Mal Waldron, Sweet Love, Bitter

[Dan Gould]

I wanted to post this in that jazz movie thread but I couldn't find it.

Anywhoo, spotted this at the Groove, soundtrack to a movie based on Bird's life. What's cool is, Dave Burns is on the album, plus George Coleman and Charles Davis.

Here's what the Groove says:

A beautiful soundtrack composed and played by Mal Waldron, and a record that's filled with lyrical beauty that you won't find on that many of his other recordings. Players include Dave Burns, George Coleman, and Charles Davis -- and the whole album has a nice soulful sound to it.

And All Movie Guide offers this:

Loosely based on Charlie Parker's life and based on the book Night Song, this drama chronicles the friendship between a nearly washed up jazz sax player and a down-and-out college professor. — Sandra Brennan

Anyone familiar with the movie or the soundtrack?

[brownie]

This came out in 1967 (Impulse 9141). Good album. Never got to see the movie.

Charles McPherson ghosted for Dick Gregory who played the Parker-inspired hero of

the film.

Mal Waldron wrote the score for the film which includes a sequence where McPherson

appears in a nightclub scene with Dave Burns, Chick Corea, Steve Swallow and Al

Dreares (according to the book 'Jazz in the Movies' by David Meeker.

[JSngry]

Can anybody find a cover scan of the Impulse! album to post? I've seen most every '60s Impulse!, including the Danny Richmond, the Jackie Paris, the Beverly Jenkins, the Freda Payne, the Russian Jazz Quartet, the Kuhn brothers, etc, (don't have any of them, though...) except this one (actually 9142 according to Mr. Fitzgerald's listing), 24 (something by one Michael Brown), 25 (Oscar Brand ) & 9145, the Intercollegiate Jazz Festival album.

Hard to believe that such an album would have been so obsure!

[JSngry]

Oh yeah, I taped the movie off TV one night a few years ago, watched the first 30 minutes or so, and shut it off. It just seemed silly, with a lot of WAAAAYYY exagerated "hipness" being ejaculated fast and furious. Maybe it got better (or maybe it just got bitter...). I still have that tape somewhere, maybe I should watch it all the way through. Or not.

Good music, though.

[Dan Gould]

Well, that's the point of the soundtrack, right? And with Dave Burns as an added feature-not enough Burns out there, IMO.

If no one can post an image I'll see what I can do, assuming that I do get this from the Groove-we just got a scanner, though its not large enough to accomodate full albums.

[Dmitry]

I have this LP. It is indeed an excellent album!

[JSngry]

Nope, never have seen it. Thanks for the image, Dmitry.

[Joe]

Please note:

"Based on the novel NIGHT SONG by John A. Williams."

I could have sworn that, like THE CONNECTION or THE COOL WORLD, this was a Shirley Clarke film.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I have this on a Japanese CD... wicked short... like 29 minutes or something. I'd have to take it out and see.

This isn't a great one in my book. Waldron wrote the tunes *for* the movie so they have "themes" to them. Not a lot of continuity as a record although they probably fit in great with the movie. I'll have to spin it again to refresh my memory. I do know it nearly made the trade pile a couple of times.

Later,

Kevin

[JSngry]

So why was this in print such a pitifully short time? Legal issues? Bob Theile couldn't take any publishing? (ouch) (and not completely fair) (completely) Impulse! was not typically a quick-to-delete label.

[Dan Gould]

Well, good news-got the confirmation e-mail from the Groove. B)

[brownie]

Gave it a spin. The music is fine but it is mostly jazzy movie music. Dave Burns is heard

mainly on the opening track which clocks in at just over 5 minutes. The other tracks are all

around or under 3 minutes.

George Coleman has a lead role on the album. He plays alto. Charles Davis on tenor is

barely heard. Mal Waldron also keeps his part discreet.

Good opportunity to listen to drummer Al Dreares who appeared on albums by the likes of

Randy Weston, Freddie Redd and Jackie McLean.