Joel P. West renewed his association with Cretton for the fourth time since I Am Not a Hipster (2012).[1] Like all of his films, West began working on the film, reading the script and familiarizing with it very early and began developing his musical ideas thereafter. He wrote much of the music even before the film's production began. West admitted that much of the crew worked on the film to make it true and feel human and wanted to bring the humanity towards it. West wanted to make the music feel more personal and beautiful.[2] The musical process started with him diving deeper into the musical world of Bryan Stevenson who was also a musician.[3] He added, "The ugly truths he is working to correct are overwhelming and hard to stomach, and ultimately we were trying to develop score music that might bring some of the same dignity, hope and beauty that Bryan brings to people stuck in those shadows."[3]
Once Cretton and West sorted out the ideas, the process became an open-ended collaboration with the filmmakers, musicians and rest of the crew. West wrote the rhythm parts as rough outlines, which were performed by drummer Karriem Riggins, bassist Thomas Drayton, keyboardist Lynette Williams, guitarist Justus West at the Capitol Studios, whose performance brought an undeniable "unique energy" in the studios. Afterwards, he spent a day recording the strings and choir at the Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage.[4]
Reception
Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post called it "a liltingly beautiful musical score".[5] John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "Joel P West's score is one of the best of the year, complementing the narrative tone by weaving gently through with both hope and despair."[6]Owen Gleiberman of Variety called the music as "emotional".[7] Sean Patrick of Vocal Media wrote "The score of Just Mercy, must by Joel P. West, is a fine and sturdy one that lays in perfectly as underscore to the action without ever becoming unbearable or pushy."[8]Blavity wrote "From the stirring score by Joel P. West to the use of hymns and songs like No More Auction Block For Me, the music underscores the timelessness of this 1990s injustice story and reminds us that the history of Black people in America is also the present."[9]
Hanna Azarya Samosir of CNN Indonesia wrote "In addition to the songs, Joel P. West's soundtrack for Just Mercy also beautifully encapsulates the various scenes. It's no surprise to hear West admit that he had all the music in mind a year before Cretton began filming."[10]
Bass – Nico Carmine Abondolo, Stephen Dress, Thomas Harte, Michael Valerio
Cello – Adrienne Woods, Armen Ksajikian, Eric Byers, Giovanna Clayton, Michelle Rearick, Steve Erdody, Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, Jacob Braun
Electric bass – Thomas Drayton
Viola – Corinne Sobolewski, David Walther, John Zach Dellinger, Michael Larco, Michael Nowak, Michael Whitson, Robert A. Brophy, Shawn Mann, Travis Maril, Andrew Duckles
Violin – Amy Hershberger, Ana Landauer, Benjamin Jacobson, Bruce Dukov, Crystal Alforque, Grace Oh, Helen Nightengale, Ken Aiso, Lorenz Gamma, Luanne Homzy, Lucia Micarelli, Marisa Kuney, Minyoung Chang, Nadira Scruggs, Nina Evtuhov, Philip Payton, Phillip Levy, Sara Parkins, Songa Lee, Stephanie Matthews, Tamara Hatwan,Charlie Bisharat
Choir
Choir conductor – Jasper Randall
Alto – Clydene Jackson, Jessica Rotter, Sara Mann, Toni Scruggs
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