July 6th 2012: New York Herald Tribune by Martial Solal

July 6th 2012

New York Herald Tribune by Martial Solal

It another hot one out there for much of the country so I thought I would go back to some French art film music. No other than Martial Solal, who some consider to be the Art Tatum of France. He has wrote a number of compositions that have been featured in films, notably during the 1960's. The composition I have transcribed below is "New York Herald Tribune" from the the film "A bout de souffle" (or "Breathless" for the English translation)by Jean-Luc Godard.

The film is about a thief named Michael who is on the run after shooting a police officer. Michael hides out with his American girlfriend, Patricia, who is a student and journalist that sells copies of the New York Herald Tribune on the streets of Paris. 

     

The song that plays while she is selling newspapers is very understandably the New York Herald Tribune. The reason I thought to write out this song is in the expressive way Solal plays his long runs, but its also a song I have never heard played or covered anywhere. I think there is a recording of Solal playing at the Village Vanguard, but besides this track no one else has thought to play it. I thought it might be interesting perhaps in a trio setting to play this as either a) a stand alone piece or b)as almost solemn transition between two larger compositions or improvisations.