The fifth recording for
Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls
continues on the path of celebrating freedom fighters the drummer/leader is inspired by and admires. This version of the band retains saxophonist
Geof Bradfield
and welcomes new members
Greg Ward
on alto sax (from
Broken Things
), guitarist
Dave Miller
(taking over for
Jeff Parker
), and bassist
Jake Vinsel
(in for
Noel Kupersmith
). The multi-cultural jazz concept of
Sirota
remains, using African-based ideas merged within a progressive jazz and modern creative framework, while also paying tribute to two late pop music icons --
Bob Marley
and
Joe Strummer
.
's drumming itself is self-assured and melodic, working off precepts from jazz greats like
Art Blakey
Max Roach
, while also taking into account a communal tribal village concept that makes the
Rebel Souls
a tight-knit unit. He's composed one piece for this date, as
"Killa Dilla"
has the funky 4/4 to reggae style down pat, with
Miller
's effects-driven electric guitar delving deep into the dub thing. From the other bandmembers,
Bradfield
's
"J.Y.D."
brands an Ornette Coleman-type melody into a bluesy swing to free passage,
Vinsel
"Little D"
is a dour to happy Afro-beat tune,
Ward
gives us
"The Keys to Freedom"
in a funky R&B stance, and
"Tollway"
has an introspective nature that belies its bluesy swing via
's bass clarinet. The band offers a stirring rendition of the
Charles Mingus
instrumental protest song
"Free Cell Block F, 'Tis Nazi U.S.A.,"
faster than the original with typically shifting dynamics, played very well. A two-part take of
Miriam Makeba
's soulful kwela
"Polo Mze"
turns into a thorny rocker courtesy of
's guitar, parsed by
's bass solo in the middle. Among all of this excellent music, there's even more as the band riffs on an anthemic intro to the strident beat of
"Clampdown"
penned by
the Clash
Strummer
Mick Jones
, and does the little-\ known song of oppression by
Caetano Veloso
,
"13 DeMaio,"
as Afro highlife-meets-Brazilian tropical rain forest atmospheres, accented by handclaps and the powerful
Roach
-cum-
Sunny Murray
drumming of
. Then there's
Stephen Foster
"Hard Times,"
somewhat a spiritual in the hands of the
, but more a prayer song as
's alto and
's bass clarinet join hands and look ahead to better days. While this recording is not much different stylistically than
's previous four efforts, it shows a thematic development that marks not only consistency, but a re-dedication to the core values of a true democracy where oppression and poverty are not tolerated, and the will of the people comes first. Of course, the music is great as well, and comes easily recommended, as do all of the
finely crafted projects. ~ Michael G. Nastos