Miles Davis’s outstanding contribution to Louis Malle’s classic slice of French Film Noir: Ascenseur pour l’echafaud (Elevator to the Gallows). The majority of the music was improvised on the spot by Miles and co. while the film was projected on the wall beside them. This is the sound one thinks of when one thinks of noir: moody, sad, and understated trumpet. A somber sound of harbors and bars and shadowed streets. The heightened step of one who feels pursued. Miles captures it all perfectly.
1 response so far ↓
popsounds // June 7, 2009 at 11:55 am |
Such an underrated album. People often think that this was just sort of a throwaway for Miles, but it’s just as beautiful and artfully conceived as any other Miles work.