“Ritual of the Savage” – Les Baxter

Album: Ritual of the Savage

Artist: Les Baxter

Year: 1951

Genre: Exotica

Grade: A-

This rich, colorful collection of faux-African sophistipop is among bandleader Les Baxter’s best works. Easy listening doesn’t get easier than Ritual of the Savage. Classical meets jazz, Hollywood meets the Congo, armchair safari enthusiasts meet ersatz African Shangri-La. The melodies and orchestral arrangements are consistently catchy, even when bordering on cheesy, and the percussive polyrhythms are completely authentic. A perfect soundtrack to an outdated movie that doesn’t exist.