Kip Hanrahan gathers another all-star avant- jazz-funk band to accompany texts by satirist and social critic
Ishmael Reed. The results aren't as bookishly dull or consciously experimental as the project sounds. Allen Touissaint,
Olu Dara,
David Murray,
Leo Nocentelli,
Eddie Harris,
Don Pullen, Robbie Ameen, and
Steve Swallow stir up lively, complex grooves that perfectly compliment Reed's evocative poetry. Intellectual dance music with ridiculous jazz chops isn't a genre for everyone, but for those who enjoy thinking about the funk as much as they love grooving to it, this album is highly recommended. ~ Brian Beatty