The Entourage Music and Theater Ensemble was an ambient music group. The group was active from 1970 to 1983 and performed in theaters in combination with dance ensembles. The primary members were founder and director Joe Clark on saxophones and keyboards; Rusti Clark (no relation) on viola and guitar; Michael S. Smith on drums and percussion; and Wall Matthews on guitars, keyboards, and percussion. Entourage formed in Baltimore, Maryland in the early-1970s, relocated to Millbrook, New York, then moved to New London, Connecticut in the mid-1970s and finally re-settled in the Baltimore, Maryland area. The group disbanded after the death of Joe Clark in 1983. Rusti Clark died in 1986, and Michael Smith in 2006.

Recordings and noted performances

In the mid-1970s,

Moe Asch Moe, MOE, MoE or m.o.e. may refer to: In arts and entertainment Characters * Moe Szyslak, from the animated television show ''The Simpsons'' * Moe, leader of The Three Stooges, played by Moe Howard * Moe Higurashi, supporting character in ''Yash ...

of Folkways Records produced two recordings: ''Entourage'' (1973) and ''The Neptune Collection ''(1975). Both recordings were made available on custom CD and digital download in 2007 by

Smithsonian Folkways Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was fo ...

. In 1976, noted choreographer

Murray Louis Murray Louis (November 4, 1926 – February 1, 2016) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Life Louis was known as one of the most influential American modern dancers and choreographers. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he grew up in Manh ...

commissioned the group to create a two-hour original score based on the ballet '' Cleopatra'' for the

Royal Danish Ballet The Royal Danish Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Danish Theatre in Kongens Nytorv, Copenhagen, Denmark. It is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world and originates from 1748, when the R ...

. The ensemble was commissioned by

Nebraska Public Television Nebraska Public Media, formerly Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET), is a state network of public radio and public television, television stations in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is operated by the Nebraska Educational Telecommunication ...

to create a half-hour national television special, ''Ceremony of Dreams'' in 1978.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PFu-2jqOxk YouTube Video of 1978 Performance by Entourage, "Ceremony of Dreams" In 2003, a composition from ''The Neptune Collection'', "Neptune Rising", was sampled and used as the basis for the single " She Moves She" by the electronic music artist

Four Tet Kieran Hebden (born September 1977), known as Four Tet, is an English electronic musician. He came to prominence as a member of the post-rock band Fridge before establishing himself as a solo artist with charting UK albums such as '' Rounds'' ...

Critical reaction

The ensemble received mostly positive reviews. In 1974, a brief write up of the group's first recording in Stereo Magazine praised Entourage as one of the "unique groups since The Paul Winter Consort... a beautiful album..." In his review of ''The Neptune Collection'', Russell Shaw of

Crawdaddy! ''Crawdaddy'' was an American rock music magazine launched in 1966. It was created by Paul Williams, a Swarthmore College student at the time, in response to the increasing sophistication and cultural influence of popular music. The magazine w ...

magazine wrote, "When Michael Smith of Entourage accentuates the eerie 'Druid Dance' with a series of fists, knuckles, and finger pops, he becomes the device the pacing is voiced through. All this is part and parcel of the framework in which Entourage operates; an often sinister, but more often frighteningly intricate series of compositions adaptable for dance purposes. On their own, without visual aid, the recordings are awesomely imagistic; a maelstrom of impressions..."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Entourage Music And Theater Ensemble Ambient music groups Experimental musical groups American instrumental musical groups Musical groups established in 1970 Musical groups disestablished in 1983