Johnny Mandel Master Class – Dec 11, 2010

On Saturday, December 11, from 11 AM to 2 PM, ASMAC  presented a Master Class with famed composer/arranger/conductor Johnny Mandel. ASMAC Board member, composer/arranger/conductor/jazz musician Kim Richmond joined us as host and Moderator for the 3+ hour master class.

During the class, we  examined some of Mandel’s scores along with recordings, and heard his views and insights, and his arranging/composing processes for his own work as well as backgrounds for stars such as Shirley Horn, Barbra Streisand, Diana Krall, Natalie Cole (seven arrangements on her Grammy-winning Unforgettable album), Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Tony Bennett, and films such as “I Want to Live” and “M.A.S.H.”

Presented and heard were music from

1. Sandpiper Main Title – Video/soundtrack
2. Sussex (Emily), movie cue from Americanization of Emily – audio, score
3. Tony Bennett
a. I Remember You – audio, score
4. Shirley Horn
a. Here’s to Life – audio, score
b. Solitary Moon – audio, score
c. You’re My Thrill – audio, score
d. Estate – audio, score
5. Barbra Streisand
a. Gentle Rain – audio, score
b. Here’s That Rainy Day – audio, score
c.Smoke Gets in Your Eyes – audio, score

Highly regarded for compositions such as “Suicide Is Painless” (theme from the movie and TV series M*A*S*H), “Close Enough for Love”, “Emily” and “A Time for Love” (nominated for an Academy Award). He has written a great many film and television scores, from “The Verdict,”  “Staying Alive”, “Caddyshack” and “Escape from Witch Mountain” to “An American Dream” and “The Sandpiper” – the love theme for that film, “The Shadow of Your Smile”, which he co-wrote with Paul Francis Webster, won the 1965 Academy Award for Best Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1966.

Johnny Mandel is a recipient of the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award.  In addition to his Academy Award and two nominations, he has won four Grammies and six nominations, as well as three Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations, plus countless others.