Jazz style in Williams' work

[tannhauser 101]

I was just trying to think of the most prominent uses of jazz or swing styles in Williams' film work over the years, scores or specific cues. So far I have

Theme from the Eiger Sanction

Cantina Band

Catch Me if you Can

Jazz Autographs from the Terminal

The Adventures of Tintin

Swing Swing Swing from 1941

The Knight Bus

Banning Back Home from Hook

The Sugarland Express

A Big Beautiful Ball

Any others?

[indy4 155]

If you like JW doing jazz, you should check out his score to Checkmate (available at FSM). It's got about 34 minutes of fantastic original jazz that Williams wrote, along with 34 more minutes of Williams' arrangements for jazz (or musical) standards.

[Miguel Andrade 1,262]

I always found that there is a lot of jazz influences in his Cello concerto. Maybe not to obvious, but I do feel them.

[indy4 155]

Yup, there are all kinds of jazz influences even in Williams' non-jazz works. The Rebel Fanfare is another example.

[Thor 7,478]

There are a gazillion examples, but the most typical 'swing' work as far as film or tv work is concerned, is probably the cues he did for M SQUAD.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

"Jazz style" is all over John Williams's work and his individual approach to harmony.

[Jay 37,323]

If you like JW doing jazz, you should check out his score to Checkmate (available at FSM). It's got about 34 minutes of fantastic original jazz that Williams wrote, along with 34 more minutes of Williams' arrangements for jazz (or musical) standards.

Not available any more. It's out of print.

[MrJosh 892]

Bachelor Flat (1962) - source cue "Home Cookin'"

Diamond Head - various jazzy moments.

Fitzwilly - more jazz throughout the score.

And many other moments scattered through his 60s and 70s scores.

[Muad'Dib 1,801]

The Raptors Appear

[A24 4,327]

And many other moments scattered through his 60s and 70s scores.

But less in his '90s and 2000s scores, right? Maybe that's what I'm missing.

[MrJosh 892]

And many other moments scattered through his 60s and 70s scores.

But less in his '90s and 2000s scores, right? Maybe that's what I'm missing.

I would say definitely less so.

Thanks to Mancini and some others, film scores were more about a jazz/pop feel in the 60s and 70s and then with Star Wars, the return to more golden age, sweeping symphonic film scores makes its comback, so naturally from that point on, there's less outright swing and jazz feel in his scores, but obviously the influence is still there since jazz was such a big part of Williams' early career.

[Miguel Andrade 1,262]

While the music might not be jazz in the pure sense of the word, I feel that there more than just an influence from the old days.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

And many other moments scattered through his 60s and 70s scores.

But less in his '90s and 2000s scores, right? Maybe that's what I'm missing.

I would say definitely less so.

Thanks to Mancini and some others, film scores were more about a jazz/pop feel in the 60s and 70s and then with Star Wars, the return to more golden age, sweeping symphonic film scores makes its comback.

Stupid shibboleth.