Noir Thriller Jazz
Though the soundtracks to most contemporary spy thrillers--think Bourne Identity, 007, or even sci-fi futuristic flicks like Children Of Men, are scored on large soundstages with agitated LA musicians, back in the day everything was recorded in New York City. When jazz was king in the '50s and '60s, television and film studios were strictly based in the Big Apple. Musicians who made their living in the pit bands of popular late night TV shows brought their special skills to the soundtracks of iconic films like Bullitt, Midnight Cowboy, The Man With The Golden Arm, All That Jazz, Three Days Of The Condor (those last two recorded in the '70s), and The Graduate. These musicians prized their bread and butter gigs on the late night circuit: The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson, The Dick Cavett Show and before that, Jack Paar and Steve Allen, not to mention the orchestras of variety shows MCed by Jackie Gleason and Ed Sullivan. But California's golden call arrived in the mid '70s and the entire industry moved west. These days, the only pit bands left are on Broadway and on the Conan O'Brien and David Letterman shows.
So....when a CD arrives that has that same feeling of the jazz influenced, noir-inflected golden soundtrack era, my ears perk up. Traveling down memory lane, some of my favorite soundtracks in the hip-jazz-thriller vein include Elmer Bernstein's The Sweet Smell Of Success, Lalo Schifrin's Dirty Harry (and all its myriad sequels), John Barry's entire 007 oeuvre, Roy Budd and his Get Carter work, Johnny Staccato, Mannix, and of course, Blaxploitation epics like Superfly, Coffey, Hell Up In Harlem, and Foxy Brown. The Denis DiBlasio Quintet's Where The Jade Buddha Lives uses all the ingredients of the classic film thriller: contrapuntal rhythmic lines creating drama and suspense, understated melodies to briefly lull the listener before the big climax (or chase scene), and clever use of the small band format to create large scale impressions.
A baritone saxophonist and flautist of no small ambition, DeBlasio has a specific and seemingly literal tale to tell for each track of X, outlined in extensive liner notes. Opener Distressing Disguises is a playful arrangement that manages to hover and dart, and was oddly enough, inspired by Mother Teresa's quote: "I see God everywhere in all his distressing disguises." The title track is menacing and slo-mo, sounding like a Bullitt outtake with its spooky chords and below the radar horn harmonies. Other standouts: the urban chase pulse of "Teach Me I Dare You," Jim McFall's dark trombone mysticism on the surreal "Song Of India," and the hard bop front line of "The Puppy's Not Cute Anymore." Extremely well arranged and compositionally realized, Where the Jade Buddha Lives announces DiBlasio as a creative force to be reckoned with.
Denis DiBlasio Quintet
"Distressing Disguises" (mp3) from "Where the Jade Buddha Lives"
(Art of Life Records)
More On This Album
Denis DiBlasio Quintet "Where the Jade Buddha Lives" (mp3) from "Where the Jade Buddha Lives"
(Art of Life Records)
More On This Album
Further Art: Though new in my mind, Art of Life Records has a fantastic roster. Enjoy a few MP3s from their already burgeoning catalog that includes Daniel Humair, Tubby Hayes, Bob Mintzer, and Joe Diorio to name but a few.
The mighty Bob Mintzer has been moving and shaking in jazz circles for many years, and recently as a 15-year member of the Yellowjackets. But Mintzer's muse is far from fusion or la la land smooth jazz. "Straight Ahead" from In The Moment finds him blowing mean tenor as only he can.
Bob Mintzer Quartet "Straight Ahead" (mp3)
from "In The Moment"
(Art of Life Records) More On This Album
A legend in LA jazz circles, guitarist Joe Diorio has consistently flown under the national radar. But just check out his beautiful lines on "Talla Sunshine - Naima Rainbow, Dance for Their Father," a selection from his latest digital release, Bonita.
Joe Diorio "Talla Sunshine - Naima Rainbow, Dance for Their Father" (mp3)
from "Bonita"
(Art of Life Records) More On This Album
England's greatest tenor player Tubby Hayes had all the might of Hank Mobley and all the lyricism of Stan Getz rolled into one. Hayes recorded prolifically during the 50s and 60s, this live set taken from a BBC session recorded in the summer of 1965 at Kensington Studios in London. This cat can blow.
Tubby Hayes Quartet "In The Night" (mp3)
from "Commonwealth Blues"
(Art of Life Records) More On This Album
