The Music From 'Checkmate' + The Music From 'Hong Kong' (2 Lps On 1 Cd)

Two Original Soundtrack Recordings

JAZZ IN THE MOVIES presents the most celebrated scores by the composers that introduced jazz to motion pictures and television soundtracks. In addition to providing a superbly appropriate setting for dramatic scenes, all the jazz background themes were interpreted by many of the best Hollywood and New York jazz studio musicians.


Tracklisting:

01. Theme from Checkmate 2:12
02. The Isolated Pawn 3:22
03. Cyanide Touch 2:34
04. Far Out Place 3:26
05. Hassle in the Castle 2:28
06. En Passant 2:34
07. The Black Knight 2:19
08. Fireside Eyes 3:09
09. The Bishops Retreat 3:10
10. Queens Sacrifice 3:15
11. Shy Youth 2:37
12. The King Swings 2:40
13. Hong Kong [Arr. Billy May] 2:09
14. Evans Theme [Arr. Warren Barker] 2:17
15. Number One Girl [Arr. Herb Spencer] 3:55
16. Joanna [Arr. Frank Comstock] 2:57
17. The Jade Empress (Frank Comstock) 2:28
18. Blues for Evans [Arr. Earle Hagen] 2:19
19. Tullys Bar [Arr. Marty Paich] 3:39
20. A Toast to Joanna [Arr. Billy May] 2:12
21. Honorable Hong Kong Rock (Billy May) 2:28
22. Tully and Evans [Arr. Marty Paich] 2:38
23. Chinesse Cha Cha (Newman-Feller) 2:42
24. Chop Chop Waltz (Marty Paich) 3:03


Sources:

Tracks #1-12, from the soundtrack of
the CBS-TV Series Checkmate (1960)
Music composed & conducted by Johnny Williams
Originally on LP as Columbia CS 8391

Tracks #13-24, from the soundtrack of
the ABC-TV series "Hong Kong" (1960)
Music composed & conducted by Lionel Newman
Originally on LP as ABC Paramount ABCS 367



-Music from "Checkmate"

Composed & conducted by Johnny Williams
Orchestra includes Conrad Gozzo, Pete Candoli, Olie Mitchell, trumpets; Vince De Rosa, Dick Perissi, John Cave, French horns; Dick Nash, Lloyd Ulyate, Dick Noel, trombones; Ronny Lang, Ted Nash, alto sax & flute; Gene Cipriano, tenor sax & flute; Chuck Gentry, baritone sax; Jimmy Rowles, piano; Bob Bain, guitar; Joe Mondragon, bass; Shelly Manne, drums; John F. Williams, percussion.

Recorded at Columbia Records Studio, Hollywood, November 17 and December 1 & 3, 1960

Checkmate CBS-TV Series (70 episodes)
Original run: September 17, 1960 - September 1, 1962
Created by Eric Ambler
Starring: Anthony George, Doug McClure & Sebastian Cabot
Produced by JaMco Production



-Music from "Hong Kong"

Music composed & conducted by Lionel Newman
Additional compositions by Marty Paich, Billy May & Frank Comstock
Arrangements by Marty Paich, Billy May, F. Comstock, Herb Spencer, Earle Hagen & Warren Barker
Orchestra includes Frank Beach, John Clyman, Bob Fowler, trumpets; Vince DeRosa, Harry Schmidt, Fred Fox, French horns; Hoyt Bohannon, Ray Klein, Marlo Imes, trombones; Abe Most, Russ Cheever, Bill Ulyate, Morey Crawford, reeds; Paul Smith, piano; Mike Rubin, bass; Richard Cornell, drums; Dale Anderson, Ralph Collier, Harold Rees, percussion.

Recorded at United Recorders Studio, Hollywood, November 2 & 3, 1960

Hong Kong ABC TV series (26 episodes)
Original run: September 28, 1960 March 29, 1961
Created by Robert Buckner
Starring: Rod Taylor & Lloyd Bochner
Produced by 20th Century Fox Television


Full personnel & recording details in the CD booklet



Compiled & produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered

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Review:

"When these TV film soundtracks were recorded more than five decades ago, you couldnt walk about Hollywood without bumping into a musician or three: jazz musicians, swing musicians, studio musicians, who could play almost anything you wanted and in whatever key. They gathered there in California like wasps round a jam jar, for this was where they could make a living irrespective of what kind of music they wanted to play. Among the personnel are many names from West Coast jazz lesser-known names like Conrad Gozzo who nevertheless played with Shorty Rogers and others, and the very familiar Jimmy Rowles, big band stylist and accompanist of Peggy Lee etc. These soundtracks made for two TV series give an idea of what these jazzmen (and non-jazzmen) were brought into the studios to accomplish. It was not always jazz-as-we-know-it.

But the selection written for Checkmate, while clearly fashioned to accompany cinematic action, has a great affinity to the big band sound which was on the wane outside in the real world. Its certain that some of these compositions would not have worked without the powerful interpretation of jazz-oriented brass players. The composer Johnny Williams had been active for years as a jazz pianist recording with Buster Bailey and Eddie Durham, for example. There are passages in En Passant, say, with a rousing French horn ensemble when his creative mind seems to remember its writing for Tinseltown. But overall this is composing and delivery which swing listeners would find satisfying and absorbing.

I find it hard to say the same about the Hong Kong tracks which, lumbered by a sizeable string section, come across largely as romantic/dramatic film music, but very professionally played. You can almost imagine the rustle of popcorn packets. Presenting it as jazz is optimistic. Nevertheless, some charts are arranged by Marty Paich and Billy May, showing how Hollywood helped the jazz economy. And (point of interest) Id never heard of a mokkin before, a Japanese 16-key xylophone, played by vibist Larry Bunker."

-Anthony Troon (Jazz Journal, March 2015)
http://www.jazzjournal.co.uk

Tracklist