African Jazz / Jungle Jazz

Digitally remastered two fer containing a pair of albums from the Exotica/Lounge legend on one CD: African Jazz (1956) and Jungle Jazz (1958). Les Baxter was the founding father of Exotica, a variation of easy listening that documented the sounds and styles of the South Seas, India, and South America. From the early '50s, with the onset of international air travel, Exotica became a massively popular trend, making it possible for middle-class Americans to simulate an authentic travelogue experience in the comfort of their suburban homes. The music of Les Baxter is never gloomy - it is full of the adventure of life, the sounds of exotic lands and the free spirit of life close to nature. Cherry Red. 2010.