Trevor Jones

Trevor Alfred Charles Jones (born 23 March 1949) is a South African composer of film and television scores, who has worked primarily in the United Kingdom.

He is best known for his scoring work during the 1980s and 1990s, where he worked on many acclaimed films including Excalibur, Runaway Train, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Mississippi Burning, The Last of the Mohicans and In the Name of the Father. Jones has collaborated with filmmakers like John Boorman, Andrei Konchalovsky, Jim Henson, Alan Parker, Jim Sheridan, Barbet Schroeder and Michael Mann.

Jones has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards for Best Film Music - for Mississippi Burning, The Last of the Mohicans, and Brassed Off. He has also been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards - Best Original Score and Best Original Song, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special for the miniseries Merlin.

Jones has been a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in Britain since 2006. In 1999, he became the first chair of the music department of the National Film and Television School.

Early life and education Jones was born in Cape Town in 1949, one of three siblings born to a Cape Coloured family. His family were relocated to District Six following the passing of the Group Areas Act. At 10, he was accepted to the South African College of Music on a municipal bursary.

Filmography

Film

Feature films Year Title Director Studio(s) Notes1980 Brothers and Sisters Richard Woolley British Film Institute Also conductor.1981 The Appointment Lindsey C. Vickers First Principle Film Productions Ltd. Also conductor. Excalibur John Boorman Orion PicturesWarner Bros. Also conductor.Bootleg soundtracks released by Old World Music and Excalibur Enterprises.Time Bandits Terry Gilliam HandMade FilmsJanus FilmsAvco Embassy Pictures Additional music only. Main score by Mike Moran and George Harrison1982The Sender Roger Christian Paramount Pictures Soundtrack released by La-La Land Records. The Dark Crystal Jim Henson Frank Oz ITC EntertainmentHenson AssociatesUniversal Pictures First collaboration with Jim Henson.Score performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.Soundtrack released by Warner Bros. Records, reissued in 2007 by La-La Land Records. 1983Savage Islands Ferdinand Fairfax Paramount Pictures Soundtrack released by La-La Land Records. 1985 Runaway Train Andrei Konchalovsky Northbrook FilmsGolan-Globus ProductionsThe Cannon Group Inc. Also conductor.Soundtrack released by Enigma Records, reissued by La-La Land Records. 1986Labyrinth Jim Henson Henson Associates.LucasfilmTriStar Pictures Second and final collaboration with Jim Henson.Soundtrack released by EMI with the songs by David Bowie and about 20 minutes of score. 1987Angel Heart Alan Parker Carolco PicturesTriStar Pictures 1988Dominick and Eugene Robert M. Young Orion Pictures Also conductor.Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande.Just Ask for Diamond Stephen Bayly 20th Century Fox Mississippi Burning Alan Parker Orion Pictures Soundtrack released by Island Records.Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film MusicSweet Lies Nathalie Delon Island Pictures 1989Sea of Love Harold Becker Universal Pictures Soundtrack released by Mercury Records.1990Bad Influence Curtis Hanson Triumph Releasing Corporation Arachnophobia Frank Marshall Amblin EntertainmentHollywood Pictures First fully orchestral score since Labyrinth.Soundtrack released by Hollywood Records.1991True Colors Herbert Ross Paramount Pictures Chains of Gold Rod Holcomb M.C.E.G.Orion Pictures 1992 Freejack Geoff Murphy Morgan Creek ProductionsWarner Bros. Blame It on the Bellboy Mark Herman Hollywood Pictures Also orchestrator. CrissCross Chris Menges Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Also conductor and orchestrator.Soundtrack released by Intrada Records. The Last of the Mohicans Michael Mann Morgan Creek Productions20th Century Fox (US/Canada) Warner Bros. (International) Composed with Randy Edelman.Original soundtrack released by Morgan Creek Records. A re-recorded version, performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Joel McNeely, was released by Varèse Sarabande in 2000.

Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film MusicNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score1993 Cliffhanger Renny Harlin Carolco PicturesLe Studio Canal+Pioneer CorporationRCS MediaGroupTriStar Pictures Also orchestrator.Soundtrack released by Scotti Bros. Records, reissued by Intrada Records in 2011. In the Name of the Father Jim Sheridan Hell's Kitchen FilmsUniversal Pictures Also orchestrator.1995 Hideaway Brett Leonard TriStar Pictures Also conductor. Kiss of Death Barbet Schroeder 20th Century Fox Also conductor and orchestrator.Soundtrack released by Milan Records. Richard III Richard Loncraine United ArtistsMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Soundtrack released by London International.1996 Loch Ness John Henderson PolyGram Filmed EntertainmentWorking Title FilmsGramercy Pictures (US/Canada) Universal Pictures (International) Also orchestrator. Brassed Off Mark Herman Prominent FeaturesMiramax Films (US) Channel Four Films (UK) Also conductor and orchestrator.Soundtrack released by RCA Victor.

Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film Music1997 Roseanna's Grave Paul Weiland Spelling FilmsFine Line FeaturesPolyGram Filmed Entertainment Also orchestrator.Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. G.I. Jane Ridley Scott Hollywood PicturesCaravan PicturesLargo Entertainment Also orchestrator.Soundtrack released by Hollywood Records. Lawn Dogs John Duigan Strand Releasing (US) The Rank Organisation (UK) Also orchestrator.1998 Desperate Measures Barbet Schroeder Mandalay EntertainmentTriStar Pictures Also conductor and orchestrator.Soundtrack released by Velvel Records. Dark City Alex Proyas Mystery Clock CinemaNew Line Cinema Also orchestrator.Soundtrack released by TVT Records. The Mighty Peter Chelsom ScholasticMiramax Films Also orchestrator.Performed by the London Symphony OrchestraSoundtrack released by Pangaea Records.

Short films Stargate Studios For museum exhibitWe Fight to Be Free Kees van Ostrum2011 War Paint Marcus Carlos Liberski

Television

Video games Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (2005)