Esquivel and His Orchestra
Juan García Esquivel (January 20, 1918 – January 3, 2002) often simply know… Read Full Bio ↴Juan García Esquivel (January 20, 1918 – January 3, 2002) often simply known as Esquivel!, was a Mexican band leader, pianist, and composer for television and films. He is recognized today as one of the foremost exponents of a sophisticated style of largely instrumental music that combines elements of lounge music and jazz with Latin flavors. Esquivel is sometimes called "The King of Space Age Pop" and "The Busby Berkeley of Cocktail Music." Esquivel is considered one of the foremost exponents of a style of late 1950s-early 1960s quirky instrumental pop that became known (in retrospect) as "Space Age Bachelor Pad Music".
He was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, and his family moved to Mexico City in 1928 where he became a self-taught musician from an early age. In interviews, Esquivel's family members have stated that the young boy started playing piano when he was around 6 years old, to the amazement of older musicians who would gather around him in disbelief and to his own delight exhibiting his musical gifts. They have also stated that Esquivel continued to eschew formal musical training as he grew older, preferring to learn from books and by listening to and playing music instead.
Esquivel is considered the king of a style of late 1950s-early 1960s quirky instrumental pop known today as lounge music. Esquivel's musical style was highly idiosyncratic, and although elements sound like his contemporaries, many stylistic traits distinguished his music and made it instantly recognizable, including exotic percussion, wordless vocals, virtuoso piano runs, and exaggerated dynamic shifts. He used many jazz-like elements; however, other than his piano solos, there is no improvisation, and the works are tightly, meticulously arranged by Esquivel himself, who considered himself a perfectionist as a composer, performer, and recording artist.
His orchestration tended toward the very lush, employing novel instrumental combinations, such as Chinese bells, mariachi bands, whistling, and numerous percussion instruments, blended with orchestra, mixed chorus, and his own heavily-ornamented piano style. The chorus was often called upon to sing only nonsense syllables, most famously "zu-zu" and "pow!" A survey of Esquivel's recordings reveals a fondness for glissandi, sometimes on a half-valved trumpet, sometimes on a kettle drum, but most frequently on pitched percussion instruments and slide guitars.
Esquivel's use of stereo recording was legendary, occasionally featuring two bands recording simultaneously in separate studios, such as on his album Latin-Esque (1962). The song "Mucha Muchacha" makes particularly mind-bending use of the separation, with the chorus and brass rapidly alternating stereo sides.
He arranged many traditional Mexican songs like "Bésame Mucho", "La Bamba", "El Manisero" (Cuban/Mexican) and "La Bikina"; covered Brazilian songs like "Aquarela do Brasil" (also known simply as "Brazil") by Ary Barroso, "Surfboard" and "Agua de Beber" by Tom Jobim, and composed spicy lounge-like novelties such as "Mini Skirt", "Yeyo", "Latin-Esque", "Mucha Muchacha" and "Whatchamacallit". He was commissioned to compose the music of a Mexican children's TV show Odisea Burbujas.
His concerts featured elaborate light shows years before such effects became popular in live music. He performed in Las Vegas on several occasions, often as the opening act for Frank Sinatra. He frequently performed at the STARDUST casino lounge during ca. 1964.
Several compilations of Esquivel's music were issued starting with Space Age Bachelor Pad Music in 1994. The apparent success of these releases led to reissues of several of Esquivel's albums. The first reissues were compiled by Irwin Chusid, who also produced the first CD reissues of Raymond Scott and The Langley Schools Music Project.
The last recording on which Esquivel worked was Merry Christmas from the Space-Age Bachelor Pad in 1996, for which he did a voiceover on a track by the band Combustible Edison. This album also included several obscure tracks from his past sessions. The last CD released during his lifetime, See It In Sound, was actually recorded in 1960, but was not released at the time because the record company believed it would not be commercially successful. When released in 1998, it exhibited very unusual and introspective stylings absent from his other works, including a version of "Brazil", played as a musical soundscape of a man bar-hopping where the band plays different renditions of "Brazil" at each bar.
Esquivel also worked as composer for Revue Productions/Universal Television. There he scored the TV western series "The Tall Man," and co-wrote, with Stanley Wilson, the familiar Revue/Universal TV logo fanfare.
He was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, and his family moved to Mexico City in 1928 where he became a self-taught musician from an early age. In interviews, Esquivel's family members have stated that the young boy started playing piano when he was around 6 years old, to the amazement of older musicians who would gather around him in disbelief and to his own delight exhibiting his musical gifts. They have also stated that Esquivel continued to eschew formal musical training as he grew older, preferring to learn from books and by listening to and playing music instead.
Esquivel is considered the king of a style of late 1950s-early 1960s quirky instrumental pop known today as lounge music. Esquivel's musical style was highly idiosyncratic, and although elements sound like his contemporaries, many stylistic traits distinguished his music and made it instantly recognizable, including exotic percussion, wordless vocals, virtuoso piano runs, and exaggerated dynamic shifts. He used many jazz-like elements; however, other than his piano solos, there is no improvisation, and the works are tightly, meticulously arranged by Esquivel himself, who considered himself a perfectionist as a composer, performer, and recording artist.
His orchestration tended toward the very lush, employing novel instrumental combinations, such as Chinese bells, mariachi bands, whistling, and numerous percussion instruments, blended with orchestra, mixed chorus, and his own heavily-ornamented piano style. The chorus was often called upon to sing only nonsense syllables, most famously "zu-zu" and "pow!" A survey of Esquivel's recordings reveals a fondness for glissandi, sometimes on a half-valved trumpet, sometimes on a kettle drum, but most frequently on pitched percussion instruments and slide guitars.
Esquivel's use of stereo recording was legendary, occasionally featuring two bands recording simultaneously in separate studios, such as on his album Latin-Esque (1962). The song "Mucha Muchacha" makes particularly mind-bending use of the separation, with the chorus and brass rapidly alternating stereo sides.
He arranged many traditional Mexican songs like "Bésame Mucho", "La Bamba", "El Manisero" (Cuban/Mexican) and "La Bikina"; covered Brazilian songs like "Aquarela do Brasil" (also known simply as "Brazil") by Ary Barroso, "Surfboard" and "Agua de Beber" by Tom Jobim, and composed spicy lounge-like novelties such as "Mini Skirt", "Yeyo", "Latin-Esque", "Mucha Muchacha" and "Whatchamacallit". He was commissioned to compose the music of a Mexican children's TV show Odisea Burbujas.
His concerts featured elaborate light shows years before such effects became popular in live music. He performed in Las Vegas on several occasions, often as the opening act for Frank Sinatra. He frequently performed at the STARDUST casino lounge during ca. 1964.
Several compilations of Esquivel's music were issued starting with Space Age Bachelor Pad Music in 1994. The apparent success of these releases led to reissues of several of Esquivel's albums. The first reissues were compiled by Irwin Chusid, who also produced the first CD reissues of Raymond Scott and The Langley Schools Music Project.
The last recording on which Esquivel worked was Merry Christmas from the Space-Age Bachelor Pad in 1996, for which he did a voiceover on a track by the band Combustible Edison. This album also included several obscure tracks from his past sessions. The last CD released during his lifetime, See It In Sound, was actually recorded in 1960, but was not released at the time because the record company believed it would not be commercially successful. When released in 1998, it exhibited very unusual and introspective stylings absent from his other works, including a version of "Brazil", played as a musical soundscape of a man bar-hopping where the band plays different renditions of "Brazil" at each bar.
Esquivel also worked as composer for Revue Productions/Universal Television. There he scored the TV western series "The Tall Man," and co-wrote, with Stanley Wilson, the familiar Revue/Universal TV logo fanfare.
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Esquivel and His Orchestra Lyrics
Adiós cdios muchachos, compañeros de mi vida, Barra querida de aqu…
Adiós Mariquita Linda Te quiero, dijiste tomando mis manos entre tus manitas de bl…
All Of Me Yes, all of me, why not take all of me…
Amor Amemos cada segundo juntos Nunca sabemos cuando parar Un te …
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Baia Oh! Baia-yah When twilight is deep in the sky, Baia-yah! Som…
Ballerina Dance, ballerina, dance And do your pirouette in rhythm wit…
Begin the Beguine When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound…
Besame Mucho Bésame, bésame mucho Each time I cling to your kiss, I…
Blue Christmas I'll have a blue christmas without you I'll be so blue…
Boulevard of Broken Dreams I walk along the street of sorrow The boulevard of broken…
Bye-Bye Blues I got a big surprise when I saw you smile I…
Canadian Sunset Once I was alone So lonely and then You came, out of…
Cherokee Sweet Indian maiden, since first I met you, I can't forget…
Dancing In The Dark Dancing in the dark Dancing in the dark Dancing in the dark…
Domino Don't want to discuss it I think it's time for a…
Frenesi Some time ago I wandered down into old mexico While I was…
Granada Granada, I'm falling under your spell, And if you could spea…
I Get A Kick Out Of You I get no kick from champagne Mere alcohol Doesn't thrill me …
I Love Paris The last time I saw Paris Her heart was warm and…
I Only Have Eyes for You My love must be a kind of blind love I can't…
It Had to Be You It had to be you, it had to be you. I…
Johnson Rag Johnson Flood Mississippi Mud Black Bottom I got 'em Lindy …
Jungle Drums La libertad No es para ti Tu dolor Es vivir Tu ansiedad Es…
Let's Dance There may be trouble ahead But while there's moonlight and m…
Lullaby of Birdland Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I Always hear when you…
Magic Is The Moonlight Magic is the moonlight On this lover's dream night As I see…
Malaguena Malaga, ciudad del mar Nunca mas te podre olvidar En tu pl…
Marie Marie (oh, Marie), the dawn is breaking Marie, you'll soon b…
Medley Swine lane gal, swine lane gal Swine lane gal will you…
Misirlou Desert shadows creep across purple sands. Natives kneel in p…
Mucha Muchacha mucha muchacha hello muchacha oh, hello muchacha no no, me…
My Blue Heaven Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
My Number One Love I love my baby, my baby loves me Don't know nobody…
My Reverie I'm up in the world, But I'd give the world…
My Silent Love What now my love? Now that you've left me How can I…
Nature Boy There was a boy A very strange enchanted boy They say he…
One for My Baby It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place Except…
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers All the toy shop door is locked up tight And everything…
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town You better watch out, you better not cry You better not…
Sentimental Journey Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Speak Low Speak low when you speak, love, Our summer day withers away…
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
Street Of Dreams Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight Come on and trade i…
Take the "A" Train I hate to see that evening sun go down, I…
Take the A Train You must take the 'A' train To go Sugar Hill 'way…
Temptation You came, I was alone I should have known you were…
That Old Black Magic Old black magic has me in its spell Old black magic…
The Breeze and I The breeze and I are saying with a sigh That you…
The Peanut Vendor (Peanut do bop do bop) (Peanut do bop do bop) In Cuba…
The Third Man Theme When a zither starts to play You'll remember yesterday In it…
Time On My Hands When the day fades away into twilight The moon is my…
To Love Again I often wonder why he came to me Brought such a…
Whatchamacallit Do, do-do Do, do-do Do, do-do Do, do-do Do, do-do Do, do-do …
Who's Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …
You Belong To My Heart You belong to my heart Now and forever And our love had…