Raksin, David
Too Late Blues
Too Late Blues (1962) is certainly one of the greatest films ever made about the jazz world; It was a perfect match between subject matter and filmmaker. In 1959, Cassavetes had starred in a TV series called Johnny Staccato, playing a jazzman who moonlights as a detective. The films brilliant music score is courtesy of David Raksin and performed by such jazz legends as Benny Carter, Red Mitchell and Shelly Manne. Raksins theme tune, mimed by Ghosts group during the opening credits, immediately establishes the films cool, sardonic tone, and neatly mimics the attitude with which the actors deliver their lines. The easy way out would have been to do standards, but Raksin wrote all original music for the film, even for the source cues. And what music it is - Raksin at his best, and Raksin at his best is as good as it gets. LIMITED FIRST PRESS OF 500 COPIES.