Pixar’s latest film Soul follows middle school jazz band teacher Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), who enters The Great Before, where souls await their next lives. Film directors Pete Docter and Kemp Powers recruited Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) and Jon Batiste from Nine Inch Nails fame to compose its soundtrack for this feature film.
The Story
Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) struggles to bring his middle school band students together in perfect tune, dreaming of taking his jazz talents onto the big stage; but life changes when offered a full-time teaching position that would put his dreams on hold; instead he accepts this teaching role and almost immediately dies in a construction accident; leaving his soul waiting patiently to join the Great Beyond.
This animated feature film tackles themes often ignored in animated movies – passion, purpose and the meaning of life. Co-writer/director Pete Docter and co-director Kemp Powers utilized their deep understanding of music to make the movie feel authentic while consulting a wide array of experts and consultants, such as anthropologist Dr Johnnetta Cole to ensure its cultural references rang true for audiences everywhere.
In order to capture Soul’s worlds of everyday and metaphysical music, its composers wanted a soundtrack as unique as its protagonist. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross from Nine Inch Nails composed an original score that moved between settings while Jon Batiste provided jazz compositions and arrangements from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert house band leader band.
Its soundtrack is an engaging blend that serves to emphasize both worlds of the film, making for one of the most intriguing–and powerful–Pixar productions to date. Featuring both ambient passages that recall more peaceful versions of NIN duo work as well as bustling synth instrumentals which serve as an effective counterpoint against scenes set on Earth, this score proves one of the film’s many strengths.
While Soul may not reach the same heights of Toy Story and Inside Out, it remains an exquisite film with heart. Boasting an outstanding cast including Phylicia Rashad, Questlove and Daveed Diggs as well as an emotional tale exploring living your soul, this Pixar classic now available to stream via Disney+ streaming service.
The Music
Soul, the latest Pixar-Disney animated feature film, has much to say about our world and music’s power in it. Furthermore, it tackles an often taboo topic for children’s movies: soul’s origins. However, this topic was handled in an unexpectedly family-friendly manner in Soul; whether or not you enjoy jazz, animated movies or both; you are sure to enjoy Soul! And its soundtrack.
Jon Batiste is an accomplished pianist and Grammy nominee who serves as bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. For Disney+ film Soul Stories he created original jazz compositions and arrangements specifically tailored for this project; moreover he recently interviewed Co-Director Kemp Powers about working together.
Batiste shared in this interview his experience creating music for both gritty NYC scenes and “The Great Before.” Both worlds required unique musical styles that helped define them – Batiste noted this fact while stressing how hard his team had worked to ensure everything came out correctly.
But for the scene that leads up to Gardner’s realization, he wanted the music to be both powerful and heartwarming – and he made sure he got it just right, according to him. That scene was inspired by Herbie Hancock telling him about his time playing piano alongside Miles Davis where at one point Hancock made an error that seemed certain to ruin the entire concert but Miles Davis responded by taking that chord and turning it into something beautiful instead, according to Hancock.
Musical creativity is at the core of this film and that is what its message conveys.
At its heart, this movie’s message is about celebrating what makes us unique as humans and finding ways to connect to our inner selves – an idea worth spreading around.
The Message
The movie explores passion, purpose and meaning in life that often goes unsaid in animated films. Additionally, this story highlights what it means to enjoy life without letting things like bad days, annoying people or arthritis interfere with playing your favorite instrument – sending a powerful message about living joyfully while showing compassion towards both oneself and others.
This film serves as a celebration of jazz music. To honor it properly, filmmakers recruited Grammy award winner Jon Batiste – best known as bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and an accomplished jazz pianist – as its composer. Jon collaborated with musicians of different generations to craft its sound and describe the experience as “an exciting journey”.
An impressive feature of the film was its use of New York City as a character in its narrative. They provided a very accurate representation of this sprawling metropolis from streets to bodegas; making the city part of the story and adding to its overall feel.
Another element that stood out to me was how jazz is presented as an intoxicating environment of creativity and inspiration, often described by Joe himself as being “in the zone”. This serves as a vivid metaphor for life itself in this film.
I found the film to be both moving and inspiring, from its stunning visuals, great voice acting and emotional messages that will stay with me long after watching it. I’d recommend this film to anyone interested in jazz, movies or simply wanting a good dose of inspiration.
This movie, available both on Blu-ray and DVD, is an absolute must see for any art enthusiast. The soundtrack makes an incredible addition to any music collection; and you will certainly leave wanting more after watching this captivating flick! Featuring both young and veteran jazz artists alike, its appeal will reach every corner of society; regardless of personal taste.
The Voices
The music of this film is just as integral to its message as its message itself and was composed by a variety of great talent across generations. Juilliard-trained musician Jon Batiste contributed greatly to its delicious jazz sequences; animators even faithfully recreated Jon’s real life fingers when he played keys! Additionally, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross from Nine Inch Nails contributed significantly with Trent Reznor writing the score and Atticus Ross from Nine Inch Nails contributing as composers; all three composers also wrote scores; both formats were recently released recently as vinyl albums or digital downloads with tracks including Daveed Diggs singing “Rappin Ced” performed by Daveed Diggs as well as Batiste covering Curtis Mayfield’s “It’s All Right”.
While some of the voice actors in this film are longstanding members of Pixar (like Julia Louis-Drey from A Bug’s Life and Peter Sallis from Aardman), most are newcomers to their studio. Jamie Foxx stands out among them, playing middle school band teacher Joe Gardner aptly. Jamie has been playing piano since he was young, as well as having had an extensive acting career that spans everything from Empire TV series to Ray movie.
Emmy-nominated actress Phylicia Rashad is best-known to audiences as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, but also voiced an important role in Michael B Jordan’s Creed franchise and sequel. In these movies she voices Joe’s mother Libba who strives tirelessly to help 22 find herself.
Oscar-winner Pete Docter directed this film along with Kemp Powers, boasting an extensive animation resume including Inside Out and Up. Dana Murray made her mark as an animation director as well with Pixar films like Lou and Coco; other voice actors in this movie include Tina Fey, Phylicia Rashad, Questlove Angela Bassett Donnell Rawlings and Daveed Diggs! Currently streaming on Disney+ it will also be released next year on Blu-ray/DVD with more info available at its official website; making sure jazz fans as well as those newcomers will love this animated adventure!