Exotica

American piano player and composer Martin Denny (1911-2005), developed a new musical genre. In the mid-'50s, he combined lounge jazz, Hawaiian music, Latin rhythms, bird calls, and then-exotic ethnic instruments like koto, gamelans, and Burmese temple bells into the sound that became known as "exotica." Best known as the "father of Exotica," he was responsible for the genre's biggest hit of all time with his version of Les Baxter's "Quiet Village," included in this, his first LP. Exotica was his debut album. First released in May of 1957, it topped Billboard's charts in 1959. Originally recorded in mono, the album was entirely remade in stereo in 1958 with Julius Wechter in place of Arthur Lyman, who had left the group. However, Denny always preferred the original mono version (presented on this edition).

When set alongside some of the other creative music released that same year – Miles Davis’ Miles Ahead, Sonny Rollins’ Way Out West, Charles Mingus’ Tijuana Moods, albums by Gene Vincent, Bill Haley and Little Richard – it might not seem very original or radical, and for a time Denny was contemptuously consigned to the “easy listening” bins. Time has told now, and this music is now recognized as profoundly innovative, exerting an influence on the whole spectrum of modern music.