DAVE GRUSIN — The Fabulous Baker Boys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (review)

DAVE GRUSIN — The Fabulous Baker Boys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album cover Album · 1989 · Jazz Related Soundtracks Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Matti P
The American pianist, composer and band leader Dave Grusin (b. 1934, still alive!) was highly active in the field of film music. The movies I'm familiar with include e.g. Pollack's "Three Days of the Condor" (1975), Warren Beatty's "Heaven Can Wait" (1978), Oscar-magnet "On Golden Pond" (1981), the gender comedy "Tootsie" (1982), and - perhaps my favourite film of these - "The Fabulous Baker Boys" (1989), a musical drama with romantic undertones, starring real life brothers Beau and Jeff Bridges as a jazz piano duo of brothers, and Michelle Pfeiffer as a singer joining them.

The most memorable musical moments in the film are definitely those where Pfeiffer performs with the Baker brothers: 'Makin' Whoopee' and 'My Funny Valentine'. They are the highlights of the soundtrack as well. Pfeiffer's vocal abilities were surprisingly good. Grusin's original soundtrack music is fairly enjoyable too, although some of it hasn't aged so well. The core combo - featuring e.g. Grusin on keyboards, guitarist Lee Ritenour, a tenor saxophone and a trumpet - is often accompanied by strings. Occasionally the arrangements lean towards big band stuff.

'Main Title (Jack's Theme)' is a nice, groovy and elegantly arranged jazz piece. 'Welcome to the Road' is among the most eighties sounding tracks. The drumming is too loud in the mix and synths sound rather thin. 'Suzie and Jack' is a pleasant, slow-tempo romantic piece. Even more beautiful is the melancholic and moody ballad 'The Moment of Truth'.

The album also contains Grusin's arrangement of 'Lullaby of Birdland, and 'Moonglow' performed in 1936 by the Benny Goodman Quartet. The album is a bit uneven to listen to, and sometimes the original music is terribly 80's, but the highlights justify sympathetic three stars.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Fellowship Hard Bop
DAVID GIBSON
Buy this album from MMA partners
They Say It’s Wonderful Vocal Jazz
VERONICA THOMAS (AKA NICA CARRINGTON)
Buy this album from MMA partners
Parallels Post Bop
JOE SANDERS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Live at Orangefield RnB
VAN MORRISON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Alternate Summer Post Bop
TOM HARRELL
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

They Say It’s Wonderful
VERONICA THOMAS (AKA NICA CARRINGTON)
js· 11 hours ago
Van Morrison 2024 Live At Orangefield
VAN MORRISON
js· 12 hours ago
Miramar
TOM HARRELL
js· 13 hours ago
Love for Sale
THOM ROTELLA
js· 13 hours ago
Jake Shimabukuro, Mick Fleetwood - Rollin' N Tumblin'
JAKE SHIMABUKURO
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed