Show 7: Swedish Exotica

A bit of Swedish Exotica courtesy of my friend Adam Axelzon and his father Bo, from Stockholm. All songs are from a recent, privately pressed CD called Tiki Twilight. A unique combination of sounds and styles, blending exotica and 50s Afro-Cuban jazz... all by way of Sweden. Read my interview with Adam from a couple of years back here.


Song 1 : : Nature Boy
Artist : : Bo Axelzon’s Exotic Orchestra
Album : : Tiki Twilight

Classic tune penned by Eden Ahbez for Nat King Cole who made it famous.

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Song 2 : : Temptation
Artist : : Bo Axelzon’s Exotic Orchestra
Album : : Tiki Twilight

A melody written by the same two guys who wrote “Singing in the Rain.” Here the band uses Polynesian log drums in a driven up-tempo beat, letting a Ess-clarinet take the lead melody.

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Song 3 : : Frenesi
Artist : : Bo Axelzon’s Exotic Orchestra
Album : : Tiki Twilight

Written by Alberto Dominguez in 1939... performed by numerous artists ranging from Xavier Cugat to Lee Hazlewood.

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Song 4 : : Quiet Village
Artist : : Bo Axelzon’s Exotic Orchestra
Album : : Tiki Twilight

Les Baxter’s ultimate Tiki tune... This version uses trumpet, mallets, four clarinets, and drums.