Wigwam (Bob Dylan)
Copyright Bob Dylan Music o/b/o Big Sky Music
Arranged by Tumble
Robert Heirendt – Mbira
Rob Holland – Acoustic Bass
Sean Kerrigan – Electric Guitar
Randy McKean – Clarinet, Contra Alto Clarinet, Tenor Sax
Recorded by Bruce Wheelock at Flying Whale Recording, Grass Valley, Ca.
Mixed by Robert Heirendt at Old Home Place Studio, Grass Valley, Ca.
Wigwam is a Bob Dylan original recorded for Self Portrait. Unlike most other Dylan tunes, it has a vocal melody but no lyrics. The original tracks were recorded by Dylan, David Bromberg and Al Cooper. The tracks were then overdubbed with orchestration by producer Bob Johnson. Wigwam was the lone single released from Self Portrait, and this highly uncharacteristic Dylan tune became a hit single in multiple countries including Denmark, France and Singapore. The song was later used by Wes Anderson in his now classic film The Royal Tenenbaums.
“When I started digging into Dylan’s album with Tumble in mind, I thought that his slightly odd yet soulful instrumental piece Wigwam might be a good vehicle for Tumble. When I brought the song to the band, they were quite enthusiastic. We worked on the song collaboratively as a band to develop our “Tumble-ized” version of the song.” – Robert Heirendt
Tumble is a Northern California-based collective that includes Robert Heirendt on mbira, Rob Holland on bass and percussion, Sean Kerrigan on guitar, and Randy McKean on tenor saxophone and clarinets. Drawing inspiration from the groups Oregon, Codona, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and musicians such as John Coltrane and Thomas Mapfumo, the quartet’s intricate compositions combine folkish melodies and driving rhythms with an improvisational sensibility.
Website: http://randymckean.com/tumble/
