Raw Emotion, Mixed with Yazbek's Trademark Humor, Combine for a Unique Collection of Songs
CD Out 2/26/08; Lincoln Center “American Songbook" Concert Confirmed for February 9th.
A sense of humor is one of the greatest gifts anyone can claim. A talent for music is another. Composer/Performer David Yazbek has been blessed with both. But how does such an artist handle personal loss, rage and sadness? What is the creative outlet that allows for a cathartic release? In Yazbek's case, the answer came in the form of the brilliant Evil Monkey Man, a 14-song collection of raw, emotionally charged music, which showcases his distinctive ability to use humor as a means to process and live through a period of turmoil and darkness.
Much in the way that Elvis Costello has worn many different hats as his career has unfolded, David Yazbek is completely comfortable in a variety of guises. Yazbek's mature, thoughtful new CD finds its home somewhere between where rock, pop, blues and jazz sensibilities mesh with a theatricality that comes from raw emotion. 'Evil Monkey Man' is the sort of tour de force that an artist can't necessarily plan - it either happens or it doesn't. In Yazbek's case, there was a sadness and madness lurking beneath his skin, and he let it run amok in the studio. And you can literally feel that tension when you hear the album.
Set for February 26, 2008 release on Ghostlight Records, Evil Monkey Man finds Yazbek fusing complex, often upbeat melodies and witty lyrics to twist the rage and anguish of the disturbed protagonist of his songs. This collection may come to be described as 'asymmetrical music' - slightly askew upon an initial listen, darkly brilliant upon deeper immersion. Serial killers come to life, The Devil disguises himself as Nature, mortality rises as a constant theme, helpless capucine monkeys are experimented upon, loneliness and desire are revealed - these are the twisted threads that form the thoroughly engaging Evil Monkey Man.
Yazbek comments:
“These songs come out of a tumultuous time in my life when I experienced a personal loss and I touched some real darkness. That said, I can't help but find things funny, so there's a lot of gallows humor and regular old humor in these songs. But they're deadly serious and the place they come from is real."
About David Yazbek:
Yazbek is a long-time cult favorite - a recording artist, vocalist and pianist known for his thrilling live performances and irreverent style. He is a two-time Tony Award Nominee, whose shows 'The Full Monty' and 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' have played in over 20 countries. His first album 'The Laughing Man' won the N.A.I.R.D. Award for Best Pop Album of the Year. He is a Grammy-nominated record producer, and an Emmy-Award winning TV writer (for Late Night with David Letterman).
Lincoln Center AMERICAN SONGBOOK performance confirmed for February 9th, 2008: David Yazbek and His Warmest Regards have been invited to perform at Lincoln Center on 2/9/08, as part of the American Songbook series. Yazbek will preview much of 'Evil Monkey Man', and will also play a selection of songs from his other albums and Broadway shows. Expect special guests and lots of surprises, as Yazbek plays The Allen Room at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. For tickets, contact CenterCharge at 212.721.6500, go to Avery Fisher Hall Box Office or visit the J@LC Box office.
Yazbek's Song Notes for 'Evil Monkey Man': I feel like I stripped away a lot of the ornamentation and “please love me" frills in my other albums because I needed to say something and get it out. Because of the rawness inherent in the songs, I felt like the right way to record it was to get my band into a studio and play them down together, at the same time, with plenty of room for improvisation and happy accidents. For the most part, that's what we did (at the Magic Shop) and we all realized immediately that this method brought out our individual and collective musicality in a really exciting way. These players are amazing, and I'm no slouch as a pianist and we all felt pretty emotionally raw at the time. I think it all comes out in the record. Not a lot of overdubs, not a lot of “indicating". I had the flu while recording a lot of these songs and it somehow released me from being “on". The anger and sadness and hysteria came out naturally. And the humor was revealed for what humor always is at bottom-- a way to survive it all.
1. TERRIBLE THING
About the vortex of desire and 'blind getting' and how it always ends up ugly if you lose track of the Moment.
2. MONKEY BABY HANGING ON CHICKEN WIRE
Harry Harlow did experiments in the 50s and 60s where he replaced baby capucine monkeys' mothers with substitutes made of mesh-wire and terry-cloth, sometimes wire alone. He proved that the comfort of a soft “mother" was more important than food to these babies. Baby monkeys kept in isolation were irredeemably traumatized. I found the experiments harrowing and inhumane. I also somehow related to them on a personal level.
3. A BLUSTERY WIND
I think this one's about a serial killer.
4.THE TRAVELER (#1 - The Fecund Woods)
I wrote a poem called 'The Traveler', which was basically about Nature as The Devil. We rolled tape with all 4 of us in the studio and I told the guys what I wanted them to think of as we started playing. What I told them has something to do with the subtitle of each track. Then I started playing and everyone joined in. We did this for several hours, and these bits and pieces are the result. All of the music is improvised by all 4 of us. I'd actually like to do some gigs in this manner.
5. NEVER GET OUT OF THIS
One of the things I assimilated during several years of Zen training in the 90s was that no matter what you do, you end up dead. This can be terrifying, or ultimately liberating. Either way, you should face up to it. Working out all day, being vegan, getting high, lusting after lots of young girls when you're middle-aged -- it's all fine, but if you're doing it to distract yourself from the inevitable, you're kind of wasting your life. So this song really points a finger and says, “don't forget". I wrote the lyrics in one night and sent them to Erik Della Penna to see if he could come up with music. He did.
6. THAT LUCKY OLD SUN
This is a cover. I didn't know this song until Erik played it for me near the end of a recording day. It apparently is a very well-known song, covered by everyone from Willie Nelson to Johnny Cash. I asked him to play it a few more times because it really affected me. I was crying like a defeated “Project Runway" contestant. Erik and I went into the studio and recorded it a few times. I think this was the first take. I think what got me about it is that the guy can't find relief from his hard-working, unappreciated life and he doesn't know it, but he's considering suicide.
7. BAZOOKA JOE
A cast of characters from my life over the years. I guess it's about loneliness and desire.
8. THE TRAVELER (#2 - He Stomps Rhythms Down To Hell)
9. STEPS OF ANOTHER MAN'S HOUSE
It's about the guy who is walking down a snowy street in the winter and it's cold and he sees the warm light inside a house. Another song about desire and lacking.
10. IT ISN'T FAIR
This is one of those songs I wrote while watching TV and getting enraged at the Religious Right-wingers and Republicans and then I realized that what I was doing was loud mental-whining.
11. EIGHT EVIL MEN
Came partially out of a dream I had. I wanted to write a song that was like a revenge- movie. At root, it's about going from total hopelessness to empowerment. Sure there's a body count, but it still feels optimistic to me.
12. THE TRAVELER (#3 - Beside the Antifreeze Pond)
13. WASTED
For me it always seems to be fleeting but eloquent moments that make life worth living. I think that's what this song is.
14. INDUSTRIAL LOVE SONG
Howard Korder (screen and theatre writer) wrote these words years ago and asked me to write music, which I did. I've always liked the song and finally felt like this was the album to put it on.
Evil Monkey Man features DAVID YAZBEK AND HIS WARMEST REGARDS:
Musicians are: DAVID YAZBEK - Piano, vocals, organ
HIS WARMEST REGARDS:
Erik Della Penna - Guitars, Lap Steel, Bg Vocals
Mike DuClos- Upright/Electric Bass
Dean Sharenow - Drums, percussion, Bg Vocals
Tony Orbach - Saxes
For more information contact Seth Cohen PR.
