Recommend dethtoll some jazz (easy listening also acceptable)

june gloom on 7/11/2008 at 14:18

As a big queer for Blade Runner I'm also a big queer for the soundtracks, particularly the New American Orchestra version (tracklist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner_(soundtracks)#Original_Releases) here). This version is heavily jazz-inspired, and it shows in tracks like "Blade Runner Blues".

Driving to university in the rain with that particular song playing was an experience, and I was hoping if anyone around here had similar songs or albums to recommend. I really like jazz of all sorts, from this kind of thing to, hell I dunno, Naked City, but I'm especially looking for the slower, sadder, noirier (is that a word) type stuff with no vocals. Hit me up!

Oh also moar songs like "One More Kiss, Dear" pls

henke on 7/11/2008 at 15:32

Most of the jazz I listen to is more upbeat happy stuff like Cab Calloway but here are a couple of downers you might dig.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhDaOdGZbF4) Glenn Miller - "On a Little Street in Singapore"
Most of Miller's stuff is instrumental though.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4fbD0YBSZQ) Diana Krall - "Temptation"
Her version is actually better than Waits'. Noiry as hell, too.

rachel on 7/11/2008 at 16:08

Also a fan of more upbeat/funk jazz here, with Cannonball Adderley and Maceo Parker as models for sax practice. :)

For melancholic/sorrowful stuff though, the best I have is Terence Blanchard's (http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=A+Tale+of+God's+Will+(A+Requiem+for+Katrina)&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8) A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina), which I also had the chance to see live. Wonderful, wonderful tribute to New Orleans. :thumb:

demagogue on 7/11/2008 at 16:32

If you want a little moody, slow jazz, nothing beats Miles Davis ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m1JeNWB27g) My Funny Valentine ... ironic that someone just put up a Blade Runner quote for you, too).
Also any song sung by Billie Holiday ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUtPODn7cCc) fine & mellow) or Nina Simone ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYSbUOoq4Vg) my baby just cares for me).

John Coletrane also has his moments ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT2GPo4JsGY) On Green Dolphin Street).

My current new favorite is Hiromi, and of her albums I like Spiral.
I love this track that sounds just like what you're looking for, though, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3FP7VTRYJM) Deep into the Night, or maybe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5heNtehwZg) Green Tea Farm.

P.S., I made a playlist of the (http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=482B4EF94941D82C) history of jazz piano on YouTube, if you want a little tour of the scene.

Tonamel on 7/11/2008 at 17:46

Quote Posted by demagogue

If you want a little moody, slow jazz, nothing beats Miles Davis

This. I'm working on a noir game at the moment, and I'm specifically looking at his album Kind of Blue for inspiration.

For other slow, sad jazz (that's heavily influenced by more ambient styles) check out:

Kammerflimmer Kollektief - "Lichterloh"
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble - "Adaptation of the Koto Song"
Cinematic Orchestra - "Channel 1 Suite"

[edit] It's kind of weird that we all associate noir with late-50's modal jazz/bebop. Most noir was written twenty to thirty years before then, and I've been watching a lot of noir movies for research, and none of the well known classics have used any sort of jazz. It's all been straightforward orchestral.

Muzman on 7/11/2008 at 18:45

You've got to cherry pick Miles a fair bit but the slow ones of his are the greats (try 'Round Midnight')

The whacky prog-jazz group (http://www.thenecks.com/) The Necks have some stuff that probably fits (in a long winded sort of way); particularly 'Sex' and the OST for The Boys plus some other live stuff I've found around the place. All of which you'll probably never be able to find.

Barry Adamson's 'Moss Side Story' is pretty much an album of this stuff and very dark. It's one of those "soundtrack for a non existant film" sorts of things.

june gloom on 7/11/2008 at 18:48

Thanks for the suggestions, and definitely going to check out Miles Davis first and foremost. :thumb:

I think we all associate film noir with jazz because of parodies, neo-noir like Blade Runner, and modern crime dramas set in the 50s that made use of a lot of jazz.

But the older movies all used orchestral, yes. Hell, even the old radio dramas did- there's a radio station here that plays a lot of nostalgia stuff, from old jazz to old mystery shows they used to play in the 30s and 40s and it's almost all orchestral.

Volitions Advocate on 7/11/2008 at 23:53

I'm not a big jazz fan, not that I dont like jazz. I just haven't found that "type" of jazz that I really like.

But if your'e into instrumental music thats a little more modern I'd recommend "explosions in the sky". Its very melodic and emotional.

And for the more experimental I'd recommend Holy F*ck. Yes its really a band. Though not all their stuff is really all that inspiring, but they do have a few good ones.

To be honest I dont actually own any albums from these 2.

van HellSing on 8/11/2008 at 00:11

Quote Posted by dethtoll

Oh also moar songs like "One More Kiss, Dear" pls

The Ink Spots are the obvious choice here. Originally, Scott wanted to use their song "If I Didn't Care" in that scene, but due to licensing problems he couldn't, so instead he had Vangelis compose a song in a similar style, and that became "One More Kiss, Dear".

Incidentally, If I "Didn't Care" now features in BioShock. Two other songs, "Maybe" and "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" feature in Fallout 1 and 3 respectively :D

demagogue on 8/11/2008 at 00:13

"Explosions in the sky" are out of Dallas ... I always hear that genre called postrock or art rock, and if you like them you're also supposed to like MONO and Mogwai.

It (postrock) has got emotion, though I wouldn't really call it noir-ish. Then again, it definitely fits more with the Blade Runner setting IMO, being a little industrial and considering Vangelis did the soundtrack and is himself a little postrock.