VARIOUS ARTISTS
Three Sets Volume 2 (Lauan Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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This is the second in a series of samplers from Lauan Records, a jam band oriented label headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. While the Rocky Mountain region tends to be a jam band hotbed, the label's nationwide orientation is well displayed on this disc.

The concept is simple - take three bands, each with a regional following, and put them together in order to expand their reach into one another's regions. With over 20 minutes devoted to each act, the bands are given the room they need to stretch out a bit and demonstrate what they do best, which in most cases tends toward extended performances as befits the genre.

Larry, a Texas based septet, opens with three tracks, two of which run over 10 minutes. They take a classic groove rock approach for the most part, with a bit of boogie thrown in on the shorter cut, the five and a half minute "La Buzz."

Ancient Harmony is a quartet from Albany, Georgia. They occupy their alloted space with a single cut, the 26 minute "Memory." This one is a soundboard captured at a club performance in their home town, and live performance is where bands from this "you gotta see 'em in person" genre tend to thrive. If this performance is representative, I'd agree that a show live and in person would be a good thing, but they sound just fine here.

Wise Monkey Orchestra closes the show, and they use their time more economically, displaying four songs by keeping them all at the six minute mark or less. The WMO sound is distinguished by the contributions of Andy Geib on trombone and flute and Robbie Helm on saxophone, as opposed to the keys and guitars-dominated sound of the other bands on the disc (which is not to say that there aren't fine keys and guitar in the WMO lineup as well). The other distinguishing feature is vocalist Alley Stewart, who digs for a Joplinesque grit and hits it more than not. Wise Monkey Orchestra funks up the joint real fine.

Track List:

Larry: Just Ask Yourself (What Jammin' Can Do For You)/La Buzz /Seven * Ancient Harmony: Memory * Wise Monkey Orchestra: Robot Reality/ Movin' Free/Grass Skirt/Thyme

© 2001 - Shaun Dale