# Help me identify this style of sneaky Jazz **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 27, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279 "2012-11-27T17:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/1 "2012-11-27T17:03:30Z")
There is a style of Jazz that I would call sneaky, which reminds me of speakeasies in film Noir. I am wondering if there is a particular name that has been given to this style so I can find more of it. An example of what I am talking about is given[here on youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxqAlyhcqcQhttp://). ---
**Author:** ![babygoat666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2acd7d/32.png) [@babygoat666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/babygoat666)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/2 "2012-11-27T17:22:58Z")
I like sneaky jazz… I think it should be called that. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/3 "2012-11-27T17:25:56Z")
Reminds me of Twin Peaks. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/4 "2012-11-27T17:29:04Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Reminds me of Twin Peaks. Look at the music credit on the video. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/5 "2012-11-27T17:29:06Z")
The rhythm is all triplets, with emphasis on every fourth beat (of six), so that’s what I think they call a “shuffle” groove. The melodies are in bluesy seventh scales, which emphasizes the “noir” feel. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/6 "2012-11-27T17:30:47Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Look at the music credit on the video. 🙂 Haven’t looked yet, is it going to be Angelo Badalemente or however you spell his name… ETA, okay, now I looked, what does “Ro-Twin Peaks” mean? ETA2, Errr, nevermind, I didn’t hit the show more button.. I see his name in there now. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/7 "2012-11-27T17:32:02Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Reminds me of Twin Peaks. So do the dancers. I’d say it’s just “cool” jazz, done by a small combo. Sort of the opposite of bebop, which would be hot jazz. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/8 "2012-11-27T17:33:39Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Haven’t looked yet, is it going to be Angelo Badalemente or however you spell his name… > > ETA, okay, now I looked, what does “Ro-Twin Peaks” mean? The “Ro” goes with “Timisoara.” Timisoara is a town in Romania. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/9 "2012-11-27T18:18:19Z")
It could be called cool jazz or cocktail jazz or lounge jazz, but I have the feeling you may be looking for something more specific, and I don’t know if there is actually a term to describe it. You might do better to start with specific examples and see what else comes up. Maybe start with ["Fever"](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4hXyALR9vI)by Miss Peggy Lee. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/10 "2012-11-27T18:57:36Z")
Thanks for the input. I’ll take a look at cool Jazz. “Fever” is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for. The one that comes to mind although it is is a little less smooth off is “hey big spender”. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/11 "2012-11-27T20:03:13Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Thanks for the input. I’ll take a look at cool Jazz. “Fever” is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for. The one that comes to mind although it is is a little less smooth off is “hey big spender”. [Start here.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_jazz) You might also look at “West Coast Jazz.” I think of cool jazz as minimalist. Much of the sound is sparse and filling in the gaps requires imagination (and another toke helps). But others may have different definitions, so don’t take mine as gospel. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/12 "2012-11-28T02:10:42Z")
If you want to check out West Coast jazz, start with Dave Brubeck. His album “Time Out” is one of the best selling jazz albums in history. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/13 "2012-11-28T02:38:45Z")
Henri Mancini wrote a lot of stuff along that vein, such as the music from Peter Gunn, theme from The Pink Panther, etc. Speaking of Peter Gunn, [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRFrZqTveaI) is my all time favorite remix. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/14 "2012-11-28T17:09:12Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > So do the dancers. > > I’d say it’s just “cool” jazz, done by a small combo. Sort of the opposite of bebop, which would be hot jazz. Bing! Think, The Pink Panther theme. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/15 "2012-11-28T17:19:07Z")
The soundtrack for [The Hour](http://www.bbcamerica.com/the-hour/) uses that style… Series 2 started a couple of weeks ago in the UK & tonight on BBCamerica. (Episode 1 of the new series is also available on the website.) Musical style, visual style, verbal style… ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/16 "2012-11-28T18:16:21Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Henri Mancini wrote a lot of stuff along that vein, such as the music from Peter Gunn, theme from The Pink Panther, etc. Yeah, especially the tracks in the Peter Gunn series. At least 2 LP albums were released. The small combo was ostensibly the house band at “Mothers,” the cozy nightclub where Peter Gunn hung out and this gave Mancini an excuse to have some cool trios and quartets playing in the corner of a smoky bar. **Buck Godot,** listen to [Dreamsville.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWh-ppeyFB4) The epitome of cool in a big band, complete with sax solo and tinkly piano accents. I miss Hank. ---
**Author:** ![Eman\_Resu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Eman\_Resu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eman_Resu)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/17 "2012-11-29T00:47:22Z")
Check out Miles Davis’ soundtrack to _Ascenseur pour l’echafaud_. Has those sneaky modal minor bass lines and that film noir sound. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/18 "2012-11-29T16:51:42Z")
Actually, what you have here is blues played by jazz players, which is then interpreted by show composers. Check out Harlem Nocturne by Earl Hagen, played by Sam The Man Taylor. It’s the theme to Mike Hammer. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WKA37u1KqJ8/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGCwgZSheMA8=&rs=AOn4CLA2mFeokHwjuLLR6wQMMhVXBQRQZw "Harlem Nocturne By Sam "The Man" Taylor") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKA37u1KqJ8) If you want more of that, make a station on Pandora for Harlem Nocturne. All the sneaky jazz you can use. Cool late night music. There’s also a great version of Sway from the movie Dark City. https://www.youtube.com/embed/UFoRtq4LpHA?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque > [@](#): > > I’d say it’s just “cool” jazz, done by a small combo. Sort of the opposite of bebop, which would be hot jazz. I’m gonna have to respecfully disagree, **Musicat**. Cool jazz, yes. Sorta. Bebop= hot jazz, no. Hot jazz is more what you would call dixieland/ trad jazz. ( I play a LOT of that.) Miles Davis was a prime mover of actual cool jazz. His album Birth Of The Cool is good, but definitely check out his Kind Of Blue album. It’s an experiment in modal playing. Brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/19 "2012-11-29T18:26:02Z")
Chet Baker played some might fine [cool jazz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4PKzz81m5c). ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-style-of-sneaky-jazz/642279/20 "2012-11-29T21:07:40Z")
> [@Jumpbass](#): > > Actually, what you have here is blues played by jazz players, which is then interpreted by show composers. > > Check out Harlem Nocturne by Earl Hagen, played by Sam The Man Taylor. It’s the theme to Mike Hammer. > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKA37u1KqJ8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKA37u1KqJ8) > > If you want more of that, make a station on Pandora for Harlem Nocturne. All the > sneaky jazz you can use. Cool late night music. > > There’s also a great version of Sway from the movie Dark City. > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFoRtq4LpHA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFoRtq4LpHA) > > I’m gonna have to respecfully disagree, **Musicat**. Cool jazz, yes. Sorta. Bebop= hot jazz, no. Hot jazz is more what you would call dixieland/ trad jazz. ( I play a LOT of that.) > > Miles Davis was a prime mover of actual cool jazz. His album Birth Of The Cool is good, but definitely check out his Kind Of Blue album. It’s an experiment in modal playing. Brilliant. +1 on _Kind of Blue_ – I keep two copies of it on CD just so I can lend a copy to people, knowing I’ll never get it back. I then buy another copy for the next time. So far I’ve given away, I think, six copies. I agree on Chet Baker, and would also suggest Stan Getz.