Seven more classic films of the '50s & '60s (some rarely seen, all by great directors) with classic jazz scores composed by and featuring jazz musicians—real and fictional—on screen, off screen, and (in most cases) both.
Curated by Ed Cardoni
A modern adaptation of Laclos' 18th-century classic of epistolary fiction starring Jeanne Moreau (Elevator to the Gallows, 1958), Gérard Philipe (in his last completed film; he died later the same year at age 37 during the filming of Luis Buñuel's Republic of Sin), Annette Vadim (neé Stroyberg, the director's second wife after Brigitte Bardot), Jean-Louis Trintignant, & Jeanne Valérie. Musical team (on film, in film, and/or on record): Thelonious Monk, Duke Jordan (as himself and under the nom de plume of "Jacques Marray" or "Jack Marray"), Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Barney Wilen & Kenny Clarke (who had both also performed with Miles Davis on the score of Louis Malle's Elevator to the Gallows in late 1957), Lee Morgan, Bobby Timmons, Charlie Rouse, Sam Jones, Arthur Taylor, Jimmy Merritt (a.k.a., Jymie Merritt), "Los Afrocuban Boys" (John Rodriguez, bongos; Tommy Lopez & William Rodriguez, congas), and a special on-screen appearance by Kenny Dorham (tp), Barney Wilen (ts), Duke Jordan (p), Paul Rovere (b), & Kenny Clarke (dm). Suggested by Dr. Marty Barron.
In 1957, the same year Louis Malle shot and asked Miles Davis to compose and play the score for his first feature, Elevator to the Gallows (Ascenseur pour l'échafaud, which we screened last spring, and also starring Jeanne Moreau), Vadim directed another film, No Sun in Venice (Sait-on jamais) a French-Italian co-production entered into the 7th Berlin International Film Festival. The soundtrack for that film was composed by pianist John Lewis, performed by the Modern Jazz Quartet, and released as a soundtrack album on Atlantic in 1957.
From Wikipedia: "The Modern Jazz Quartet Plays No Sun in Venice (originally titled The Modern Jazz Quartet Plays One Never Knows: Original Film Score for "No Sun in Venice") is a soundtrack album by American jazz group the Modern Jazz Quartet featuring performances recorded in 1957 for Roger Vadim's [film] No Sun in Venice and released on the Atlantic label. The Allmusic review stated 'The music is quite complex and disciplined, making this set of lesser interest to fans who prefer to hear Milt Jackson playing bebop-oriented blues. However the versatile group was perfect for this type of music and these thought-provoking performances reward repeated listenings.'"
ARCHIVAL NOTE: As special bonus pre-show entertainment (at no additional charge to the audience!), we rolled out Hallwalls' Steinway Model M medium grand piano and distinguished jazz pianist (and Jazz Noir regular) George Caldwell performed three numbers live for the assembled French wine-sipping film buffs: "Ask Me Now" and "Pannonica" by Monk, and George's own Monk-inspired composition "Mocus."
(Roger Vadim, 1959, 106 min.)