Call and Response

Crime Jazz Playlist

Miles Davis “Nuit Sur Les Champs-Elysees” composed by Miles Davis from Soundtrack from Elavator to the Gallows (1958) — Miles Davis wrote the score for director Louis Malle’s 1958 black and white film Elevator to the Gallows about the perfect crime, foiled by imperfect luck. Miles Davis and four Parisian jazzmen sat in a darkened studio, watching Louis’s loops and improvised.

Jazz at the Movies Band “Touch of Evil” composed by Henry Mancini from White Heat: Film Noir — Theme from the Orson Welle’s 1958 creepy film Touch of Evil with Bill Cunliffe, piano and Gary Foster on alto

Irving Joseph “Stool Pigeon” composed by Darnell/Joseph from Murder, Inc. (1960) on time records — From the classic 1960 film Murder, Inc.

Jackie McLean “O.D.” composed by Freddie Redd from The Music from The Connection (1960) — “O.D.” The Freddie Redd Quartet with Jackie McLean from the soundtrack The Music from The Connection, 1960. Freddie Redd (piano), Jackie McLean (alto sax), Michael Mattos (bass), Larry Ritchie (drums). The film uses actual musicians to play the roles of h

John Zorn “Spillane” composed by Spillane from Spillane (1986) — Zorn uses a collage of sound techniques inspired by Mickey Spillanees’ Mike Hammer dectiective novels.

Kai Winding Orchestra “Experiment in Terror” composed by Henry Mancini from Experiment in Terror — From the 1962 Blake Edwards film score written by Henry Mancini

Sammy Davis Jr. “Johnny Cool” composed by Billy May from Johnny Cool (1963) — Billy May is a jazz composer best known for his work with Frank Sinatra1963 crime film directed by William Asher

Berto Pisano & Jacques Chaumont “Kill them all” composed by Berto Pisano & Jacques Chaumont from Kill (1971) — Theme from film stabs you like an icepick; vocals from Doris Troy who moved on to singing backing vocals on Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon

Quincy Jones Orchestra “Shoot to Kill” from Shoot to Kill — Theme from 1947 film

Miklos Rozsa “The Asphalt Jungle theme” composed by Miklos Rozsa from The Asphalt Jungle theme (1950) — Theme from the classic film noir Asphalt Jungle

Jimmy Smith “Slaughter on Tenth Ave” composed by Richard Rogers from Slaughter on Tenth Ave — Main theme based on Richard Rogers song from a ten minute ballet; the 1957 film Slaughter on Tenth Avenue is about the waterfront wars in New York City during the fifties; Jimmy Smith on organ

Modern Jazz Quartet “No Happiness for Slater” composed by John Lewis from No Happiness for Slater — “No Happiness for Slater,”The Modern Jazz Quartet from film soundtrack for Odds Against Tomorrow, 1959 Blue Note John Lewis (piano), Milt Jackson (vibes), Percy Heath (bass), Connie Kay (drums). Singer Harry Belafonte plays a hip, blues-singing vibist wh

Duke Ellington “Anatomy of Murder” composed by Ellington from Anatomy of Murder Soundtrack — Duke Ellington and his orchestra from the 1959 film

Roy Ayers “Brawling Broads” composed by Roy Ayres from Cofy Soundtrack (1973) — Roy Ayers soundtrack to blaxploitation 1973 masterpiece Coffy staring Pam Grier. Roy Ayers on keyboards and vibes and his band defined the soul jazz, tripped-out funk of this film genre.

Warren Barker Orchestra “Caper at the Coffee House” composed by Warren Barker from 77 Sunset Strip (1959) — Themes written for 77 Sunset Strip TV series which ran from 1958 to 1964;

Kenyon Hopkins “Contract with Depravity from the Hustler” composed by Kenyon Hopkins from The Hustler soundtrack (1961) — Theme from the 1961 film The Hustler; Kenyon Hokin’s jazz infused score

Willie Hutch “Foxy Lady” composed by Willie Hutch from Foxy Brown soundtrack (1974) — Theme from another Pam Greer blaxsploitation film, 1974 Foxy Brown; Willie Hutch vocals and guitar lend pure funk and soul jam sounds to the soundtrack

George Duning “Jazz Chase” composed by George Duning from The Naked City: Musical Portraits — From the 1958 television police drama; John McIntire, who also stars in the series, does the narration; series was based on the successful 1948 film

Shorty Rogers “Hot Blood (The Wild One)” composed by Leith Stevens from Hot Blood (The Wild One) — “Hot Blood,” from Hollywood’s first great biker flick The Wild One, a semi-factual story of a small California town terrorized by rival motorcycle gangs. Marlon Brando, in black leather jacket with skull & crossed pistons on back, was Johnny, leader of th

Buddy Morrow “Johnny Stacatos Theme” from Johnny Stacatos Theme — “Johnny Staccato,” Buddy Morrow, trombone, from the 1959 film Staccato starring John Cassavetes. Johnny plays jazz piano at a Greenwich Village nightclub and doubled as a streetwise private eye during the day.

Gerry Mulligan “I Want to Live” composed by Johnny Mandel from I Want to Live! Soundtrack — “Theme from I Want to Live,” Johnny Mandel’s score performed by Gerry Mulligan sextet is from the 1958 film I Want to Live! the true story of three lowlifes who, after murdering a disabled widow during a botched robbery, are executed in San Quentin’s gas

Elmer Berstein “Frankie Machine” composed by Bernstein from The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) — “Frankie Machine,” from the 1955 Otto Preminger film The Man with the Golden Arm. The squalid story of a junkie card dealer and wannabe jazz drummer played by Frank Sinatra. Elmer Bernstein wrote this hit single and plays trumpet with a large orchestra f

Ray Anthony “The Peter Gunn Theme” from The Peter Gunn Theme — “The Peter Gunn Theme,” from NBC’s suave TV 1958. Craig Stevens played the role of a hip private eye with a sexy, jazz-singer girlfriend Edie Hart (Lola Albright), who sings smoky ballads at Mother’s. Ray Anthony (trumpet) and Plas Johnson (tenor sax)

Joseph Gershenson “The Boss” composed by Joseph Gershenson from The Boss — From Orson Welles’ A Touch of Evil

Lalo Schifrin “The Killers” composed by Lalo Schifrin from The Killers (1965) — From Schifrin’s soundtrack for the film The Liquidator

Stanley Wilson and His Orchestra “Shotgun slade” composed by Stanley Wilson from The Original Jazz Score From “Shotgun Slade” (1960) — Theme song from the 1959 television western series Shotgun Slade; couple of odd things about this series: main character was a private detective, and instead of western themed music, producers used jazz scores as a soundtrack

Enoch Light “The Creep” composed by Enoch Light from Private Life of a Private Eye (1959) — Detective jazz composer Enoch Light devoted an entire album to the big and brassy sound of swinging action jazz

Bruno Nicolai “Upperseven” composed by Bruno Nicolai from Upperseven (1965) — From Nicolai’s score for The Man to Kill

Count Basie “M Squad Theme” from M Squad Theme — “The M Squad Theme,” performed by Count Basie Orchestra was from the 1957 series of the same name with Lee Marvin as Lt. Frank Ballinger of Chicago PD’s M Squad.

Henry Mancini “My Manne Shelly (from more music from peter gunn)” from My Manne Shelly (from more music from peter gunn) — Pete Candoli (trumpet), Dick Nash (trombone), Victor Feldman (vibes), John Williams (piano), Joe Mondragon (bass), Shelly Manne (drums), Bob Bain (guitar)

Skip Martin “Riff Blues” from Riff Blues — “Riff Blues,” theme from the 1958 series Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, played by Darren McGavin and features music from the Skip Martin Orchestra.

Jazz at the Movies Band “Naked City” composed by Miklós Rózsa / Frank Skinner from White Heat: Film Noir — Title theme from 1948 motion picture The Naked City; Timothy May, guitar; Bill Cunliffe, piano; Gary Foster, clarinet; Warren Luening, trumpet

Willie Hutch “Theme of Foxy Brown” composed by Willie Hutch from Foxy Brown soundtrack (1974) — Theme song from Foxy Brown

Shelly Manne “Fallout” from Shelly Manne & His Men Play Peter Gunn (1959) on OJC — Shelly Manne (drums), Russ Freeman (piano), Monty Budwig (bass), Victor Feldman (marimba).

Benny Carter and His Orchestra “The Mugger” composed by Benny Carter from The Music from M Squad/The Music from Mickey Spillane’s Hammer — Benny Carter song also from the TV series The M Squad

Mundell Lowe and Clark Terry “Theme from Mr Lucky” composed by Henry Mancini from Themes From Mr. Lucky The Untouchables And Other TV Action Jazz (1959) — Theme from the short-lived 1959 television series Mr. Lucky who is an honest professional gambler with extraordinary luck. He carries a pocket watch whose chimes play the first five notes of the Mr. Lucky theme music.Mundell Lowe, guitar; Clark Terry, flu

Maynard Ferguson “Theme from Shaft” composed by Issac Hayes from M.F. Horn, Vol. 2/The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson — Maynard Ferguson’s cover of the main theme from 1971 film Shaft; arrangement perfectly suited for Ferguson’s big jazz band sound; Ferguson made the Rocky theme famous

Irving Joseph “Bad Day In Brooklyn” from Murder, Inc. (1960) on time records