Category Archives: Music

MUSIC REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: A Musical Journey’ at the O2 Arena

Posted on April 13, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – If you think the world doesn’t need another variation on “Star Wars” on top of the six films, assorted animations, videogames and toys, you forget the extraordinary force of the music John Williams wrote for … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Reviews | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on MUSIC REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: A Musical Journey’ at the O2 Arena

MUSIC REVIEW: ‘The LSO: A Life in Film’ at the Barbican

Posted on April 11, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The London Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 70-plus years of making music for movies with a sold-out concert at Barbican Hall on April 4 that ended with an enthusiastic standing ovation. The warm response was sparked … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Reviews | Tagged | Comments Off on MUSIC REVIEW: ‘The LSO: A Life in Film’ at the Barbican

FILM REVIEW: Richard Curtis’s ‘The Boat That Rocked’

Posted on March 30, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Richard Curtis’ new comedy “The Boat That Rocked”, about the pirate radio stations that sprang up briefly in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, is like a long, slow cruise where all the fun is … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: Richard Curtis’s ‘The Boat That Rocked’

Interview with composer Maurice Jarre, who has died at 84

Posted on March 30, 2009 by admin

  By Ray Bennett Maurice Jarre, the great French composer who has died at 84, deservedly won Academy Awards for his scores to three David Lean films – “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Doctor Zhivago” and “A Passage to India” – and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Notes | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with composer Maurice Jarre, who has died at 84

MUSIC REVIEW: Elbow make it a beautiful day at Wembley

Posted on March 15, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Mercury Prize and Brit Award winners Elbow are the best band in the land. London’s Wembley Arena on March 14 was jammed to the rafters for a two-hour concert that showed the Bury lads at … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Notes, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on MUSIC REVIEW: Elbow make it a beautiful day at Wembley

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘A Sentimental Journey’ with Doris Day

Posted on March 6, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Away from her bright and breezy film and television image, the often troubled life of singer and movie star Doris Day offers plenty of drama for a show and Adam Rolston’s “A Sentimental Journey” makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: ‘A Sentimental Journey’ with Doris Day

BERLIN: Great Cajun music in Tavernier’s ‘Electric Mist’

Posted on February 7, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett BERLIN – There are several reasons to like French director Bertrand Tavernier’s handsome and atmospheric feature “In the Electric Mist,” which had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival tonight, not least the sumptuous cinematography … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Notes | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on BERLIN: Great Cajun music in Tavernier’s ‘Electric Mist’

Angelo Badalamenti’s ‘Edge of Love’ my pick of 2008 film scores

Posted on January 3, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett Vanity Fair has an interesting rundown of 11 potential candidates for this year’s film score awards. It’s a good list with many of the always deserving usual suspects. Good bets for Oscar nominations include Alberto Iglesias for … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Angelo Badalamenti’s ‘Edge of Love’ my pick of 2008 film scores

Rock icon Delaney Bramlett dies aged 69

Posted on January 1, 2009 by admin

  By Ray Bennett Very sad to hear of the death on Dec. 27 of the great Delaney Bramlett whose recordings with then wife Bonnie (nee Lynn O’Farrell) in the band Delaney & Bonnie were among the most formative of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, News | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Ry Cooder at home in the California desert

Posted on November 23, 2008 by admin

There are nearly 100 Ry Cooder tracks on my iPod, just ahead of Randy Newman, including songs, film scores and his last three releases, the superb trilogy “Chávez Ravine” (2005), “My Name Is Buddy” (2007 ) and “I, Flathead” (2008), … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Notes, Places | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Ry Cooder at home in the California desert