Performance Review: The Inner Orchestra
November 17, 2001   Greenfield, MA 

A seven piece funk machine called, the Inner Orchestra, has restored my faith in the future of American roots influenced music. In a free Saturday afternoon presentation at the Guiding Star Grange, this committed group of youngbloods ran the musical gamut from New Orleans street beats, country blues, to KC swing, bop and modal, up to and including what they are really about in the present. What they are about is a funk-infused improvisational jazz music influenced by James Brown and Mwandishi period Herbie Hancock. Which is not to say that this is any mere cover band. The Inner Orchestra uses the repertoire of funk and soul chestnuts as a launching pad for a more improvisational and personal spin on this music that they obviously love.

Sporting a four horn front line with rhythm, the IO has skillfully arranged pieces such as Eddie Harris’s Freedom Jazz Dance, Freddie Hubbard’s Red Clay, and Joe Zawinul’s Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, using to advantage the additional firepower of a large ensemble. All members of the group are competent soloists who play with joyful abandon. Saturday’s performance was bolstered by the addition of guests Ron Smith, director of the jazz program at Northfield Mount Hermon on alto sax, and IO colleague Aaron Germain on electric bass.

An added bonus to Saturday’s concert was a hands-on walk through the history of African-derived music, ably narrated by guitarist and bandsman Michael Daves, with the band demonstrating the aforementioned styles and the evolution of the music. Not only are these guys adept on their chosen instruments, but apparently there is some business savvy in evidence too, for this performance was part of a four concert series funded by the Mass. Cultural Council. Getting work for a large ensemble has always been a challenge and apparently Daves and company are earnestly getting their music out to the people.

It heartens me to know that there is a generation of players coming along that have done their homework, not only on their instruments, but in digging into the history as the members of Inner Orchestra have obviously done. I saw the James Brown "Live at the Apollo" band at the Bushnell in Hartford when I was fifteen years old, and over the years have found my way back to the likes of Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and the other "Godfathers" of this open-ended music we love. Inner Orchestra is performing a great service in facilitating that educational journey for others.                                   

 - Richard Mayer  

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