Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Various Artists: Blue Movies: Scoring For The Studios

Various Artists: Blue Movies: Scoring For The Studios

By Larry Grogan
April 1, 1999
View read count

Another volume in 'The Blue Series', the deceptively titled 'Blue Movies' (actually compiled from a variety of (now) Capitol owned labels such as Blue Note, Pacific Jazz, Roulette and Tower, and a quarter of the cuts originating with TV) is one of the better entries in the series. Featuring a few rarities, a couple of absolute classics and only a few duds, the thematic coherence of 'Blue Movies' may be contrived but there's plenty to like.

Drawing from the 60's and early 70's, this compilation is mainly a testament to the quality of the music being written for the screen during that era. Only two (Billy Taylor's 'I Wish I Knew How' and Grant Green and Diane Reeves' 'Down Here on the Ground') were not immediately recognizable.

The highlights include Bobby Hutcherson's masterful take on Herbie Hancock's them from 'Blow Up!' (though his take on the 'Theme From MASH' is shockingly lame), John Patton's version of Sonny Rollins' 'Alfie's Theme' (which may be a shock to those expecting the Bacharach tune) and Wilton Felder's little known (but excellent) theme from 'Bullitt'. For the collectors there's a Lee Morgan 45-version of John Barry's theme from 'Midnight Cowboy', which, like the version from the actual soundtrack, features Toots Thielemans on harmonica.

At the end of the disc, the listener is left to wonder where the Three Sounds got their version of 'Star Trek' and why Groove Holmes was ever reduced to recording the theme from 'Love Story'.

Personnel

Various Artists

various

Album information

Title: Blue Movies: Scoring For The Studios | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Blue Note Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Dave Douglas: Convergence
< Previous

Can You Judge an Album By Its Label?
Next >

Various Artists Concerts

Sep 27 Sat

Standard Bank Joy Of Jazz 2025

Sandton Convention Centre
Johannesburg, South Africa

Sep 28 Sun

Standard Bank Joy Of Jazz 2025

Sandton Convention Centre
Johannesburg, South Africa

Nov 14 Fri

WDCB Live Broadcast: Cod Music Fridays @ Noon With...

College Of Dupage - Mac Room 140
Glen Ellyn, IL

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.