Customer Reviews

Col. Bruce Hampton & Aquarium Rescue

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I saw the ARQ, first time, at a small bar in North Carolina....I went with a friend who had previously seen them. He told me...'this might be the best band you've ever seen'.....He was right!
I was blown away, to say the least. If you are a fan of 'jam bands' or fusion, or a rock musician, this will be a gem in your CD collection. I would tell my friends that the cats in ARQ are 'the BEST at what they play'...and I would challenge anyone to listen to the disc and dispute this. Jimmy Herring on the guitar is like a Steve Morse clone and is freakin' killing on his solos...Oteil Burbridge is a bass GOD, Matt Munday (where'd you go?) doubles J. Herring on mandolin (yes, MANDOLIN!) and Apt. Q holds it all together with his behemoth groove on drums. I saw the Dave Matthews band open up for ARQ and was sad for DMB as they couldn't compare, (and I like DMB).
This disc stands on it's own, and serves as a good stepping off point to follow the careers of some extraordinary musicians.

Live performances allow players truly worth their musical salt to shine, but often live CDs don't capture the performance all that well due to sound quality problems and the lack of the "being there" feeling that accompanies the performance. Of all the live CDs I have, this one best conveys the spirit of the band and has great sound quality in my opinion. Added to the fact that this is my favorite band, this is easily my favorite live CD (even moreso than Coltrane's A Love Supreme from Antibes, 1965). Herring, Hampton, Sipe, Mundy, Burbridge, and guests Leavell, Count M'Butu and the great Roosevelt make this CD an absolute joy to listen to.

Words cannot describe the intensely rocking music on this album. The sick grooves and virtuosic musicianship is a perfect platform for Col. Bruce's rough and rootsy voice. I've loved it since I bought it almost 10 years ago after seeing one of their shows. Press the buy button now - you won't regret it.

Live performances allow players truly worth their musical salt to shine, but often live CDs don't capture the performance all that well due to sound quality problems and the lack of the "being there" feeling that accompanies the performance. Of all the live CDs I have, this one best conveys the spirit of the band and has great sound quality in my opinion. Added to the fact that this is my favorite band, this is easily my favorite live CD (even moreso than Coltrane's A Love Supreme from Antibes, 1965). Herring, Hampton, Sipe, Mundy, Burbridge, and guests Leavell, Count M'Butu and the great Roosevelt make this CD an absolute joy to listen to.

I love this CD, I love the stinging notes of the wunderkind Jimmy Herring. I love the thunder bass of Oteil Burbridge, the mandolin of Matt Mundy, and of course Jeff Sipe. But the great thing here is the songs and the singing if the Grandfather of Jam Bands, Col. Bruce Hampton. Like the great Jazz drummer Art Blakey, if he has a man in his band, or he tells you this person is good, well there`s the gospel, and he`s the preacher. Every musician on this CD is making their mark with other bands such as the Allman Brothers, Leftover Salmon, Jazz is Dead,and guesting on a virtual who`s who of music.

If you like you`re music a little off center, but with the hottest licks, the groove of a hot rhythym section, along with the wonderful songs of the Colonel, here it is. Also listen the Fiji Mariners or the Code Talkers for more of Col.Hampton, and here the next generation of great musicians.

Welcome to Zambi and the space in betweenxtit...no pretension 'cause there's no egos underwater. GET THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just damn!

I remember dropping my jaw when first listening to this album. I'd seen them many times and was always blown away with their live shows. This ARU features Matt Mundy, a mandolin virtuoso, who quit the band shortly after this album's release...and what a shame. I've never heard a talent quite like him...I did some research and Matt also plays on Bela Fleck's Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Both Sides' The Sounds, and Widespread Panic's Everyday...you can never get enough of Matt Mundy's haunting melodies...

This albumn starts at a blistering pace and doesn't let up. And extremely mixed-bag of both musicians and songs somehow blend into a cohesive package.The colonel is at times, well, nuts. And the albumn does occasionally wander into what should perhaps remain uncharted waters. This however for the most part add to the enjoyment of this set. Did I forget to mention that this is a live albumn which was recorded at The Georgia Theatre in Athens which is home base for the band.

If you seek the finest musicians around, you must take a listen to this band. Virtuosity is to Jimmy Herring as fish are to the ocean- they are surrounded in each other. The absolute sickest licks are demonstrated through diminished scales played a touch outside while a tremendously rich rhythmic foundation underlies the flow via the talent and creativity of Jeff and Oteil. If you like the cream of the crop, you've found it.

A must have for any fan of musical adventures,Herring,Oteil,Sipe,Mundy
,The Col. This is a jam from top to bottom. No filler here. Oh and Chuck
Leavell on organ. nuff'said