Jazz On Film: Classic American Film Scores 1956 - 2016

The latest release on Moochin’ About’s ‘Jazz On Film’ series features a rare and unique 5CD collection from the multi-instrumentalist classical composer and author David Amram. Using the music from his own personal archives, the box set includes highlights from seven of his film scores and two Broadway productions, celebrating a career spanning 60 years. All of these scores have been re-mastered and the included 60 page colour booklet has been written by David Amram.

Beginning in 1956 with a rare short film Echo of An Era, a story about the history of the Third Avenue El and the ever changing nature of New York, this excerpt gives a glimpse of the creativity of Cecil Taylor on piano - his first ever recording opportunity - and a hint of what Amram has done since. The box set concludes with a score to Michael Patrick Kelly’s film Isn’t It Delicious. It features Latin legends Paquito D’Rivera, Candido, a bevy of great contemporary jazz artists like Slide Hampton, Jimmy Owens and Earl McKintyre and classical chamber music instrumentalists Harumi Rhodes and a group for the Copland Center.

Amram, rightfully hailed as a Renaissance man of American Music, plays more than 35 instruments and with Julius Watkins, was a pioneer in introducing the French horn to jazz more than sixty years ago while a member in the bands of many of the 1950s jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Charles Mingus, Kenny Dorham and Oscar Pettiford. He also developed friendships while jamming or recording with Thelonious Monk, Mary Lou Williams, Charlie Parker, Betty Carter, Stan Getz, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Nina Simone, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito d'Rivera, Candido, Ray Mantilla, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Thad Jones, Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, Leonard Bernstein, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Odetta, Jack Kerouac, Richie Havens, Steve Martin, Pete Seeger, Sir James Galway and Johnny Depp.