CD REVIEW - BRICK LANE + NEWS FROM COSTA COMMUNICATIONS


Brick Lane
Music by Jocelyn Pook
Universal Music Classics & Jazz 1750850 (EU)
18 Tracks 50:38 mins

Based on the bestseller by Monica Ali, Brick Lane focuses on two sisters, one who is forced to leave her home in Bangladesh for an arranged marriage in East London, the other who continues to live a carefree life back in Bangladesh.
The music is by Jocelyn Pook, who three years ago worte a splendid score for The Marchant of Venice and here has come up with another gem, mixing ethnic stylings with a more traditional sounding western orchestra. The score features much vocal work by Natacha Atlas, Najma Akhtar, Manickam Yogeswaran, Sangeeta Datta, Tannishta Chatterjee, Harvey Brough and Pook herself, and includes traditional Bengali songs and children's rhymes, given that western twist by the composer.
Much of the music is gentle and delicate, with lullabies and waltz-like melodies, strong on strings and harp, with violin, piano and cello solos, but also featuring ethnic instrumental solos by the likes of Indian flute and violin. Blended with the vocals, the whole makes for a delightful listening experience.
Other aspects of the score include the propulsive "Running Through the Night" and the religious-styled "Quiet Joy." Unfortunately the score takes a downward turn at the end, finishing the album on rather a sad note, but there's much to enjoy prior to that.
The accompanying booklet features full music credits, a biography of the composer, plus numerous colour stills from the film.
If you like music that is inventive, yet beautiful and undemanding this is definitely one score album you should check out.

FromCosta Communications

“DEXTER” COMPOSER

DANIEL LICHT SCORES

“CASHMERE MAFIA”

Dramedy from “Sex and the City” Creator

Premieres January 3 on ABC

(Hollywood, CA) Known for his score for the world’s most popular serial killer, “Dexter,” composer Daniel Licht now turns his attention to world of “Cashmere Mafia,” a new dramedy by “Sex and the City” creator Kevin Wade. Starring Lucy Liu ("Charlie's Angels"), Frances O'Connor ("A.I. - Artificial Intelligence"), Miranda Otto ("Lord of the Rings") and Bonnie Somerville ("NYPD Blue") the ABC-TV series premieres Thursday, January. 3. The series will move to its regular day and time Wednesday, January 9.

“It's a much lighter show, but interestingly enough, I found that my approach for the show was not terribly, terribly different than ‘Dexter,’” says Licht. “I don't want to give away much more than that. I had fun with the title 'mafia' and pushed it in that direction." “Cashmere Mafia” follows a group of successful female executives who have been friends since college who turn to each other for guidance as they juggle their careers with family in New York City. The premiere episode will be available on ABC.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online.

Dan Licht has been writing music for film and television for over twenty years. His credits include such films as “Hellraiser Bloodline,” Stephen King’s “Thinner,” and “Permanent Midnight” starring actor Ben Stiller. Licht has also written the music for several TV series including “Jake in Progess,” and “Kitchen Confidential.” Most recently, Licht was awarded the BMI TV music award for his work on the first season of “Dexter.”

His talent and experience allowed Licht to create a unique sound for “Dexter,” Licht’s music contibutes an eerie yet ironic pulse to the show. Final episodes utilized prehistoric cultural artifacts, some made from human or animal bones in concert with renowned musical archeologist Elisabeth Waldo. The first season DVD and soundtrack CD, including a narrative by “Dexter” star Michael C. Hall and a bonus hip-hop track Licht co-wrote with son Jon Licht, is currently in stores through Milan Records.

From Costa Communications

MUSIC PRODUCER / SUPERVISOR G. MARQ ROSWELL

BRINGS VINTAGE MUSIC FEEL TO “THE GREAT DEBATERS”

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack available on ATLANTIC RECORDS & ITunes

“G. MARQ ROSWELL AND DENZEL WASHINGTON CO-PRODUCE THE SOUNDTRACK, FEATURING ALL-NEW RECORDINGS OF SONGS PERFORMED BY GRAMMY-WINNER ALVIN “YOUNGBLOOD” HART, SHARON JONES, THE CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS AND OTHERS

“THE GREAT DEBATERS,” STARRING AN ENSEMBLE CAST LED BY ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS DENZEL WASHINGTON AND FOREST WHITAKER

(Hollywood, CA) Music Producer / Supervisor G. Marq Roswell collaborated with director/star Denzel Washington to recreate the vintage musical style for the ‘30s era film, "THE GREAT DEBATERS.” Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker lead an ensemble cast in a film inspired by a true story; "The Great Debaters" chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington), a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team Atlantic Records is releasing the soundtrack which is produced by G. Marq Roswell & Denzel Washington. The soundtrack features seventeen tracks, all hand picked and recorded exclusively for the film. Roswell and Washington assembled a peerless group of modern artists - including Sharon Jones, Alvin “Youngblood” Hart, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops - performing pre-1935 blues, folk, jazz, and gospel classics, recorded in Memphis, for the soundtrack. The score is by James Newton Howard..

Roswell is known for his work as music producer and supervisor on over 50 films. His impressive list credits includes “Spy Game,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Baadasss!,” “The Hurricane,” “Auto Focus,” “Pay It Forward,” “Love of The Games,” “Varsity Blues,” “Tommy Boy” and “The Commitments.” Over the last 20 years Roswell has produced sessions for a multitude of talents, including Koko Taylor, Steve Earle, Jewel, The Roots, Mos Def, Lyle Lovett, Propellerheads, and Rodney Crowell.

“THE GREAT DEBATERS” includes pre-1935 songs that were hand picked by Washington for the various on camera scenes from over 1000 songs from the period. Roswell produced the songs at the world-renowned Ardent Studios in Memphis. "THE GREAT DEBATERS” soundtrack centers around Grammy Award-winning blues singer/guitarist Alvin “Youngblood” Hart and Brooklyn-based soul sensation Sharon Jones, who are featured both as solo performers and in collaboration with The Carolina Chocolate Drops. Among the album's many highlights is a version of the traditional "Step It Up and Go," performed by Hart and legendary Hi Rhythm Section guitarist Teenie Hodges (Al Green, Ann Peebles). In addition, Hart unites with traditional African-American string band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, for a series of songs, including a stunning take on Blind Willie Johnson's "Nobody's Fault But Mine" and the exciting Mississippi Sheiks hit, “Blood In My Eyes For You.” Elsewhere, Jones pairs with Memphis' acclaimed community choir, Billy Rivers and the Angelic Voices of Faith, for soaring renditions of such classic spirituals as “We Shall Not Be Moved” and “Up Above My Head.” “THE GREAT DEBATERS also features jazz favorites like Duke Ellington's "Delta Serenade," performed by the esteemed New York-based big band, David Berger and the Sultans of Swing. The collection is rounded off by period recordings from such luminaries as Marian Anderson, Art Tatum, and the Delmore Brothers.

"The Great Debaters - Music From & Recorded For The Motion Picture" (Atlantic)

Soundtrack Available Now

1. "My Soul Is A Witness" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & Sharon Jones

2. "That's What My Baby Likes" - Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart & Teenie Hodges

3. "I've Got Blood In My Eyes For You" - The Carolina Chocolate Drops & Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart

4. "Step It Up and Go" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & Teenie Hodges

5. "It's Tight Like That" - Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart & Teenie Hodges

6. "Busy Bootin'" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & The Carolina Chocolate Drops

7. "City Of Refuge" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & The Carolina Chocolate Drops

8. "Two Wings" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart, Sharon Jones w/Billy Rivers and the Angelic Voices of

Faith

9. "Delta Serenade" - David Berger & The Sultans of Swing

10. "Rock n' Rye" - David Berger & The Sultans of Swing

11. "Wild About That Thing" - Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart, & Teenie Hodges

12. "Nobody's Fault But Mine" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart & The Carolina Chocolate Drops

13. "How Long Before I Change My Clothes" - Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart

14. "We Shall Not Be Moved" - Sharon Jones w/Billy Rivers and the Angelic Voices of Faith

15. "Up Above My Head" - Sharon Jones w/Billy Rivers and the Angelic Voices of Faith

16. "The Shout" - Art Tatum

17. "Begrussung" - Marian Anderson