Oranj Symphonette - Plays Mancini (1996)

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.