(Los Angeles, CA) Award-winning composer Christopher Young has added new riffs to his musical lexicon with his jazz-infused score for “The Rum Diary,” based on the eponymous, early novel by Hunter S. Thompson. Depp also produced the film, which features Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart, Richard Jenkins and Giovanni Ribisi. Bruce Robinson adapted the novel for the screen and also directed the film.
“The Rum Diary” incorporates a tone typical of Thompson’s work, with characters plagued by restlessness, violence, alcohol and fear of growing old. Originally penned in 1960, the “lost novel” was published in 1999. Young explores an exciting variety of mood and rhythm, reminiscent of the first jazz music for films released in the 60s. The music moves effortlessly from blues, fusion, funk and scat to soft Brazilian samba, threaded throughout with saxophone, organ, guitar, trumpet and harmonica.
A former jazz drummer before he began his scoring career, Young possesses that rare instinct for phrasing that sounds improvisational, a rarity for a recorded score. Christopher Young and the Neon Popsicles will perform music from the soundtrack album October 27th at Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
His collaboration with leading directors such as Norman Jewison, Lasse Hallstrom, Barry Levinson, and Curtis Hanson has afforded Young the opportunity to create acclaimed and commercially successful works. Two years ago, Young received BMI’s highest honor, The Richard Kirk Career Achievement Award. In addition to his busy film-composing schedule, Young is imparting his knowledge to a new generation of film composers. He has taught at USC since the early 90s. Young will be honored for his contributions when he receives a career achievement award from Education Through Music – Los Angeles (ETM-LA) on October 25.
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