A Town Called Earth

A Town Called Earth is a fresh combination of jazz, R&B, soul, and funk that reminds us of the vitality of live funk in an era dominated by pre-packaged samples. Zak Najor (drums), Robert Walter (keys), Karl Denson (sax and flute), and Elgin Park (guitars and bass) embrace their musical history and cover a diverse range of styles. Denson's flute on "Blues for Celia" recalls Herbie Mann's progressive flute work of the late '60s, when he worked with a Memphis-based horn section. "The Many Moods of Erik Newson" and "A Town Called Earth" pull from Miles Davis' Bitches Brew work as well as alt-rockers like the Smashing Pumpkins. Some songs, like "Sportscaster," may seem pithy unless you give the tracks a careful listen, so please do.