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19 Feb

Live In Time And Space by Brass Monkey

Move over, ROVA; step aside, Dirty Dozen Brass Band; make room, World Saxophone Quartet. There’s a (relatively) new Organization in town, outside talent from ‘way out west. The moniker of this sinister combine: Brass Monkey, from the San Francisco Bay Area. Oh sure, you never know just how many will show up, so don’t judge them by size. On this album, they are nine strong: a sousaphonist, 2 trombonists, a trumpeter, 2 percussionists, and 3 sax players who double on other winds or percussion, one of whom is a special guest: multi-winds-wizard Ralph Carney. Brass Monkey let out a mighty racket, and a joyous one at that, echoing the early-20th century New Orleans marching bands, the imaginative free-range sounds of the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, the polyphony of NYC’s Lounge Lizards, Brit new wave funksters Pigbag and Nigeria’s Fela Kuti and the driving, in-the-pocket, groove-mad strut of Funk Classicists James Brown and The BT Express. Make no mistake: this is Party Music, but party music with chops up the wazoo, and brains to boot, and Brass Monkey are confident enough to leave some of the rough edges showing. This disc has plenty of skronk, stomp and swing, enough for three bands - and they get extra points for performing a swell, obscure Ellington tune, "Limbo Jazz." Live In Time And Space is a tonic, it’s legal AND no prescription needed, the sound of revelry in handy compact disc form.

Additional Info

  • Artist / Group Name: Brass Monkey
  • CD Title: Live In Time And Space
  • Year Released: 2001
  • Record Label: Weed
  • Musicians: Jon Birdsong: sousaphone; Ralph Carney: tenor sax, piccolo, clarinet; Tom Griesser: baritone sax, percussion.
  • Rating: Five Stars
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