Drummer Ulysses Owens Jr brings together a band of Allyn Johnson/p-key, David Rosenthal/g, ReubenRogers/b and a quartet of vocalists to give tribute to songs of protest and freedom. The four singers, Rene Marie, Alicia Olatuja, Theo Bleckmann and Joanna Majoko sing reinterpretations of pieces by Nina Simon, Oscar Brown and Joni Mitchell, bookended by spoken parts by Ms. Simone, who puts things in perspective when she states “the Arts are for character building.” The band is featured on the bold modal pieces “Oh Freedom” while on the vocal side Bleckmann is dreamy on the liturgical take of “Balm In Gilead, Joanna Majoko gets clapping on a churchy “Freedom Day” and Alicia Olatuja is slinky on a moody “Be My Husband.” Marie is preachy on her two songs, particularly on “Driva’ Man” and Olatujua is pastel colored on “Both Sides Now.”
There are no liner notes as to the motivation of this session, as people from both Red and Blue States have something to protest for and against. Let he who has ears hear!