REVIEW: Liquid Soul, Make Some Noise (Ark21)
- Joann D. Ball
Put Liquid Soul's Make Some Noise (Ark21 Records) in your CD player and imitate the sounds on the instructive opening track, "Intro." Yes, that's right, go ahead and throw some ice cubes in a big glass tumbler, pour some libations into it, and take a nice long sip. Then allow yourself to groove along freely with Liquid Soul as the acid jazz scenesters pay homage to the legends of jazz.
The Chicago-based Liquid Soul blend the best of hip-hop, rock, salsa and Mediterranean dance with jazz in order to serve up an intoxicating musical cocktail. The ten-piece band is led by Mars Williams, a classically trained saxophone player who has more than paid his dues on the jazz and rock circuits. Williams has played his unique brand of saxy funk in the free jazz group NRG Ensemble, and has served time with number of rock bands including the Psychedelic Furs, Bill Laswell's Massacre, and the Waitresses. A major supporter of the diverse Chicago music scene, Williams has also contributed his talents to the rock/pop band Social Act, one of the Windy City's best kept musical secrets.
But it is as Midwestern acid jazz pioneer and musical director of Liquid Soul that sax maniac Mars Williams will make his biggest splash. Joining Williams in the band are premier Chicago DJ Jesse De La Pena, guitarist Tom Sanchez, bassist Rick Showalter, drummer Dan Leali, rapper Dirty M.F., keyboardists Frankie Hill and Chris "Hambone" Cameron, trumpeter Ron Haynes, and John Janowiak on trombone. Together they produce a potent mix of grooves that has knocked out audiences across the country. These ready for prime-time players have made a scene at Chicago Bulls player/ personality Dennis Rodman's birthday party and the 1996 Presidential inauguration. Recently, Liquid Soul was also one of the first acid jazz groups to play the esteemed Newport Jazz festival.
The funky, hi-energy vibe of Liquid Soul's live marathons are fully captured on Make Some Noise, the group's second studio release on Miles Copeland's Ark21 Record label. Produced by Mars Williams, this thirteen track freestyle trip samples rap cuts, jazz masterpieces, soul classics and spoken word performances. Liquid Soul does the impossible on the secondtrack "Threadin' The Needle" and blends the best of old school jazz and old school rap with samples of "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow. These two styles are mixed once again on "Salt Peanuts/Chocolate Covered Nut" as samples from Dizzy Gillespie's "Salt Peanuts" are sweetened by Dirty M.F.'s chocolate flavored rap. Dirty M.F. keeps the rhymes flowing and turns up the heat with soulful female vocalist Omega on "I Want You To Want Me," while Williams showcases his sax skills on the jumpin' Latin tinged number "Ricky's Hat." And Dirty M.F. adds much flavor to "Cabbage Roll" which is filled with bits of James Brown's "More Peas" and K.C. and the Sunshine Band's "Let It Go." The Godfather of Soul's "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud" is prominent on "No Cents" while "My Three S.O.B.'s" contains spoken elements from jazz legend Eddie Harris over a salsa beat. Liquid Soul bring the set to a close with the hot and steamy "Opium Jacuzzi," and the CD ends with the sound of footsteps walking down Chicago's gritty streets with the famous "L" train in the background.
Liquid Soul keeps its promise and delivers on Make Some Noise. From start to finish, the record is a refreshing, invigorating and energizing combination of hot jazz and streetwise hip-hop with a splash of rock and twist of salsa and other exotic sounds. Like George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, Liquid Soul crosses all known boundaries to create a completely new and unique sound which is filled with positive energy. One can only hope that Liquid Soul will flow for at least as many years as the Mothership has sailed.
