The Chair Company

I watched the first episode of The Chair Company, a weird new HBO show that mixes comedy and thriller—a combo I don’t remember seeing before. I need to watch more to say anything useful.

I was struck by the opening music of the pilot, which they use at least one more time, and I knew it must be a needle-drop. Not because I recognized it—it’s the opening of the classic 1970s instrument “Breezin’” by George Benson—but because the silky orchestration comes from another era entirely.

The arranger/orchestration for this album was by Claus Ogerman. Who is Claus Ogerman? A total genius!

I remember being a kid in the 1970s and hearing sounds like this from movies, TV, radio, record players—just here and there, bits and pieces, with no explanation or context. I had no idea what it was, I just knew I wanted to hear more of it!

I sincerely wonder if anybody knows how to do it today. Is it a lost art? Or just dormant?