 Wow. Fasten your seatbelts boys and girls because San Francisco-based SLAMMIN (an “all-body band”) is about to take you for a ride with their unique blend of rhythm dance, beatbox, and tight, often improvised harmonies. Imagine “Stomp” meets the House Jacks, add a healthy dose of jazz and a sprinkle of world music for flavor, let simmer, and you’ve got the unique and impressive sound that SLAMMIN offers here on their debut self-titled CD.
Analogies aside, there’s really a lot to love on this disc. All of the singers are absolutely phenomenal and turn in powerful solos that leave little to be desired. Blend and intonation are also by and large superb, quite a feat considering the majority of the recording is not only live but improvised as well. Seriously – improvised. I couldn’t believe it. These musicians are truly talented.
Ok, that’s why this CD is impressive. Here’s why it’s unique. The rhythms that drive these tracks, created with a combination of Keith Terry’s tap dance/body music and Steve Hogan’s beatbox (which, by the way, dropped my jaw during the intro to “The Way You Move”), are amazingly intricate and unlike anything I’ve ever heard on a contemporary a cappella recording. The way in which each complements the other to form the rhythmic foundation for this music is a real sonic treat. Also, keep an ear open for the many innovative sounds scattered throughout the album, in particular the vocal trumpet solo on “All Blues/Ven Aca” (definitely one of the best I’ve ever heard).
The only minor problem I had with this album was simply that, due to the live and improvised nature of the music, there are sections of songs where hooks repeat just a little too often. Without the added visual aspect of the performance, this grows a little old after repeat listens Also I’ll bet that Terry’s body percussion - while impressive and a great addition to the ensemble - is probably even cooler to watch than it is to listen to.
So…bottom line: this CD is fantastic; I suspect that their live performance is even better. If you’ve seen SLAMMIN live, then you probably already have a copy of this CD If you haven’t, please do yourself a favor; pick one up, and join me in waiting with great anticipation for your chance to catch this group in performance. This CD is solid proof that SLAMMIN is a group worth watching.
To order: http://www.crosspulse.com/html/slammin.html
Robert Dietz is a senior at Ithaca High School in Ithaca NY and the founder/director of the award-winning a cappella quintet Ascending Height. He is also the newest member of the CASA board of directors, as well as a staff arranger for Contemporary A Cappella Publishing.
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