TM
Joined: May 12, 2004
Posts: 4094
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TM
On 2010-11-05 11:13, congawa wrote:
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
Not to mention the fact that DJ Bonebreak is also a really nice guy. I had the pleasure of performing with him once (with King Kukulele) and he also recorded vibes and marimba with the Hula Girls, and watching him play in the sound booth was an awesome experience. His body was swaying to the sound of what he was playing, much like a good surfer probably does...and his style was a model of ecomony and musicality. I am sad I missed this show...
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