Spring Break
Mardi Gras comes early this year
Preston Hults
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
|
The Revolutionary Snake Ensemble exists on the common ground between the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra and the New Orleanean Mardi-Gras improvisational, celebratory street-beat tradition. And yes, they bring all the costumes to the table.
The project was born in 1990 when saxophonist/composer/bandleader Ken Field was asked to assemble a band to perform at a Pagan celebratory ritual. Over the past two decades, the group has become one of Boston's best-loved live bands - performing everywhere from religious ceremonies to theaters, weddings, and street corners, as well as making the yearly pilgrimage to New Orleans to parade, march, and play with the legendary Krewe Of Muses all-female marching-band.
Despite their lengthy lineage, the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble did not release a studio album until 2006's "Year Of The Snake," which included a song that was used in a Sesame Street segment about counting, and was followed two years later by "Forked Tongue."
The ever-changing lineup has attracted past and present members from camps as disparate as Anthony Braxton's avant-garde ensembles to Philly native G. Love's hip-hop jam band Special Sauce. Their albums feature a gumbo of originals, Mardi Gras marches, jazz songs and even the occasional Billy Idol cover.
But, there is more to the band than partying and genre mixing.
Two drummers and at least one bass player back the four-horn front line, creating an unstoppably funky organic groove-machine that propels the aero phonic improvisations to new and uplifting heights.
"We mostly play from 'head' charts, where everyone has the melody and chord changes in front of them. Since there's no guitar or keyboard, the horns can not only solo, they even alter the harmonies spontaneously," Field said.
The show is sure to be a good time, and if you don't believe me, The Philadelphia Society for Art, Literature, and Music, and WKDU are presenting the performance. Mardi Gras is coming early to Philadelphia this year.
Tickets can be purchased for $13 at World Café Live, located at 3025 Walnut St. or online at www.tickets.worldcafelive.com.
Be the first to comment on this story