The underlying base doesn't differ from many of Holdridge's scores. Nearly constant harmony and easy progressions set the stage. But where The Tuskegee Airmen excels is in its inherent enthusiasm, crisp performances, and, most importantly, crystal clear sound quality. It was arguably Holdridge's most brassy score at the time, a preview for some of the even more robust portions of his popular The Mists of Avalon score a decade later. Ranging from the harsh tones of multiple layers of brass for the action sections to an elegant trumpet solo in the "Finale" cue, you have to be a brass fan to enjoy The Tuskegee Airmen. Its layers, whether performing counterpoint for the overlying string theme or simply providing a complex backdrop for a battle, are truly amazing. When combined with the lofty string section, this broad brass causes The Tuskegee Airmen to remind of John Barry's earlier orchestral writing. The strings also benefit greatly from their recording, with a lush and wet sound pulling some of the romance from Old Gringo's end titles. In several triumphant flying cues, usually accentuated by Holdridge's title theme, the strings soar with a touch of Jerry Goldsmith of Forever Young and his other flying scores. Among the highlights of the score are "First Solo" and "The First Lady Takes a Plane Ride," both of which mark each chord with a strong brass stroke, a crash of the cymbals, and even a gong. The exuberance of these cues, along with the historical significance they convey through their slower rhythms, provide for an extremely satisfying listening experience. There is a slight downside to The Tuskegee Airmen, however, and that is the relentless brass mix in the plentiful action cues in its latter half. Sometimes disjointed for the purpose of suspense, the same harsh brass that balances the strings can wear on the nerves when front and center with a snare in these action cues. That said, however, this film remains possibly one of the best uses of a Holdridge score in the picture itself, with its clear sound quality mixed at the forefront of several major scenes. Only released as a promotional product by the composer, the 1995 CD is a rare find, but if you've been enticed by some of Holdridge's most popular commercial soundtrack CDs, The Tuskegee Airmen is a safe and highly recommended next step.  ****   @Amazon.com: CD or Download