Kyle Eastwood, bassist and prolific composer of jazz compositions and film scores, has just released a new album called Cinematic. On this CD, Kyle Eastwood honors scores from his favorite film composers, as well as films he scored with his father Clint Eastwood, or films his father starred in and directed.  I interviewed Kyle Eastwood about Cinematic at the NAMM Show 2020.

Interview by Sheryl Aronson
Responses by Kyle Eastwood

Sheryl Aronson:  Kyle, please tell me about your new album.

Kyle Eastwood:  It’s called Cinematic, and the musicians on it are the quintet I regularly perform with in Paris and around the world.  We adapted film score pieces and songs from films.  The album is my homage to cinema and to some of my favorite film composers.

Sheryl Aronson:  What are some of the films that you are featuring in your new CD?

Kyle Eastwood:  There are a couple that I have co-composed on there, such as “Gran Torino” (directed by Clint Eastwood) and the score from Bullitt. There’s some Henry Mancini, the films Charade and Pink Panther, and some of Michel Legrand.  These are some of my favorite composers.

Sheryl Aronson:   Besides the music being from your favorite composers, what other criteria did you use to choose the music?

Kyle Eastwood:  The music had to also be something that would adapt well to a jazz quintet.  There were some of my favorite films, and I wanted to represent some of my most admired film composers.

Sheryl Aronson:  Who are the musicians playing with you on Cinematic?

Kyle Eastwood:  They are actually all London based musicians and are my regular band.  I live in Paris most of the year. Quintin Collins is playing trumpet, Brandon Allen on saxophone, Chris Higginbottom on drums, and Andrew McCormack on piano, and me on bass.

Sheryl Aronson: Where did you record Cinematic?

Kyle Eastwood:  We recorded it in a studio on the outskirts of Paris.

Sheryl Aronson:  Where do you usually play your gigs?  

Kyle Eastwood:  I do a lot of gigs in Paris and tour around Europe.  I’ll be back in the States to perform in September, but I’m off to China and Japan next month to play in the different Blue Notes Clubs.  In the Spring and Summer, we’ll be in Europe.

Sheryl Aronson:  When you play in Paris, where do you perform?

Kyle Eastwood:  Sometimes we play in small theaters and sometimes we play in the clubs.  I think the next gig in Paris is for the St. Germaine Jazz Festival.

Sheryl Aronson:  What will you be doing at NAMM this year?

Kyle Eastwood:  I’ll check out Phil Jones, who I endorse his amps, and go see LaBella Strings people.

Sheryl Aronson:  Where can people purchase your new CD?

Kyle Eastwood:  People can download it, but Amoeba Music is actually carrying it at their store in LA.  Or you can order it on my website, which is Kyleeastwoodmusic.com.

Sheryl Aronson:  How have you collaborated with your father as a composer/musician?

Kyle Eastwood:  I did Gran Torino on my new album, and I did a score of John Williams from a film my father did in the 70s called The Eiger Sanction.  I also did the composition Unforgiven which is a piece that he wrote.

Sheryl Aronson:  How do you feel when you compose and perform music from your father’s films?

Kyle Eastwood:  I’ve worked with him quite a bit over the years – I’ve worked on six or seven of his films, and it’s always a great pleasure to work with my father.  It’s wonderful to play his music and it’s music we’ve written together!