Blow Up

Music by Herbie Hancock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working as a sound catalog of the 60´s, the soundtrack of Blow Up (1967) exemplifies the pop exuberance that reigned in the mid-60. Referencing from the Swinging London to beatnicks basements filled by jazzy improvisations, the soundtrack wanders through different themes as a sound travel through one era.

Aware of the importance of pop/rock of the moment, composer Herbie Hancock did not avoid the rhythmic appeal to orient the music. Moments such as opening in Blow Up and The Thief reflect the best jazz/pop/rock, with a hint of psychedelia, are truly musical symbols of the sixties. The Yardbirds group appears in the famous club scene playing Stroll On, with a hard-rock approach that would be largely used in the following years. Tracks Curiosity and The Naked Camera are more traditional jazz themes, in relaxed mood (cool jazz). And still can be heard great romantic jazz ballads as the sexy Jane's Theme, The Bed and The Kiss. For its turn, tracks The Thief and Thomas Studies Photos are previews of future jazz-rock experiments that Hancock would develop in the 70s. The team of musicians included illustrious names as Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Phil Woods, Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette. The Rhino Records CD edition includes out-takes and previously unreleased tracks on vinyl as two tracks with Tomorrow (Steve Howe on guitar), the group originally planned for the club scene.