Orquestra Was

Michael F. Grafe (mgrafe@int1.mhrcc.org)
Thu, 26 Jun 1997 02:50:58 -0400


"Forever's a Long, Long Time" Verve Forecast 314 533 915-2

Go out and buy this now. Produced and arranged by Don Was, longtime
funkster ("Was not Was" 70s & 80s(?), . Absolutely brilliant jazz
translations of Hank Williams(!) tunes with a couple of originals.
Sort of a concept deal; it has an enhanced CD track with a Francis
Ford Coppola produced short film, directed by Was, a B&W smoky noir
love story w/Sweet Pea Atkinson and Kris Kristofferson, way cool.
Impressive line up of musicians including Herbie Hancock on piano,
Sheila E on percussion, and Sweet Pea growlin out some mean vocals.
The main cuts feature a fifteen piece live band with a deep deep
jazzy sound and some inspired solos. Listen for the steel guitar.
Real nice package - don't miss it.

Side note: I saw Don Was on Bill Maher's Politcally Incorrect about
a month ago. The rest of the panel was Me'Shell, Weird Al Yankovic,
Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers lead) and a familiar yuppie pop
producer whose name eludes me at the moment. The topic was meaning
in rock lyrics: "if there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be
alarmed now..." Was is obviously a genius, Me'Shell was very
insightful, Weird Al and the Butthole guy were buttheads, and the
yuppie was vomit inducing. Great stuff overall; anyone else see it?

Enjoy,

Mike G