|
Star Wars: Cocktails in the Cantina | 
 enlarge | Artist: Star Wars Cantina Orchestra
Label: Oglio Records
Category: Music
Buy New: $21.87
New (5) Used (11) from $9.95
Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 125865
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 790058911020
EAN: 0790058911020
ASIN: B00000I7VZ
Release Date: April 20, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: ships now first class! all our items are gauranteed! 100% GUARANTEED!
| |
| Tracks:
| • | Star Wars (Main Title) | | • | Princess Leia's Theme | | • | The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) | | • | Cantina Band | | • | Ben Kenobi's Death/Tie Fighter Attack | | • | Han Solo and the Princess | | • | Yoda's Theme | | • | Lando's Palace | | • | The Asteriod Field | | • | Parade of the Ewoks | | • | Binary Sunset | | • | The Throne Room | | • | End Title |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews:
 OMG September 30, 2008
Justin Bise (Tennessee USA)
This is the best CD to have if you like Star Wars. Listening to this I couldn't stop laughing. I almost wanted to use it for wedding music. hehe
But really is a lot of fun.
A surprisingly witty big band project May 30, 2007
ShriDurga (Japan)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Before John Williams moved to California and became a hugely famous composer of film scores, he gigged in numerous New York jazz clubs, performed on Henry Mancinni's recording of the Peter Gunn theme, and served as band leader and arranger for crooner Frankie Laine.
He was known then as "Johnny" Williams.
And it's to Johnny and this era that Carvin Knowles and the Evil Genius Orchestra dedicate this album of Star Wars covers, Cocktails in the Cantina, clever arrangements for big band orchestra circa the late 50's in styles ranging from jazz and mambo to bossa nova performed by some of southern California's best studio musicians.
Knowles is himself a resident of Los Angles and composer for film, the most well known of his projects being music for the adolescent comedy, American Pie. Apparently rich in curiosity and all things musical, he has composed, produced and arranged in a number of genres, from big band to jazz to blues, from funk to club. His most recent project is a world beat recording called Hamsa.
Despite the obvious appearance, Cocktails in the Cantina is not a commercial knock-off, but a project that shows some musical wit. The Imperial March starts off with pounding tympanis followed by tenor sax and trombones playing the theme down low, with the trumpets coming in a bar later on the high end in a hilarious mambo swing. The well-worn Cantina Band number is slowed down to about half the original speed, a hypnotic lullaby led by xylophone and joined by a torpid tenor sax and scatting chorus. The hipster main title features a rhythm section of snapping fingers over which a muted trumpet plays the theme, accented by a number of sound effects, including mouth harp and what sounds like a theremin (though that instrument is not listed in the credits). Princess Leia's Theme is given a bossa nova shuffle, with flute playing the melody over acoustic guitar chords accented with xylophone fills, and The Throne Room climax is played like a Peter Gun theme, with trumpets calling out the fanfare, and then playing the lead melody over B3 organ and a swinging drum kit.
Simply put, this album is a lot of fun. If you're a purist look for symphonic renditions of the Star Wars score, you'd be better off sticking to the original recordings. But for those who enjoy a bit of the unexpected in their music, this album will not disappoint.
#
This product is not an official Star Wars soundtrack and is not endorsed by Lucasfilm Ltd. October 15, 2006
Johnny Heering (Bethel, CT United States)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I saw this in a store one day and just had to pick it up. I thought it might be pretty bad, but I just couldn't resist it. Surprise surprise, it actually turned out to be quite good. It features music from the Star Wars trilogy (the original trilogy) played lounge jazz style. I know it sound crazy, but it works. This is fun, swinging, slighty silly music. If you are a Star Wars fan who doesn't take things too seriously, you will probably get a kick out of this CD.
Genuinely enjoyable August 6, 2006
Tahl (Virginia USA)
I bought this as a Star Wars fan and a dancer, hoping for some out-of-left-asteroid-field tunes to play for swing dancing. I did get that, sort of (more below), but mostly I got a fun CD that I pop in for its own sake. Like successful parodies, or humor generally, this works because the musicians play it straight. They've put effort and skill into the arrangements.
How is it for dancing? More of a latin-music vibe than I hoped. That does fit with the 50s, lounge-music theme, so it's my fault for not anticipating it.
My take on danceability, in order of my level of confidence about my judgment (your mileage may vary):
#2 -- Cha-cha; nice.
#3 -- Rumba; nice.
#1 -- Slow East Coast swing; could be hard for inexperienced dancers, because quite syncopated.
#8 -- Hollywood lindy or West Coast Swing -- pretty darned slow.
#12 -- Fast lindy, with latin-ish (mambo?) bits
#6 -- Mambo / salsa? Heavy "2" beat.
#4 -- Maybe a very slow merengue?
#5 -- Seem like it should be danceable, but I dunno what would work.
#7, #10, #11 -- Not particularly danceable to me.
Great Background music May 4, 2005
Manuel H. Porras Ortega (Mexico City.)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm a longtime Star Wars fan, as well as a jazz enthusiastic. The release of episode III has given me the perfect excuse to throw a Star Wars Themed party, and I bought this cd only for it. I'd heard the previews on this page, and I thought it was excellent for background while playing a little Star Wars Monopoly... I know not everybody will like this album, but I personally do. The Imperial March, The Cantina Band and Yoda's Theme are great.
|
|
|
Used CDs | |
