MUSICIANS’ LOUNGE ACT PAYING OFF

The Cargo Bar at the San Diego Hilton on Mission Bay is typical of the dozens of other hotel lounges found along the local waterfront.

The decor is nautical, with portholes as windows, wooden barrels and chests suspended from the ceiling, and a towering mast--a prop from “Mutiny on the Bounty”--separating the dance floor from the carpeted seating area.

The clientele is an even mix of hotel guests and business types in three-piece suits and designer dresses.

The live music, consisting mostly of low-key Top 40 dance tunes delivered each Wednesday through Saturday night by a group called the People Movers, is sufficiently loud for dancing, but soft enough so as not to drown out conversation.

Even so, band leader Michael Carnahan does not take kindly to the sneering “lounge lizards” label the People Movers have had to endure since they became the Cargo Bar’s house band a full decade ago.

“At least we’re able to support ourselves by playing music full time, instead of only playing once or twice a week and having to take other jobs in real estate or retail just to pay the bills,” said Carnahan, who doubles on keyboards and saxophone.

“We’re as serious about our music as any local band. A lot of these groups that insist on playing only their own music are flashes in the pan. They’re garage bands that make it for a while, but then can’t find work.

“Playing lounges gives us the opportunity to not only have a stable income, but also to develop ourselves, musically. We’re constantly learning from each other, and that’s because we play so often.

“As far as I’m concerned, the whole ‘lounge lizard’ stigma is nothing more than a generalization that simply isn’t true.”

Carnahan has a point. Anyone who sees the People Movers perform is likely to walk away with some shattered misconceptions of what lounge bands are all about.

The band’s lineup is hardly what one might expect. Instead of being over-the-hill musicians who have long ago burned out on the original-music scene, the six members of the People Movers are all accomplished musicians whose interests stretch far beyond the lounge circuit.

Keyboardist Chris Hoffman spends much of his free time writing original music. Bassist Ed Graves augments his income by recording jingles for local companies. Other members are guitarist Gabe Terrado, who joined the group earlier this month; singer Nicole Duca, and drummer Jim Stevens.

Carnahan rejoined the People Movers three years ago after spending five years in Los Angeles, where he recorded with Melissa Manchester and Leo Sayer.

Among the People Movers’ distinguished alumni are Jason Sheff, who in 1984 replaced Peter Cetera as lead singer of Chicago, and Nathan East, a veteran jazz bassist who has recorded with the likes of Al Jarreau, Lee Ritenour and Whitney Houston.

Accordingly, the People Movers’ breezy style is crisp and articulate. They play the same blend of pop-jazz and rhythm and blues as most of the national acts that regularly perform each summer at the “Concerts by the Bay” series at Humphrey’s on Shelter Island.

To the standard lounge menu of recent Top 40 hits, like David Sanborn’s “Run for Cover” and Huey Lewis and the News’ “Hip to be Square,” they add a liberal sprinkling of original songs such as Hoffman’s elegant “Bringing Out the Best in Me.”

“Up in Los Angeles, some of the best musicians in town are playing hotel lounges,” Carnahan said. “A lot of these players go out on the road each year with some of the biggest stars in pop music.

“But most road gigs only last about three months, so when they’re not touring they go back to the lounges.

“To make a living, they have to keep working. And the only way they can continually sharpen their skills is by playing all the time--something lounge bands can do, while the groups that play only original music can’t.”

One of the hardest chores the People Movers face is continually updating their selection of cover material, Carnahan said.

“The important thing is to get a reaction from your audience,” he said. “The people who come to lounges like to hear songs that are familiar to them--songs they hear every day on the radio.

“Even after playing four nights a week for 10 years, we still have to rehearse at least one day each week. And each time we rehearse, we learn at least one new song.

“Like most lounge bands, we play the same place all the time. So it’s very important to keep things fresh, both for us and for our audience.

“Besides, we would much rather spend our time learning music than working day jobs or moving equipment, which is what we would have to do if we played somewhere else each week, like the original-music bands do.”

Eventually, Carnahan said, he would like to see the People Movers land a national recording contract--the same goal that every local band, original or not, tends to shoot for.

“We’re in no hurry, though,” he said. “A lot of original bands go at it (attempting to get a record deal) with stars in their eyes, but every one of us has been playing long enough to know how hard it is to get signed, no matter how good you are.

“Right now, we’re recording demonstration tapes, and once we have enough tunes together, we plan on shopping around the tape. But we’re taking our time; playing here is our priority.

“That way, we’re not putting all our eggs into one basket. If we make it, fine. And if we don’t, we know we will still have steady work--and steady money coming in.”