Martin Denny - Exotica (1957) - reissue/remastered edition

 

Martin Denny’s Exotica may or may not have actually coined the genre’s name, but it certainly pushed “exotica” to greater prominence in the late ’50s. This classic collection of lounge-jazz, much of which consists of Les Baxter-penned tunes, is a mellow and cool collection, one perhaps most famous for its cover, which depicts frequent exotica cover girl Sandy Warner peeking through a bamboo curtain. 

Its subtle, mysterious sexuality fits the mood, which is one of inebriated island leisure. That’s not to say it’s a very sexy album necessarily, just one with great atmosphere. In fact, first track “Quiet Village,” a genre standard, kicks off with the squawks of tropical birds, which, by today's standards, sounds just a little silly. But that said, exotica is a genre that wholly embraced camp value, so this is merely par for the course. There are a handful of standouts here, such as “Return to Paradise” and “China Nights,” but on the whole this album breezes by gently and warmly, mostly background music, but quite lovely background at that.

1 Quiet Village 3:41

2 Return To Paradise 2:21

3 Hong Kong Blues 2:18

4 Busy Port 2:53

5 Lotus Land 2:26

6 Similau 2:00

7 Stone God 3:09

8 Jungle Flower 1:50

9 China Nights 2:04

10 Ah Me Furi 2:11

11 Waipo 3:14

12 Love Dance 2:31

13 Quiet Village 3:48

14 Return To Paradise 2:21

15 Hong Kong Blues 2:17

16 Busy Port 2:42

17 Lotus Land 3:48

18 Similau 2:29

19 Stone God 3:16

20 Jungle Flower 2:05

21 China Nights 2:15

22 Ah Me Furi 2:34

23 Waipo 2:53

24 Love Dance 2:32

Exotica

Pee Wee Russell – Jazz Original

 

Charles Ellsworth "Pee Wee" Russell (March 27, 1906 – February 15, 1969), was an American jazz musician. Early in his career he played clarinet and saxophones, but he eventually focused solely on clarinet.

With a highly individualistic and spontaneous clarinet style that "defied classification", Russell began his career playing Dixieland jazz, but throughout his career incorporated elements of newer developments such as swing, bebop and free jazz. Writing in 1961, the poet Philip Larkin commented: "No one familiar with the characteristic excitement of his solos, their lurid, snuffling, asthmatic voicelessness, notes leant on till they split, and sudden passionate intensities, could deny the uniqueness of his contribution to jazz."

January 17, 1938

1 Eddie Condon And His Windy City Seven– Love Is Just Around The Corner 3:06

July 12, 1938: "Jam Session At Commodore, No. 2"

2 Eddie Condon And His Windy City Seven– Embraceable You 4:02

3 Eddie Condon And His Windy City Seven– Serenade To A Shylock 4:34

4 Eddie Condon And His Windy City Seven– Serenade To A Shylock - Alternate 4:33

November 12, 1938

5 Eddie Condon And His Band– Sunday - Alternate 2:59

November 30, 1939

6 Eddie Condon And His Band– (I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody) None Of My Jelly Roll 2:56

November 14, 1940

7 Eddie Condon And His Band– Georgia Grind 2:57

March 25, 1941

8 The Three Deuces– Jig Walk 2:41

9 The Three Deuces– Deuces Wild 2:55

10 The Three Deuces– The Last Time I Saw Chicago 2:55

11 The Three Deuces– About Face 2:48

January 28, 1942

12 Eddie Condon And His Band– Don't Leave Me, Daddy 2:35

September 27, 1944

13 Muggsy Spanier And His Ragtimers– Rosetta - Alternate 3:14

January 19, 1945

14 Wild Bill Davison And His Commodores– Squeeze Me - Alternate 2:30

September 30, 1944

15 Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four– Take Me To The Land Of Jazz 3:02

16 Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four– Take Me To The Land Of Jazz - Alternate 3:02

17 Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four– Rose Of Washington Square 2:39

18 Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four– Rose Of Washington Square - Alternate 2:44

19 Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four– Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now - Alternate 3:04

20 Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four– D.A. Blues 3:48

21 Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four– D.A. Blues - Alternate 3:26

22 Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four– Wailin' D.A. Blues 3:59

Pee Wee Russell – Jazz Original