Aviator Soundtrack CD

The soundtrack to Martin Scorsese's 2004 Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator doesn't contain any of Howard Shore's original score, concentrating instead on the hot jazz, swing, and pop tunes that appear in the movie. This is fairly evenly divided between original recordings from the '20s, '30s, and '40s and new recordings designed to sound like the time. While the vocals on the newer material can be slightly mannered -- particularly from the ever-showy Rufus Wainwright -- the new recordings fit comfortably alongside the vintage material, making the soundtrack a lively, enjoyable listen in its own right. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
For his film about the early career of Howard Hughes, legendary director Martin Scorcese (famed for his excellent use of music in movies) wisely chose to use period material. Thus, the soundtrack of THE AVIATOR is occupied both by recordings from the late 1920s-early '40s, and by contemporary versions of songs from that era, done in the style of the day. In lesser hands, such an undertaking could have been a crass, mismatched train wreck, but THE AVIATOR album segues with almost shocking ease between the two.
Vince Giordano & his Nighthawks Orchestra, a NYC-based early-jazz revival band, contribute a number of pre-swing jazz instrumentals, and as things progress chronologically, the swing sounds of Benny Goodman ("Moonglow") and Glenn Miller ("Moonlight Serenade") creep in. Along the way, the Wainwright family represents surprisingly well, with a track each from Loudon, Rufus, and Martha, and even David Johansen gets in on the act (not a shock, considering his penchant for covering pre-rock material). Things close appropriately with blues giant Leadbelly singing "Howard Hughes," a musical tribute to THE AVIATOR himself.