Album Review
Bassist Jones presents his contemporary funk/pop/rap band Aka Alias, using jazz undercurrents. Helpmates include electric guitarist David Gilmore, keyboardist Jeff Lawrence, alto saxophonist and flutist Bob Debellis, drummer Abe Fogel, trombonist Curtis Fowlkes on one cut, D.K. Dyson singing on two, Beans rapping on another two. The best instrumental work here is "Drag Queen Races" (can't resist the title either, ) replete with the band collectively vocalizing a five second Top Fuel run, and incredible flute and guitar unison lines written and played to strict tolerances and stunning effect. A 5/4 rhythm with Fender Rhodes makes for a clever combination buoying this inventive music. There are three "Pocket Prayers, " #1 being an overdubbed bowed and plucked bass, the latter quite kora-like, #2 a faded in alto sax and bop oriented piano line, the most jazz you'll find, while #3 is a rap from Jones. Beans raps on the hard, hip funk of "Black Bread," and hip hop "Po' Man's Ecstacy," intro'd by buzzing bass. This is one of a couple of tracks where you can hear it's live at the Knitting Factory, and a pretty chatty crowd it is. Dyson's features are in the progressive soul bag, and her lovely voice comes through clearly on "Hope Road" and "The Intrepid Storm." By contrast "Three Guesses" is the most avant, with ostinato bass asking a million questions, Lawrence's piano with more pointed inquisition, and Gilmore's urban landscape guitar intensifying the funky backdrop. Whether this is actually good or completely derivative music will be up to the individual listener. It would seem that these sounds are rooted in more simplistic styles, while Aka Alias is trying to juice it up with some rather vague complexities that in many instances, is questionable whether they really work or not. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
