Two Banks of Four- "Three Street Worlds"

An invigorating album that beams with hints of experimental, free thinking jazz sensibilities (and groove). Most of "Three Street Worlds" bares the flavor of yester-year jazz label Impluse! (very late 60's early 70's experimental). You can hear bits of Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, even the Rotary Connection in this. Some of the founding members of the jazz- funk Brit band Galliano are behind this collective release so it's easy to understand how it sounds somewhat groove oriented. Valerie Etienne's vocals are as brilliant as ever. It also features outstanding vocal contributions from Bembe Segue and Paul Jason Fredericks. Every song is an adventure. From mellow to more energetic. It's a contemplative, moody- melancholy affair that increases in beats and energy as it progresses. Think post club music that can usher in the morning, such as the opener "Two Miles Before Dawn", the instrumental tempest of sax winds brought about on "Bird Monster", the Superfly urban strut of "Endless", to the 3am broken beat spritual jam chants of "Rising". The effort and attention to detail put into this LP reminds us that fusion is alive and well...it's music that is beautifully realized.