MARTIN DENNY
THE FATHER OF TRIP HOP?

In 1958 Martin Denny was given the opportunity to go beyond the sound of his four-piece group by adding strings and vocal effects. The resulting album, Hypnotique, remains one of the most interesting records of his career. Even Denny has remarked "Of the many albums I've recorded, Hypnotique ranks highly on my list of favorites."

If the trance-inducing sounds of Hypnotique were to be released today with some slow, sampled drum beats added, it would probably be regarded as fascinating trip-hop, except that Denny came up with this stuff long before DJ Shadow or Portishead even reached diapers. The ethereal orchestral arrangements, atmospheric vocals by the Jack Halloran Singers (the same group heard on Les Baxter's classic Ritual Of The Savage album), and Denny's experimental effects like an electronically delayed piano on "Summertime," create a most hypnotic listening experience.

Hypnotique
Recorded at the Kamahameha School Auditorium, Honolulu and Liberty Studios, Hollywood 1958
Engineers: Bob Lang (Honolulu sessions), Ted Keep (Liberty Studio sessions)
Producer: Simon Waronker
Recorded in stereo

Martin Denny - piano, arranger
Julius Wechter - vibes, marimba, xylophone, percussion
Harvey Ragsdale - string bass
Augie Colon - bongos, congas, Latin rhythms, bird calls

Guest artists
Barbara Smith - koto
Bud Lee - Japanese samisen
John Mechigashari - shakahashi

"Hypnotique"
RealAudio 14.4 | RealAudio 28.8

Hypnotique tracks: Jungle Madness - On A Little Street In Singapore - Voodoo Dreams - Chinese Lullaby - Hypnotique - St. Louis Blues - We Kiss In A Shadow - Summertime - Scimitar - American In Bali - Japanese Sandman


"Jungle River Boat"
RealAudio 14.4 | RealAudio 28.8
Exotica III continued Denny's winning formula of creating a jungle soundscape filled with man-made bird calls and other effects (ocean waves,jungle trains) to create an "Adventureland" style atmosphere. The entire album was recorded in one day (a feat that amazes most musicians you talk to today), primarily because the school auditorium, whose acoustics Denny wanted to make use of, was only available on a Sunday. With Exotica III, you also have one of the earliest examples of mobile recording. "Liberty [Records] engineer Ted Keep brought over all his sound equipment from Hollywood," remarks Denny, "renting a a large van to put it in. We ran cables from the auditorium out to the parking lot, and communicated by telephone and a set of earphones with Ted in his makeshift recording booth."

Exotica III
Recorded at the Punahau School Auditorium, Hawaii 1958
Engineers: Ted Keep
Producer: Simon Waronker
Recorded in stereo

Exotica III session line-up
Martin Denny - piano, harpischord, celeste
Julius Wechter - vibes, marimba, bells, percussion
Harvey Ragsdale - bass, doubled on vibes
Augie Colon - bongos, congas, Latin rhythms, bird calls, sound effects

Guest artists
Lew Paino - drums
Will Brady - flute
George Archer - Tahitian drums

Exotica III tracks: Jungle River Boat - Harbor Lights - Manila - Mama Iti E Papa E - Bamboo Lullaby - Ringo Oiwake - Moon Of Manakoora - Limehouse Blues - Beautiful Kahana - Caravan - Congo Train - Hello Young Lovers

Hypnotique and Exotica III (Scamp 9714)
All 23 tracks have been digitally remastered so that the music emerges with a clarity not heard since the master tapes were first played back. The CD booklet features detailed liner notes by Martin Denny himself.

Other Martin Denny on Scamp




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