Alto saxophonist
Ken Field fronts the
Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, a band that has taken danceable music to both earthy and progressive levels. This CD pays close attention to the traditions of New Orleans funeral, march, and groove musics. Judging by the costumes the band wears on the booklet photos, they are also intent about putting on a stage show that would make any Mardi Gras celebration memorable. The band weaves in and out of traditional tunes everyone is familiar with, a formidable slew of potent originals, and pop tunes modified much further away from their original static arrangements. The septet does a levelheaded but exuberant version of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," and a reverent processional "Give Me Jesus," but that's where commonplace comes to a screeching halt. "Little Liza Jane" has underground vocals, balafon, and African percussion, "Down by the Riverside" is an off minor post-Katrina paean in slight tango rhythm, and "Que Sera Sera" is not the standard soppy waltz you've always heard, but a Congo Square shuffle. The funkiest number, written by
Field, is "Slots" merging
James Brown's strut with
Lester Bowie's swagger, while "Brown Skin Girl" is a definitive calypso reminiscent of the
Sonny Rollins evergreen "St. Thomas." They do
Ornette Coleman's lesser-known tangential melody "Chippie" in an expansive manner reminiscent of the
Either/Orchestra, and add a touch of the
Wild Magnolias style onto "White Wedding," the pop tune of
Billy Idol, which frankly sounds a bit odd.
Field's other excellent written works add multiple wood whistles under the horn driven "The Large S," a vamp juxtaposed against jumpy rhythms with long toned horn lines during "Minor Vee," and the kinetic, layered "Under the Skin," a definitive tune for both dancing and listening. A quirky, idiosyncratic band capable of both partying and intellectual discourse (think
Sun Ra,) the
Revolutionary Snake Ensemble are not so much cobras or electric eels ready to strike as they are a collective of friendly but slippery creatures intent on creating fun, illusion and evasive maneuvers. ~ Michael G. Nastos,