Quintron at the Chamberlin - Erotomania

This CD was gifted to us as a quarantine present by our pals, Clay and Denise, and it actually got misplaced for a while, which is why I am just getting to it. Although I have heard his name, I was not familiar with Quintron's work. A one-man-band based in New Orleans, he is primarily a keyboardist but has created several of his own musical instruments, including his own Drum Buddy, which accompanies him in his shows. His wife sometimes makes an appearance as a puppeteer at his gigs, and his organ is set up within the chassis of a car, so he does his best to keep things entertaining while presenting mostly instrumental music.

This November 2019 6-song release is kinda Exotica, kinda Tiki, kinda lounge, kinda early 60's insto, kinda whatever he feels like throwing in. "Bohemian Caverns" is about as Les Baxter as you can get these days, with a slow, groovin' beat and cascading keyboard lines, which kinda blends into the Samba-esque "Panacea" and then "Dixie Disaster" appears with Dixieland Jazz contours, complete with fake oboes - "faux-boes"? - but what sounds like a legit banjo and trumpet, sending you on a trip to N'Awlins, despite the Covid shutdown! There's some wacky tape (or whatever) manipulation and then back to the laissez le bon temps rouler! "Sonny's Speedboat" is more exotica with some weird'n'wild sound effects throughout along with some hep dynamics, "Firestorm" continues in the same vein and it all closes with the happy-go-lucky sounding "Birthday In Tunisia", with hints of the trad happy birthday tune twisted with some nice embellishments.

Fun, laid-back insto sounds for your next Tiki / cocktail party! Thanks D and C!