COUNT M'BUTU ORCHESTRA
See The Sun (Terminus)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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In 1979, after an African apprenticeship in making and playing hand drums and a few years in the day job rut, Larry Jones dove into a full time music career. A string of club and TV gigs led to tours with Nancy Wilson, the Manhattans and Parliment/Funkadelic. It also led him to the arms of Argentinean vocalist Graciela Lopez, who became his wife, and into the circuit of the Svengali of the Atlanta jam band scene, Col. Bruce Hampton. Hampton dubbed Mr. Jones with the new moniker Count M'Butu (which, unbeknownst to Hampton, was the name of the family Jones had stayed with during his African sojourn) and enlisted him into the Aquarium Rescue Unit.

Since the ARU folded in 1995, the Count continued to work in the jam band milieu, gigging with Widespread Panic, the Allman Brothers, Phish and Edward McCain, while putting together the music that has now emerged as See The Sun. The disc is a blend of M'Butu's African roots stylings, jam band sensibilities and the Latin rhythms that underpin the vocals of Graciela Lopez. On board for the festivities are some of the premier names in the jam band world, including Jimmy Herring, Jeff Sipe and Chuck Leavell. Col. Bruce Hampton's involvement is described as "outertainment," and I'll leave it to you to figure out just what that might be.

What it all adds up to is an album of damn near perfect summertime sounds. The combination of rhythms evokes sunny scenes and positive moods, and the tempos will have you out shopping for a muscle car with a rag top, gas price worries notwithstanding. In fact, after you've hit the replay button two or three times, and you will, whatever you were worried about will have faded from your mind. Rock, jazz and jam fans alike are going to love this one.

Track List:

Here We Go * Oue Bonita La Chica * Say A Prayer * Algo Se Quema * Work For Food * Here We Go Again * See The Sun * Bajo Del Rio * Mi Argentina * Kuumba * Las Ventanas

© 2001 - Shaun Dale