Listen to music inspired by one of the styles that was big in the 1950’s and early 1960’s called “exotica.” The music was intended for armchair travelers, especially as it imagined the Pacific Islands, and its fans included even the interstellar bandleader and Afrofuturist icon, Sun Ra. Hear contemporary music inspired by the style known as "exotica" from Norwegian composer Øyvind Torvund and BIT20 Ensemble, John Zorn, Kronos Quartet, and Italian trio Hobocombo.
From Norwegian composer Øyvind Torvund's 2019 album, The Exotica Album, listen to some of his multi-movement work that is both inspired by and serves as a link between the sounds and colors of the exotica genre (bird sounds, unusual percussion, electronic raindrops) and early electronic modernism. Commissioned and performed by Bergen, Norway’s BIT20 Ensemble and guests, the music is a bit like “John Zorn hanging with Stockhausen in Martin Denny’s kon-tiki lounge” (HUBRO). Also, listen to “Quiet Village” (Les Baxter), from The Sounds of Martin Denny: Exotica, the best-selling album from the late 1950’s by Martin Denny. Then, hear Kronos Quartet’s interpretation of "Space Age Bachelor Pad" music by Mexican band leader, pianist, and composer Jose Garcia Esquivel.
There’s also music by American composer, producer, performer, conductor, record label founder, and MacArthur Genius John Zorn which incorporates the dance rhythms of forro from Northeastern Brazil, as played by the band Forro in the Dark. Plus, hear Zorn’s arrangement of music by the late influential Italian composer Ennio Morricone, from an album, The Big Gundown: John Zorn Plays the Music of Ennio Morricone. Sample exotica-leaning music from the Italian group Hobocombo, who bring together both traditional Italian folk songs and arrangements of the music of American iconoclast composer, Moondog. There’s also music by Portuguese trio The Selva, and more. - Caryn Havlik
Program #4506, Inspired by Exotica! (First Aired 6/09/2021)
ARTIST: Martin Denny
WORK: Quiet Village [3:43]
RECORDING: The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny
SOURCE: Capitol Records
INFO: Available at Amazon.com, Spotify, AppleMusic, Youtube Music
ARTIST: Sex Mob
WORK: Martin Denny [6:31]
RECORDING: Sexotica
SOURCE: Thirsty Ear #57171
INFO: www.thirstyear.com
ARTIST: Flamingods
WORK: Majestic Fruit [3:03]
RECORDING: Majesty
SOURCE: Soundway Records
INFO: flamingods.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: John Zorn, et al.
WORK: Giu La Testa (Duck You Sucker!) [6:06]
RECORDING: The Big Gundown: John Zorn plays the music of Ennio Morricone
SOURCE: Tzadik 7328
INFO: tzadik.com
ARTIST: Forro in the Dark
WORK: John Zorn: Sunset Surfer [3:14]
RECORDING: Forro Zinho – Forro in the Dark plays Zorn
SOURCE: Tzadik 8334
INFO: tzadik.com
ARTIST: Kronos Quartet
WORK: Mini skirt [2:48]
RECORDING: Nuevo
SOURCE: Nonesuch 79649
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Øyvind Torvund & Bit20 Ensemble
WORK: Jungle Alarm [3:30]
RECORDING: The Exotica Album
SOURCE: Hubro Music
INFO: oyvindtorvund.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: M'Lumbo
WORK: Zombie Moon [3:30]
RECORDING: Life After Death
SOURCE: J Bird 80136
INFO: mlumbo.bandcamp.com/album/life-after-death
ARTIST: Øyvind Torvund & Bit20 Ensemble
WORK: Out of the Jungle [4:58]
RECORDING: The Exotica Album
SOURCE: Hubro Music
INFO: oyvindtorvund.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Hobocombo
WORK: Desert Boogaloo [5:43]
RECORDING: Moondog Mask
SOURCE: Trovarobato Parade / Lineria
INFO: trovarobato.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: The Selva
WORK: Tiki Prussia [2:57]
RECORDING: Canicula Rosa
SOURCE: Clean Feed Records
INFO: goncaloalmeida.bandcamp.com