SkanatraAko vam ime ovog hobokenskog, New Jersey banda odmah zazvuci poznato, slicnost je potpuno namjerna. Skanatra, energicni jedanaestoclani ska band osnovan je samo radi jedne jedine svrhe... da izvodi ska stilom obradjene Sinatrine klasike i time oda pocast velikanu na samo sebi svojstven nacin. Clanovi Skanatre imaju uvelike razlicit glazbeni background, no, utoliko je njihov glazbeni koncept jedinstven. Vodeci vokal Chairman Sunbeam, koji je vodio bar u lokalnom hobokenskom O'Niel's pub-u, i stariji Toastmaster Willie su poceli sastavljati grupu pod vrlo vjerojatnim inspirativnim utjecajem piva. U stvari, O'Niel's je mjesto gdje je okupljeni band i svirao prve od mnogih svojih koncerata i gdje je basist Bass D. String navodno dosao sa idejom za ime banda. Bass D. String, takodjer domaci iz Hobokena, je bio muzicki direktor gradskog Salvation Army Banda prije pridruzenja Skanatri. Floridjanin Swiggin' Higgin' se takodjer ovdje prikljucio kao i Madzar Count De Money, povremeni "zaposlenik" lokalne banke krvi. Skanatra se pocela konacno potpuno oblikovati kada su joj se pridruzili jos i vozac vilicara/percussionist Case O'Stengel,'white hot' guitarist Fat Hand i organist Ray Bahn. Dio koji je jos nedostajao, a da se osigura neophodna puhacka sekcija, napokon je pridruzen za otprilike vrijeme prvih probi kada su spazena tri domara i primorana da postanu The Got the Tape on Tuesday Horns. Ostalo je, kako kazu, povijest. Skanatrin self-titled prvijenac Frank Sinatrinih cover pjesama je izdan za P.O.S. records u proljece 1999.
Bend je, kako mi se cini, jedino ovo i izdao i vec ga dugo nema. Prije nekih godinu dana imali su i finu web stranicu, ali vise ni nje nema.
Sve u svemu odlican hommage velikanu Sinatri.
Moja opaska je da momci zvuce cak i bolje od originala. Sta bi se reklo... paraju dupe koliko su dobri.
"Lounge-Ska"?? Classic pop songs associated with Frank Sinatra done to the frenetic herky-jerky ska beat.
1 TheLady Is a Tramp
2 Fly Me to the Moon
3 High Hopes
4 Witchcraft
5 TheCoffee Song
6 Luck Be a Lady
7 My Kind of Town
8 I've Got You Under My Skin
9 Theme from New York, New York
10 That's LifeSkanatra (1999) - album credits
Bill Emmons Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Scott Anthony Mastering
Skanatra Main Performer
Senior Toastmaster Willie Inspiration
Bass D Strings Bass, Vocals (Background)
Swiggin Higgins Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Fat Hand Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Ray-Bahn Keyboards
Paul Lapilusa Arranger, Horn
Ted Juachon Horn
Mike Miniaci Horn
Bethlyn Krakauer Design
Leo Espinosa Design, Illustrations
John Reynolds Liner Notes
Chris Gefken Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Chairman Sunbeam Vocals, Inspiration, Group Member
Count De Money Group Member
Case O'Stengel Percussion, Group Member, Vocals (Background)Take one part ska, add one part Frank Sinatra, shake well over high-energy, good-natured fun, and you have Skanatra! What? "Lady is a Tramp" done up as a rousing ska number? Oh, yes! Not only do these beer-swilling, vintage suit- Fedora hat-wearing musicians revive Sinatra's classics, they do it with astonishing free wheeling exhuberance. Hailing from Sinatra's home town of Hoboken, NJ, Skanatra's fresh approach to the somewhat overdone ska/swing genre is enthusiastic and addictive. This ten-track debut combines lounge sensibility with slick musicianship and style. Anyone with a soft spot for 'Ol Blue Eyes and ska will love this offering. It's just brisk, baby! ~ Roxanne Blanford, All Music Guide
