Customer Reviews

Sweet and Lowdown: Music from the Motion Picture

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What a pleasure to see a movie featuring the hip early jazz guitar stylings of Howard Alden emulating greats Eddie Lang, Karl Kress, and of course Django. The soundtrack is a nice collection, but I was greatly disappointed that my favorite parts of the movie -- Emmett Ray's solo musings without a band -- were completely ignored. Some of Eddie lang's and Django's best recordings were sans band. Howard Alden's solo forays in the movie really mined that vein well (who can forget the "talent show" scene, or "I'm forever blowing bubbles" played by Emmett to his girlfriend), but are missing in action on this soundtrack. I give it 3 stars because the music is still good. I'd love, however, to see Howard Alden release a CD of solo pieces in the same style as he played in Sweet and Lowdown. Until then, I'll bide my time with the great new 5 CD Django anthology of Hot Club recordings with Stephane Grapelli (including some of the above-mentioned solo pieces) "Classic early Recordings in Chronological Order", which at less than $25 is an absolute steal!

This soundtrack exists quite independently of the film. Both, however, are excellent, although not all the music on the CD, I believe, was featured on screen. I personally like the renditions of "All of Me" and "It Don't Mean a Thing." There are a few tracks of actual period recordings, and numerous reorchestrations and rerecordings, done by Woody's longtime collaborator, Dick Hyman. This is 30's jazz at its best, as depicted by "Sweet and Lowdown."

The soundtrack as well as the film are excellent, especially for Django afficionados who want to hear more of the "hot music" style of the era. The only flaw I find is that the beautiful solo chorale so important to the film (the one that Emmett plays for Hattie all the time, which is also the last one he plays before the ending) is not on this CD. Instead we get a different, faster, full quintet version of the same song ("I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles") that's almost a cruel tease. Despite that one amazingly large hole, this CD is spectacular.

The soundtrack was such a key part of Allen's film, such an integral and immensely entertaining part of it that I bought the soundtrack--only to discover that the solos featured so prominently in the film are not included on the CD. That's a huge disappointment because they were, quite simply, wonderful.

That said, guitarist Howard Alden and the others (notably the fine Bucky Pizzarelli on rhythm guitar and Kelly Friesen on bass) do a terrific job in replicating the music of the era. The selections are great: "I'll See You in My Dreams," "Just a Gigolo," and "Limehouse Blues" are all classics and very well done.

The CD doesn't (because of the absence of those solos) have quite the impact of the actual music from the film but as a stand-alone item, for those who enjoy the sounds of the 30s, it's well worth having on its own merits.
Recommended.

My brother had seen the movie Sweet and Lowdown and immediately phoned me and said, The music in this movie is right up your street. How right he was. I purchased the CD the same day from Amazon, have the CD for about ten days and have been playing it every day since the CD arrived. I will go and see the movie for a second time mainly to hear the music and portrayal by Sean Penn of Emmet Ray. It is one of the happiest CD/Recordings I have heard in a long time. I play the recordings first thing every morning to put me on the right track; my sister just phoned me and asked, What is that great music in the background. I have just ordered a second copy for her. Next I'll be tap dancing!

I find it almost impossible not to enjoy this disc. I went straight to my computer, after watching the movie and ordered the soundtrack, (where else but on Amazon). While the music may not impress the real Djangophiles of the world, it does capture the sheer joy of well played swing guitar. I hear almost as much Charlie Christen and early Les Paul in the sound as I do Django. As a matter of fact, this soundtrack has reawakened me to the music of Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Les Paul and another great; Chet Atkins. Unfortunately, I learned only last night that Chet Atkins has passed on.

One final recommendation....a recording that has been long, long out-of-print...and another wonderful tribute to Django...."Nuages" By a French guitar quartet called The Guitars Unlimited. It was released on Columbia around 1970 or 71. Just four hot, hot, swinging...I mean HOT & SWINGING electric guitars, playing the beautiful songs familiar to the world reknown Django Reinhardt and his Hot Club du Paris. Please if anyone has seen it out there....first BUY IT FOR YOURSELF!....Then post a review. Until then I'll continue to enjoy this disc and picture Sean Penn playing his ass off in Sweet and Lowdown. Kudos to Woody for another great soundtrack.

This is one of the best Jazz recordings that have been put together to represent the 1930's era. It doesn't have the spontaneity that one would find if you were listening in one of the long gone jazz clubs of that time, but Dick Hyman has brought together Howard Alden, Bucky Pizzarelli, etc. so that the musicianship gives you a mental picture of being "there"....All the solos and ensemble playing are pure joy.....Ithink I know this era in music with other last survivors, if there was another star to give, this would get it

I wasn't even planning on seeing this film, but after I left the theater this album was in my hands the next day! What a fabulous blend of quality music...every note is perfect for the era the film depicts (1930's). Listening to this soundtrack gives me a buzz and makes me feel good...everyone I've played it for agrees. Great musicians, great selections, a #1 soundtrack!

I purchased the cd to listen to the guitar music featured in the movie and was disappointed to find many of the cuts were not solo guitar music at all. Many of the cuts are orchestrated versions of the guitar music we heard in the movie. I've always considered Woody Allen to be an unknowing underdog looking for a fair shake. But, after watching a great movie with great guitar music, I realize that Woody is a business man that sometimes sells the audience a bill of goods.

From the very first notes of "I'll See You in My Dreams," I knew I was going to love this CD - and I wasn't wrong. Duke Ellington's "Caravan," played here by Bunny Berigan & His Orchestra, is among my favorite recordings, never failing to produce a visceral response - I simply adore it. "Old Fashioned Love" is a gem. "Just a Gigolo," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Limehouse Blues/Mystery Pacific" and "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" are still more highlights. This is a terrific CD - I love to put it on and just kick back a forget all the troubles of the day.