December 31, 2020, 9:12 p.m.
We explore the music scoring ‘Soul’, the new Disney-Pixar animation about a middle school band teacher with jazz passions.
Jazz is at the heart of the new Pixar film Anam, the charming animation by Jamie Foxx, about a middle school band teacher with jazz intentions.
Foxx plays Joe Gardner, who ascends into the mysterious realm of The Great Before and must find his way out by connecting to his true cause on earth.
The amazing jazz sequences you hear in the film are from Jon Batiste, the Grammy – nominated novel and Late show with Stephen Colbert bandleader.
But there are also some wonderful ethereal passages that you can see, as the Foxx character falls down a grate and enters a alternate universe.
Read more: Top 20 animated film scores>
Jamie Foxx talks to music teacher Joe Gardner.
Photo: Pixar / Disney
Who wrote the jazz music in Pixar’s ‘Soul’?
Into the music, Juilliard – trained musician Jon Batiste poured his heart and – go on, let ‘s have this one – soul.
The animators even decided to animate Batiste’s real-life fingers for when the main character, Jon Gardner, plays keys.
Batiste explains in an NPR interview: “My way of playing, my hands – they are a true replica of the 3D animation, the way it moves its body. You see. If you watch the film and see me playing, it’s a bit deceptive. ”
His music will also help bring Pixar’s first Black product to life. “I was almost in tears because you see your opinion, and you think, wow, this is the first Black Pixar lead. And we put jazz culture out there in this big way in the essence of this main character. “
In a video on Pixar’s YouTube channel, director and screenwriter Pete Docter says: “Most of Pixar’s films, we have accepted the huge Hollywood classical orchestra score. [But] there was something about the story and feel of this place that wanted something else. ”
Co-director Kemp Power said: “The jazz itself is almost another character in the film.”
Who wrote the score for ‘Soul’?
While all the tasty jazz series come from Batiste, Nine Inch Nails members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (Oscar-winning for their work on The Social Network), write the score.
Set in two different worlds – the real city of New York and what Disney / Pixar calls the “ethereal cosmic realms of the Great Before” – Soul needed two worlds of musical sound.
You’ll hear the magical passages of Reznor and Ross enter the soundtrack as Joe Gardner enters the other world of ‘Soul’, after falling through a grip in the road.
Jazz is at the heart of the new ‘Soul’ animation.
Photo: Pixar / Disney
How can I listen to the ‘Soul’ soundtrack?
Walt Disney Records has a vinyl version of Soul original score and Music from and inspired by Soul, both are also available for digital download.
The soundtrack can also be downloaded or broadcast online.
Anam out now just on Disney +.