The Lounge Lizards

The Lounge Lizards were an eclectic musical group founded by saxophonist John Lurie and his brother, pianist Evan Lurie, in 1978. Initially known for their ironic, tongue-in-cheek take on jazz, The Lounge Lizards eventually became a showcase for John Lurie's sophisticated compositions straddling jazz and many other genres. They were active until about 1998 with the Lurie brothers as the only constant members, though many leading New York City based musicians were members of the group.

This article is about the jazz band. For the folk/country band, see The Austin Lounge Lizards.
The Lounge Lizards
OriginNew York City
GenresAvant-garde jazz, no wave
Years active1978–1998
LabelsEG, Europa, Antilles, Strange and Beautiful
Past members

The group's name was borrowed from American slang. A lounge lizard is typically depicted as a well-dressed man who frequents the establishments in which the rich gather with the intention of seducing a wealthy woman with his flattery and deceptive charm.[1]

History

At its founding, the band consisted of John Lurie and Evan Lurie, guitarist Arto Lindsay, bassist Steve Piccolo, and percussionist Anton Fier. They released a self-titled album on EG Records in 1981. The album included two Thelonious Monk covers, but as one critic noted, "the two aforementioned Monk covers seem a strange choice when you actually hear the band, which has more in common with sonic experimentalists like Ornette Coleman or Sun Ra."[2]

By the mid-1980s, a new line-up included bassist Erik Sanko, trombonist Curtis Fowlkes, guitarist Marc Ribot, saxophonist Roy Nathanson, and percussionists Dougie Bowne and E.J. Rodriguez. This group recorded various live and studio albums and showcased John Lurie's increasingly sophisticated and multi-layered compositions.[3]

The band's 1987 music video Big Heart was featured on the adult animation The Brothers Grunt.

In 1998, the band released Queen of All Ears on John Lurie's Strange and Beautiful Music label and had added Steven Bernstein, Michael Blake, Oren Bloedow, David Tronzo, Calvin Weston, and Billy Martin. "The Lizards' music isn't jazz," said Fred Bouchard of JazzTimes, "but it is intelligent and rhythmically and harmonically interesting (it ain't rock either, in other words) and, despite the ultra-hip trappings, it has an almost innocent directness that can transcend stylistic prejudice." [4]

Recent years have found the Lounge Lizards less active. John Lurie has been occupied with painting,[5] while Evan has worked on The Backyardigans, a children's show that highlights multiple musical genres.

Personnel

Discography

Studio albums
Title Release date
Lounge Lizards 1981
No Pain for Cakes 1987
Voice of Chunk 1988
Queen of all Ears 1998

Live albums
Title Release date
Live from the Drunken Boat 1983
Live 79-81 1985
Big Heart: Live in Tokyo 1986
Live in Berlin 1991 Vol. I 1991
Live in Berlin 1991 Vol. II 1992

References
  1. Safire, William. "On Language". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
  2. Carruthers, Sean. "Lounge Lizards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  3. Huey, Steve. "Lounge Lizards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  4. Bouchard, Fred. "The Lounge Lizards Queen of All Ears". JazzTimes. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  5. "John Lurie Art". Retrieved 2013-01-24.
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