THE SOUL REBELS

Unlock Your Mind

2012-02-02

Brass bands from New Orleans are usually associated with parade music but Unlock Your Mind by “The Soul Rebels” pushes the boundaries of convention. Yes it’s jazz with plenty of horns in perfect harmony with sousaphone dotting the background. But there’s rap intertwined in a few tracks and creative interpretation of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” and Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” with free jazz horn squeals. Trombone Shorty lends a hand on “504,” guitarist Leo Nocentelli of The Meters struts his stuff on “Say Na Hey” and Ben Ellman of Galactic performs a sax solo on the improvisational “I’m So Confused.” Multi-vocals and rap gives the high energy track “We Gon Take Your Body” a dance party vibe. Each song has its own flavor but standouts are the reggae title track “Unlock Your Mind,” track 7 “Night People,” and track 10 “Say Na Hey” with its feel-good funk. – Pam VandeKerkhoff

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