Jazz / Soundtrack
Kyle Eastwood - Bass
Michael Stevens - Keyboards, Guitar
Al Hershberger Violin
Ann Atkinson Bass
Armen Garabedian Violin
Armen Ksadjikian Cello
Bobby Fernandez Music Scoring Mixer
Bruce Dukov Violin, Concert Master
Carrie Holzman-Little Viola
Charlie Bisharat Violin
Christian Dwiggins Editing, Mastering
Christine Ermacoff Cello
Chuck Berghofer Bass
Clint Eastwood Executive Producer
Dan Neufeld Viola
Darius Campo Violin
David Speltz Cello
Debra Price Violin
Denyse Buffum Viola
Donald Ferrone Bass
Endre Granat Violin
Eric J. Hosler Violin
Erika Duke-Kirkpartick Cello
Gil Romero Violin
Grace Ho Violin
Haim Shtrum Violin
Horia Moroaica Violin
Ian P. Hierons Executive Producer
Ian Walker Bass
Janet Lakatos Viola
Jodi Tack Art Direction
Joyce Ryan Orchestra Contractor
Julie Gigante Violin
Juno Ishida Performer
Karie Prescott Viola
Kazi Pitelka Viola
Ken Wild Bass
Kevin Connolly Violin
Lennie Niehaus Conductor, Leader
Margaret Wooten Violin
Mathew Cooker Cello
Michael Markman Violin
Nicole Bush Violin
Olivia Tsui Violin
Pamela Goldsmith Viola
Paula Hochhalter Cello
Peter Doubrovsky Bass
Raphael Rishik Violin
Razdan Kutumjain Violin
Rick Gerding Viola
Robert Lorenz Executive Producer
Robin Olson Violin
Roger Lebow Cello
Roland Kato Viola
Samuel Formicola Viola
Tiffany Yihu Violin
Vanessa B. Freebairn Smith Cello
Zento Kobayashi Performer
Soundtrack to the Academy Awardwinner Clint Eastwood's Letters From Iwo Jima, the untold story of the Japanese soldiers and their general who, 61 years ago, defended against the invading American forces on the island of Iwo Jima.
Although the second part of Clint Eastwood diptych about the battle of Iwo Jima following iFlags of Our Fathers/i is told from the point of view of the Japanese troops, the score, by Eastwood's son Kyle and Michael Stevens, feels very western. As is common in a lot of Hollywood movies, it revolves around a main theme that resurfaces several times. Opener "Main Titles" is where it gets its initial and fullest airing, first on a sadness-tinged piano, then on a trumpet (for that somber bugle feel, no doubt) backed up by drums and strings. Again it pops up, slower this time, at the beginning of the very next track, "Letters Montage," and so on, including a spectral take on echoey piano on "Kuribayashi's Farewell Letter" and yet another sorrowful trumpet interpretation on "End Titles Part I." It's all fine and good, but the CD only lasts 37 minutes and that theme takes up a lot of them. The good news is that matching director Eastwood's thoughtful approach, the music is decidedly unflashy and unwarriorlike--no thunderous eruptions here. On the other hand, there's not much to sink your teeth into. The most affecting track turns out to be "Song for the Defense of Iwo Jima," sung, in Japanese, by young children.
---Elisabeth Vincentelli
Kyle Eastwood
Active Decades: '90s and '00s
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Cool, Post-Bop, Hard Bop, Contemporary Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, Soundtracks, Film Music
The son of legendary actor Clint Eastwood, bassist Kyle Eastwood inherited his father's well-known love of jazz music, becoming a respected session player during the early '90s; later fronting his own quartet, he contributed a track to the 1997 Eastwood After Hours: Live at Carnegie Hall tribute LP, and a year later issued his solo debut, From There to Here. He then returned with the pop- and soul-influenced Paris Blue in 2005 and Now in 2006.
---Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide |
