From: owner-exotica-digest@lists.xmission.com (exotica-digest) To: exotica-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: exotica-digest V2 #840 Reply-To: exotica-digest Sender: owner-exotica-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-exotica-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk X-No-Archive: yes exotica-digest Sunday, November 19 2000 Volume 02 : Number 840 In This Digest: (exotica) modern orchestral covers Re: (exotica) Brain In A Box Rhino Sci-Fi Comp (exotica) pebbles / highs Re: (exotica) modern orchestral covers Re: (exotica) modern orchestral covers (exotica) The Maltese Bippy (exotica) RE:"Beatles" (exotica) senor coconut Re: (exotica) senor coconut Re: (exotica) Crypt records Re: (exotica) Crypt records Re: (exotica) senor coconut Re: (exotica) senor coconut (exotica) [motion] new news and reviews | 17.nov.00 (exotica) Re: Teenage Shutdown Re: (exotica) Monster Party.... (exotica) thanks (exotica) Virtual DJ (exotica) Retro Cocktail Hour (exotica) cocktail umbrella (exotica) Re: Re: (exotica) Monster Party.... Re: (exotica) [obit] Herbert Brun (exotica) Chi-town Exotica (exotica) Playlist For Space Bop, November 19 (exotica) Re: 60's comps Re: (exotica) Chi-town Exotica Re: (exotica) Chi-town Exotica Re: (exotica) Chi-town Exotica ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 15:15:30 -0000 From: G.R.Reader@bton.ac.uk Subject: (exotica) modern orchestral covers I was in a local department store at lunchtime today and they were playing orchestral / guitar covers of modern songs. The one I remember is 'Things can only get better'. Quite good. I didn't think anyone was still doing this sort of thing. I assume that generic 'sounds like' purpose recorded stuff would be much cheaper. Anybody know who does this kind of thing these days? El Maestro Con Queso djcheesemaster@yahoo.com grr@brighton.ac.uk http://www.shitola.freeserve.co.uk/cheese/cheese.htm http://www.geocities.com/djcheesemaster/ Spunky Misunderstood Genius # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 07:21:29 -0800 From: "Basic Hip" Subject: Re: (exotica) Brain In A Box Rhino Sci-Fi Comp > For those who are suspicious of the BiaB, here's a list of those who offered Research Assistance:.....George Gimarc....< George (Reel George) is the guy behind the Hollywood in Hi-Fi book and CD. He also sells alot of unusual stuff on ebay, specializing in novelty / oddball 45s. for those of you into that kind of thing, you may want to check his auctions every now and then ebay seller name: george@gimarc.com # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 15:17:42 -0000 From: G.R.Reader@bton.ac.uk Subject: (exotica) pebbles / highs On the subject of Pebbles, there were the Pebbles spin-offs 'Highs of the mid sixties' I have vol 3(?) Hollywood a go-go. 1967 folk rock psych punk. Great, great stuff. And a tangerine and turquoise cover. Mindswirling. El Maestro Con Queso djcheesemaster@yahoo.com grr@brighton.ac.uk http://www.shitola.freeserve.co.uk/cheese/cheese.htm http://www.geocities.com/djcheesemaster/ Spunky Misunderstood Genius # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 07:27:30 -0800 From: "Basic Hip" Subject: Re: (exotica) modern orchestral covers > I was in a local department store at lunchtime today and they were playing > orchestral / guitar covers of modern songs> That reminds me of the time I was in a produce market with mostly all Latino workers. They had the radio blasting and tuned into a Mexican radio station. Of all things that came up as a song was a Mexican version of a somewhat obscure 1970 or so hit, "Yellow River" by Christie. Funniest thing. # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 10:34:56 -0500 From: wlt4@mindspring.com Subject: Re: (exotica) modern orchestral covers >Anybody know who does this kind of thing these days? There's a constant though small stream of orchestral versions of rock stuff, recently including Led Zep, Yes, Pink Floyd and some others. Some of these even have contributions from actual band members. Also, the Music Club label has put out a few including one of punk songs that I've always been tempted to get. I'm actually more interested in all the bluegrass covers albums called things like "Pickin' on Boston" or "Pickin' on Aerosmith" which sound positively silly. # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 10:49:07 -0500 From: "m.ace" Subject: (exotica) The Maltese Bippy "The Maltese Bippy" (1969) -- Rowan & Martin's (as in Laugh-In) feature film is scheduled on TCM late Saturday / early Sunday at 4:00am (eastern). Now Sound for your eyes? m.ace mace@ookworld.com http://ookworld.com # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 11:20:44 -0500 From: George Hall Subject: (exotica) RE:"Beatles" here are a few - some from a tape I made years ago (had list on my computer), the rest are what I can think of off the top of my head... many obvious I'm sure, but maybe a few less so. highly recommended is Eugene Chadbourne's tender solo acoustic reading of "Oh Yoko" from "Earth vs. Shockabilly." Apologies for those I can't recall the LP title & while we're on the subject, is there any truth to the story about a tape floating around of John Coltrane singing songs from Revolver in the shower? I'd assumed it was a joke when I first heard, but a friend claims it actually exists... SIDE 1 Aranbee Pop Symphony Orch. THERE'S A PLACE Ray Ellis & His Orch. I FEEL FINE Tony Mottolla & the Now Sound (feat. The Groovies) WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Gabor Szabo YESTERDAY Enoch Light & his Orch. I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND Sandy Nelson DAY TRIPPER Ella Fitzgerald CAN'T BUY ME LOVE The Buddy Rich Big Band NORWEGIAN WOOD Dick Hyman LOVE ME DO Billy Preston A HARD DAY'S NIGHT (arr Sly Stone) The Chipmunks ALL MY LOVIN' Side 2 The Aranbee Pop Symphony Orch. WE CAN WORK IT OUT Dave "Baby" Cortez CAN'T BUY ME LOVE Al Caiola HELP! Dick Hyman MICHELLE Enoch Light & His Orch. AND I LOVE HER Ramsey Lewis A HARD DAY'S NIGHT Tom Jones HEY JUDE Gary McFarland SHE LOVES YOU The Skatallites I SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER Dick Pillar, His Orch. & Chorus BEATLE SONG POLKA Others that spring to mind are... And I Love Her, Hold Your Hand - Duke Ellington '66 Ballad of John & Yoko - Percy Faith Come Together - Tony Mottola's w/Vinnie Bell (something about those 60's era middle aged guitar freakouts) Eleanor Rigby - Vinnie Bell ("Pop Goes the Elec Sitar") Eleanor Rigby (nice copshow/action vers), Ob-La-Di,- etc - Enoch "Spaced Out" Help, others - Count Basie "Beatles Bag" Hey Jude- Bing Crosby (Golden Throats) Lucy in the Sky, others - Enoch Light's Beatles "in Classic Style" LP Michelle- Oliver Nelson "Plays Michelle and..." Oh Yoko - Shockabilly (actually Eugene Chadbourne solo) on "Earth vs. Shockabilly" Things We Said Today, others - Band of the Irish Guards "Marching to the Beatles" Tomorrow Never Knows - Steve Marcus "Tomorrow Never..." (60's avant garde sax stuff) Within You & w/out you + Lucy in the Sky, etc - Alan Lorber Orch (w/Vinnie Bell on elec sitar and Colin Walcott (Oregon) on sitar and) While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Marc Ribot "Rootless Cosmopolitans" White Album misc - Ramsey Lewis late '60's Beatles trib w/a large-ish band Yellow Sub, others - Charles River Valley Boys "Beatle Country" (Rounder re-ish) Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 19:15:56 -0800 From: The Millionaire > Subject: (exotica) "Beatles" LuxuriaMusic plans to mark the occasion of the 20th anniversary of John Lennon's death by broadcasting 24 hours (or as close to it as we can manage) of Beatles covers. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.We've got a couple of hundred tracks so far, but God knows what kind of blind spots we might have, so don't be shy about sending what may seem to be obvious suggestions. This actually kind of dovetails with the recent discussion about Rat Pack-era performers "co-opting" "hip" song selections. # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 09:06:12 -0600 From: "Robert Blahut, Jr." Subject: (exotica) senor coconut I know that this has been discussed here before but i wasn't paying attention. can anyone tell me who senor coconut is and what else he (they) have done. also, what is the actual instrumentation on "baile almane" (i am not looking at the album so pardon my misspelling please) is it actually brass and vibes et cetera? or is it (as i suspect) all one guy with synthesizers? any help and recommendations of other works will be greatly appreciated. thanks, robert # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 12:08:15 -0500 From: cheryl Subject: Re: (exotica) senor coconut Senor Coconut is actually Uwe Schmidt. Also known as Atom Heart, Lisa Carbon, etc., etc. Someone posted a link a few weeks ago with an excellent article on him - I don't have it anymore, though - can someone repost this link? I would guess it's all synthesizers, but I could be wrong - I know he did perform with a full band a little while back. His first Senor Coconut CD, "El Gran Baile", is also good, although not Kraftwerk covers. I find his Atom Heart CDs too cold-sounding for my taste. He also did a CD that was just issued with covers of 70s and 80s pop/rock stuff - David Bowie, Rolling Stones, etc. - I can't remember the title right now - might have been "pop electronique" but I'm not sure. An interesting CD, although I passed on it - I figured it was fun to listen to once, but I likely wouldn't play it again. (unlike Senor Coconut stuff, which I enjoy listening to again and again) Anyone else? cheryl "Robert Blahut, Jr." wrote: > > I know that this has been discussed here before but i wasn't paying > attention. can anyone tell me who senor coconut is and what else he (they) > have done. also, what is the actual instrumentation on "baile almane" (i > am not looking at the album so pardon my misspelling please) is it > actually brass and vibes et cetera? or is it (as i suspect) all one guy > with synthesizers? any help and recommendations of other works will be > greatly appreciated. > # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 09:13:24 -0800 (PST) From: chuck Subject: Re: (exotica) Crypt records OH Yeah, I second your opinion Nathan! The 2 Jungle Exotica comps rocked me as do the Las-Vegas Grind. Love when a word is inserted out of the blue into a song! Easy listening in the Big Easy Chuck - --- Nathan Miner wrote: > Those Crypt comps are the shit - Las Vegas Grind and Jungle > Exotica comps are grrrrreeeeat!! __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! http://calendar.yahoo.com/ # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 12:14:33 -0500 From: "Nathan Miner" Subject: Re: (exotica) Crypt records <> TRAAAAASH CAAAAAAN - - Nate # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 12:16:16 EST From: DJJimmyBee@aol.com Subject: Re: (exotica) senor coconut In a message dated Fri, 17 Nov 2000 11:44:56 AM Eastern Standard Time, "Robert Blahut, Jr." writes: << I know that this has been discussed here before but i wasn't paying attention. can anyone tell me who senor coconut is and what else he (they) have done. I can try. I was on a jag for a little while. Senor Coconut is a German living in Chile who records under a multiplicity of identities. As Senor Coconut he does what we all know and love. As Los Samplers he does a highly Latinized collage of beats, bloops, Electronic buzzes, blaps, static all cobbled together to make a highly funky/latin set of songs. As Atom & Tea Time he does an X-rated latinized set of tunes which showcase his love of pornography, Tito Puente samples and other oddball sounds and percussion. As Lisa Carbon Trio he does some fine but kinda repetitive bossa work. He comes highly recommended by your's truly...JB # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 17:43:31 GMT From: "Robert McKenna" Subject: Re: (exotica) senor coconut >I would guess it's all synthesizers, but I could be wrong - I know he >did perform with a full band a little while back. The album is all sampled, but the range of samples is restricted to resemble a small cojunto. > >taste. He also did a CD that was just issued with covers of 70s and 80s >pop/rock stuff - David Bowie, Rolling Stones, etc. - I can't remember >the title right now - might have been "pop electronique" but I'm not >sure. An interesting CD, although I passed on it - I figured it was fun >to listen to once, but I likely wouldn't play it again. (unlike Senor >Coconut stuff, which I enjoy listening to again and again) LB is the name of the project and I think it was called pop electronique all right. and the 12" had the wrong people mixing the wrong tracks from it. I also passed on it as it was 'quirky' but ultimately not very good. Coconut is astonishing though. The 12" has 'Expo 2000' on it for completists (who probably also want the UR, Rolando etc. double pack just out. at 16 quid in Ireland. Not a chance) LB is on his own pretty interesting(?) label i think. Pretty much everyone on this list seems to have Senor Coconut! I remember when somebody posted about it last year as a Japanese import i was drooling and thinking it would never make it over here. He also records with Burnt Friedman (or Berndt as his mammy called him) as Flanger and that is rather good jazz based cut and paste. Hope we've encouraged you to buy this! you'll be glad. rob > >Anyone else? > > _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 18:12:49 +0000 From: dan hill Subject: (exotica) [motion] new news and reviews | 17.nov.00 new reviews | http://motion.state51.co.uk/reviews/ Various Artists - Finders Keepers (Fat City) HOAHIO - OHAYO!HOAHIO! (Tzadik) Orso - Long Time By (Perishable Records) Dave Douglas/Tiny Bell Trio - Songs for Wandering Souls (Winter and Winter) news | designs in motion We've spruced up the look 'n' feel of the site, spending a bit of time simplifying the design, clarifying the content, and generally making the whole thing faster. In these days of hi-bandwidth, link-heavy leviathons, it seemed to make sense to concentrate on what we do best - regularly-updated quality content. And in terms of the design, it seemed inethical to do anything but become even more strictly focussed on producing a light, usable site. The new site should be more readable, easier to move around, provide clearer suggestions, move more rapidly, and ultimately, be more usable. There's more fine tuning to come, but any comments on the new design would be much appreciated. A tip of the hat to Josef-Muller Brockman. thanks, and apologies for cross-postings the motion team http://motion.state51.co.uk/ # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 16:58:45 EST From: HOUSEOBOB@aol.com Subject: (exotica) Re: Teenage Shutdown In a message dated 11/16/0 2:32:48 PM, you wrote: <> Is there one in this series devoted to inept teenage garage bands? And is it good (in a bad way) ? Bob # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 15:43:38 -0500 From: "Nathan Miner" Subject: Re: (exotica) Monster Party.... Cool. I've got the film so can probably catch the theme song off of it. = That's a great song - heard it first on Retro Cocktail Hour, as Darryl = said it's like a Bond film song! What's on the rest of the CD - if anybody's heard it. Are there lots of = cool songs or a lot of "incidental" mumbo-jumbo??? Do tell - review anyone?? - - Nate # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 15:11:41 -0800 From: The Millionaire Subject: (exotica) thanks I just wanted to thank all the people who have sent audio files or tapes/CDs or suggestions to me for LuxuriaMusic's Beatles extravaganza. It's very much appreciated, and it really is amazing how much of this stuff there is! Those Beatles..i'll bet THEY'VE got some dough. Thanks again! The Millionaire 1424 Lincoln Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401 phone:(310) 319-3833 fax:(240) 376-7734 www.luxuriamusic.com "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -Hunter S. Thompson # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 15:30:15 -0800 From: The Millionaire Subject: (exotica) Virtual DJ Hi All, It occurred to me that I haven't actively solicited you beautiful people with incredible taste, for the LuxuriaMusic Virtual DJ show. You send us a half-hour mix, with announcements ideally, and if we like it, we broadcast it. There is at least one previous VDJ actively contributing to the list in the form of Mister D. Ciccone. I know that there are a bunch of you out there who need to share your finds with the world! Don't hide your light under a bushel. For more info, go to... http://www.luxuriamusic.com/Feat_Page?featureID=5495 ...or you can email me with any questions. Cleve? Jimmy Bee? Johan? Anyone? Y'all have an audience waiting! Ciao, The Millionaire 1424 Lincoln Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401 phone:(310) 319-3833 fax:(240) 376-7734 www.luxuriamusic.com "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -Hunter S. Thompson # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 17:51:25 -0600 From: "Darrell Brogdon" Subject: (exotica) Retro Cocktail Hour You'll find bossa nova, big band exotica and bongo fever on this week's Retro Cocktail Hour webcast! Check out Walter Wanderley (however you say his name!) and Bossa Rio; bongo stuff by Les Baxter, the Latin All Stars (from "Jazz Heat, Bongo Beat") and Jack Costanzo (dig his shrieks and wild solo on "The Natives Are Restless Tonight"); 70s-style cop funk by the Soul City Orchestra, the Brothers Grimm and Henry Mancini; plus tunes by Cabildo's Three, Don Tiki, Seksu Roba and Project: Pimento. To hear this week's Retro Cocktail Hour on the web, just visit: http://kanu.ukans.edu/retro.html And listen to program #236. Or, tune in Saturday at 7:00pm Central USA time for the live, STEREO webcast at: http://kanu.ukans.edu/realaudio/index.htm As always, your comments and requests are welcome. Thanks for the space! Darrell Brogdon The Retro Cocktail Hour KANU FM 91.5 Visit The Retro Cocktail Hour at: http://kanu.ukans.edu/retro.html Listen to The Retro Cocktail Hour at: http://kanu.ukans.edu/retro/retrolisten.htm # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 19:12:41 -0500 From: itsvern@ibm.net Subject: (exotica) cocktail umbrella This week's 'The Straight Dope' column features the origin of cocktail umbrella. Tiki News and Trader Vics both get a good mention. Link is at .... http://www.straightdope.com/columns/001117.html Vern # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 19:33:27 EST From: DJJimmyBee@aol.com Subject: (exotica) Re: In a message dated 11/17/0 4:59:42 PM, HOUSEOBOB@aol.com wrote: >Is there one in this series devoted to inept teenage garage bands? And is it >good (in a bad way) ? One of my faves is "The Class of '66" comp. This one has lots of bad garage bands, but more importantly is the cover...A class picture with lots of "pretty" girls with swooped hairdos, blonde bangs, caked with makeup. The guys on the other hand look like a bunch of dorks and losers, short pimply-faced gangly skinny losers with bad teeth. Photographs on the back of the LP depict said guys gaping helplessly at the cockteasing babes as they wiggle by them in the halls of the generic 6T's high=school. One guy I know claims his brother is in the pic....Ah, family lore...JB # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 22:16:13 EST From: Dlsmay@aol.com Subject: Re: (exotica) Monster Party.... I've got this CD. It actually has some good spy jazz stuff with bongos, particularly the opening theme. It also has the garage-rocking "Do the Mummy" song by Little Tibia and the Fibulas, plus the Bond-like song and a Phyllis Diller song "You're Different" (sung to the Frankenstein Monster). Recommend to anybody on this list. # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 17:58:17 -0500 From: "Risser Family" Subject: Re: (exotica) [obit] Herbert Brun > > Herbert Brun, a composer who helped introduce the use of electronics and computers in creating music, died on Nov. 6 in Urbana, Ill. He was 82 and lived in Urbana. > > hey, surprise. Urbana really exists! I always thought it's a fancy sci fi name. Urbana, Illinois, the city, where the famous HAL 9000 computer was built. Yeah, I think that actually, that's a big IBM homestead. No? Peter # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 21:09:45 -0600 From: Matt Marchese Subject: (exotica) Chi-town Exotica Greetings Fellow Exoticaholics, I returned from my four fun-filled days and nights in the Windy City last Thursday night. I would've written about my experiences sooner, but six hours of driving through rain, sleet, and snow, then almost getting run off an icy overpass near Wisconsin Dells by a semi didn't do much to fire my creative muse. Near brushes with death have a way of doing that to me, doncha know. Now that I've had a day or two to rest up and let the stress adrenaline leach slowly out of my system, I feel as if I can finally write about my experience. I drove down to the Land of the Flatlanders last Monday and established residence in a nondescript Hilton on the edge of the Western 'burbs not far from the splendiferous Hala Kahiki bar which I was not fortunate enough to make it to this trip. I was there to attend a seminar on Advanced Instructional Design that's part of a suite of courses I'm required by my company to complete in order to obtain certification for my job. As my co-students were mostly trainers for financial institutions and other similar service industries, I found the majority of them to be fairly tedious and uninteresting to chat with. However, the gentleman who sat next to me was a dead-ringer for Ned Flanders down to his aviator glasses, Village People moustache, Promise Keepers polo shirt, and WWJD wristband. Diddley! After a couple of days of role-playing and fondling Koosh balls to stimulate my sensitivity to tactile learning, I was ready to ditch the squares and Tighten Up. I drove to downtown Chicago to meet a couple of former students of mine, Rennie and Bob. We had decided to rendezvous at the Palmer Hilton located in the heart of the Loop, dine at Trader Vic's, and then partake of some jazz. Rennie is a most pleasant gentleman who's unique musical tastes parallel mine. He also has a very enjoyable Sammy Davis Jr. vibe about him. Bob is a cynical hepcat given over to goatees and long leather jackets. As he lives only a block or two from Wrigley Field, he brought major Chicago street cred to our little company. After parking, I strolled along State Street under the El for a while then hooked right on Monroe Ave. Almost immediately, a large wooden Moai appeared incongruously amid the steel and concrete to mark the entrance to Vic's. A sign above the door proclaimed "It's Tiki Time!" I knew that I was in the right place. I bellied up to the well-appointed Polynesian bar, ordered a Menehune, and enjoyed a plate of complimentary Pu-Pu's (I really enjoy saying "complimentary Pu-Pu's," don't you?) whilst carefully extracting the chopstick from the square rectum of my female Menehune figurine. I put her away safely in my coat pocket for a friend who needed one to keep her lonesome male Menehune company. My compadres showed up promptly at seven. Then, after consuming a Mai Tai each, we decided to eat. In contrast to the bar, the dining room had a straight nautical motif with no trace of island exotica. Instead, the walls were hung with brass ship fittings and paintings of tall ships. Our table had a fine view of the Chinese ovens. After sharing a plate of Cosmo Tidbits, I decided on the Oven Sampler which consisted of a Chinese-smoked lamb chop, filet mignon, and chicken breast. I washed it all down with another Mai Tai, of course. Thoroughly lubricated by now, we were ready to move on. We had previously identified either the Green Mill or Jazz Showcase as possible musical destinations for the evening. The Green Mill is a former speakeasy with a distinctly local-bar atmosphere. The Showcase, also a historic club, is more dedicated to musical appreciation than it is to the glories of bathtub gin. In the end, we decided that the Mill was too far to go and in a lousy neighborhood to boot, so we hoofed it a few blocks to the Showcase instead. Taking a roundabout route to let Bob do his tour guide thing, we strolled by the controversial Picasso sculpture in the Daley Center Plaza then crossed over the Chicago River. The undersides of the bridges were lined with colored neon lights that cast a rippling glow on the surface of the water. Very cool. The Sears Tower loomed over the whole scene like a glass and steel Tiki of truly brobdingnagian proportions. Despite some earlier trepidation, I found myself digging this downtown scene. In light of the nice job they've done in renovating the city center, the Daley dynasty didn't seem like such a bunch of evil, vote-stealing, partisan dickheads any more. We got to the club, paid our $20 cover and walked inside. The audience was a wild mix of college conservatory students, older couples on "dates", deadhead freaks wearing ponchos, and skinny beatniks in black leotards, berets, and turtleneck sweaters. Whack, Jack Kerouac! Everyone was intently staring at the combo on the stage. There was no audience chatter whatsoever. The walls of the club were covered with giant posters of Coltrane, Satchmo, and Charlie Parker. Their eyes followed us across the room as we made our way to a table. The on-stage trio wrapped around piano whiz Benny Greene, jazz-box finger-zinger Russell Malone, and avatar of the upright bass, Ray Browne. All three of these cats are solid gold, 18-karat, and can blow harder than the wind off of Lake Michigan. With seasoned alums like this who've played with Art Blakey and Ella Fitzgerald, how could they do anything but wail? Bob ordered a can of Guinness Stout. The waitress brought it back and stood at our table for a minute or two with her finger on the pull tab. She waited for the music to hit a crescendo in order to safely open it without disturbing the intense concentration of the fervent jazzbos in the audience. Just as the music seemed to peak, she gave it a quick tug, but at that very same moment, the band unexpectedly dropped to a lower volume and the loud "PSSSHT" of escaping carbonation echoed loudly across the room. Fully one-third of the patrons turned around and glared sternly at the three of us. I felt like we'd just farted in church. The quality of the musicianship in evidence was simply Supermurgatroid, baby. Benny and his minions pushed longhaired schmaltz like "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Pennies From Heaven" out to the fringes of known musical space, then skillfully reeled them back into the realm of traditional blues, bebop, and swing. They ensemble-shifted like a meatbone Lamborghini between time signatures, using a masterful palette of tone and a an astonishing grasp of dynamic range. Was it live, or was it Memorex? Ray Browne's bass playing was a revelation to me; this man says more with a single note than most musicians can with twenty. Malone's guitar moved easily between solid rhythm vamps and lightning solos performed in weird scales seldom heard by bipedal mammals; from the Lydian, onto the Phrygian, then sliding transdimensional into the Mr. Myxzptlkodian. Somebody get me the Kryptonite! Benny, no slouch on the ivories, layered on a topcoat of shimmery chords, polychromatic scales, and harmonic overtones. We stayed at rapt attention through both sets, then took our leave. We hit the streets beat but also feeling as if we were musically booted for the first time...sound evolution in action. The city seemed crystal clear, crisp, and alive with edges so sharp I could've cut my finger on them. I'm heading to Chicago again a week from Monday for another class. Next time, I've lined up a Czechoslovakian opera called "Jenufa" at the Lyric Opera House as my primary entertainment, but one more night of gone jazz at the Showcase would be jake with me. - -- Matt # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 23:13:52 -0500 From: cheryl Subject: (exotica) Playlist For Space Bop, November 19 Beyond kitsch, Space Bop is one hour of full galactical wonder, and can be heard every Sunday from 4 to 5 pm Eastern time on CKUT 90.3 FM in Montreal, Canada, and on RealAudio (real time only, for now) at: http://www.ckut.ca As usual, all comments, questions, and feedback welcome. Space Bop #118 Tanze Samba Mit Mir! Who says all samba music sounds the same? Here are some different takes on the samba... Walter Wanderley: Summer Samba (Samba de Verao) "Boss Of The Bossa Nova" Bobby Trafalgar: Sad Samba "In Person" Stereo-Cocktail: Samba "Stereo-Cocktail" Tony Holiday: Tanze Samba Mit Mir "Echt Kultig 2" Piero Umiliani: Samba Mah Na "Svezia Inferno E Paradiso" Hugo Brasil: Samba Loco "Easy Tune Vol. 4" Walter Wanderley: Samba De Bossa "Boss Of The Bossa Nova" Thievery Corporation: Samba Tranquille "The Mirror Conspiracy" Senor Coconut: Musica Moderna (Samba Virtual) "El Gran Baile" Barry Morgan & Ray Cooper: Samba Street "Music For Dancefloors" The Luka & Italo Perez Project: Melody Of Samba Br. Cleve's Ritmos De Tropicalia" J. Cl. Kerinee: Samba "Sexopolis" Amon Tobin: Chomp Samba "Bricolage" Thanks for reading, and thanks for listening. cheryls@dsuper.net brian@phyres.lan.mcgill.ca # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 23:44:15 EST From: Tipsydave@aol.com Subject: (exotica) Re: 60's comps In a message dated Fri, 17 Nov 2000 7:47:05 PM Eastern Standard Time, DJJimmyBee@aol.com writes: << In a message dated 11/17/0 4:59:42 PM, HOUSEOBOB@aol.com wrote: >Is there one in this series devoted to inept teenage garage bands? And is it >good (in a bad way) ? One of my faves is "The Class of '66" comp. This one has lots of bad garage bands, but more importantly is the cover... >> Actually, this is called "Shutdown 66". If you're looking for inept teens, you'll find 'em here! My own favorite 60's comps are from Arf Arf records; especially more toward the psychedelic end of the spectrum (Beyond the Calico Wall, A Heavy Dose of Lyte Psych...) And then there's the special Asian edition of Girls In the Garage.... - -dave g # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 02:14:24 -0500 From: alan zweig Subject: Re: (exotica) Chi-town Exotica At 09:09 PM 11/18/00 -0600, Matt Marchese wrote: > > Ray Browne's bass playing was a revelation to me; this man >says more with a single note than most musicians can with twenty. These days you couldn't pay me to see a trio of guitar bass and piano but that was exactly the context in which I heard Ray Browne live. In the classic trio with Herb Ellis and Oscar Peterson. And I agree with you. (BTW he not only played with Ella, he was married to her.) I don't want to be glib but there's something about seeing truly great musicians play. A number of years ago, there was a series here during the jazz festival in which local jazz bands opened for famous musicians. And each night the same thing happened. Our local young white jazz musicians are some very very good players and they would demonstrate that. Then out would come Mal Waldron or Jaki Byard or Frank Lowe or even Chico Freeman (I say "even" because he's not that much older than the local guys;) And they would just exude something. Like they knew the secret. Or the truth. It was like they didn't have to try anymore. It was just a part of them. And the local very good musicians faded from memory. And as far as Chicago goes, maybe this is very Canadian of me but I found it a bit scarey. I drove through the city with my friend and he'd point to a corner and say that he'd never ever set foot on that corner. Then at the next street, he'd say we were safe. Then the next street we were in mortal danger again. And so on. Actually a friend of mine got kidnapped there. (Cheryl and Brian, did you ever hear the story of Guy getting kidnapped in Chicago??) AZ # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 11:36:33 -0500 From: "m.ace" Subject: Re: (exotica) Chi-town Exotica >After parking, I strolled along State Street under the El for a while >then hooked right on Monroe Ave. Almost immediately, a large wooden Moai MOAI That's the word I meant to use the other day when I posted about that Zippy strip. Not "Maori." Sheesh. I've been on this exotica e-mail correspondence course all this time and still go remedial on occasion. Sorry. And thanks for a great post, Matt. Watch out for those trucks! m.ace mace@ookworld.com http://ookworld.com # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 12:25:49 -0600 From: Matt Marchese Subject: Re: (exotica) Chi-town Exotica alan zweig wrote: > Our local young white jazz musicians are some very very good players and they > would demonstrate that. Then out would come Mal Waldron or Jaki Byard or Frank > Lowe or even Chico Freeman (I say "even" because he's not that much older than > the local guys;) And they would just exude something. Like they knew the > secret. Or the truth. This sounds like the classic "White Men Can't Jump (or Can't Play the Blues)" stereotype, and like most generalizations, there's probably a grain of truth to it. I personally have a theory that there are cultural differences; put simply, emphasizing technique over emotion. I think that many young musicians fall into the trap of wanting to show you everything they know technique-wise in 10-seconds or less, while older musicians learn that transferring more emotion into fewer notes produces much more satisfying results. I think (and I'm going out on a limb here) that non-white musicians often learn their chops through mentoring with older players who've paid their dues rather than studying theory in conservatories. That being said, I can think of several non-white jazz musicians who don't move me at all; Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola, Wayne Shorter, to name but a few. They seem to mostly fall into the jazz fusion category which makes sense 'cuz fusion is mainly a head trip. > And as far as Chicago goes, maybe this is very Canadian of me but I found > it a bit scarey. Every major city has sections to avoid. LA, New York, and Washington DC all have dangerous neighborhoods, but compared to a lot of foreign cities like Manila, Kabul, and Johannesburg, they actually seem pretty safe by comparison. Remember too that I was in the "showcase" downtown area. Had I gone a couple of El stops north of the Loop, I suspect that my comfort level would've dropped precipitously. This was a big reason why we skipped going to the Green Mill. But all things considered, I felt a lot more comfortable in downton Chicago than I do in Minneapolis. And as far as Canada goes, I was mugged once on Vancouver island by a gang of old pensioners from Ontario who were all hopped up on Nanaimo Bars...B-) - -- Matt Marchese mjmarch@charter.net http://reality.sgi.com/mattm_americas/ "Lucky Fruit, the dried corpse is horrible!" -Peacock King *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Send the command "info exotica" to majordomo@lists.xmission.com. # To post, email exotica@lists.xmission.com; replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ End of exotica-digest V2 #840 *****************************