THE SOUL REBELS

Unlock Your Mind

2012-02-02

Brass bands from New Orleans are usually associated with parade music but Unlock Your Mind by “The Soul Rebels” pushes the boundaries of convention. Yes it’s jazz with plenty of horns in perfect harmony with sousaphone dotting the background. But there’s rap intertwined in a few tracks and creative interpretation of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” and Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” with free jazz horn squeals. Trombone Shorty lends a hand on “504,” guitarist Leo Nocentelli of The Meters struts his stuff on “Say Na Hey” and Ben Ellman of Galactic performs a sax solo on the improvisational “I’m So Confused.” Multi-vocals and rap gives the high energy track “We Gon Take Your Body” a dance party vibe. Each song has its own flavor but standouts are the reggae title track “Unlock Your Mind,” track 7 “Night People,” and track 10 “Say Na Hey” with its feel-good funk. – Pam VandeKerkhoff

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Jazz

  • reviewed 12/2011

    THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET
    THEIR LAST TIME OUT

  • reviewed 09/2004

    Madeleine Peyroux
    Careless Love

  • reviewed 02/2007

    STEFON HARRIS
    African Tarantella

  • reviewed 08/2007

    SONNY FORTUNE
    You and the Night and the Music

  • reviewed 07/2006

    PETER KATER
    10 Questions for the Dalai Lama

  • reviewed 05/2008

    The End of Times Orchestra
    Meets Eno Diamond

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.