Mr. 5/4, Lao Schifrin has passed.

I recall an interview where he said a TV theme was like a logo... when you're out in the kitchen getting a drink, it tells you that your program is on.

He also described the Impossible Mission Force as "a paramilitary organization," which struck me as a very Latin-American perspective. :cool:

extended obit from WaPo details his wide-ranging career:

[url]https://wapo.st/4k8wJPK

WaPo seems to be behind a paywall. Here's a write-up in Variety:

<LINK_TEXT text="https://variety.com/2025/music/news/lal ... 236442000/">https://variety.com/2025/music/news/lalo-schifrin-dead-mission-impossible-film-composer-1236442000/</LINK_TEXT>

He and John Barry pretty much defined how music for spy movies should sound.

Ah, man. Bummer. My very first movie gig was for him. Man, the people I worked with before are either already dead or dropping like flies. :(

[quote="JohnL"]WaPo seems to be behind a paywall.[/quote]

That should be a free article. It may be that you have to create and sign in to a free account.

But it comes up as ready-to-read article with no sign-up called for when I am signed out of my WaPo subscription and use the link. :idk:

Pro-tip: Drop any link into archive.is , archive it, or if its been archived, you will be able to view those, and not have to worry about paywalls, for anything ever again. You're welcome.

https://archive.is/WzW3d

A few things that are not Mission:Impossible

substantial trombone solo in this one:

<YOUTUBE id="4YEENDAjTYw">[media]https://youtu.be/4YEENDAjTYw</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="mznUMYY7YC8">[media]https://youtu.be/mznUMYY7YC8</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="zkxmKFKov3c">[media]https://youtu.be/zkxmKFKov3c</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="2Ggh6qLZ554">[media]https://youtu.be/2Ggh6qLZ554?si=QSMCpZo0SKbOtkYS</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="rNnLChhH4D0">[media]https://youtu.be/rNnLChhH4D0</YOUTUBE>

<YOUTUBE id="CJczLDdZgvE">[media]https://youtu.be/CJczLDdZgvE</YOUTUBE>

Anyone know who's playing the solo on this?

<YOUTUBE id="1pmwThh62jw">https://youtu.be/1pmwThh62jw</YOUTUBE>

Looks like Britt Woodman, Frank Rehak, and Urbie Green are credited. The only name I know is Urbie, but it doesn't sound like him to me.

I believe it was veteren LA trombonist/arranger/session player, Mike Barone, who along with Dick Nash and Kenny Shroyer, were on the first recording of the Mission Impossible Theme. Mike said that all of the bone players were pretty anxious about playing in 5/4, very uncommon in that time period for big band players. According to Mike, Dick Nash passed off the lead to Mike Barone.

I think a couple of "legit" players were hired to help play that 5/4 theme, which is still used in the movie versions. I also found out that all of the great string bass playing in the 7 years of TV were done by a rather necomer to the LA studios of that time period, and that was Ray Brown. You can still find all seven seasons of the TV Series on a couple of the current streaming services, since it was a Paramount production. Some very interesting writing by Lalo. Very interesting use of the percussion section! The show must have had a pretty low music budget. You will hear the same music "cues" used over many times during the episodes. Lolo used other arrangers to do some of the cues. I found the most unusual ones were done by Don Ellis, in a couple of episodes which were very psychodelic. Great choice. I believe Benny Golson olso did some episodes.

I remember seeing a couple of my favorite jazz, female, vocalists in acting rolls. There was one episode with Nancy Wilson and one with Abby Lincoln.

I believe it was veteren LA trombonist/arranger/session player, Mike Barone, who along with Dick Nash and Kenny Shroyer, were on the first recording of the Mission Impossible Theme. Mike said that all of the bone players were pretty anxious about playing in 5/4, very uncommon in that time period for big band players. According to Mike, Dick Nash passed off the lead to Mike Barone.

I think a couple of "legit" players were hired to help play that 5/4 theme, which is still used in the movie versions. I also found out that all of the great string bass playing in the 7 years of TV were done by a rather necomer to the LA studios of that time period, and that was Ray Brown. You can still find all seven seasons of the TV Series on a couple of the current streaming services, since it was a Paramount production. Some very interesting writing by Lalo. Very interesting use of the percussion section! The show must have had a pretty low music budget. You will hear the same music "cues" used over many times during the episodes. Lolo used other arrangers to do some of the cues. I found the most unusual ones were done by Don Ellis, in a couple of episodes which were very psychodelic. Great choice. I believe Benny Golson also did some episodes.

I remember seeing a couple of my favorite jazz, female, vocalists in acting rolls. There was one episode with Nancy Wilson and one with Abby Lincoln.

[quote="ddsbstrb"]I believe it was veteren LA trombonist/arranger/session player, Mike Barone, who along with Dick Nash and Kenny Shroyer, were on the first recording of the Mission Impossible Theme. Mike said that all of the bone players were pretty anxious about playing in 5/4, very uncommon in that time period for big band players.[/quote]

Having known and played with those guys, that's pretty hard to believe.