Sharing Music Memories

The Hustler – Soundtrack from the 1961 Movie – Music by Kenyon Hopkins


Sunday, October 9th, 2011

KHCD-ST008 (STEREO) – The Hustler – Soundtrack from the 1961 Movie – Music by Kenyon Hopkins Kenyon Hopkins, formerly an arranger for Paul Whiteman, became prominent as a film composer best known for writing music for Tennessee Williams films that did not become classics. Probably the most memorable aspects of films such as This Property Is Condemned, The Fugitive Kind, and Baby Doll were Hopkin’s scores. There were a few acknowledged classics that featured his music, and  director Robert Rossen’s 1961 film The Hustler is one such classic. This film’s music is in what would be later dubbed the “Crime Jazz” style, fitting the noir elements of the story. The english horn, oboe and flute are prominent instruments throughout the score, underscoring the more calm moments of the story, along with the usual jazz  instrumentation. A top-flight roster of musicians sit in on the sessions, including trumpeters Joe Wilder and Doc Severinson, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, reedmen Phil Woods and Jerome Richardson, with pianists Hank Jones and Bernie Leighton. This reissue is transcribed from a near-mint Kapp LP, and was produced by customer request.

More Kenyon Hopkins scores coming (see my early post “Eleven Against The Ice”).

More to come – Cheers – Curt Timmons

 

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