The Sean Gibbs Quartet visits Duke Ellington’s soundtrack for Oscar nominated James Stewart drama, Anatomy Of A Murder.
Birmingham-based jazz musician, composer and arranger Sean Gibbs revisits the iconic score for 1959’s boiling courtroom drama, Anatomy Of A Murder, at a special screening on Saturday 18 June 2016 at The Electric Cinema.
Directed by Otto Preminger the film stars James Stewart as a small-town Michigan lawyer who sets out to defend young army lieutenant (Ben Gazzara) accused of murdering a local innkeeper who he believes raped his wife (Lee Remick).
Nominated for seven Academy Awards, the gripping film is also notable for its strong soundtrack, composed by the legendary American pianist, jazz composer and big band leader, Duke Ellington (who also makes a cameo in the film).
Trumpeter Sean Gibbs (Birmingham Jazz Orchestra, Young Pilgrims) has rearranged a number of the score’s key themes for quartet, who’ll be performing a one-off set directly after the film.
“As with all of Ellington’s writing, he utilizes the strengths of his players brilliantly throughout,” says Gibbs of the music. “These include such great individual voices as Johnny Hodges (sax), Paul Gonsalves (sax) and Clark Terry (trumpet). This sets it apart from many other film scores as we get to hear very distinct personalities come through in the music, unlike when a score is recorded by ‘anonymous’ session musicians.”
A collaboration between Jazzlines and the city centre cinema, Gibbs will be joined by prize-winning pianist David Ferris, bassist Nick Jurd (Paul Murphy, Alex Haines Trio) and drummer Nathan England-Jones.
The film is part of The Electric’s Cinematic Time Machine strand, a year-long season of seminal films from across the globe from the 1920s to present day. The Sean Gibbs Quartet appearance has been programmed by Jazzlines.
Anatomy Of A Murder can be seen at The Electric Cinema, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY on Saturday 18 June 2016, at 7.30pm, followed by Sean Gibbs Quartet concert at 10.30pm. Tickets from £12.50 from thsh.co.uk
For more information, see:
Anatomy Of A Murder – via IMDB
- Sean Gibbs is available for selected interviews. For media images and interview requests, contact us: