomes determined to find the underworld kingpin that killed the witness in his protection. The film featured violent deaths, one of the best car chases in film history and a self-conscious message.

The modernistic music score was composed and conducted by Lalo Schifrin with Howard Roberts – guitar, Bud Shank – flute, Mike Melvoin – piano, Ray Brown – bass, Larry Bunker – drums, Bud Brisbois – trumpet and Milt Bernhart – trombone.

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Requisites

Speak No Evil: This 1964 release by Wayne Shorter has been considered as one of his finer works and a “must have” for the serious collector. As he was in Miles Davis’ band at the time, this album did not receive the welcome it so deserved.

Personnel: Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone, Freddie Hubbard – trumpet, Herbie Hancock – piano, Ron Carter – bass, Elvin Jones – drums

Recorded by: Rudy Van Gelder

Record Date: Blue Note – December 24, 1964

Cover: Photograph of Wayne Shorter and his first wife, Teruka Nakagami

Songs: Witch Hunt, Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum, Dance Cadaverous, Speak No Evil, Infant Eyes, Wild Flower

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Jazz In Film

Play Misty For Me: This 1971 film directed by Clint Eastwood tells the story of a brief fling between a male disc jockey and an obsessed female fan takes a frightening, and perhaps even deadly turn when another woman enters the picture.

Stars: Clint Eastwood, Jessica Walter, Donna Mills, John Larch, James McEachin, Irene Hervey

Music: Misty – 
Composed and performed by Erroll Garner; The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face -
Written by Ewan MacColl and performed by Roberta Flack; and
 Country Preacher – composed by Joseph Zawinul and performed by Cannonball Adderley

The song, The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face was popularized by Roberta Flack in 1972 in a version that became a breakout hit for the singer. The song first appeared on Flack’s 1969 album First Take. Flack’s rendition was much slower than the original as an early solo recording by Seeger ran two and a half minutes long whereas Flack’s is more than twice that length.

This slower, more sensual version was used by Clint Eastwood in his 1971 directorial debut Play Misty for Me during a lovemaking scene. With the new exposure, Atlantic Records cut the song down to four minutes and released it to radio. It became an extremely successful single in the United States where it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts in April 1972 for six week runs on each.[3] It reached #14 on the UK Singles Chart.

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Requisites

Royal Flush: This album was recorded by jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd and is notable for introducing pianist Herbie Hancock in his first Blue Note session.

Personnel: Donald Byrd – trumpet, Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone, Herbie Hancock – piano, Butch Warren – bass, Billy Higgins – drums

Record Date: Blue Note – 1961

Songs: Hush, I’m A Fool To Want You, Jorgie’s, Shangri-La, 6M’s, Requiem

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