Tune in Saturday night at 18:00 EDST Toronto time (6:00 pm) for a Sneak Preview of the week's show. Shake that martini, and relax in your bachelor pad as Koop Kooper takes us on a musical journey through that Exotica, Lounge, and Tiki world of the 50's and 60's.
On the show this week, my favourite neo-lounge pianist James Spencer stops by to talk about his latest album, "Blue the Cocktail Piano Hour", and news on the death of a prolific songwriter, and the dramatic death of Kodak.
Tiki Lounge Crew - Martini Sunset Beige Adair - Fly Me To The Moon James Spencer - A Kooper Kocktail Perry Beekman - I've Got A Crush On You Bobby Darin - Where Are The Words Jeff Denson Trio - Kary Trance Tom Graff - I'm In Love Bert Kaemphert - Bert's Bossa Nova Spy Fi - Perry Mason Theme Skip Heller - Q Laurindo Almeida - The Look Of Love Project Pimento -You Only Live Twice David Carbonara - Caravan
Well, life around the station is still buzzing around the new sounds breaking into to the playlist this week. From the tribute to the Italian singer Mina by Papik, to the homegrown ambient sounds of Snowday, it's been an exciting escape from the hectic work week.
Speaking of exciting, our new Bubbling Under artist this week, Twin Danger, is mixing in very nicely. Not really a new release per se, but it is here in Canada. Read my earlier post and check out the wonderfully modern retro feel of their sound and videos. The band comprises ex-Sade sax player and co-writer, Scott Matthewman, and Vanessa Bley, daughter of Canadian jazz pianist, Paul Bley. (So, we seem to have an unintentional Canadian connection happening here!)
Mario Biondi continues to top the chart this week with his plaintive, soulful baritone, as Halle Loren's unique cover of that jazz classic slides in behind at number two. The chillout sounds of Michael Bijker rounds out the top three this week.
A big hello to the return of Snowday to the chart. You can't keep a good band down. As they currently continue on the their Canadian Summer Tour, they still seem to find the time to write and record some new tracks. Standby from Cam Sloan and the boys for more news on that. I should also mention I have a story in draft mode that I have yet to find the time to finish - a report on the band's tour-opening show in Toronto. Stay tuned! It's coming!
Along with Patrick Watson, we seem to have a lot of Canadian talent here!
I could go one, but I think you would rather listen than read. So browse through the chart as you click on the player on the top right side of this page. If you like what you hear, be sure to support these artists through iTunes, Amazon, or their Bandcamp or website pages.
Al I did was take a quick browse on the Canadian iTunes Jazz page, and there it was - one of those big, feature windows that scrolls across the top, grabbing your attention, pushing the latest "Hot New Releases". A black and white photo of a woman in flapper drag, and a male sax player, spotlit upon a black background, beside the words "TWIN DANGER".
Falling for that neo-noir aesthetic, I was immediately taken in - feeling that stomping pain on my heart, relating to the heartbreak of Sam Spade in those old Bogart movies, or anyone who drowned their heartbreak sorrows in a smokey bar.
With a recent Canadian release, it's time to bring out the "cool next thing in Nu Jazz"-kind of thing. US reviews come from only the best publications. "The Press" has been rapping adulations on this band for awhile now. Let's drop some names, shall we: NPR Music, Downbeat Magazine, Jazziz Magazine, Grammy Pro, Billboard, Huffington Post, even the Wall Street Journal.
The band's website's Press page reprints review after review from the past year or so, hailing this cross between "Frank Sinatra and The Clash" as a fresh new sound of the jazz genre.
Just who are Twin Danger? Well, as it turns out, they have a fine musical pedigree, thank you very much! Stuart Matthewman was the man responsible for all those steaming sax sounds on Sade's collection of hits. Needless to say, his input also included some co-writing credits. Vanessa Bley is, yes, the daughter of that famous Bley - jazz pianist Paul Bley.
Brooklyn-based, these two are injecting some fresh blood into a retro genre that is proving to be an exciting development. Check out the video for their song Sailor. To me, it's reminiscent of a Sade video - a mini movie based around the band in a nightclub. Be sure to click on the Full Screen button to maximize that movie ambiance!
I guess that's where the comparisons end. Where Sade used the retro feel to enhance a bossa beat, Twin Danger adds a mysterious edge, a "smokey nightclub situation", to quote Bryan Ferry, to their image and sound.
See what happens when they take on a cover of rockers Queens of The Stone Age's No One Knows. Punch this one up to Full Screen as well, but be forewarned - filmed from what seems like the viewpoint of the drunken beau in the front row of the club, the camera constantly sways and moves, all while band members move in and out of the tiny spotlight. It can be somewhat uneasy at times, but it works. See for yourself.
The album's opening song, Pointless Satisfaction, seems to be the Most Popular download on the album's iTunes page. But here at This is Lounge, the most popular may not always be the best choice for this station's sound.
That being said, we're proud to choose the second track on the album, Coldest Kind of Heart, as the "first listen" of their wonderful album......and wouldn't you know it - they've already gone and released a video for it! Mmmmmm....do you think this could be the NEXT Most Popular track? Perhaps with our broadcasts and your purchases we can see them garner some Canadian (and more worldwide) attention.
It's already been playing for a day or two on the station, but take another few minutes to enjoy the video for Coldest Kind of Heart, shot in stark black and white. Belly up to the bar and order "a shot of broken heart, with a loneliness chaser", then sit back and enjoy.
Tune in Saturday nights at 18:00 EDST Toronto time (6:00 pm) for a Sneak Preview of the week's show. Shake that martini, and relax in your bachelor pad as Koop Kooper takes us on a musical journey through that Exotica and Tiki world of the 50's and 60's.
Put on your best Hugh Hefner smoking jacket, shake that martini, and take a musical journey through the soundtrack of the Exotica and Tiki worlds with your host, Koop Kooper, from his penthouse bachelor pad high above Sydney, Australia.
This week, I'm talking about Jerry Lewis and an interesting interview I found that I would like to share with you. We also talk about the passing of Omar Sharif, and, how about this - a cursed 1954 Ferrari Sports car!
Clouseaux - Miserlou Tikiyaki Orchestra - Black Sand Blue Sea Jerry Lewis - That Old Black Magic 101 Strings - Peter Gunn Theme Useless Playboys - Caravan Uptown Jazz Quartet - Bossa Nova Eyes Virginia Schneck - How Deep Is The Ocean Rene Raff - April's Fool Oscar Peterson - Bag's Groove Narco Lounge Combo - Play With Fire Monica Mancini - Weekend Of A Private Secretary
Welcome back to the Top Ten! Last weekend was a mini vacation, some "R 'n' R" in Connecticut, USA with some wonderful friends. This time last Saturday, I was on a ship in the New York City harbour (harbor?) on a luncheon cruise from Chelsea Pier, around the Statue of Liberty, and back. It was a wonderful start to a day in NYC. After that, we walked all over Manhattan. It was a wonderful experience.
I also, had the opportunity to listen to This is Lounge while there. I encountered one issue - advertising. I don't know if all my American listeners are encountering this, but when the Targetspot tracks come on, local advertising kicks in! Naturally, I freaked out! But I found stopping and restarting the feed stopped the ads from playing. Needless to say, it was annoying.
Anyway, on to the Top Ten!
Phigroa & the FJO finally relinquish their top spot this week to Mario Biondi's wonderfully heart-wrenching, All I Want Is You. Eliane Elias and Jonathan Fritzén make major drops, as the new residents of the list move up.
Continuing to "Bubble Under" this week is Io innamorata from Papik. We also welcome another track from Snowday's sophomore release, called Alaskan Cabins.
So between the New Releases and older new tracks constantly being thrown into the mix, This is Lounge continues to grow. A big thank you and shout out to all my listeners. With all the different media options available, I am humbled that you choose to listen to mine.
As always, PLEASE support the artists on This is Lounge through direct purchases from their websites, or quality dealers such as iTunes, Amazon, Juno.....keep the music alive.
Tune in Saturday nights at 18:00 EDST Toronto time (6:00 pm) for a Sneak Preview of the week's show. Shake that martini, and relax in your bachelor pad as Koop Kooper takes us on a musical journey through that Exotica and Tiki world of the 50's and 60's.
(Apologies to those that tuned in today at 6:00. Technical difficulties somehow would not allow the Sneak Preview to kick in at the time it was supposed to.) www.cocktailnation.net
Perry Beekman - Love Walked In Bobby Darin - Something In Your Smile Satin Chaps-Stompin Stan Kenton - Artistry In Rhythm Jeff Denson Trio and Lee Kunitz-Background Music Nat King Cole-Lush Life Jackie Gleason-Allez Vous En Go Away George and Chico Freeman - Dark Blue James Spencer - A Julie London Memoir Project Pimento - Charade Barbara Levy Daniels - Imagination
Happy Independence Day to all my American friends and listeners!!!
Enjoy the fireworks!!!
Well, Mr. Fritzén couldn't stay there forever. Knocked out of the top spot and slipping a few notches, he still retains a healthy rotation on the station. My friend, Phigroa, has taken the top spot with his wonderful collaboration with the Francia Jazzline Orchestra.
For the most part everyone inches up a spot or two. Dropping just off the list, Diana Krall, and Peter Pearson are gone but certainly not forgotten, as there continue a daily rotation.
I'm very excited to see Benjamin Biolay, and the opening track from his latest CD, Revoir Paris, finally make it onto the charts.
After three albums recorded as Papik, and having been in charge of producing albums for Ely Bruna, Matteo Brancaleoni, Neja and Fred Buccini, the great passion for Nerio 'Papik' Poggi are the tribute albums dedicated to his inspirational music myths. The first project came out two years ago and was dedicated to the great singer and composer 'Bruno Martino', a fantastic album called 'Cocktail Martino'.
This new work, released a month ago on Irma Records, is dedicated to the greatest Italian singer of all times, Mina Mazzini, best known as 'Mina'. Mina is an unbeatable performer known all around the world for her vocal skills and for the vastness of her recordings. Back from 1950 to date, her albums are constantly in the Italian charts and are exported in a large number of foreign countries.
The choice of songs from her immense catalogue was not an easy task for Papik, who tried to select not only the most classic songs but also some lesser-known gems. Among the most classics: Parole parole, Le 1000 bolle blu, Grande grande grande, L'importante è finire, La banda e Città vuota (also in English) and the most peculiar : Ancora un uomo, Improvvisamente, Brivido Felino, Io innamorata, Non credere, and Neve.
In addition to faithful musicians like Alfredo Bochicchio, Massimo Guerra and Fabrizio Foggia, that always play with Papik, are joined here by a number of prestigious vocalists, lending their singing skills: Stefy Gamboni, Marco Armani,Ely Bruna, Bengi, Matteo Brancaleoni, Victoria Siggillino, Francesca Gramegna and Katia Rizzo. There are also some special guest musicians, like Fabrizio Bosso on trumpet and Giuseppe Milici on harmonica.
In other Papik news, it was just announced that Nerio will also be composing and producing the soundtrack to Lupin III.After 30 years, one of the most famous cartoon series in the world is back ! ‘Lupin III’, the series dedicated to the most famous gentleman and thief!
The new series, of Japanese production, will be set in Italy, in San Marino to be precise and will be scheduled and previewed in Italy in June on Mediaset channels.
This is Lounge proudly adds "Io innamorata" to the Bubbling Under listings as the first track from this wonderful homage. iTunes Facebook
