About the Book
Everybody knows John Altman's music, but not so many people know his name. Yet he is one of the most prolific composers, conductors and arrangers in history and his saxophone playing has been heard live and on record with many great names. In this vivid account of over fifty years in the world of popular music, Altman explains why he is the 'Hidden Man', whose scores include such well-known film sequences as 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' from Life of Brian, which he arranged, conducted and whistled; the tank chase through St. Petersburg in the James Bond movie Goldeneye and the ship sinking in Titanic, with the orchestra playing on deck. In all, he has composed the music for over 50 movies, and won most major film awards in his long and distinguished career. His orchestrations can be heard in film scores by legends like Elmer Bernstein and Jule Styne, and he was musical director for several television series, notably Miss Marple, starring Joan Hickson, as well as Peak Practice. As an arranger/conductor he has worked on hit records for numerous stars, among them Rod Stewart, George Michael, Tina Turner, Barry White, Diana Ross, Bjork, and Alison Moyet. As a saxophonist, flautist and clarinet player he has performed with an equally stellar list of musicians. John Altman has also found time to write, produce and arrange over 4,000 commercials worldwide, including his theme for the 'Sheila's Wheels' advertisement. Such anonymity coupled with universally-known themes is why Monty Python's Terry Gilliam named Altman the 'Hidden Man'. In this entertaining, fast-paced memoir you will discover how Ingrid Bergman smiled at his back; how a Beatle always greeted him by singing one of his musical phrases; how he tried in vain to persuade Nick Drake to continue performing in public; how he reduced Freddy Mercury to helpless laughter; how he got Pierce Brosnan his big movie break; how he sat with Charlie Chaplin watching a movie that hadn't been seen for a quarter of a century (with a running commentary from the great man himself); how he sang over a mobile phone to James Cameron and the cast of Titanic; how he inspired a five-year-old George Michael to become a musician; how he was the Wailers' tour guide around London, and how Tina Turner made him a cup of tea. One of the most poignant parts of the story is how he mentored the young Amy Winehouse.
Table of Contents:
Preface
1 All in the Family
2 School Days
3 We’re Jamming
4 Some Legends 1
(Peter Green, Nick Drake, John Martyn, Harry Nilsson, Tim Hardin, Tim Buckley, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix)
5 The London Beat
6 Forty Eight Years (and counting) of Python
7 Whispering Wheels, You Sexy Thing, Muhammad Ali, and Freddie Mercury and the sausages
8 BBC, Early Commercials, Bowie, Dietrich, Jule Styne and early Van
9 Sir Van the Man
10 Some More Legends 2
(Paul Kossoff, Bob Marley, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, John Ogdon, Spike Milligan, Mick Jagger, George Harrison)
11 An Intrusion and an Explanation
12 Records
13 Television
14 Movies (1)
15 Some More Legends 3
(Classic Movie and Jazz Stars including Orson Welles, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Chet Baker)
16 Movies (2)
17 Commercials
18 Going Live
19 LA Life
20 Amy
21 Some More Legends 4
(Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Prince, Mike Stoller, Mark Ronson, Sacha Baron Cohen)
22 What was that all about?
23 Shanghai, Honeymoons and Chat Shows (or how I came to be on a massage table next to Rafa Nadal), Paris, and Vladivostok
24 Awards and Recognition
25 The Ones That Got Away
26 Today and Beyond
About the Author :
John Altman is a film composer, music arranger, orchestrator, conductor and saxophonist. Among the 54 movies he composed, arranged and orchestrated for are Titanic (period music), Monty Python’s Life of Brian and Goldeneye, winning a BAFTA Award for Hear My Song and a Golden Globe for orchestrating Sheltering Sky and a commendation for his work on Léon: The Professional. He also won an Emmy for his score for RKO281, was nominated for Roman Spring of Mrs Stone and received a nomination for the Golden Reel award for Little Voice. He recently completed arranging and conducting for the next James Bond movie No Time To Die. In addition to writing a 100-minute score for the silent movie Shooting Star for the London Film Festival Gala, John has his name as an arranger on 19 platinum records, including George Michael’s album “Faith”, which won several GRAMMYs in 1989 including Album of the Year, and Altman was nominated for the Rutles film All You Need Is Cash. He wrote for Simple Minds, Barry White, Tina Turner, Björk, Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Pretenders, Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson and has scored over 4,000 commercials worldwide to boot. Playing woodwinds he was musical director for Hot Chocolate and Van Morrison and has played with Nick Drake, Little Richard, Peter Green, Amy Winehouse, John Legend, Prince, Eric Clapton and many more. As a jazz musician he has led his big band in the UK, USA and Australia and played with Chet Baker, Slim Gaillard, Bud Freeman, Les McCann and other jazz giants. He has four Lifetime Achievement Awards and an honorary doctorate in music from the University of Sussex
Review :
Big-time love and props to my long-time brother, John Altman, on the release of Hidden Man. From meeting him through our dear friend, Benny Carter, to having him write on the Michael Caine Albert Hall show, to transcribing my score for the Italian Job live performance, I can confirm that he is a rare find! Keep on keepin' on my brother, and thank you for all you've done for me and the music community as a whole!
Quincy Jones
This is what I have to say about John Altman: Think about it: Without exaggeration, it can be assumed that half the music of the 20th century wouldn't exist without John's contribution. The other half is rubbish.
Hans Zimmer
I've known John for over 25 years - a terrific musician and good guy. Always a pleasure to see him and play music with him. Love his stories.
Jeff Goldblum
John Altman is such a wonderful musician and human being!! We've shared the stage many times and he always brings such a high level of mastery. It's always an honor to work together.
Jon Batiste (Golden Globe, BAFTA winning composer/bandleader)
Why does John Altman choose to be the Hidden Man? What is he ashamed of? I always thought he was tremendously talented. A great musician and an all-round nice guy. Perhaps I was wrong.
Terry Gilliam (director, animator and Python)
I admit it, I like John Altman. Apart from being very good company, he is one of the few musicians, composers and arrangers prepared to work with people on crosses. I've rung all the police stations in London, but no-one has a bad word for him.
Sir Michael Palin (Python, author and world traveller)
John has always shined ever so brightly whenever our paths have crossed, it's hard not to notice his kind soul.
Joss Stone
I feel that I've known John Altman forever. Our paths have crossed in sweaty marquees at cricket matches, at fancy film events and, of course, in jazz clubs. But I couldn't pin down where we had first met . It was at a gig at the Pizza Express in Dean Street, John was playing, I was talking, that I found out that we have in fact known each other forever. Almost. In the happy, hippy days of 1968 the Brighton Combination set up an alternative arts venue/ cafe/ theatre/ gig space in an old schoolhouse just off the Brighton seafront. I dropped out of Uni to join the Combination and as part of of our artistic offering to the local community we ran all night raves ( although I'm not sure we called them that at the time). John reminded me that he would blow his sax all night and on into the dawn at these bacchanalian events. It's a wonder either of us survived. John also wrote the soundtrack to a film that I was in with Jean Claude Van Damme called Legionnaire. But I prefer not to talk about that.
Jim Carter (star of Downton Abbey)
