Oranj Symphonette - Plays Mancini

This record is a crack-up. The purposely eccentric band performs 13 songs by Henry Mancini, being sure to state the melodies but eventually deconstructing and tearing them apart. The interpretations are sometimes quite violent, close to avant-rock, and almost always very humorous bordering on hilarious, while still ironically showing the themes some respect.

There have been many tributes to the music of Henry Mancini since the composer's death, but none have been half as zany as the Oranj Symphonette's 1996 Gramavision CD Plays Mancini. Cellist/bassist Matt Brubeck (the band's leader and one of Dave Brubeck's sons) met guitarist Joe Gore and Ralph Carney (who plays alto, bass sax, trombone and slide clarinet) while recording a Tom Waits soundtrack in the early 1990's. In 1993 they became a group with the addition of drummer Scott Amendola and began playing in the San Francisco area on a part-time basis the following year with their main purpose being to reinvent Henry Mancini songs. With Pete Scaturro added on organ and Diarmid contributing zither playing and bird calls, the band tore apart a dozen Mancini tunes on their frequently hilarious Gramavision set; they also appeared at the 1997 Monterey Jazz Festival, and a year later issued The Oranj Album.

From allmusic.com:

“

This record is a crack-up. The Oranj Symphonette consists of Ralph Carney (on alto and bass saxes, slide clarinet, trombone and miscellaneous sounds), the rockish guitarist Joe Gore, Matt Brubeck on bass, cello and organ, and drummer Scott Amendola; they also welcome Pete Scaturro on organ and Diarmid on zither and bird calls. The purposely eccentric band performs 13 songs by Henry Mancini, being sure to state the melodies but eventually deconstructing and tearing them apart. The interpretations are sometimes quite violent, close to avant-rock, and almost always very humorous bordering on hilarious, while still ironically showing the themes some respect. Among the more colorful performances are "A Shot In the Dark," "The Pink Panther Theme," "Moon River" and "Baby Elephant Gunn" (a "medley" of "Baby Elephant Walk" and "Peter Gunn"). Definitely a memorable outing.

”

Tracklist:
1.A Shot In The Dark
2.Experiment In Terror
3.The Pink Panther Theme
4.Lujon
5.The Inspector Clouseau Theme
6.Moon River
7.Charade
8.The Day Of Wine And Roses
9.Mr. Yunioshi
10.Mr. Lucky
11.March Of The Cue Balls
12.Baby Elephant Gunn (Baby Elephant Walk And Peter Gunn)

Personnel:
Scott Amendola - Percussion, Drums
Matthew Brubeck - Organ, Trombone, Bass (Electric), Cello, Horn, Saxophone, Sax (Alto), Bass (Acoustic), Electric Cello
Ralph Carney - Trombone, Horn, Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone), Vocals, Slide Clarinet, Sona, Bird Calls
Diarmid - Zither, Bird Calls
Joe Gore - Guitar
Pete Scaturro - Organ (Hammond)