The Casino Interior music can be found in Manny’s casino (in Calavera Cafe) in Year 2, Rubacava. For use in the game, this piece was filtered to sound like it powerfulness when played through the cafe’s sound system. (As you can reckon, we aren’t strict about having technology from a certain period in Grim Fandango!). You’ll also hear just a bit of this music in the cutscene that introduces Year 2.
In classic film noir, Casinos are often portrayed as lively nightspots; I wanted to create a feeling of almost carefree decadence, just a bit edgier than the mood evoked by Rick’s Cafe in the film Casablanca. Casino Interior was based partly on the sounds of early Duke Ellington (circa late 1920s) and partly on the small Benny Goodman ensembles that were pop during World War II. (I was definitely thinking of Goodman in the clarinet component). Most of the piece was played by live musicians who are steeped in this kind of music. I think they really make the track speak.
-Peter McConnell
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