I have exciting news to share: You can now read Dinner Music in the new Substack app for iPhone.
Hugo Montenegro was born in New York City and died in Palm Springs. He is generally known as a composer of film soundtracks, particularly for Spaghetti Western, and worked through the late mid-century. Later in his career, he used early versions of the Moog synthesizer, helping to push electronic sounds to popularity and inspiring future generations of electronic musicians.
Cha Chas for Dancing is one of his earliest albums and was released in 1960. The album sounds exactly as it’s titled — it is cha chas for dancing. The percussion instruments punctuate the coy, melodic brass that floats through the album. Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White in particular holds true, with a sound that sits squarely in the cusp between the 50s and 60s. The entire album is high energy, perfect for an elaborate mid-week meal with a glass (or two, or three) of wine.
Enjoy.
Cha Chas for Dancing - Hugo Montenegro
Pair this album with:
Browned Sage Butter Chicken Piccata. There’s something about big band heavy music that goes with Italian. Anything that says sage butter is a friend of mine. Though this recipe calls for pasta, I’d recommend pairing the chicken with ricotta gnocchi.
Frezza Pét-Nat. This sparkling wine hails from central Italy and is a blend of a few different grapes. It’s dry, lots of green fruits. Pairs very well with the food pairing above.
Rosalita Boy Smells Candle. I burn a lot of candles while I cook to create ambiance and Boy Smells is my go-to. They burn for a while, smell amazing and aren’t crazy expensive (though still more than my other go-to, Mrs. Meyers).
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Enjoy. 💕