Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Label: Malpaso Records
Release Year: 1997
Barcode: 093624682929
Country: Europe
Product Type: CD (Pre-owned)
Score or Soundtrack: Soundtrack
Genre: Jazz

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), directed by Clint Eastwood and based on John Berendt’s best-selling nonfiction book, blends Southern Gothic atmosphere with courtroom drama. Set in Savannah, Georgia, the film follows journalist John Kelso (John Cusack) as he investigates the eccentric characters of the city while covering the murder trial of wealthy antiques dealer Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey). The movie is less a straight crime thriller than a moody exploration of Southern charm, decadence, and mystery, populated by memorable figures like the voodoo priestess Minerva and the flamboyant Lady Chablis.

The soundtrack, curated by Eastwood (a lifelong jazz aficionado), reflects Savannah’s soulful character, steeped in blues, gospel, and jazz. It features evocative performances by k.d. lang, Diana Krall, and Allison Eastwood, alongside atmospheric score pieces by Lennie Niehaus. The mix of sultry torch songs, piano-driven jazz, and gospel roots enhances the film’s languid, haunting tone, making the music feel like an extension of Savannah’s cultural identity—seductive, mysterious, and steeped in tradition.

Track Listing

Skylark
k.d. lang

Too Marvelous For Words
Joe Williams

Autumn Leaves
Paula Cole

Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread)
Rosemary Clooney

Dream
Brad Mehldau

Days Of Wine And Roses
Cassandra Wilson

That Old Black Magic
Kevin Spacey

Come Rain Or Come Shine
Alison Eastwood

Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive
Clint Eastwood

This Time The Dream's On Me
Alison Krauss

Laura
Kevin Mahogany

Midnight Sun
Diana Krall

I'm An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)
Joshua Redman

I Wanna Be Around
Tony Bennett

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