What does the sounds of the streets, soul & spirit actually sound like? Not just some vague pondering of what something should be, or perhaps a group of people trying to sound a certain way, but to actually live and breath what you play? To grow out of the streets and life itself organically and let your music be heard? This is something that can not be faked nor wished into existence. It just is and should be cherished when found in its purest form. This is Wake Up! Four veteran players combined in spirit doing something new and different on the cutting edge. Daniel Carter (sax, wind instruments), Demian Richardson (trumpet), David Moss (electric bass) & Federico Ughi (drums). A mixture of free jazz, funk, mind, rhythmic lyrical aptitude & punk ferocity. Music from the heart. "People Music" they say. To which I say "Yes".
And so, this last week we all piled into the Parkside Lounge, to celebrate the release of Wake Up's debut album. The room was packed. The music immediately began and and lifted the entire room to a new plateau. The tone and sensitivity in Daniel & Demian's playing is otherworldly. David & Federico combine together to create a rhythmic monster. These are four expert players from the world of free jazz that are doing something new and different that feels as exciting as the first time you hear one of Miles Davis' electric efforts in the early 70's. This is exciting. And so it begins, layered looping rhythms, expert free jazz improv, chanting lyrics. This is something NEW.
It should also be noted these are no novices. Daniel & Federico are known to most of the downtown NYC scene. Demian & David are rightfully getting there names recognized these days as a force. All four players have combined to play or record with everyone from Sun Ra to Cecil Taylor to Ornette Coleman to Thurston Moore. You can catch them playing in the clubs, you can catch them playing abroad & you can also catch them playing on the streets of NYC. Over in Astor Place, Tompkins Square Park or anywhere else on this planet that will let them play. I have a hunch if it weren't for the standard hang-ups over a lack of oxygen and rusting instruments, they'd play at the the bottom of the sea just to see if anyone down there gets IT.
And that's really the thing. It's not just the authenticity or insanely dynamic technical prowess of there playing. It's the spirit. These are four players trying to wake us all up from our stagnant philosophy in life. To Embrace life, embrace music & embrace what you feel. Wake Up!
And there we sat in the Parkside Lounge celebrating the release of their cd, being Woken Up and spiritually nourished. Hearing something so new, yet sprouted from a very long tradition of the past. So do yourself a favor, go check out Wake Up! or go buy their CD, work yourself up into a musical and spiritual fervor and go preach your convictions on the street.
Thanks: Noah would like to thank Kate Levin for all photos provided in this article.
Full Disclosure Act: Noah & Dave, the writers of this blog, have actually performed with the different members of Wake Up! multiple times in the past, bringing our poetry to Daniel, Demian, David & Federico's music. However, as the writer of this article, I would like to assure you that the entire article is written from the heart, so do yourself a favor and go check these cats out, I couldn't recommend it enough.
