Finding Forrester ...music from the motion picture featuring Miles Davis

Topnotch Miles Davis music complements Gus Van Sant's film about an urban youth (Rob Brown), torn between basketball and writing, who meets a reclusive novelist (Sean Connery). The unlikely tale is supported by a generous sampling of Davis's early 1970's work nodding to Ornette Coleman and guitarist Bill Frisell. With the help of Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Tony Williams, Davis molded his second "classic" quintet into a groundbreaking mix of funk and rock that created something far beyond the reaches of fusion. Both "Recollections" and "Lonely Fire" hail from Davis's landmark Bitches Brew sessions (finally seeing release as The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions in October 1998) and offer a calming, nearly ambient effect. This combined with Davis's polyrhythmic funk--"Black Satin" from On the Corner and Ornette Coleman's own independent approach toward improvisation make for a solid sampler of jazz in a transitional age. --Rob O'Connor (Amazon review)

The "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" medley is by the late, great, Hawaiian singer, Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo`ole. There are web sites dedicated to him, and other music is available, with the Makaha Sons and solo. He was born May 20, 1959 and passed away at age 38. It is always something special to hear his voice floating in the air around us.

1. Recollections - Miles Davis
2. Little Church - Miles Davis
3. Black Satin - Miles Davis
4. Under A Golden Sky - Bill Frisell
5. Happy House - Ornette Coleman
6. Over The Rainbow (Photo Book) - Bill Frisell
7. Lonely Fire (Excerpt) - Miles Davis
8. Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World - Israel "Iz" Kamakwiwo'ole
9. Vonetta - Miles Davis
10. Coffaro's Theme - Bill Frisell/Ron Miles/Curtis Fowlkes/Eyvind Kang
11. Foreigner In A Free Land - Ornette Coleman
12. Beautiful - Bill Frisell/Hank Roberts/Kermit Driscoll/Joey Baron
13. In A Silent Way (DJ Cam Remix) - Miles Davis

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button..music from the motion picture

This soundtrack is over 2 discs. Disc 1 is composer Alexandre Desplat's score which is just so beautiful and has a delicate quality about the music. Early tracks play a little more upbeat and almost have a mysterious quality to them, like the track 'Love in Mourmansk." As the story of Benjamin and Daisy unfolds, the music grows more complex and sad - in parallel to the emotional journey that the two lovers go through. There are many great tracks throughout, such as "Meeting Again" which is a simply beautiful track with intricate piano work, also 'Sunrise on Lake Pontchartrain', 'Benjamin and Daisy', 'Love in Mourmansk', 'Postcards' and 'Alone at Night' are achingly wistful, exquisite pieces. Such beauty should not be overlooked.

Whether or not you have seen the movie, which is also beautiful, this soundtrack must be heard. It is delicious and splendid with delicate, yet powerful, tones on each instrument. You will find yourself softly humming the haunting theme over and over. This is a masterpiece.

Disc 2 contains music from the different eras of the movie with includes classic music by Louis Armstrong, The Platters and Bix Beiderbecke, plus dialogue from several scenes.

Benjamin Button 001

Benjamin Button 002

                                      

Cinema Paradiso...original soundtrack

This 1988 classic from director Guiseppe Tornatore is certainly one of the greatest movies about movies ever made, and features a rich score by Ennio Morricone.

The initial effort in what's become an ongoing collaboration between filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore and composer Ennio Morricone (in this instance assisted by his son Andrea) remains one of the Italian musician's most internationally beloved works. The bittersweet tale of a young boy's friendship with the local cinema projectionist and the profound, almost magical influence the movies have on both their lives won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes and the Best Foreign Film Oscar, and netted Morricone a BAFTA (U.K. equivalent of the Oscar) for Best Score. In the late '90s, the music also received one of America's other great "honors"--it was adapted for a car commercial! The score is among Morricone's most elegant and memorably melodic, effectively evoking a rich cinematic legacy; it's a virtual musical love letter to the power of films and their music. --Jerry McCulley (Amazon review)

This is the limited edition soundtrack version with bonus track

1. Cinema Paradiso
2. Maturity
3. While Thinking About Her Again
4. Childhood And Manhood
5. Cinema On Fire
6. Love Theme
7. After The Destruction
8. First Youth
9. Love Theme For Nata
10. Visit To The Cinema
11. Four Interludes
12. Runaway, Search And Return
13. Project For Two
14. From American Sex Appeal To The First Fellini
15. Toto And Alfredo
16. For Elena
17. Cinema Paradiso (bonus track..String Version)

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