TT 497: EDGE OF DARKNESS + INTO THE DARK
theme from Michael Kamen, played by Eric Clapton, along with promo for my gigs
New video, a cheap transcription of the main title of Edge of Darkness, composed by Michael Kamen and with a haunting guitar performance by Eric Clapton:
On Thursday I’m in London at the 606 Club, the first of six European cities where I debut a solo program called Into the Dark.
Ethan Iverson has long had an interest in film noir, science fiction, and other cinematic pursuits. Indeed, during his time with the Bad Plus, many of the pieces were created as “soundtracks" for imaginary narratives. For his solo recital Into the Dark, Iverson will play original music as well as covers of famous “dark” themes from television and cinema.
Set list to include two Lauras, Vertigo, and Edge of Darkness:
Into the Dark (Iverson)
Star Lighting/Dudley Simpson Cue (Iverson/Simpson)
The Pink Panther (Mancini)
Scene D’amour from Vertigo (Hermann)
Laura Palmer’s Theme (Badalamenti)
Laura (Raksin)
Edge of Darkness (Kamen)
Return to the Light (Iverson)
The bookends “Into the Dark” and “Return to the Light” were composed specifically for this program.
“Into the Dark” is cinematic and dramatic with a hint of Bud Powell.
“Return to the Light” is a bonafide boogie woogie influenced by Big Maceo Merriweather.
“Star Lighting”will go somewhere in the middle of program. The title refers to illuminating a monster or alien properly on set. (Before CGI, this was quite a complex and strategic endeavor.) The second written section, called “Dudley Simpson cue” in the chart, borrows two bars of scary Simpson organ music from the soundtrack to Doctor Who “Pyramids of Mars.”
If you come to one of the gigs, please say hi!
Ethan Iverson solo piano, Into the Dark
March 13 London (UK) 606 Club
14 Dublin (IRE) The Cooler at The Complex
15 Cork (IRE) Triskel Art Center
16 Biel (CH) Le Singe
17 München (D) Unterfahrt
18 Linz (A), Klaviersalon Mertha
Trio with Thomas Morgan and Kendrick Scott
March 21 Stuttgart (D) Bix
22 Innsbruck (A) Treibhaus
23 Poznan (PL) Blue Note Jazz Club
24 Heist-op-den-Berg (B) Hnita Jazz Club
26 Düsseldorf (D) Goethe Museum
27 København (DK) Montmartre
28 Odense (DK) Dexter
29 Ferrara (I) Jazzclub
At the Casa del Jazz in Rome, I’ll playing trio with Thomas and Kendrick on March 30 and solo Into the Dark on March 31.
Any plans for an Into The Dark album?
I would love to see this, but as the saying goes, I don’t get around much any more. I’m reminded of the two great Ran Blake LPs from the ‘80s, Film Noir and Vertigo. In my world, Jazz and Film Noir are always talking to each other. Hope these gigs go well!