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3 Generations Walking
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3 Generations Walking
Spiritual Life Music
Release: 03/11/2003
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Rated:
Review by:
Akira
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Taking the NYC House Scene to a studio doesn't seem to be
a problem for Herman Pearl (a.k.a. Soy Sos) and Michael
Lopez (a.k.a. MKL). Both men are known in the electronic
and performance arenas as high-level musicians and
producers. Their cover of Burning Spear's "Slavery Days"
has been a favorite in the Body and Soul scene since 2001.
3 Generations Walking is a multi-cultural, loosely-bound
collection of musicians (all but Lopez are involved in other
bands/projects), led by Lopez and Pearl, who are taking
music that generally lives in the club scene to a live format.
The music recorded is sometimes simple and trance-y,
sometimes dense and complex - the realm of the DJ playing
multiple tracks at once over dual mixing stations. The thing
is, these musicians are more than adept enough to hold it all
down.
The Rhythm Section consists of a various who's who of live
and studio performers quelled from Pittsburgh's finest and
NYC's scenesters: Howard Alexander III on keys, Philip
Gillespie on drums (yes, he IS related), George Jones on
percussion (no, he is NOT related); with John Hall on Bass.
Vocalists include Verve recording artist Claudia Acuna,
Christiane D, Gary French, Saihou Njie, Zapology, and Bongo
Asher.
Recorded at Pearl's Tuff Gong Studio, the producers leaned
to a more traditional recording strategy. In the spirit of live
performance, Soy Sos and MKL gave the performers no
sheet music or solid direction, but more of a mood of what
the song is and allowed each musician to feed off another, in
a more traditional jazz-improvisational strategy.
All tracks are tastefully done and will have their own unique
fans. Highlights of the album are diverse, as to be expected,
and are frequently the tracks that lean heaviest on sticky
bass, drums, and percussion - the more deep, dark, and
lush ("Gainde," "Meditation"). Otherwise great are the
up-tempo and Latin-esque "Love Always Love" and "Feed,"
the more reggae "Desparia" and the super-traditional
smoky-jazz-lounge sound, "Mohawk."
3GW pushes (and basically erases) the boundaries that
might exist between dub and deep house, jazz and reggae,
and dance and soul, by creating healthy, blurred lines
between the genres. It's a great idea and it is proven here
to work well. While much of the album is as exciting as it is
chill (maybe in the same vein of a more spiritual Jazzanova),
it drags slightly at times.
The full band will be spreading their message around the US
and Europe in 2003. |
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