Origin New York City Active from 1981 | Years active 1978–1998 | |
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Labels EG, Europa, Antilles, Strange and Beautiful Past members Anton Fier
Arto Lindsay
Billy Martin
Bryan Carrott
Calvin Weston
Curtis Fowlkes
Dana Vicek
David Tronzo
Dougie Bowne
E. J. Rodriguez
Erik Sanko
Evan Lurie
Jane Scarpantoni
John Lurie
Marc Ribot
Michael Blake
Michele Navazio
Oren Bloedow
Roy Nathanson
Steve Piccolo
Steven Bernstein Members John Lurie, Arto Lindsay, Evan Lurie, Anton Fier, Erik Sanko, Oren Bloedow, Miki Navazio Genres Experimental rock, Avant-garde jazz Albums Voice of Chunk, No Pain for Cakes, Queen of All Ears, Lounge Lizards, Big Heart: Live in Tokyo | ||
big heart music video by john lurie and the lounge lizards
The Lounge Lizards was 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.
Contents
- big heart music video by john lurie and the lounge lizards
- The lounge lizards voice of chunk
- History
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
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.
The lounge lizards voice of chunk
History
At its founding, the band consisted of John Lurie and Evan Lurie, guitarist Arto Lindsay, bassist Steve Piccolo, and percussionist Anton Fier. They recorded 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."
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.
In 1998 the band released The 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."
Recent years have found the Lounge Lizards less active. John Lurie has been occupied with painting, while Evan has worked on The Backyardigans, a children's show that highlights multiple musical genres.
Personnel
Songs
Do the Wrong ThingLounge Lizards · 1981
Incident on South StreetLounge Lizards · 1981
Bob the BobVoice of Chunk · 1988