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SPOKE: (r)anthems

By Ernest Barteldes
November 25, 2014
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On (r)anthems, the New York-based ensemble takes various pop classics and favorite World Music tunes and reinvents them into their own flavor, either going into a New Orleans-tinged feel or just improvising around the melody. An example is

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder's "Tell Me Something Good," which is re-purposed here into a marching band-like vibe. The Beatles' "Blackbird" (incorrectly credited solely to

Paul McCartney

bass, electric
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul McCartney) begins with the original guitar line as a duet. The ensemble then improvises freely around the melody.

One of the greatest surprises is "Clube da Esquina," a song originally recorded in the early 1970s by a collective led by

Milton Nascimento

guitar and vocals
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Milton Nascimento whose musical innovations are revered in Brazil but little known outside Latin America. Their take on the song begins with a mellow bass and drums intro, with the melody being played after a few measures led by

Justin Wood

saxophone, alto
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Justin Wood's flute and

Andy Hunter

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Hunter's trombone. Also notable is the jazz standard "I Only Have Eyes For You," played here with a downtempo feel.

There are also a handful of original tunes. "Cancion Para Mi Madre" is a lively Latin-tinged piece that showcases the band members' individual talents, especially those of bassist

Dan Loomis

bass
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Loomis and special guest Ito Arguinzoni. The "Shanghai Salsa" was written by Hunter, inspired by "the sounds of early a.m. construction inherent to life in China's metropolis." It is a very up-tempo piece with two distinctive melodic lines played by Hunter and Wood, reflecting on the pace of life in a big city.

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Track Listing

Ranthem; Tell Me Something Good; Invisible Lady; Blackbird; The Shanghai Salsa; Shepherd; I Only Have Eyes For You; Cancion Para Mi Madre; Clube Da Esquina; Move; Pure Imagination; Worry Later.

Personnel

Spoke

band / ensemble / orchestra

Andy Hunter

trombone

Justin Wood

saxophone, alto

Dan Loomis

bass

Danny Fischer

drums

Album information

Title: (r)anthems | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: River Records

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