Isle Of Enchantment/Polynesia

his disc contains a pair of early- to mid-'60s LPs from the exotica tiki-inspired sounds of the Arthur Lyman Group -- with Lyman (vibes/marimba/guitar), Harold Chang (percussion), John Kramer (bass/bamboo flute), and Alan Soares (piano/celeste). There are several conspicuous distinctions between the two projects. However, Isle of Enchantment (1964) and Polynesia (1965) collectively offer music rooted in native folk -- be it Polynesian, American, or otherwise -- as well as crowd-pleasing, familiar pop standards and show tunes. Perhaps the most obvious stylistic dichotomy on Isle of Enchantment is the more traditional Eastern influence prevalent on "Lei Aloha Lei Makami," "Isa Lei," "Sho Joji," and "Koko Ni Sachiari." These serene and meditative selections are countered by a pair of Henry Mancini-penned numbers. The first is the pensive and noir title track to the film Charade (1963), while his "Orange Tamore" is lively and replete with the composer's uncanny and unmistakable sonic fingerprint. Of similar note are "Swingin' Shepherd Blues" and "Et Maintenant" -- aka "What Now My Love." Polynesia is -- as its very name suggests -- an effort with an ear toward the islands. Right from the start, listeners are taken to the tropics as pseudo ambient bird calls resound throughout the cover of Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue" -- or as it is listed here "Afro Blues." "One Night in Tokyo," "Drifting Sampan," and the composition "Polynesia" itself are excellent examples of Lyman's coterie at their ethereal, mood-inducing finest. By contrast, the moderately earthy "Don't Rain on My Parade," is a frolicking jazz-fueled song from the show Funny Girl. The languid "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" similarly stands out as one of the more poignant interpretations on either long-player. Evoking an equal sense of earnest emotion is the seemingly unusual submission of "Waltzing Matilda." But according to the text in the original LP jacket -- which is reproduced in the six-panel foldout liner booklet -- the entry is offered as a paean to "the everlasting honored memory of Sir Winston Churchill." ~ Lindsay Planer|