NEWS FROM COSTA COMMUNICATIONS

It's taking a little longer than I first expected, but I'm at least in the planning stages for some kind of order to my forthcoming reviews - just need the time to listen to the CDs! In the meantime, here's some news from Costa Communications:-

AWARD WINNING COMPOSER AARON ZIGMAN’S CREATES POIGNANT SCORE AND SONG “FOR COLORED GIRLS”

FILM OPENS NOVEMBER 5

Award-winning composer Aaron Zigman scores “For Colored Girls.” The film marks Zigman’s sixth collaboration with director Tyler Perry.

The highly anticipated Lionsgate film is based on Ntozake Shange’s Tony and Obie award-winning choreopoem “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf.” and The story has become a right of passage reading for many young women Now, thirty six years later, Tyler Perry adapts this landmark work for the big screen, integrating the vivid language of Shange’s poems into a contemporary narrative that explores what it means to be a woman of color - and a woman of any color - in this world.

The classically-trained Zigman’s sweeping original score is complemented with an evocative aria he composed, “La Donna in Viola,” for one of the film’s most pivotal and emotionally-charged scenes. The music is performed by a full orchestra and features solo performances by violin virtuoso Joshua Bell with Aaron Zigman on piano. “The idea of the aria was to capture the essence of Ntozake Shange’s poetry and incorporate it into an Italian libretto,” explains Zigman. The aria pays homage to Puccini and Verdi while incorporating Aaron Zigman’s unique voice.

The film weaves together the stories of nine women as they move into and out of one another’s existences; some are well known to each other, others are as yet strangers. Crises, heartbreaks and crimes will ultimately bring these nine women fully into the same orbit where they will find commonality, understanding and truth. The all-star cast includes Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Kimberly Elise and Kerry Washington

Aaron Zigman’s experience in the arenas of classical, big band, urban, and pop make him one of the most formidable composers working today. His pop music accomplishments include arranging and producing artists from Sting and Dionne Warwick to Jennifer Holliday and Christina Aguilera. His love of orchestral music would eventually lead him to the film scoring. His foray into film composing occurred when film director Nick Cassavetes went to hear Zigman’s classical 35 minute symphonic tone poem “Rabin,” performed by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony. This lead to Zigman scoring the Cassavetes films “John Q” and “The Notebook” and his film career flourished. By 2007 he scored an unprecedented nine films in one year and the Hollywood Reporter crowned him “the busiest and most sought-after composer in the industry.” The prolific composer’s film scoring credits include: “The Ugly Truth,” “Bridge To Taribithia,” “Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” “Take The Lead,” “Alpha Dog,” “Why Did I Get Married,” Zigman’s. Aaron Zigman work has been recognized with nominations and awards from Emmy, BMI, Hollywood Music in Media, among others.

Earlier this year Zigman’s instrumental piece “Steve’s Song” from the film “The Last Song” starring Miley Cyrus debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts.