''No Pain for Cakes'' is an album by the American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

band

the Lounge Lizards The Lounge Lizards were an eclectic musical group founded by saxophonist John Lurie and his brother, pianist Evan Lurie, in 1978. Initially known for their ironic, tongue-in-cheek take on jazz, The Lounge Lizards eventually became a showcase fo ...

, released in 1987.

John Lurie John Lurie (born December 14, 1952) is an American musician, painter, actor, director, and producer. He co-founded the Lounge Lizards jazz ensemble; has acted in 19 films, including '' Stranger than Paradise'' and '' Down by Law''; has composed ...

sang on the album.

Production

The album was recorded at Kaufman Astoria Studios, in Queens, New York.

Marc Ribot Marc Ribot (; born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer. His work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, rock, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Wait ...

contributed to ''No Pain for Cakes''.

Critical reception

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'' called the album "mature and vivid music, always ingenious and sometimes brilliant." The ''

Windsor Star The ''Windsor Star'' is a daily newspaper based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Owned by Postmedia Network, it is published Tuesdays through Saturdays. History The paper began as the weekly ''Windsor Record'' in 1888, changing its name to the ''Bo ...

'' wrote that the Lounge Lizards "sound as if their music is written by a contemporary Kurt Weill for a Fellini movie without them ever taking their tongues out of their cheeks." ''

The Christian Science Monitor ''The Christian Science Monitor'' (''CSM''), commonly known as ''The Monitor'', is a nonprofit news organization that publishes daily articles in electronic format as well as a weekly print edition. It was founded in 1908 as a daily newspaper ...

'' deemed ''No Pain for Cakes'' "zany weirdness and outrageous eclecticism—avant pop/jazz/rock."

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Lurie; except where indicated # "My Trip to Ireland" # "No Pain for Cakes" # "My Clown's on Fire" (John Lurie,

Curtis Fowlkes Curtis Fowlkes (born March 19, 1950) is an American jazz trombonist and singer. He is a founding member of The Jazz Passengers. Career In 1987, Fowlkes started The Jazz Passengers with saxophonist Roy Nathanson. He has also been a member of ...

) # "Carry Me Out" # "Bob and Nico" # "Tango #3, Determination for

Rosa Parks Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. The United States Congress has honored her as "the ...

" (

Evan Lurie Evan is both an English and Welsh male given name derived from "Iefan", a Welsh form for the name John. In other languages it could be compared to " Ivan", " Ian", and " Juan"; the name John itself is derived from the ancient Hebrew name Yəhô� ...

) # "The Magic of Palermo" (John Lurie, Evan Lurie) # "Cue for Passion" (Evan Lurie) # "Where Were You" (Evan Lurie,

Erik Sanko Erik Sanko (born 27 September 1963) is a bass player from New York who has played in The Lounge Lizards and currently active in Skeleton Key. Biography In the past he also worked with notable musicians including Marc Ribot, John Cale, Yoko Ono, Su ...

)

Personnel

Lounge Lizards

- piano; voice on "My Trip to Ireland" *

- alto saxophone, painting *

- guitar, banjo; cornet on "Carry Me Out" *

- trombone *

Roy Nathanson Roy Jay Nathanson (born May 17, 1951) is an American saxophonist, composer, bandleader, actor and teacher. He became the leader and principal composer of the Jazz Passengers, a six piece group that he founded with Curtis Fowlkes in 1987. They have ...

- reeds *

- bass *Dougie Bowne - drums *E.J. Rodriguez - percussion

Additional personnel

*Anders Gårdmand - baritone saxophone on "No Pain for Cakes" and "Carry Me Out" *Jill Jaffe - violin on "No Pain for Cakes" *Seigen Ono at the Kaufman Astoria Studios, Queens - recording and mixing *Valerie Goodman - coordinator *

Ted Jensen Ted Jensen (born September 19, 1954) is an American mastering engineer, known for having mastered many recordings, including the Eagles' ''Hotel California'', Green Day's '' American Idiot'' and Norah Jones' ''Come Away with Me''. Biography Ted ...

at Sterling Sound, NYC - mastering

References

{{Authority control The Lounge Lizards albums 1987 albums Antilles Records albums