CD REVIEW - NIGHTS IN RODANTHE


Nights in Rodanthe
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Varese Sarabande VSD 6924 (EU)
18 Tracks 35:21 mins

Diane Lane reunites with Richard Gere for their third film together for this new romantic comedy, which receives a score from a new name to me, Jeanine Tesori, but apparently she is a composer of Broadway musicals. including Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shrek The Musical. Just how she became involved in this film, and whether or not this is her first film score is unknown to me, but it's always good to hear from a new voice and this is a quite amiable, if unremarkable effort, if indeed it is a first time outing.
The music is orchestral, with guitar and piano to the fore and plays on the emotions, with warm, feelgood tracks like "White Wine Dinner;" "Walk on the Beach;" "Maps in Bed;" and "The Goodbye;" and more poignant fare in the likes of "Devastation;" "Opening Shutters; "Ecuador;" with its ethnic flute shadings; and "Loss," with its wordless female vocal; with the cello and piano of "Tell Me About Him," having a foot in both camps. Along the way, there are a few dramatic moments, like the tense "Face Off With Charlie" and "Embrace."
"Jean in Miami" is an interesting guitar track, as it is propelled unusually by tamborine; as is the harp, cello, guitar and xylophone combo in "Jean's Studio;" and the carefree, uptempo "Box Montage," which throws electric organ into the guitar and percussion-lead mix.
The positive mover "Horses" leads into the "End Credits Suite," which brings together the main thematic material to provide for a warm, feelgood conclusion.