Johnny Mandel RIP

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

"Johnny Mandel, the Oscar and Grammy-winning composer behind the theme from M*A*S*H and more, has died aged 94. Details of his death have not been released. The news was announced by musician and friend Michael Feinstein, who said: “A dear friend and extraordinary composer arranger and all-around brilliant talent Johnny Mandel just passed away. The world will never be quite the same without his humour, wit and wry view of life and the human condition. He was truly beyond compare, and nobody could write or arrange the way he did. Lord will we miss him. Let’s celebrate him with his music! He would like that.” - Guardian.

And jazz composer and arranger...

"The Shadow of your Smile"/Theme from the movie, the Sandpiper (Jack Sheldon trumpet)...http://youtu.be/vbT0zk588ds

RIP.

[cloughie]

...and all those who recorded ‘Shadow of your smile’ will be forever in his debt! RIP Johnny.

[Ian Thumwood]

I cannot remember which Radio 3 programme it was but there was a documentary about Johnny Mandel many years ago which outlined his serious jazz credentials. He was an arranger with the progressive big band of Elliott Lawrence. The career he enjoyed did involve a lot of commercial /popular music and wrote the music for "Saturday Night Fever" in the 1970s. (not sure he was too fussed by that success! ) However, jazz was central to what he was about and he was lucky you have the tools in the box to allow this to earn him a successful career. There was a lot more to him than MASH and "The shadow of your smile."

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer et al, "Black Nightgown", from Johnny Mandel's score from "I want to live" with Susan Heywood heading to the gas chamber. There are two versions of this score, small group/large ensemble, both are great, and Mulligan continued to play parts with his Concert band. A fine jazz score.

http://youtu.be/sSWWpLYBT7A

[Tenor Freak]

Need to put in a word here for Shirley Horn's "Here's To Life" which features Mandel's excellent string orchestrations. They add so much depth to the album but never are cloying.