| Funny you should ask about Mark Isham.
First, the new (Feb. '89) JazzTimes has a feature on him. Here's
the first paragraph, FYI:
Mark Isham's work is an example of grouping multiple virtues
into an exquisite combination of sounds -- his trumpet style,
reminiscent of Miles Davis, is in great demand for session work
while movie producers fight over him for his lush and visual
keyboard textures.
The rest of the article expounds on his trumpet style, the Miles Davis
influence, and his synthesizer and soundtrack work.
Second, I was listening to him on a Van Morrison tape on the way to
work. Mark Isham was a fairly regular member of the 1979-83 Van
Morrison band (studio & touring), in which he played and co-arranged
all manner of trumpets/horns and synthesizers. He's fairly prominent
on two of the best latter-day Van Morrison albums, "Into the Music" and
"Beautiful Vision". For example, I think that's Mark Isham playing a
piccolo trumpet on "Celtic Ray" on the latter album. ("Celtic Ray",
incidentally, is the perfect Van Morrison song title, since his work is
like a hybrid of Irish-folk and American-gospel [as in Ray Charles]
brands of "soul" music.) Anyway, that's everything I know about
him. - Jay
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| I would recommend "Vapor Drawings" as a good intro to Mark Isham. I
think a couple of the pieces are film related works ( "Revolution" ? ).
He has also collaborated with David Sylvan (ex-Japan) and played on his
last tour, and also with Norweigan (?) Art Lande ("We Begin"). "We Begin"
is very different to "Vapor Drawings" in that he features the trumpet /
horn rather than keyboards. He also has a CD called "Film Music"
which is pretty muchas it says and features "The Life and Times of
Harvey Milk".
Hope this helps,
Ken
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| Above all, he is a trumpet player. He goes all the way back
to the jazz group called "The Rubisa Patrol" commanded by Art Lande.
Nowdays he does stuff for Windham Hill. I think his best record
by far is "Film music", although I like "Vapour Drawings" very much
too.
In my view he does some interesting electronic effects, but
I like his acoustic music much more.
I wouldn't compare him to Tangerine Dream. I think TD are in
a league by themselves.
Regards, Carlos
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