I need help. My friend from Russia is trying to find music to inspire her film score. I have looked through my collection, and cross referenced with some film noir but I can't find anything that hits the nail on the head as far as what she needs.

Here is what she has to say:

"I want music recommendation. =) Could you offer some jazz stuff(old school is preferable) with very specific atmosphere?.. you know, maybe 40s-50s. It shouldn’t be gay, cheery or fast temper…I need to express despair, desolation and so. I’ve checked bop but it’s too dizzy, fast and sharp. However modern horror-jazz is too slow and amorphous. I don’t know.. something drug influenced, perhaps? Actually it’s not complete idle curiosity but sort of creative attempt to bring something different to cinematic stuff on schooling levels yet, but since it’s my script I want it to sound the way I like(and the way it should be). Would be much appreciated if you recommend a couple of things."

Thanks for your time.

Not sure WTF? horror-Jazz is supposed to be?



Having said that, try....


Billie Holiday:
Strange Fruit
Gloomy Sunday
Good Morning Heartache
I Cover the Waterfront
Fine & Mellow - 1957 version
Don't Explain - 1957 version


Louis Armstrong:
West End Blues
(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue

John Coltrane:
Alabama
A Love Supreme - several parts of the suite.
Lonnie's Lament


Duke Ellington & John Coltrane - In a Sentimental Mood

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue - the record is filled with songs to choose from.


Charlie Parker - Lover Man - if you can find the 1946 recording he recored for Dial....you will hear a man going through the pains of heroin withdrawal and the ensuing mental problems as he records the song. He ended up being arrested that day as a result of a fire in his hotel room and institutionalized for several months.


Duke Ellington:
Solitude
Mood Indigo
In a Sentimental Mood
Blood Count - Billy Strayhorn was terminally ill when he composed this.



Not exactly Jazz but Frank Sinatra's recording "In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning" is a suicidal Chairman of the Board.


There are others, but that should be a start.

Like Bohren & Der Club of Gore.

Did you get lost? You realize this is the Jazz Forum and not the Rock related portion of RM?





P.S. There just might be a hint in this thread.

Yes I realize this is the jazz section, Bohren and Der Club of gore is horror jazz/dark ambient.

I understood that part....which didn't have anything to do with my post.

Oh, you quoting my post threw me off I thought you were trying to say something about what I said.

And actually I lurk around the jazz forum alot, I just don't post too much especially in the what are you listening thread since I have yet to rebuild most of my jazz collection.

1. True, but you had already quoted my question and posted your response which I quoted. There will be a test on this!


2. WTF? are you waiting for, already?

Awesome. Thanks for the great list of things to check out. I need to throw out my Ken Burns collection and dig out my vinyls. I'm pretty sure I have "In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning" somewhere in that collection.

On a completely unrelated note, thanks for that recommendation of "Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945." Like finding gold.

Cheers.

1. You're welcome.

2. Ken Burns? The horror, the horror! Ok, not the vast majority of the music in the box set....on the other hand that documentary Gumbo is another story altogether.


3. Since I didn't mention it in this thread....I take it you went on a Archaeological dig on RM? It and other miraculous discovery of DA MONK & DA COLTRANE at Carnegie Hall are more like finding Astatine and/or Californium-252.