Today, I've been listening again to Universal Music France's brilliant 3CD set of French New Wave scores that was released in 2011 (I really want to own it on CD, but have to suffice with it digitally for now). It's really a must-have for every serious film music person, and an important, film historical release.
Obviously, a cornerstone of the French New Wave was Godard's A BOUT DE SOUFFLE (BREATHLESS), scored by Martial Solal. Solal is still around, amazingly, at 97 years of age. But I realize that while my knowledge of most of these composers is fairly good, I don't know much about Solal in particular. Rather than google around, what are some of other Solal recommendations that the FSM membership could point out?
Today, I've been listening again to Universal Music France's brilliant 3CD set of French New Wave scores that was released in 2011 (I really want to own it on CD, but have to suffice with it digitally for now). It's really a must-have for every serious film music person, and an important, film historical release.
I am unable to suggest anything by the composer, though I'm sure you'll appreciate this thread bump. I also appreciate your bringing this CD set's existence to my attention.
Sidney Bechet was one of the great soloists in jazz. He popularized the soprano sax in an era where few played it.
When Astor Piazzolla made some of his earliest recordings in Paris in 1955, Solal was the pianist on half the selections. For the other half Piazzolla found a fellow Argentinian who was studying music in Paris--Lalo Schifrin.
I am unable to suggest anything by the composer, though I'm sure you'll appreciate this thread bump. I also appreciate your bringing this CD set's existence to my attention.
Thanks! Yes, I think it will be right up your alley, Jim. For more discussion about the actual set, there's this previous thread:
One might seek out each soundtrack individually, of course, but this is a beautifully curated set that covers basically all the main entries of the New Wave.
Sidney Bechet, Martial Solal - All The Things You Are (1957)
Thanks for the tip. I've always liked "All The Things You Are", but preferably more down-tempo and less improvised. Still, works as a hot jazz number too.
Does anyone have any Solal compositions to highlight, though?
Solal is first and foremost a jazz pianist, he has worked little for the cinema; as for finding recordings outside of DVD, it is worse. We can note "Léon Morin, prêtre":
I think this is one of the better albums in that series. Probably the best compilation on Solal that we'll likely ever witness. If you are familiar with the 1962 Orson Welles adaptation of Kafka's The Trial, then notice that the jazzier passages were by Solal.
I am unable to suggest anything by the composer, though I'm sure you'll appreciate this thread bump. I also appreciate your bringing this CD set's existence to my attention.
Thanks! Yes, I think it will be right up your alley, Jim. For more discussion about the actual set, there's this previous thread:
One might seek out each soundtrack individually, of course, but this is a beautifully curated set that covers basically all the main entries of the New Wave.
Once I've finished up my current white-hot obsession, British "Kitchen Sink" Realism, I have to make my way through the vast number of Nouvelle Vague films I've long wanted to watch.
BTW, *Love* the look of that Universal France disc; the art direction for their releases is among my favorite, and if pressed, I would say my all-time favorite.
When I was in Prague in 2017, Jean-Paul Belomondo's bio was in seemingly every bookstore. That, sad to say, would never happen in the USA (other than in a few NYC shops...maybe).
