Musical Hautings of Vice, for Car Lovers


Augusta

Recommended Posts

You've probably discussed this on the forum somewhere, and I'm too new to notice it.

I came across a new creation from Jan Hammer three days ago. I always respect an artist's efforts and labor so much, that I buy his/her CD if I really like their stuff.

"Seasons Pt-1"

I think he released this (maybe means he composed it) just a YEAR ago, 2018. No exaggeration, if you close your eyes it has the IDENTICAL mood and atmosphere of any of his music from the show. Understand, it's NOT made for the tv show, and isn't some kind of unreleased music that was left in the vaults of Miami Vice. (although I think I read somewhere that Jan considers this a kind of spiritual release of feelings still hanging around inside him from that show).

But if you play it in a nice car while you or your friend tool silently down a night street in your city, it's that same aura of two undercovers moving across the city with secret purpose, trusting that Gina and Trudy have the back-up in place. Not pulling out your easy-grip pump shotg----er, em--I mean,...pulling out your CELL PHONE, not pulling out your FRIENDLY CELL PHONE, until you need to.

Seriously, it makes you realize Hammer didn't have to CONSTRUCT this music specifically for the tv show he was commissioned to. This music IS in him naturally. It permeates his personality in more than half of his writing. Even 30 years later.

He didn't create something to fit Miami Vice. I suspect the creators of Miami Vice simply realized his coincidental music and the attitude they designed for the tv show were a perfect FIT to EACH OTHER, just the way they are.

Go to youtube and get a free listen to the tracks, to be sure if you feel it's worth the investment. Don't look at the questionable Japan-like imagery on the cover. This is Miami Vice without coming out and calling it so. Not all the tracks feel like what the Dade cops were doing in between episodes. Just 8 out of every 10 tracks feel like that! Exactly like that.

These tracks are for my car audio unit.

Jan-Hammer-Seasons-Pt-1.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, Augusta said:

if you close your eyes it has the IDENTICAL mood and atmosphere of any of his music from the show.

I sincerely wish this was true for me. I like some of the songs on this album, but 99% of the instruments he used on it are from the 1990s or later, so it sounds and feels “newer” than MV to me. It all sounds like Jan Hammer for sure, though. 

 

17 minutes ago, Augusta said:

He didn't create something to fit Miami Vice. I suspect the creators of Miami Vice simply realized his coincidental music and the attitude they designed for the tv show were a perfect FIT to EACH OTHER, just the way they are.

Absolutely! :clap::thumbsup:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

this is a question i've been digging a lot. and personnally i think the show wouldn't have been the same without Jan. just like it wouldn't have been the same without, DJ, EJO, or Olivia Brown. i mean the simple intro music with the windsurfers, the flamingos, the Rolls is the series soul. you can't separate it from the series

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, Augusta said:

You've probably discussed this on the forum somewhere, and I'm too new to notice it.

I came across a new creation from Jan Hammer three days ago. I always respect an artist's efforts and labor so much, that I buy his/her CD if I really like their stuff.

"Seasons Pt-1"

I think he released this (maybe means he composed it) just a YEAR ago, 2018. No exaggeration, if you close your eyes it has the IDENTICAL mood and atmosphere of any of his music from the show. Understand, it's NOT made for the tv show, and isn't some kind of unreleased music that was left in the vaults of Miami Vice. (although I think I read somewhere that Jan considers this a kind of spiritual release of feelings still hanging around inside him from that show).

But if you play it in a nice car while you or your friend tool silently down a night street in your city, it's that same aura of two undercovers moving across the city with secret purpose, trusting that Gina and Trudy have the back-up in place. Not pulling out your easy-grip pump shotg----er, em--I mean,...pulling out your CELL PHONE, not pulling out your FRIENDLY CELL PHONE, until you need to.

Seriously, it makes you realize Hammer didn't have to CONSTRUCT this music specifically for the tv show he was commissioned to. This music IS in him naturally. It permeates his personality in more than half of his writing. Even 30 years later.

He didn't create something to fit Miami Vice. I suspect the creators of Miami Vice simply realized his coincidental music and the attitude they designed for the tv show were a perfect FIT to EACH OTHER, just the way they are.

Go to youtube and get a free listen to the tracks, to be sure if you feel it's worth the investment. Don't look at the questionable Japan-like imagery on the cover. This is Miami Vice without coming out and calling it so. Not all the tracks feel like what the Dade cops were doing in between episodes. Just 8 out of every 10 tracks feel like that! Exactly like that.

These tracks are for my car audio unit.

Jan-Hammer-Seasons-Pt-1.jpg

Great review - I love this album too.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Dadrian said:

Yes, @jpaul1! Jan Hammer’s score was definitely a critical cast member!

And an actual cast member in “One Way Ticket” and “Like a Hurricane”. Jan’s wardrobe in One Way Ticket in itself deserved a starring role:) :dance2::D

 

Edited by Matt5
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.