CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR

Label: Varese Sarabande 302 066 870 2
Date: 2007
Tracks: 10
Time = 33:18

Original soundtrack from Mike Nichols movie about war-ravaged Afghanistan, starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman. James Newton Howard creates wide-ranging musical support with warm opening major-key theme for trumpet over strings ("Charlie Wilson"), dynamic sequence for tablas, hand percussion melding with voices & orchestra ("Refugees"), haunting clarinet variant of main theme ("It's Up To Me"). Big highlight: eight-minute "Turning the Tide". Here, ethnic bed of "Refugees" grows, becomes stirring work for voices with orchestra in meld of contemporary rhythmic display, classically-drawn harmonies & melodic lines. Pete Anthony conducts Hollywood Studio Symphony, Hollywood Film Chorale.

1. Charlie Wilson (3:03) 2. Telex Machine (1:32) 3. Jailbait (1:06) 4. Refugee Camp (5:11) 5. It’s Up To Me (2:48) 6. The Belly Dancer (2:41) 7. Turning The Tide (8:33) 8. Where’s It At, Charlie? (1:12) 9. Balcony (1:29) 10. Honored Colleague (6:09)