#latin exotica

[bitter69uk]

Born 102 years ago today: wondrous operatic Peruvian High Empress of Exotica Yma Sumac (née Zoila Emperatriz Chavarri Castillo, 13 September 1922 - 1 November 2008). All these decades later, Sumac’s divine superhuman voice still inspires awe! I revere all of Sumac’s recordings, but Legend of the Sun Virgin (1952) is a particular favourite. Pictured: portrait of gorgeous young Yma Sumac by Peter Stackpole for LIFE magazine (1950).

[singeratlarge]

MY SONG OF THE WEEK: “Night Garden” https://johnnyjblairsingeratlarge.bandcamp.com/track/night-garden-featuring-mike-garson-beyondo I was playing cruise ship gigs and a bass line kept flowing out of me. Every time I played this groove, musicians would start jamming, people would start dancing… It turned into this psychedelic Cuban-jazzified pop song. Latin and Caribbean music is animated and easeful to me, rhythmically and harmonically, making me feel I’m moving with confidence no matter what’s going on in the world. My lyrics were inspired after reading an airline magazine article by Lee May, a journalist from Atlanta who was passionate about gardening. His wonderful words about “plant life that blooms at only night” left an impression. As to the lyrics, Donald Fagen says he chooses words because they suit the shape of his mouth and the lure of a melody—words flow and find their own meaning. That was my approach: Like winding tendrils, words and melody twined into “a song novelette” about a pair of lovers heading south of the border, on the lam because of an unspecified crime. 

 

The music bed was recorded in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Williamsport PA (final mix by Xavier Francis). It features the brilliant drum/trumpet/co-production work of Eric Biondo (a.k.a. Beyondo) + magnificent piano by Mike Garson, a composer-artist in his own right but also known as David Bowie’s longtime keyboardist. 

https://johnnyjblairsingeratlarge.bandcamp.com/track/night-garden-featuring-mike-garson-beyondo

 

#nightgarden #gardening #flowers #davidbowie #mikegarson #leemay #atlanta #journalist #caribbean #latin #cuba #mexico #psychedelic #piano #exotica #ericbiondo #beyondo #trumpet #donaldfagen #steelydan #airline #cruiseship #johnnyjblair #singeratlarge #dance #brianwilson #smile #beachboys #kokomo 

[burlveneer-music]

of Tropique - Buster Goes West - Tokyo band’s playful mash-up of South American, Caribbean, and (spaghetti) Western musical styles

Debuting on Electric Cowbell Records, comes the first full-length release from Tokyo’s “of Tropique!” A marvelous album full of wonderful and eclectic tropical-infused instrumental tunes. Teppei Kondo’s spirited vintage clarinet often takes centerstage, propelled by a pulsating rhythm section that includes guest spots from guitarist Rolando Bruno and percussionist Mutsumi Kobayashi from Japan’s premier neo-Cumbia group, Minyo Crusaders. The sound of the album is impossible to describe in words, it is lovely throughout, and has a playful, exotic vibe that echoes old cartoon and spaghetti Western soundtracks with a particular Afro-Caribbean flair. “Buster Goes West” is a fearless album filled with lots of turns and twists and a special magic like an imagined voyage through tropical islands where each shoreline reveals a zany new discovery that will leave you wonderstruck. of Tropique is a Tokyo based instrumental band formed by four crazy Japanese who play clarinet, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, keys, and lots of other stuff. Their music is pop, funky, exotic, and weird enough to take you on a little trip to the peculiar side of Tokyo, one of the most bizarre cities in the world.

[nctrnm]

#NowPlaying: "Twistedsoul Monday Mix #432" by Twistedsoul

[musicmoreweirdthangood]

Masayoshi Takanaka, 1994: “Mambo Jambo”

Yes a classic of mid-century Latin big band exotica covered by a Japanese guitar player

[rastronomicals]

5:09 AM EDT September 6, 2024:

Cal Tjader - "East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)" From the album Breeze From The East (1963)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

Sometimes it's hard to differentiate the past, like when people think that the cavemen coexisted with dinosaurs. By the time Tjader's two exotica albums came out in the early '60's, the style was pretty much five years obsolete from its peak in popularity--and that's the criticism Tjader heard.

Though what was missed is kind of the otherwise lacking jazz cred he gave the style. It's a shame he went back to the Latin stuff; not that Soul Sauce wasn't good, but there was plenty like it, and even the exotica renaissance when it happened 30 years later didn't actually produce new music.So we miss what Tjader didn't create.

File under: Exotica

[topoet]

Sumac Summer

[goapixels]

Choosing the Best Location for Your Family Photo Session in Goa

Choosing The Best Location for Your Family Photo Section in Goa

When it comes to capturing beautiful family portraits in Goa, choosing the right location plays an important role in setting the mood and creating lasting memories. Goa offers views ranging from tranquil beaches to lush vegetation and historical sites. Here are some guidelines to help you choose the best place for your family painting session in Goa:

1. Beach:

Iconic and timeless Goa’s pristine beaches make it the perfect backdrop for family portraits with soft sand, blue water and golden sunsets. Here are some of the top beaches for family photos:

Palolem Beach: Known for its tranquil crescent beaches, ideal for relaxing family photos and beach activities.

Agonda Beach: A quiet beach where you can catch an intense family moment with few people.

Vagator Beach : Known for its dramatic cliffs and vibrant terrain, this beach is ideal for fun and active family portraits.

Anjun Beach – Perfect for a bohemian vibe, especially for families who want a relaxed and artistic feel.

2. Historic sites:

aesthetics and culture Home to iconic Portuguese architecture and historical sites, Goa adds a touch of heritage to your family photos. Some of the best places are:

Fontenhas: Goa’s Latin Quarter is a vibrant area with colorful houses, narrow streets and colonial architecture.

Basilica of Bomb Jesus: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, perfect for families who want to capture timeless, classic moments with a cultural touch.

Reis Magos Castle: Overlooking the Mandovi River, this castle offers a mix of breathtaking views and green history.

3. Nature Highlights:

Peaceful and green For a more natural and peaceful place, Goa has plenty of green spaces. Consider the following:

Spice Farms: Take your family into the tropical nature and tranquil surroundings.

Milk Sea Waterfalls: Beautiful waterfalls, perfect for fun family portraits of nature’s beauty.

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: This is a great option for families who love nature and outdoor experiences to mix mangroves with wildlife.

4. Luxury Resort

Beautiful and private For families looking for a refined, private setting, Goa’s luxury resorts offer pristine landscapes, gardens and intimate beaches. consider:

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa : With its beautiful lawns, beachfront access and breathtaking architecture, this is a great spot for idyllic family portraits.

Leela Goa: Located between lakes and greenery, this is a scenic and scenic option for families seeking a blend of nature and luxury.

5. Riverside locations

Peaceful and picturesque The rivers of Goa, especially the Mandovi and Juari rivers, offer peaceful and picturesque spots for family photos.

Chorao Island: Accessible by boat, this stunning island offers panoramic views and views of the river, perfect for family time to say the least.

Diwar Island: Another tranquil riverside spot where time stands still, ideal for quiet family fun.

Whether it’s the historical charm of forts. Or the serenity of beaches. Or the natural beauty of wildlife sanctuaries. Goa provides a diverse canvas for your pre-wedding love story. Your special day deserves the best photographers in Goa to capture your beautiful moments. 

Let these locations be the setting for your romantic reverie. May each photograph capture the essence of your love. May you and your partner blossom against the vibrant tapestry of Goa’s landscapes.

[theravenpiper]

Apostrophes in Names

Fantasy writers love apostrophes in names. They have done so at least since the pulps of the 1930s, although their use was probably popularized by Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series. On Pern, a person’s name is shortened when they become a dragon-rider, so the series includes characters with names like F’lar and F’nor. It seems an unlikely custom to me, but at least McCaffrey uses apostrophes in an immediately recognized way. By contrast, the only answers I have coaxed from imitators is “it’s cool” — never a good reason for background details — or that the apostrophe indicates a pause — which is not a standard reason for using an apostrophe. Few have any idea why the apostrophe is there.

In English and French, an apostrophe indicates that some letters are left out. For instance, in French, “d’Erlon” is short for “de Erlon,” and reflects the oral habit of dropping a duplicated sound. In English, an apostrophe by extension indicates possession, because in Old English, the possessive ending was “es” and Modern English does not pronounce the “e.” In addition, an apostrophe is used in attempts to render non-European pronunciations using Latin characters. For instance, in the Haida language of the Pacific Northwest l and l’ are separate sounds. So are k and k’. However, only experts in a given language can be expected to know the conventions, so if you do decide on an unorthodox use, at the very least you should provide a pronunciation guide at the start of the book. If you don’t, you risk readers settling on an embarrassingly inappropriate one, as Ursula Le Guin found out when she learned that her wizard Ged from A Wizard of Earthsea was called Jed by some of her readers, making him sound like a hillbilly from an 1960s TV show..

On the whole, though, it’s best to stick to the standard English purposes when writing for an English-speaking audience. Mysterious apostrophes are almost always an exotica too far, like names without vowels or ones full of Qs and Xs. Many readers will simply substitute a blank in their mind for a name that is too exotic, which estranges them from the story, especially when several names are replaced by blanks. If you must use exotic punctuation, accents and diacriticals are available from your keyboard and are easy to look up.

Apostrophes in fantasy names are a rookie’s mistake, and make the writer appear illiterate. In A Tough Guide to Fantasyland, a humorous dictionary of clichés, Diane Wynne Jones said it all:"Few NAMES in Fantasyland are considered complete unless they are interrupted by an apostrophe somewhere in the middle (as in Gna’ash). The only names usually exempt from apostrophes, apart from those of most WIZARDS, heroes, and COMPANIONS on the Tour, are those of some COUNTRIES. No one knows the reasons for this."

Including, more often than not, the writers themselves.

[mixergiltron]

Toasting the arts.

I recently went to the grocery store to pick up some more cold pressed lime juice. This stuff is awesome. It's actually better than fresh squeezed IMHO because there's zero effort and cleanup involved(I am a bachelor) and because it's a mix of many limes,the PH is balanced. Unfortunately they were out,but they did have cold pressed tangerine juice. So I picked some up to experiment with substituting for orange juice. After getting home,I logged into Facebook and found I had been given a top fan badge from MeduSirena. She's the famous fire eating mermaid,and one of these days I need to get down to the Wreck Bar to see her. Anyway,to celebrate whenever a Tiki A-Lister notices me on Facebook,I make one of their cocktails,or a cocktail that is representative of them. So I made her cocktail:

Mix #42 Sea Hag

2oz white rum 2oz blue curacao 4oz orange juice 1oz lime juice 1oz lemon juice

Shake with plenty of ice and pour into double rocks glass.

This recipe comes from the Lava Flow Inn. If you've never heard of this bar,that's because it's the personal bar of Matt Reese,one of the co-owners of Home Aloha. They had the recipe on one of their Mai Tai glasses. I tried it awhile back and found it was a bit tart for my taste. So this time around I decided to swap the lemon juice for pineapple and swapped my new tangerine for orange. These changes sweetened the drink without radically altering it,and it's how I'll make it from now on.

Here's the other toasting drinks I've made.

Mix #43 Gamma Gamma Hey

1oz Smith & Cross 1oz Plantation Original Dark 1/2 allspice dram 1/2oz passionfruit syrup 1/2oz guanabana nectar* 1/2oz lime juice 1oz Plantation OFTD

Shake everything except OFTD with ice and pour into mug. Float OFTD on top.

*Guanabana is also called sour sop and can be found in the Latin section of your grocery store.

I made this again after Ken from House of Tabu accepted my friend request. I've been a huge fan of his mugs and his Tiki magazine Exotica Moderne(that my Corsair Punch was published in). This was the drink card recipe from the original blue Gamma Gamma Hey mugs(one of my favs),and the Tabu recipes have all been delicious. Warning,it will mess you up.

Mix #44 Hippopotomai-Tai

1oz dark rum 1oz light rum 1oz lime juice 1/2oz orange curacao 1/2oz orgeat 1/2oz agave nectar

Shake with plenty of ice and pour into double rocks glass.

Kevin Crossman is a Mai Tai enthusiast who runs the site Ultimate Mai Tai. I found this recipe on Etsy. It was carved into a wooden cutting board and is supposed to be one of the drinks from the Trader Sam's Tiki bars at the Disney parks. I can't vouch for it's authenticity,but I can vouch for the fact that it makes a nice,slightly sweetish version of the Mai Tai. I think he would approve of it.

Mix #45 Chimp in Orbit

1.5oz 151 rum 2oz orange juice 1oz lemon juice 1oz sweet vermouth 1/2oz orange curacao 1/4oz creme de cacao 1/4oz grenadine

Blend with ice.

I made this for Crazy Al Evens. He's a Tiki artist who makes ridiculously cool mugs and fronts an exotica group called APE the Band. With one and a half ounces of 151,after a couple of these,you'll be crazier than he is!

Mix #17 Midori Cactus Juice

1oz coconut rum 1oz vodka 1oz Midori 3oz pineapple juice splash of club soda

Shake everything together except soda. Pour into glass,top with soda,and stir.

Moki Sato is a very talented exotica artist from Japan who was featured on the cover of issue 19 of Exotica Moderne. I really like the way he blends traditional exotica with a touch of anime. I toasted him with one of the mixings from my Midori post that was good enough to make it into my regular rotation. I just need to get one of his mugs to enjoy it in.

So now you have some delicious cocktails to enjoy while checking out some seriously cool people. Enjoy!

[robbialy]

23/03/23: the day Cortizona 023 is officially released and available on vinyl. Genesis P-Orridge and The Hafler Trio Dream Less Suite 2LP https://cortizona.bandcamp.com/music Subliminal soul music for the very faint-hearted. Demented disco for insecure insomniacs. Asymmetric acid for hoovering hipsters. Immersive polka for naughty night nurses. Soothing sounds for crying babies. Liberating latin for lesbians on xtc. Transcending tribalism for jogging junkies. Frenetic freakbeat for nihilistic numerologists. Jiving jazz for tyrannic transgenders. Hypnotic exotica for corrupt gymnastics. Indescribable sounds for angry journalists. Endless entertainment for everyone and the rest of the family. All f#cks given. Masters at work. Genesis P-Orridge was the founding person of COUM Transmissions in 1969, Throbbing Gristle in 1975, Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth and Psychic TV in 1981. Andrew McKenzie started The Hafler Trio (together with Cabaret Voltaire’s Chris Watson) in 1982 and since then released all his work under this moniker and collaborated with William S. Burroughs, Autechre, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Nurse With Wound and Jónsi from Sigur Rós, to name a few. And he constructed the first kit Dreamachine in 1989 together with Brion Gysin. Artwork by The Hafler Trio Carefully and excellently mastered by Gert Van Hoof Cut by Dubplates and Mastering Berlin Lay out by Jef Cuypers Distribution by NEWS Love you all https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJHjoGjI3H6vb1LYIlMtBAnnkNzHmRtVv8P7k0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bitter69uk]

Recently watched: Italian horror maestro Mario Bava’s slasher movie Blood and Black Lace (1964). Tagline: “A fashion house of glamorous models becomes a terror house of blood!” A sadistic masked and gloved serial killer is relentlessly stalking and murdering his way through the fashion models of the chic haute couture salon run by ultra-rich designer Cristina (Eva Bartok) and her lover Max (Cameron Mitchell). (Picture a procession of fiercely elegant women wearing cocktail dresses with impeccable beehive hairdos getting gruesomely murdered one by one). I’m no expert on Bava - the only other film of his I’ve seen is Black Sunday (1960) with cult movie queen Barbara Steele – but wow, what a stylist! From the credits to the white-knuckle finale, Bava envelopes you in a supremely alluring vision with the soundtrack (Latin exotica, heavy on the bongos), costumes, baroque sets and lighting (characters are routinely bathed in fuchsia or green neon, even when that light source makes no sense). Perhaps inevitably, there are vivid splashes of red: an incriminating leather-bound diary, handbags, telephones - and of course - plumes of blood. The victims’ grisly deaths still pack a genuinely nasty jolt. (As Slant magazine put it, “The killings in Blood and Black Lace are still disturbing yet have the vitality of pop art”). An additional bonus: the juicy overripe performances from Hollywood’s Cameron Mitchell and Hungary’s Eva Bartok, both veterans of European co-productions. (The same year, Mitchell starred opposite Jayne Mansfield in the truly wild German exploitation flick Dog Eat Dog – what a career!).

[singeratlarge]

MY SONG/VIDEO OF THE WEEK!

#nightgarden #gardening #flowers #davidbowie #mikegarson #leemay #atlanta #journalist #caribbean #latin #cuba #mexico #psychedelic #piano #exotica #ericbiondo #beyondo #trumpet #donaldfagen #steelydan #airline #cruiseship #johnnyjblair #singeratlarge #dance #brianwilson #smile #beachboys #kokomo

[burlveneer-music]

The Sorcerers/The Outer World Jazz Ensemble - split single from ATA Records, Ethio-jazz from Leeds

ATA Records are proud to announce this new double A-side from The Sorcerers featuring, on the flip, the first release by The Outer Worlds Jazz Ensemble. Exit Athens marks the start of a new era for The Sorcerers. Continuing their investigations of Ethio-Jazz and 60s and 70s European library music, the group is now formed around Joost Hendrickx (Kefaya, Shatner's Bassoon, Abstract Orchestra), Richard Ormrod (saxes, flute & keys) and ATA label head, bassist Neil Innes. Exit Athens features a driving funk engine room combined with exotic percussion, vintage keyboards, and the classic Addis Ababa combination of vibes, flute and oh-so-solid horns. Channelling the maximal, saturated aesthetic of 70s exploitation thrillers, The Sorcerers hope this sound will have you on the edge of your seat throughout! On the AA side, Beg, Borrow, Play marks the debut of The Outer Worlds Jazz Ensemble. The first in an ongoing series of 45s and LP issues, each Outer Worlds release will feature the immaculate grooves of the hard-working, unsung sidemen of the Leeds Funk, Latin and Ethio/Afrobeat scenes. The Outer Worlds series was conceived to feature visiting soloists who have made a beeline to ATA in search of a specific setting for their material. Beg, Borrow, Play kicks this off with ATA veteran Chip Wickham on baritone sax, and a slice of jazz exotica that owes as much to New Orleans Street Beat as to the Eastern moods of artists like Yusef Lateef and Ahmed Abdul-Malik. The result is loose and limber, with horns reminiscent of classic Art Ensemble of Chicago, and will appeal to fans of contemporary Afro-Futurist fusions as much as to devotees of the more esoteric side of 60s Blue Note, or early Hi-Life. 

[bitter69uk]

I hope everyone gets what they want for Christmas! If you need a musical soundtrack that encompasses every possible Christmas day mood swing, keep my epic festive Spotify playlist in mind! It incorporates rhythm and blues, surf instrumentals, punk, rockabilly, lounge, cool jazz and Latin exotica! Expect Mae West, Elvis, Ike and Tina, Ann-Margret, Eartha Kitt, El Vez and all your other musical favourites! Best of all: no Mariah Carey, no tired old “Fairytale of New York” and no Wham (although there is Dalida’s French-language version of “Last Christmas”)!  

[rastronomicals]

10:55 PM EDT May 12, 2024:

Cal Tjader - "Poinciana" From the album Breeze from the East (1963)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

Sometimes it's hard to differentiate the past, like when people think that the cavemen coexisted with dinosaurs. By the time Tjader's two exotica albums came out in the early '60's, the style was pretty much five years obsolete from its peak in popularity--and that's the criticism Tjader heard.

Though what was missed is kind of the otherwise lacking jazz cred he gave the style. It's a shame he went back to the Latin stuff; not that Soul Sauce wasn't good, but there was plenty like it, and even the exotica renaissance when it happened 30 years later didn't actually produce new music. So we miss what Tjader didn't create.

File under: Exotica