Chef Menteur (band)
Encyclopedia
Chef Menteur is an instrumental rock band from New Orleans, Louisiana
in the United States
with heavy leanings towards the style of ambient music
. It was formed in 1998 by Alec Vance (of Shinola
) and Jim Yonkus, both of whom were looking to explore new sounds from different music worlds: electronica
, post-rock
, experimental noise and drone
, and improvisational jazz. The current line-up includes Dan Haugh from the bands godheadSilo
and Smoke and Smoke.
The original lineup was Vance on guitar and Farfisa
organ and Yonkus on bass, with both members of the duo also playing other synths, manipulating samples and drum machines. They also run their own custom video projections at live shows from self-produced DV
footage. The sound of the band has become gradually more guitar-and-drums oriented over time and less sample-based and reliant on computer-synchronized beats, and shows feature psychedelic improvisations.
Their 2005 album We Await Silent Tristero's Empire was released by the artist-run independent label Backporch Revolution
to international critical acclaimhttp://www.chefmenteur.org/press/.
The band reformed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina
, and was one of the first bands to play in the city following the lifting of the evacuation order allowing residents to return. They were instrumental in releasing the Proud To Swim Home compilation which raised money for musicians who lost instruments in the flood.
They released the album "The Answer's In Forgetting" in 2007, at which point Yonkus left the band and was replaced by Brian Abbott. In 2008 the band was nominated for Best Electronic Act in The Best of the Big Easy Awardshttp://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/well-versed/Content?oid=1249645. The trio of Vance, Haugh, and Abbott spent the next three and a half years recording their next album, to be released digitally and on double LP, named "East of the Sun & West of the Moon." In April 2011, Phil Rollins of The Gubernatorial Candidates became a member of Chef Menteur.
Chef Menteur counts among its fans noted actress Grace Zabriskie
.
Other past and contributing members of the band have included Bryan Killingsworth (keyboards, sampling, programming, guitar), Chris Sule (drums), Mike Mayfield (drums, keyboards; also known for his work in the Buttons), and Jim Yonkus (bass).
Retro-minimalist musician potpie has also added live theremin
and sine wave generator to many Chef Menteur shows.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with heavy leanings towards the style of ambient music
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
. It was formed in 1998 by Alec Vance (of Shinola
Shinola (band)
Shinola was a rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, that existed from 1994 to 1997, and was a regular mainstay in the burgeoning local indie-rock scene of the time. Employing two guitars, electrified violin, drums, bass guitar, and occasionally Farfisa organ and banjo, their...
) and Jim Yonkus, both of whom were looking to explore new sounds from different music worlds: electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
, experimental noise and drone
Drone (music)
In music, a drone is a harmonic or monophonic effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout most or all of a piece. The word drone is also used to refer to any part of a musical instrument that is just used to produce such an effect.-A musical effect:A drone...
, and improvisational jazz. The current line-up includes Dan Haugh from the bands godheadSilo
GodheadSilo
godheadSilo was a noise rock duo from Fargo, North Dakota.The band consisted of Mike Kunka on bass and Dan Haugh on drums. The two met growing up near Fargo, North Dakota. The band originally started as a three-piece, with Phil Leitch playing guitar. Leitch left the band after their first show at...
and Smoke and Smoke.
The original lineup was Vance on guitar and Farfisa
Farfisa
Farfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy.The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments, in...
organ and Yonkus on bass, with both members of the duo also playing other synths, manipulating samples and drum machines. They also run their own custom video projections at live shows from self-produced DV
DV
DV is a format for the digital recording and playing back of digital video. The DV codec was launched in 1995 with joint efforts of leading producers of video camcorders....
footage. The sound of the band has become gradually more guitar-and-drums oriented over time and less sample-based and reliant on computer-synchronized beats, and shows feature psychedelic improvisations.
Their 2005 album We Await Silent Tristero's Empire was released by the artist-run independent label Backporch Revolution
Backporch Revolution
Backporch Revolution is an independent record label, netlabel, and artists' collective from New Orleans, Louisiana, probably most noted for releasing material by Chef Menteur, potpie and other New Orleans underground artists...
to international critical acclaimhttp://www.chefmenteur.org/press/.
The band reformed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, and was one of the first bands to play in the city following the lifting of the evacuation order allowing residents to return. They were instrumental in releasing the Proud To Swim Home compilation which raised money for musicians who lost instruments in the flood.
They released the album "The Answer's In Forgetting" in 2007, at which point Yonkus left the band and was replaced by Brian Abbott. In 2008 the band was nominated for Best Electronic Act in The Best of the Big Easy Awardshttp://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/well-versed/Content?oid=1249645. The trio of Vance, Haugh, and Abbott spent the next three and a half years recording their next album, to be released digitally and on double LP, named "East of the Sun & West of the Moon." In April 2011, Phil Rollins of The Gubernatorial Candidates became a member of Chef Menteur.
Chef Menteur counts among its fans noted actress Grace Zabriskie
Grace Zabriskie
Grace Zabriskie is an American actress. She has appeared in many popular American films but, she is best known for her work in television. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the television series Twin Peaks, Seinfeld, and Big Love.-Early life:Zabriskie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana...
.
Band members
As of May 2011, the full-time membership of Chef Menteur consists of:- Brian Abbott (bass, guitar, trumpet, keyboards)
- Dan Haugh (electric banjo, keyboards, drums)
- Phil Rollins (guitar, keyboards, bass)
- Alec Vance (guitar, keyboards, bass, vocals)
Other past and contributing members of the band have included Bryan Killingsworth (keyboards, sampling, programming, guitar), Chris Sule (drums), Mike Mayfield (drums, keyboards; also known for his work in the Buttons), and Jim Yonkus (bass).
Retro-minimalist musician potpie has also added live theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
and sine wave generator to many Chef Menteur shows.
Discography
- Vive La France! EP - released 2003 on Backporch RevolutionBackporch RevolutionBackporch Revolution is an independent record label, netlabel, and artists' collective from New Orleans, Louisiana, probably most noted for releasing material by Chef Menteur, potpie and other New Orleans underground artists...
- We Await Silent Tristero's Empire - released 2005 on Backporch RevolutionBackporch RevolutionBackporch Revolution is an independent record label, netlabel, and artists' collective from New Orleans, Louisiana, probably most noted for releasing material by Chef Menteur, potpie and other New Orleans underground artists...
- "Empires Sans Frontières" - track contributed to WTULWTULWTUL is a progressive/alternative FM radio outlet in New Orleans, Louisiana, operating at 91.5 MHz with an ERP of 1.5 kW.The station, which is operated by Tulane University, offers a mix of cutting-edge, progressive, alternative, electronica, classical, New Age, straight ahead jazz, folk,...
's Songs from the Basement 2 compilation, 2003 - "Oceanic No. 23" (with Alexandra Scott) - track contributed to WTUL's Songs from the Basement 4 compilation, 2006
- "Aquavitae" - track contributed to Proud To Swim Home: A Backporch Revolution Compilation for New Orleans, 2006
- "Charlie Don't Surf (pinkysqueak mix)" - track contributed to Proud To Swim Home: A Backporch Revolution Compilation for New Orleans, 2006
- The Answer's In Forgetting - released 2007 on Backporch RevolutionBackporch RevolutionBackporch Revolution is an independent record label, netlabel, and artists' collective from New Orleans, Louisiana, probably most noted for releasing material by Chef Menteur, potpie and other New Orleans underground artists...
- "East of the Sun & West of the Moon" - to be released 2011 on Backporch RevolutionBackporch RevolutionBackporch Revolution is an independent record label, netlabel, and artists' collective from New Orleans, Louisiana, probably most noted for releasing material by Chef Menteur, potpie and other New Orleans underground artists...