Bio/Press
anthony
marinelli
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a boutique production company
The Man from Elysian Fields
"Judging by his work on The Man from Elysian Fields, he has considerable more talent than a great many of his more famous peers. There's an emotional richness that resonates through Marinelli's writing, it's the sort of thing Carter Burwell and John Ottman are so good at, and it's to Marinelli's credit that the theme is memorable enough to hold its own against both composers at their best.
His melodic content is strong enough to support itself without any help. In fact, what really makes The Man from Elysian Fields so special is the fact that all the material in between the big thematic statements is just as strong. Something of interest is always happening, and even the filler tracks have sub-melodies that are often strong enough to carry a score by themselves.
It's obvious that Marinelli does have great talent and a gift for melody. I hope to see him in a project that allows him to assert himself more soon."
-Paul Cote, CineMusic.net
"There is an interesting mix of wordless vocals, the orchestration adds an unusual percussion a la Thomas Newman. A great counterpart to other fine romantic scores. The key here is that Marinelli's melody is interesting and heartfelt. I was continually impressed by the harmonic variety coupled with unusual instrumentation. Marinelli adds solo trumpet and a more highlighted jazz trio set. This is the plan (John) Barry favored in Playing by Heart, and if you find yourself returning to that score, this one would likely join it."
-Steven A. Kennedy, Film Score Monthly
"It is a very warm score in heart and performance. The theme and its chord progressions, have an almost European (and more specifically, a Mediterranean) feel to it, with similarities to the works of Luis Bacalov and Nicola Piovani.
No matter what what accent Marinelli uses to accompany the guitars, piano, and strings, this score features a slowly paced internalized coherence that makes it a successful journey to accompany the film.
His music for The Man from Elysian Fields would result in considerable attention to the composer."
-Editorial Review, FilmTracks.com
"A gently sophisticated score from Anthony Marinelli. The composer's work here revolves around warm pastoral orchestrations punctuated with spare piano and acoustic guitar flourishes and passages of spare, horn-driven jazz stylings that suggest maturity. Even when Marinelli's adventurous tack inspires him to throw some sax and even sitar into thje mix, his masterful sense of nuance and color insures it's a seamless, compelling fusion that helps make this score and ultimate, understated gem."
-Jerry McCulley, Amazon.com
"A nice lush romantic theme is the main attraction in this slow tempo score that embraces a variety of styles - the sort of old fasioned melody associated with Hollywood Silver Age romances."
-Ian Lace, Film Music on the Web
Whipped Cream and Other Delights (Re-Whipped)
"RE-WHIPPED is an Information Age answer to the original's analog charms, and it succeeds because it understands both what made the original a turntable mainstay and what's required to make the new version an iPod essential. At the core of each mix is a song - strong, melodic and fueled by Mr. Alpert's distinctive muted horn playing.
Contributing new instrumental tracks, subtle break beats and innovative rhythmic textures, the remix artists don't reinvent, but reinterpret the instantly recognizable tunes. The songs are never changed but consistently rearranged.
Among the successes is the title track, 'Whipped Cream,' which seems to have been shattered and put back together, piece by piece. 'Tangerine' adds buried vocals tracks, funky drum beats and the occasional wah of an electric guitar. Both tunes remain recognizable and infectious."
-Steven Uhles, Augusta Chronicle
"Here's a surprise: a remix project that really works. With the old brass riffs drifting in and out of a dub echo or running atop a tropical break beat, this is perfect poolside lounge music to set the mood for spring sun. Another margarita please."
-Tim Mohr, Playboy Magazine
"Film composer Anthony Marinelli (2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY, YOUNG GUNS, AMERICAN GUN) will be the first to admit he's a little Whipped.
His latest project, RE-WHIPPED, a remix of the 1965 Herb Alpert album WHIPPED CREAM & OTHER DELIGHTS, allowed him the rare opportunity not only to step outside his celluloid safety zone but also to rediscover a pop culture classic.
'I grew up with the record,' he said. 'My dad had it, and I still have the original. For me, it was a no-brainer to try.'
Not a remixer by trade, Mr. Marinelli did a mix of the tune 'Green Peppers' as a test, using the album's original stereo mix as his model. The result convinced him and, more important Mr. Alpert, that the project was worth pursuing.
'He only wanted to do the project if it had a cohesive album concept,' the composer said. 'My job was to put that together.'
Mr. Marinelli said the challenge of a project with so many hands in the mix was fulfilling Mr. Alpert's edict that the album succeed as a cohesive whole.
'We worked really hard on that,' he said. 'We worked really closely together. It was really about assembling people that got it.'
He said the secret was understanding that the magic of WHIPPED CREAM is its melodies. Textural elements - rhythms and tempos - could be tweaked so long as the tune was intact.
'It was just about letting it be that music. We weren't about changing things, but adapting them,' the composer said. 'The melody had to be there, and there were times that was tough. 'Peanuts' is a polka. What do you do with a polka? On some of these songs, there were six versions before we came up with the right balance.'"
Mr. Marinelli said a remix record based on an instrumental album more than 40 years old is never undertaken for purely financial reasons. He said that although he feels certain the label would like to see RE-WHIPPED repeat the success of the original, for him the process has been reward enough.
'I worked as hard on this as anything I've done,' he said. 'For me, that's success. It's sincere, has feeling and I smile when I listen to it. That's important to me.'"
-Steven Uhles, Augusta Chronicle
"The best tracks - Mocean Worker's 'Bittersweet Samba,' Thievery Corporation's 'Lemon Tree,' Mr. Kambon's 'Ladyfingers' and Mr. Marinelli's 'Peanuts' and 'Lollipops and Roses' - celebrate the original recordings while casting the music in a modern light."
-Jim Fusilli, Wall Street Journal
"Half the album's selections feature the work of veteran studio musician and movie score composer Anthony Marinelli, with two of them collaborations with local favorites, the Los Angeles-based Latin-Mexican collective Ozomatli.
The title track is slowed to a hip-hop, head-bobbin' groove, a nice touch being the Mexican-flavored bridge, complete with 'tre'" and group vocals. Mr. Marinelli's contemporary take on 'Love Potion No. 9' is the most aggressive rhythmically on the album, with band member Asdru Sierra singing the famous Lieber-and-Stoller lyrics.
Marinelli also arranges an appealingly funky feel to 'Lollipops and Roses' that is very much in the spirit of the original, and brings out Alpert's best trumpet-playing on an engaging reworking of 'Peanuts.'"
-Gary C.W. Chun, Honolulu Star Bulletin
"Every song works, which isn't something one often says about a remix album. Some of the best remixes come from noted film composer Anthony Marinelli, who combines with Ozomatli to funk up 'Love Potion #9' and to deliver a fantastic take on the title track."
-Jim Harrington, Ticketmaster's Live Daily
"This film must have been extremely difficult to score with its busy plot lines and multiple screens. Interfering with all the dialogue is a nightmare most composers wouldn't dare face. This is music that will appeal to fans of Angelo Badalamente, Mark Isham or of Elliot Goldenthal's Heat. The female vocals seem to recall the work of Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance and Gladiator.
Figgis and Marinelli also collaborated on a song, which is seemingly the main theme of the film. Comfort of Strangers as sung by the female vocalist Skin - catchy and very contemporary."
-Sean Adams, FilmScoreCentral.com
Timecode
"There is a real flow to the film, which is greatly supported by a score (co-written by Figgis and Anthony Marinelli) that maintains a consistent tone for all four quadrants."
-Matt Hefferman, Filmhead
"Anthony Marinelli's score was a nice blend of jazz and experimental orchestration. I noticed it perfectly adding the suspense and tension. It is surprising how good the movie looked and sounded."
-Judge Thomas Big Boy, DVDVerdict.com
Slow Burn
Audio CD - Anthony Marinelli’s exceptionally beautiful score for this new film starring Andy Garcia, Mick Jagger and Julianna Marguiles. 23 tracks total.
-footlight.com
Reviewer:
Robert F. Gaydos "MS Victim" (Nashua, NH United States) - See all my reviews
Even if Mike Figgis had no directing credits to his name, he could make more than a decent living as a composer and performer, as this perfectly balanced jazz collection demonstrates.
While many film soundtracks are random pop compilations or sterile by-the-numbers genre throw-downs, Time Code comes off as an almost perfect piece of work. The music translates the moods and ambience of the on-screen action perfectly, being subtle but still making a vivid impression. At the same time, it stands on it's own apart from the film and gets stronger with repeated listenings.
This is surprising, considering we get 3 interpretations of the "Comfort of Strangers" theme Figgis penned with co-composer Anthony Marrinelli, and a 12 minute symphony from Mahler (#5 - his best, IMHO). But toss in Figgis' insinuating jazzy workouts, especially the bumping double bass of "Sunset Strip", the caustic jive of "Disco Void" and the inventively eerie "Future Strings" and you have a well rounded soundtrack that might even give "Smooth Jazz" a good name among jazz purists.
For a release that's gotten little to zero promotion or exposure, Time Code is a sure bet for a disc that will be in your player for much of the year.
Reviewer:
J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
Trumpeter and keyboard player Mike Figgis along with co-composer Anthony Marinelli have scored a mixture of low-key jazz compostions to classical, from rock to International World music, with a touch of trance just to give it the perfect blend. This album often mesmerizing is unlike anything we've heard from Figgis, so haunting in content and completely original. The score used instrumental blues style with saxophone and trumpet arrangements and includes a flavor of contemporary rock and pop music to complement the Hollywood setting. Also, features popular songs - "SINGLE" by Everything But The Girl, plus an original song written by the composers with Skin, lead singer of the prominent English rock band Skunk Anasie, who also performs the vocal.
Milan Records along with Figgis and Marinellli can be proud of this CD, very entertaining and enjoyable with the right ingredients to give the listener that - "stress-free composure" after a long day in todays world!
DID THEY MENTION THE MUSIC?
"Anthony Marinelli's score is also a plus"
Todd McCarthy, Variety