Sonny Lester Orchestra - Exotica - New CD

Apparently, unreleased material from his early 60s sessions that produced the "How To Strip for Your Husband" series. Corny, dated and very cool. Drenched in crazy-cool organ, full of vibes and "exotica" percussion, bass and drums, Al Caiola coming in with brief electric-guitar moods, the horn charts sometimes taking spotlight but often falling back to let the little combo do their thing. Jazz purists might shake their heads, but this is a good grab for fans of "TV jazz" or exotica lounge. -- winch 

Selections written and conducted by Sonny Lester and Bill Stanford.

Bill Sanford: Black American pianist, arranger, conductor and composer. When he left the Variety Boys, he joined the Four Vagabonds as their arranger. He ended up replacing bass Ray Grant in time for their 1949 Miracle release ("Mighty Hard To Go Through Life Alone") and then replaced Howard Biggs as the arranger with the Ravens, with whom he'd stay until the end of 1956.

Al Caiola (born September 7, 1920, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA - died November 9, 2016, Allendale, New Jersey, USA) was an American guitarist, Composer, arranger, producer and publisher who spanned a variety of music genres including jazz, country, rock, western, and pop. He was both a studio musician and stage performer.