MILES DAVIS — Ascenseur Pour L'Échafaud (OST) (review)

MILES DAVIS — Ascenseur Pour L'Échafaud (OST) album cover Album · 1958 · Jazz Related Soundtracks Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
M.Neumann
This filled-to-near-capacity CD reissue is actually two albums: the original soundtrack to the 1957 film-noir directed by Louis Malle (translated title: 'Elevator to the Gallows'), and a generous collection of unused music and multiple takes from the same Paris recording session. The arrangement gives listeners a chance to compare the work in progress to its final realization, and the difference is dramatic, accomplished with little more than a tasteful application of atmospheric studio reverb.

The music itself, assembled over two days (with almost no preparation) by Davis and a quartet of local French jazzers, may be the quintessential film noir score. Listen to the opening 'Générique' theme for proof: a moody, late night urban soundscape so vivid you can almost smell the empty, rain-slicked boulevards, and see the slowly blinking neon lights reflected in the gutters. Check out too the probing trumpet cries of 'Assassinat', played over an ominous upright bass ostinato.

Elsewhere on the album ('Motel', 'Sur l'Autoroute') are some truly boppin' beatnik grooves, with the muted trumpet trading frenetic solo turns alongside tenor sax man Barney Wilen. Complete the experience with coffee, cigarettes, and optional black turtleneck attire.

The album was produced a full decade before Davis even began to contemplate a fusion of Jazz and Rock styles. Although hardly groundbreaking compared to the many other milestones (pun not entirely unintended) in Davis' career, in retrospect it offers the sort of traditional Jazz even a non-jazzer can dig, thanks to the evocative cinematic ambience in every track.

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Poetry of Place (from the exhibit by painter Karen Allen) Jazz Related Improv/Composition
CHRIS DINGMAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hiwar World Fusion
ALEPH QUINTET
Buy this album from MMA partners
Stefan Keune, Steve Noble, Dominic Lash : Black Box Jazz Related Improv/Composition
STEFAN KEUNE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio : Dream A Dream Avant-Garde Jazz
SATOKO FUJII
Buy this album from MMA partners
Jazz Suite Outcome Of Choice Avant-Garde Jazz
PAUL DUNMALL
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Wojciech Jachna Squad - Ad Astra (Promo Teaser)
WOJCIECH JACHNA
snobb· 2 days ago
Nitty Gritty
RUSS SPIEGEL
js· 2 days ago
Never in a 100.000.000 Dreams
SUPERSISTER
js· 3 days ago
Love is a Fire that Burns Unseen
PETER MADSEN
js· 3 days ago
Nostalgi
RIGMOR GUSTAFSSON
js· 3 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed