Cinema-goers
will no doubt be familiar with Lalo Schifrin’s
musical compositions and arrangements.
The scores for ‘Cool Hand Luke,’ ‘Roller
Coaster,’ ‘Bullitt,’ ‘The Eagle Has Landed,’
the ‘Dirty Harry’ series and ‘Mission
Impossible’ are some of Schifrin’s extensive
work. Four of the titles on ‘Towering
Toccata’ are film themes.
In
1976 after several years on the jazz scene
Schifrin signed a second contract with
CTI Records (Creed Taylor Inc.) - that
being one of the most popular labels of
the era. His first album with CTI was
‘Black Widow’ which, according to reviewer
Didier C. Deutsch, ‘blended his natural
flair for exotic rhythms with the disco
beat that prevailed at the time.’ It was
an unmitigated success! Nine months later
as a follow-up ‘Towering Toccata was recorded
using the same formula as before employing
an impressive list of musicians including
Urbie Green, Joe Farrell, Jeremy Steig
and Eric Gale. This was not received with
the same enthusiasm and the album soon
went into obscurity. Deutsch, who lauds
its re-release, claims that today ‘it
has become a much sought-after collectors’
item.’ These interpretations of original
themes are very much suited to the sound
preferred by many DJs. I am not a fan
of the monotonous thumping sounds that
pass for music at discos and wedding receptions.
The
current collection of CTI albums is impressive
but I feel ‘Towering Toccata’ lets things
down. Schifrin did some great things with
Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderley
and amongst his influences are Bill Evans,
Thelonious Monk and Oscar Peterson – sadly
little of that is evident here.
Jack
Ashby
CD Reviews
Sony Music – CTI ‘The Master Series’ -
5127982 
