Customer Reviews

Political Blues

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

 

 

In light of the extant political chaos, both in the US and abroad, it's wonderful to hear WSQ put their axes and cred on the line, "telling" it like it is. Infused with the spirit of Charlie Haden's LIBERATION MUSIC ORCHESTRA, WSQ has produced a seminal effort, which, I trust, grabs the attention of jazz-o-philes and others who care about the painful state of present affairs. And which gives us hope that, indeed, somehow, some way, things will change for the better.

"Political Blues" is both similar to, and different than, other WSQ CD's with a rhythm section. The music isn't as free as a quartet-only disc, and is fairly funky and bluesy jazz. What makes "Political Blues" different is the blunt politics. Like some of Charles Mingus's political statements, the WSQ speak their mind without using analogies, similies, or any other lyrical devices. Recorded after Katrina, President Bush and the response to the hurricane receive a lot of vitriol. A big fan of Bush might have a hard time with this disc. Neotraditional jazz is also told to go pick a switch. The only big misstep on the disc is "Mannish Boy" where WSQ comes off like a bar band. Musically, the rest of the disc is about as good as an average WSQ disc, meaning it's pretty good and recommended for fans.

This is an excellent CD whose overall theme arises from an urgent need to express strong political dissent in this age of media driven virulent "sound bite" propaganda. The musicianship is captivating and declares its sentiment without reservation or embarassment. In my opinion, these folks are the "Earth, Wind and Fire" of the internet age.