Esquivel

Mexican-born bandleader Juan García Esquivel, known as the King of Space Age Pop, created a unique and sophisticated style which combined elements of lounge music with Latin and jazz influences and his quirky compositions define easy listening music from the 1960s which retrospectively became known as Space Age Bachelor Music. He was a perfectionist and although his work contained improvised piano passages these are the only times his tightly controlled band members were allowed to stray from the score. His idiosyncratic compositions included exotic percussion, wordless vocals using fabricated phrases like 'zu-zu' and 'pow!' and were often backed by lush, extravagant orchestrations. The end result of all Esquivel's considerable musical talent and flair is as recording legacy of music which is difficult to categorise. He was truly a musician ahead of his time and his live shows combined outstanding musicianship coupled with elaborate presentation which led to him becoming known as the the Busby Berkeley of cocktail music. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 83.

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