Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Strange and Wonderful" by Whirling Dervishes

By Bob Makin

originally published: 07/12/2024

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Strange and Wonderful," the title track of Whirling Dervishes' 1992 album, now available on all streaming platforms.

Westfield-based Whirling Dervishes are the only band to win the Makin Waves Band of the Year twice! They also were the first winner in 1989.

That’s why it’s so great to see them release their 1992 LP, “Strange and Wonderful,” to streaming platforms. The title track is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Strange and Wonderful” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on July 12 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.

To celebrate the reissue of “Strange and Wonderful,” the Dervishes are doing a reunion concert on July 20 at The Break in Asbury Park with their longtime pals in Kanak, featuring members of fellow ‘80s/‘90s greats Well of Souls, Dramarama, Sylvain Sylvain and David Johansen.

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The show also will be a celebration of the life of Dervishes co-founding guitarist/co-songwriter Bob Ardrey, who died last month after a long illness. Subbing for Bob will be legendary John Eddie guitarist PK Lavengood.

“It’s always been our intention to have the only full-length album, ‘Strange and Wonderful,’ available on all streaming platforms,” Dervishes lead singer-songwriter Don Dazzo said. “We also desperately wanted to make available several previously unreleased tracks. Basically, a whole other album’s worth.

The idea was tossed around of doing a live show to celebrate the July 13 release.

“Aware of band leader, songwriter, and guitarist Bob Ardrey’s health condition for quite some time, we knew he would not perform,” Don continued. “After much consideration, we decided to move forward with the July 20 show at The Break in Asbury Park with virtuoso guitarist PK Lavengood filling in for Bob. Now with the news of Bob Ardrey’s death, this release and performance is even more timely and important to celebrate his life and the highly original music that he created.”

In 2018, Bob had started an indie label, Deko Music, with Grammy-winning engineer Alan Douches, who mixed “Strange and Wonderful.”

All of the surviving Dervishes remain creative, said Don, who often works as an event DJ.

“The most musically active is keyboardist Billy Siegel, currently playing with Cosmic Jerry Band and John Hathaway’s Neil Young tribute, Decade,” Don said. “Lead guitarist Dan Paola is a master wildlife photographer and is writing and recording songs for an upcoming solo album. Drummer John Bryan is a vibrantly creative abstract painter and scratch golfer. Bass player Jerry Heer is manager of post-production services at Warner Brothers Discovery HBO.”

For more about Whirling Dervishes, click here.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].

About the author:

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.

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