TIKI CULTURE

On the Occasion of Count Bill Basie’s Birthday…

Count Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984)

So on the Occasion of Count Bill Basie’s Birthday, here’s a few videos of the great Count Basie Band.

One O’Clock Jump

April in Paris

I’ve Got You Under My Skin, with Frank Sinatra

And my personal favorite, Corner Pocket, written by the infamous Basie band guitarist Freddy Green, a guy who never played a chord the same way twice. Listen to the execution, the perfect swinging groove these cats laid down back in 1962. The cool and swingin’ solos. The way the sections play together perfectly as to sound like a single, swingin’ horn. This one is also my favorite because I was lucky enough to have played lead tenor and tenor sax solo on this same arrangement in my college big band, 20 years ago. We, of course, were no where near as good as Basie’s band. But it felt good playing his music anyway.

-Chris “Zoot” Pinto swingin’ from the music studio at Tiki Lounge Talk

Delovely, The Story of Cole Porter, 2004 for Noir Movie Monday

A little known and underrated movie for sure, Delovely is the almost fantasy-like tale of the flamboyant (and very private) life of one of the most beloved songwriters to ever grace us with his insurmountable talent, Cole Porter.

With an outstanding performance by Kevin Kline, you’ll believe your actually seeing and hearing Porter himself from first few seconds of the opening scene. An incredible supporting cast includes Ashley Judd, Johnathon Pryce, and a stage-full of cameos by some of the “Biggest Names in Showbiz” including Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Sheryl Crow, Natalie Cole…the list goes on.

A portrait of Cole Porter’s life, the story is presented as a fantasy musical biographical stage-show being produced at the end of Porter’s life. He leads “the director” through flashbacks of his colorful life, and we learn about Porter’s previously very secret lifestyle through these scenes…filled, of course, with Porter’s songs woven into the story. The “Show” scenes are very noir, dark, often sad. The “Flashback” scenes are generally uplifting and jubilant. Great juxtaposition adds to the charm.

Diana Krall steals a scene with only a few seconds of on-camera time. She should have been given a LOT more.

I  don’t want to give anything away…it’s fun discovering things about this incredible man and his accomplishments and contributions, his marriage to the love of his life, and the hidden meaning behind some of his very risque lyrics (Let’s just say I’ll never think of “Your the top” and “Blow, Gabriel Blow” the same way again.)

The movie is a perfect little time capsule of 1920s-1950s America and Europe, with exquisite sets, costumes, and storyline that any vintage music lover will instantly love. Unfortunately the movie was not a hit; the box office was disappointing, critics and audiences are split down the middle on whether it’s a masterpiece or a long-winded semi-musical bomb. Who is right? Well, if you’re like me…and if you read this blog you are…then you’ll get it, and you’ll love Delovely.

My only complaint about this flick is that (probably for time constraints) some of the best songs are cut off, or just grace the background of a scene. But don’t worry, the soundtrack is available on Amazon.com.

Sit back with a bottle of champagne, a dinner of Chateaubriand, and if you’re the emotional type, a box of tissues, and enjoy this truly incredible movie.

Here’s the original trailer:

-Tiki Chris, reporting from the sound stage at Star Dust Studios, Florida

Picnic, 1955: Mod Movie Monday for Memorial Day

Memorial Day is about remembering the brave men and women who fought and died for our freedom and for the our wonderful country. It’s also about the start of summer, and barbecues, and picnics. So for this Monday I though, what better movie to feature than

Picnic, 1955

starring Kim Novak, William Holden, Cliff Robertson, Rosalind Russel, Betty Field and Susan Strasberg. (Ok, this flick takes place on Labor Day weekend, but we’ll pretend it’s Memorial Day) Drifter Hal Carter (Holden) blows into town to visit his old frat buddy Alan (Robertson). Alan’s old man is the town’s rich guy, by the way. So Carter, one of those guys who is really full of himself but doesn’t have dime or a donut to show for it, charms his way into talking the old man into a job…but of course, he doesn’t want to start at the bottom, he wants to run the place from the start. Meanwhile, Carter meets Alan’s squeeze, the incomparable Madge (Kim Novak). Madge’s old lady has been poor all her life and insists Madge marry into money…but of course, Carter sweet talks her until…well, you get the basic picture. There are some great scenes in this flick, ranging from full drama to silly comedy. But the scene that it’s best known for is the dance between Kim Novak and William Holden, late night at the Picnic. The tension between the two characters has been building throughout the film, and finally comes to a head during one of the most impressive “fall in love during a two minute dance” scenes in film history. From way it’s filmed with the colored party lights in the background, to the “take me now” look on Novak’s face, the one of the greatest songs ever played in a movie, the scene is just perfect. Two songs, by the way…the dixieland party band playing throughout the picnic suddenly switches to a west-coast jazz version of the old standard “Moonglow”, then magically adds a string section when it sweeps in with “Picnic” to lay down the music bed for “The Theme From Picnic”, played in real life by Morris Stoloff, and written by George Duning and Steve Allan (Allan is credited for combining the two melodies into a perfectly-synced medley).

As far as this jazz kat is concerned, there are three defining versions of Moonglow: Goodman’s quartet version, Shaw’s orchestra version, and Stoloff’s jazz version. This was a pretty steamy scene for 1955, by the way…back in the days when open-mouthed kissing wasn’t allowed in movies, people could get excited over just the idea that two characters might be even thinking of sex…and that’s what this scene produces. The way Novak barely moves, the way Holden melts at the sight of her. And something uncommon in non-musical movies of the era…they are actually dancing to the song being played, choreographed (lightly) to fit with the tune. Dig it, I think you’ll agree…

Happy Memorial Day, kids. And thanks again to all the troops…remember the fallen, appreciate the active, respect the retired. -Tiki Chris reporting from the poolside BBQ at Tiki Lounge Talk, the B-Lounge for hep cats and swingers.

Miles Davis’ Birthday, May 26

A child was born in Alton, IL on May 26, 1926. No one realized that child would evolve into the cat known as Miles.

Skip the groove to 20 years later. Miles. Parker. Gillespie. Yeah.

He was bop. He was Jazz. He could swing or play it straight, hot or cool, but cool was his gig.

Then there was the horse, the big white horse galloping through his veins. It killed his friend, Bird. He quit cold turkey and never looked back.

Modern Jazz. Progressive. Funk-Fusion. He did it all.

Birth of the Cool, Kind of Blue, Seven Steps To Heaven, Miles Smiles. He swung with the times, but always came back to his true Jazz roots.

Miles left this planet on September 28, 1991, too soon, too soon. But he left plenty for us to dig.

Yeah.

Dig it…

Hard bop, Walkin’

All Blues.

So What.

Footprints, 1967…Times were Changin’.

One of my favorites, Bye Bye Blackbird, 1955 (no video)

–Zoot Jackson, from the lounge

Your Weekend Cocktail: The Stinger

Stinger, up

Not usually found on the Tiki Bar, this drink is complex, tasty, sophisticated and strong. It comes from the golden era of cocktails, when a drink in hand was as common as bottled water today. Hell, it even has a great name. Yet it hasn’t received much popularity in the past few years of retromania.

My drink of choice at Halloween and other special occasions,

The Stinger

remains one of my all time favorites. I first discovered this drink while working in a bar outside of Atlantic City, around 20 years ago. Someone asked me for a Couvossier and Creme de Menthe, and I had no idea what the hell he was talking about. The lead bartender was nice enough to educate me on the subject, and a favorite was born.

• 2 ounces Brandy or Cognac (I prefer Courvoisier)
• 1/2 to 3/4 ounce white crème de menthe

There are two ways to serve this drink, the classic chilled “up” in a cocktail glass, or on the rocks. Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker and shake until the shaker is frosty, then strain into a cocktail glass. No garnish needed. This is the more traditional, sophisticated after-dinner variety. As for me, I like my drinks cold. Pour ingredients over the rocks in a large glass and stir with a glass rod. The trick (and the fun) is to finish the cocktail before the ice melts too much. The combination of sugary mint and straight brandy will knock you pleasantly on your ass.

I might also add that this is a great drink to sip while listening to cool jazz, in a darkened basement club at one o’clock in the morning. Yeahhh.

By the way, go easy on the creme de menthe, adding a little at a time to taste. Add too much and you’ll feel like you’re drinking a candy cane.

Bottoms up!

-Tiki Chris P., reporting from the Tiki Bar at Tiki Lounge Talk, your hot spot for cool cars, Tiki bars and movie stars.