Orchestra Superstring at The Redwood DTLA Tonight! - California Events

C congawa Member Long Beach, CA Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 358	C congawa Posted posted on Fri, Nov 5, 2010 11:13 AM Last night was a really great evening Lee put together! There was a lot of variety between all three bands--in inverse order of playing: Skip Heller Trio with Lee and DJ Bonebrake (filling in on drum), doing Skip's Roger Miller-inspired originals, and covers of Jimmy Reed, Jimmie Skinner, Mose Allison and Richard Berry; Lee's Dick and Jane Orchestra, which was a lot of fun, fronted by Jane's folk damage persona (sort of like Nico, Lee Hazelwood and Lydia Lunch all rolled into one); and opening up, Orchestra Superstring (more on them later). It was a weeknight (and I myself rarely go out to late gigs on those anymore--for which I'm paying a little bit at work today), but still I was surprised there weren't more "Tiki" people there (as far as I saw, just Jonpaul--a major Orchestra Superstring fan--& Marie, Adam Stevens, and my Ding Dong Devil compadres Rama Lama & Nepheria aka Edwin & Julia). Dj Bonebrake's Orchestra Superstring is of particular note for anyone on Tiki Central. I've been aware of them for a few years, but have missed the rare previous opportunities to see them, so this was my first (though I've seen DJ's excellent pre-bop jazz band Bonebrake Syncopators many times, and X I don't know how many times going back to '82). This night Orch Superstring was a stripped down lineup (missing guitars and a couple other instruments) with vibes, trumpet/accordion/keys (all 3 by the same musician on different songs), bass, percussion and drums. They play a style of 50s/60s Latin/Afro-Cuban Jazz that, for easy description only, is in the vein of Cal Tjader (whose 50's cool jazz Latin sound, I've always felt, was a big influence the Martin Denny/Arthur Lyman small band style of exotica) or some of Mancini's Latin records (Mr. Lucky Goes Latin, etc.). There were also some songs with touches of European cabaret and even a 50's Sun Ra tune from Sun Song. So even if this isn't an "exotica band" in name, it's a very close cousin. Unfortunately, they rarely do gigs (all are accomplished pro players, and I presume their other higher-profile gigs keep them from getting together more often). But the next time they do play, I highly recommend catching them. Caltiki Brent

Last night was a really great evening Lee put together! There was a lot of variety between all three bands--in inverse order of playing: Skip Heller Trio with Lee and DJ Bonebrake (filling in on drum), doing Skip's Roger Miller-inspired originals, and covers of Jimmy Reed, Jimmie Skinner, Mose Allison and Richard Berry; Lee's Dick and Jane Orchestra, which was a lot of fun, fronted by Jane's folk damage persona (sort of like Nico, Lee Hazelwood and Lydia Lunch all rolled into one); and opening up, Orchestra Superstring (more on them later). It was a weeknight (and I myself rarely go out to late gigs on those anymore--for which I'm paying a little bit at work today), but still I was surprised there weren't more "Tiki" people there (as far as I saw, just Jonpaul--a major Orchestra Superstring fan--& Marie, Adam Stevens, and my Ding Dong Devil compadres Rama Lama & Nepheria aka Edwin & Julia).

Dj Bonebrake's Orchestra Superstring is of particular note for anyone on Tiki Central. I've been aware of them for a few years, but have missed the rare previous opportunities to see them, so this was my first (though I've seen DJ's excellent pre-bop jazz band Bonebrake Syncopators many times, and X I don't know how many times going back to '82). This night Orch Superstring was a stripped down lineup (missing guitars and a couple other instruments) with vibes, trumpet/accordion/keys (all 3 by the same musician on different songs), bass, percussion and drums. They play a style of 50s/60s Latin/Afro-Cuban Jazz that, for easy description only, is in the vein of Cal Tjader (whose 50's cool jazz Latin sound, I've always felt, was a big influence the Martin Denny/Arthur Lyman small band style of exotica) or some of Mancini's Latin records (Mr. Lucky Goes Latin, etc.). There were also some songs with touches of European cabaret and even a 50's Sun Ra tune from Sun Song. So even if this isn't an "exotica band" in name, it's a very close cousin. Unfortunately, they rarely do gigs (all are accomplished pro players, and I presume their other higher-profile gigs keep them from getting together more often). But the next time they do play, I highly recommend catching them.

Caltiki Brent

Post #563605 by congawa on Fri, Nov 5, 2010 11:13 AM