Description
MOONDOG debuted in 1953 with his first album MOONDOG AND FRIENDS, the friends being the members of the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York contributing the orchestral aspects of the album while MOONDOG himself cranked out the avant-folk tribal drums and famous techniques of tape overdubbing and hitherto unthinkable counterpoints between folk, traditional pop, jazz and Western classical styles. One of the early innovators of the Third Stream movement, MOONDOG shamelessly fused world exotica and chamber music with the more highbrow conventions of jazz and classical.
Considered one of the most eccentric musical geniuses of the 1950s at least in retrospect, MOONDOG AND FRIENDS featured seven tracks with side A of the vinyl featuring avant-folk based instrumental compositions joined by the chamber music string section of the violin and cello whereas side B focuses on two longer suites that delved deeper into classical compositions only fortified with MOONDOG’s tribal drumming patterns which for the time was utterly unique and would provide a heap of inspiration for the more psychedelic freak folk bands that would take off in the mid-1960s.
Even after the near 70 years since this was released, it still sounds utterly unique and even timeless as it equally captures an indigenous ceremonial percussive drive, a Renaissance chamber rock vibe as well as a Third Stream jazz meets classical fusion that would become MOONDOG’s primary stylistic approach although he would remain eclectic and unpredictable throughout the decades until his ultimate passing in 1999.
