Oranj Album

Amazon.com
A playful irreverence pervades the Oranj Symphonette's take on numerous movie themes and pop-jazz chestnuts like "Satin Doll," "Up, Up, and Away," and "The Maginificent Seven." Led by Matt Brubeck's (yes, the son of Dave) and Tom Waits's sidemen--saxist Ralph Carney and guitarist Joe Gore--the Oranj Symphonette kicks these campy favorites along with a twangy surf guitar, klezmeresque sax, lachrymose cello, and galloping oom-pah rhythm section. Combining sharply honed music skills with tongues held firmly in cheek, the Oranj Symphonette update the '60s movie material ("Midnight Cowboy," "A Man and a Woman") into an entertainingly ironic post-modern stew. Much like the Lounge Lizards before them, their irreverent approach belies an obvious affection for the material being skewed. --Wally Shoup

From the Label
THE ORANJ ALBUMA COLORFUL INTERPRETATION

ORANJ SYMPHONETTE, the San Francisco quintet who took you on a playful, jazz-infused romp through 12 classic Henry Mancini compositions on their debut release, once again freshen and reinvent the works of legendary composers from Duke Ellington to Burt Bacharach to John Barry with THE ORANJ ALBUM (RCD 10455). Comprised of 5 much-in-demand session players, including Matt Brubeck (cello/bass), Joe Gore (guitar), Ralph Carney (horns), Pat Campbell (drums) and Rob Burger (keys), Oranj Symphonette takes favorite film music from the 60's and 70's on a far-out, improvisational ride. Matt Brubeck, Ralph Carney and Joe Gore met while recording Tom Waits' score for Jim Jarmusch's film Night On Earth. The three kept in touch, occasionally getting together for spontaneous ad-lib jams. Oranj Symphonette was born at the suggestion of Brubeck's wife, Diarmid Campbell, who suggested that the group focus their interpretive musing on the works of Henry Mancini. On The Oranj Album, Oranj Symponette expand the concept of recreating and reinterpreting film music with versions of tracks as different as Midnight Cowboy to Up, Up and Away.

Each of the players boasts an impressive resume. Matt Brubeck, the son of piano master Dave Brubeck, has followed in his father's footsteps by making a highly respected name for himself through work with Tom Waits, the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Club Foot Orchestra and Jewel. When not fulfilling his duties as senior editor at Guitar Player magazine, Joe Gore has graced the last three Tom Waits albums (including the Grammy-winning Bone Machine) as well as playing on the critically canonized To Bring You My Love , "Is This Desire?" and touring with PJ Harvey. Ralph Carney's breadth of instrumentation (he plays clarinet, bass and slide clarinet; alto, tenor and bass saxophones; trombone, trumpet, pennywhistle, harmonica and Chinese mouth organ to name a few) has been called upon by Tom Waits, the B-52s, Marc Ribot, Tin Huey, the Kamikaze Ground Crew and Hal Willner. After completing classical piano training with Jefferey Marcus at the Julliard School, Rob Burger studied improvisation with Yusef Lateef and Archie Shepp. He then went on to work with such jazz luminaries as Don Byron, Joey Baron, Wayne Horvitz, Eyvind Kang and Ron Miles. He toured North America and Europe with guitar genius Bill Frisell and contributed to Frisell's soundtracks for Gary Larson's 1995 CBS special Tales From The Far Side and La Scuola. Pat Campbell, a onetime tuba prodigy, is arguably the finest ska drummer ever to emerge from the great state of Utah.

The musicianship of these five men bring credible validity to a compilation that could otherwise be called anything from obscure to downright wacky. Too talented to be campy, Oranj Symphonette successfully deliver a unique album with boldness and wit.

Oranj Album,Oranj Symphonette,Rykodisc,Avant-Garde,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Post-Bop

Jazz Music: